Epilogue
Pemberley, Summer 1813
Elizabethwasquitepleasedwith the married state.So pleased in fact that she had made it her mission to find the matches to her sisters’ marks.She had a wider circle of acquaintance now, so she did not think it would be impossible.
She had made a friend of Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy’s favorite cousin, and he would regularly tell her about men in his ranks or friends of his who had marks.
“Captain Walters might be promising,” he told Elizabeth over tea.“I have not seen his mark myself, but I heard it was equestrian in nature.I also thought to see about Mr.Lawson, the younger son of Timothy Lawson.He has a small estate in Norfolk where he breeds thoroughbreds.He positively lives for horses.I know he is marked, but I do not know what with.I do know he is still unmarried.”
“Could you find out, please?Kitty will arrive in a fortnight and I would so like to have good news for her.”She rubbed her extended belly absently.
“I shall send a letter forthwith.”Fitzwilliam leaned back in his chair and looked at her fondly.“How are you faring, cousin?”
Elizabeth sighed.“Other than feeling like I am the size of a carriage, I am very well.”
Fitzwilliam laughed.“You are hardly that large.”
“I know.I should keep a good attitude as I shall only get bigger.That is what I get for marrying such a large man.”
“What do you get?”asked Darcy as he entered the room.
“Your wife was telling me how enormous she is and that it is all your fault for being such a great big buffoon.”
“Don’t you two start!”cried Elizabeth.“I no longer have the patience for your squabbles.”
“Yes, dear.Has my cousin brought you a good report?”said Darcy.
It was a joke amongst the family that Fitzwilliam had become Elizabeth’s private soldier, going here and there for her and finding out what she needed to know.The colonel did not mind the teasing, as long she promised to name her first child after him.
“He has.And what have you heard?How is Lord Seaton?”
“Nervous as a cat on a boat.”Darcy had followed through on his promise to speak with his cousin about his treatment of his wife.Jeffrey had been affronted at first, but Darcy had refused to back down and eventually his cousin had seen his point.Jeffrey had begun to speak to Minerva more gently and to be more patient with her.In turn, she had begun to trust him and feel less nervous, and over time, the two became friends.They were not a great love, but at least their relationship was amiable and they could enjoy one another’s company.They were now expecting their first child and Minerva would be brought to bed any day.To everyone’s surprise, Jeffrey was a nervous wreck.
“I shall go to him when she is brought to bed,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam.“He is likely to drive the household mad.”
“You will come back here after, will you not?”asked Elizabeth.Colonel Fitzwilliam was her favorite of her husband’s relations—a title he bragged about freely whenever possible—and she liked to have him about as much as possible.He was like a brother to her, only better, for he did not know any embarrassing childhood stories about her, but he knew plenty about her husband.
“You know Pemberley is my favorite place to spend the summer.”
“Claude will escort Kitty and Lydia here in a fortnight,” said Darcy.“He will bring the settlement if you would like to look it over.”
“I would, thank you.”
Claude had come to the house party the previous summer and he and Georgiana had become fast friends, as expected.He sheltered her in company and made her laugh, and she grounded him and lent him a sense of gravity that he had been missing.Darcy and Fitzwilliam had agreed that they could correspond as they were soulmates, but in deference to their young ages, they must wait at least a year to wed.
Claude had recently turned five and twenty, and Georgiana was seventeen.She would be nearly eighteen by the time they wed that winter.Darcy thought it was still young to be married, but Claude was well known to the family and more importantly, the mark would not be denied.Georgiana was head over heels in love with him, and he with her.There was no doubt that he would treat her well.
It also helped that his estate was only forty miles from Pemberley.Darcy could check on his sister any time he wished without too much fuss.
“Oof,” Elizabeth grunted and rubbed her belly, then changed positions in her seat.
“Are you well, dearest?”asked Darcy, kneeling beside her chair.
“Well enough.Could you help me up?It is time to take your son for a walk.”
Darcy helped her out of the chair and gave her his arm.“I shall escort you.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam shook his head.He never would have thought that Darcy, out of all people, would dote on his wife so.He was practically a mooncalf!
