Emily, who had been increasing for almost three months when the three couples had married in January 1812, gave birth to the future Viscount Hilldale, Richard Paul, in early June of the same year. Daughters were born in October 1815, and April 1817. A second son was brought into the world in August 1820.
As they had two of each sex already, Emily and Andrew cared not what the sex of the new babe would be, as long as mother and child were both healthy.
Melody had been afraid she was barren after her hellish marriage to Viscount Tesco had not produced any children. As an aside, the Earl of Sainsbury had died of a heart problem in November 1812, thereby ending his line. He went to meet his maker knowing that his former daughter-in-law had given her new husband a child.
Her worries were put to rest when she felt the quickening in February 1812, meaning she had more than likely conceived on their honeymoon. In the first week of July of that year, a daughter, Ophilia Elaine, named for her grandmothers, was born. In March 1815, Melody delivered a son and heir to Rosings Park, named Lewis Andrew. Lewis was for the last master of the estate before Richard, and Andrew encompassed both his brother’s and the late Anne de Bourgh’snames.
In October 1816, a second son, William Lawrence was born. He was followed by Harold Richard in January 1819.
It was obvious to all, given the ease Melody fell with child with Richard that the problem had been her late first husband’s, who used to vociferously blame her for the failure to produce an heir. He would abuse her very publicly for her not doing her duty to him. Thankfully, the truth was now known that the fault was not hers. Melody’s former sisters-in-law had both apologised to her for the treatment and verbal abuse she had received from their late brother and father.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
What, you may ask, happened with the rest of the characters? There were no villains per se left living.
William Collins was not an evil man, just a very stupid one. He was sent to the Cape of Good Hope where he was told to go proselytise the savages in the interior of the land of southern Africa. Thinking that serving God made him invincible, against all advice he attempted to convert members of the Zulu nation under their King, Senzangakhona. The King charged his son and heir, Shaka, with ridding them of the annoying man. Collins was never heard of again.
Jenny and Jimmy Peterson thrived together. She gave thanks to God on a daily basis that she had her courses which meant she was not carrying the executed criminal’s seed. She bore her husband two more sons and three daughters. The dowry she had been gifted was in part used for the education of all six of the Peterson children.
The Biggs brothers were excellent farmers on the farm next to their sister and brother-in-law. As they had surmised, their father was in his element and was in charge of growing all vegetables for their own consumption.
Brian met a lady, Paulette Johns, the only child of a very minor landholder. When they married he moved to thatsmall estate—which was only six miles from Longbourn—and took over the running of his father-in-law’s farm. The only stipulation was that Brian had to take his wife’s name, so he became Brian Johns. Within a year he had more than doubled the estate’s earnings. He and his wife had five children so far.
John Biggs ended up marrying the daughter of Mr and Mrs Hill. The couple were delighted with the match as regardless of his size, John Biggs was a good, gentle husband and father. The two remained at the farm at Longbourn and had four children so far. The elder Mr Biggs alternated between his sons’ farms and had never been happier.
Charles Bingley found his calling in the business his father had founded. He would be forever grateful that his late sire had left the decision of his future up to him. Two years after his younger sister’s death, Bingley met and eventually married the daughter of another tradesman in Scarborough.
To date, they had two children, a son and daughter, and were extremely happy. A few years past, Bingley had been in the Darcys’ company when the latter family visited Scarborough.
The former friendship was not revived, instead they were rather distant, but not indifferent, acquaintances.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
As she sat holding her beloved’s hand, Elizabeth looked across the room where her two sets of parents were seated in conversation with each other. Papa was present. He did spend a lot of time in the library, but only when there was nothing else to do and never at the exclusion of being with his beloved Fanny and family.
Elizabeth was aware that once Henry moved to Netherfield Park after his tour, in four to five years, Mama and Papa intended to do what Mother and Father had done and turn the estate over to James and Giana.
Even though he had diverted the course of her life,Elizabeth kept her vow to the late George Wickham that she would never think about him again.
On balance, even though what was done to her was reprehensible, Elizabeth, whether called Ellie or Lizzy, had gained far more than she had lost. Of course, since marrying William her life had become even more full of love.
She remembered the time she had spoken of the true worth of life and family. She was richer than Croesus with the wealth of love in the extended family she had.
~~~The End~~~
