There had been a few other deaths in her non-royal family as well. Catherine de Bourgh and her two brothers passed away in November of 1827. All three contracted pneumonia and were called home to heaven within weeks of each other.
Robert Darcy lived to see nine of his grandchildren born—Elizabeth and William’s six, and Gigi and Tommy’s three—Tom, Franny, and Annabeth.
It had been a heavy blow when the three had passed so close to one another, following the passing of Frederick in January of that year. Their consolation was in knowing that all of them had led full and happy lives.
Reggie Fitzwilliam lived to see ten grandchildren, five each from Jane and Andrew, and Cassie and Richard. In addition, Anne and Jamey had added three, which were counted as surrogate grandchildren by Elaine and Reggie.
Catherine lived with Anne and Jamey until she drew her last breath; she had lived a happy and fulfilled life. She spent her time overseeing her charities in Hunsford each year and keeping a close eye on them whenever her son and daughter were in residence at Rosings Park.
Elaine missed her husband, and three years later still wore half mourning. She lived four months each with her son’s families and two months with Anne’s. Jamey and Cassie were grateful that their parents were still spry and in excellent health.
Wes proposed to Mary three months after she came out, which surprised no one. They had married in 1810, and the new Countess of Jersey respectfully declined an offer to become a patroness of Almack’s. They had four children, two of each gender ranging from Thomas at seventeen to Sarah-Jane at five.
Kitty waited for both Lydia and Gigi before she came out. So, it was in 1813 when Kitty, who a year earlier had asked to be called Catherine, came out at twenty. Lydia, nineteen, and Gigi, seventeen, came out at the same time.
Georgiana had already decided Tommy was the one she wanted to marry but waited until he completed Cambridge and his grand tour. They married in late 1817. She was a few months older than Tommy, but that was never an issue for them.
During her first season, Catherine caught the eye of Mark Creighton, the heir of the Duke of Devonshire. They were married before the year was out, and after the old duke passed, she lived at Chatsworth with her husband and four children when not in Town for the season or visiting family. For her parents, having three daughters living close one to the other was ideal.
Lydia did not find a man she could truly love and esteem until 1816, when she met Harry Smythe-Jones. He had inherited an estate in Surrey a year earlier when his father passed. They married that year, and now had four children.
William Collins had remained the rector at Longbourn and was awarded the living at St. Alfred’s in Meryton some fifteen years previously when the incumbent suddenly passed away. He and Charlotte were as happy, but had only two children, a son born five years after they married and a daughter three years later.
Charlotte was happily married to the man she loved. Whenever her friend Eliza visited the area the two would catch up in person; the rest of the time they relied on the post.
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After his lease of Longbourn ended, Charles Bingley decided he preferred a life in trade and returned to Scarborough. His good friend’s sister, Karen Jamison, was seventeen and had caught his fancy. He returned after she was eighteen to court her; they were married in 1812, had five children, and lived happily near the Bingley Carriage Works.
Harold and Louisa Hurst were blessed with three children, two boys and a girl, and were happily ensconced at the Hurst estate, Winsdale in Yorkshire, inherited by Hurst in 1811 after his father passed.
Of Caroline Bingley there is little to tell. She was never moved from Bedlam and passed from injuries inflicted by another inmate she had upset with her pretentions two years after she was committed to the institution. She was mourned by her brother and sister, but after the mourning period was done, they very rarely thought of her again.
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George Wickham never reverted to his previous bad behaviour and completed his schooling. As he had always dreamed of doing, George read the law and, as he had during his years of schooling, he did exceptionally well.
After thanking Mr. Gardiner for taking a chance on him when he resigned his position, the young Wickham started a clerkship at Norman and James after Lord Robert and Mr. Gardiner vouched for him. Within five years George Wickham—who had always had the gift of the gab—was a sought-after barrister. A few years later he earned a partnership in Norman and James.
In 1814 George met the love of his life, the daughter of one of the solicitors at Norman and James. The couple lived happily in London and were blessed with three children, two sons and a daughter.
Mr. Lucas Wickham retired as the steward of Pemberley in 1816 and came to live with his son and daughter-in-law. He passed away in 1823, a happy man with a successful and honourable son.
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Baron and Baroness Longbourn were almost ready to depart with their son, daughter, and three grandchildren for Netherfield. Fanny just needed to impart some information to Mrs. Hill. No not the original Hills, however. Mr. and Mrs. Hill’s son and daughter-in-law filled the roles the parents had retired from some fourteen years previously.
To accommodate the growing family, in 1814 the original house was torn down, and a new manor house built, more than double in size. Between the two estates the Bennets owned, they had enough room for their extended family, which included some of Lizzy’s royal cousins who visited from time to time.
“Mother Fanny and Father Thomas, are you ready?” Georgiana asked her parents-in-law, the only living parents she had left.
“Yes Gigi, we are. Are the children in the coach?” Fanny asked.
“They are, Mother Fanny. Tommy is waiting with them,” Lady Georgiana Bennet confirmed.
“In that case, let us return to your home,” Lord Longbourn said as he followed the two women out of the house.
When Gigi became with child a few months after marrying Tommy, Fanny and Bennet moved back to Longbourn, leaving Netherfield Park to their son and new daughter. Since Elizabeth gifted Netherfield to the Bennets, Bennet had his brother Phillips deed the estate to his son—he would inherit it one day anyway.
