Page 69 of Mr. Hurst's Return
Understanding dawned on Elizabeth. “That is why she is not teasing Kitty for her good fortune and wearying us all with her cries of happiness.”
“It is,” agreed Mr. Bennet, appearing bemused. “I must say that your mother’s words on the subject have done far more than mine ever could—for as a co-conspirator in your sister’s antics, her threat was a blow to Lydia’s confidence. I cannot say she will not cry about it in the future, but for now, I suspect she will walk softly.”
WHEN ELIZABETH SPOKEto William later in the day, she found him diverted by the account of her conversation with her father. “Your father is an intelligent man, Elizabeth.”
“Andone who prefers to keep his youngest daughters at arm’s length,” retorted Elizabeth. “I maintain that I was correct to worry that Lydia would go to Brighton and ruin us all.”
William nodded, but he did not speak to either support or reject her opinion. “There is no need to worry, for she will not go. Was your father annoyed with your presumption?”
Elizabeth glared at him. “It isnotpresumption. Papa has always appreciated my counsel. Today, he appeared more gleeful than anything, no doubt because he knew something I did not and wished to tease me.”
“You are so skilled at teasing others that it surprises you when the tables are turned.”
“Not at all, Mr. Darcy,” said Elizabeth. “I can accept teasing when the occasion permits. This morning, I thought the situation was serious enough that it should not be attempted.”
They continued to walk in the wilderness behind Longbourn, the late spring sun warming them, a harbinger of the happiness Elizabeth anticipated, of a life with Mr. Darcy. The dual wedding with Jane and Mr. Bingley was now only weeks away, after which they would depart for their wedding tour and the life to follow.
“This is . . . almost a dream,” said Mr. Darcy, echoing Elizabeth’s thoughts.
“The speed at which we came to an accord?”
The gentleman smiled at her, patting her hand on his arm with his free hand. “I thought I would spend months convincing you to accept me.”
“Perhaps I should have required it of you,” said Elizabeth, a trifle primly. “If you had seen me for the gem I am in October, we would already be married.”
“I beg your pardon, Elizabeth,” was his wry reply. “I should have considered better.”
“The important thing is that you did,” replied Elizabeth. “Regardless of how long it took.”
“With that, I cannot disagree.”
Mr. Darcy paused and turned to her, his fingers lifting her chin as he leaned down to kiss her. The speed of their engagement was of no consequence to Elizabeth, for she knew she loved him and wished him to be her husband. She sighed as she felt his lips on hers, knowing that this unlikely wish she had shared with Jane, to marry for love, was on the cusp of becoming a reality. Elizabeth could not be happier.
WHEN THE WEDDING CAME, it was celebrated by all as an excellent match, not only Mr. Bingley and Jane; but Mr. Darcyand Elizabeth were now deemed the most suited of all couples, the discord of the previous autumn all but forgotten. Even Mr. Darcy’s most prominent relations joined the celebrations, lending their support to the union—an unlooked-for boon. The earl and countess dazzled the locals with their kindness, and even Lady Catherine appeared pleased, though there was a hint of melancholy hanging around her. Miss de Bourgh appeared merely smug.
In the ensuing years, the Darcys and Bingleys started families, each producing several children they raised in love and harmony. Kitty and Lydia, though they remained lively, learned better manners, and together with Mary, they found their paths in life, which, though they did not include marriage to men as wealthy as their elder siblings’ husbands, provided them with happiness and fulfillment.
With Charlotte, Elizabeth remained friendly, though her home was distant from Mr. Collins’s living in Kent. Their friendship might have been more inaccessible if Lady Catherine had opposed their marriage, but her support, though not enthusiastic, allowed the Darcys to stay at Rosings from time to time and provided Elizabeth and Charlotte opportunities to be in each other’s company. Even Mr. Collins became more tolerable as the years of his marriage lengthened, and Elizabeth suspected it was because of Charlotte’s influence. He remained servile and silly, but he learned better when to speak and when to be silent, which was the most important improvement of all.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet continued to live at Longbourn, though they were engaged in traveling to visit their married daughters, Derbyshire, where Elizabeth and Jane lived, their most common destination. Mrs. Bennet also enjoyed visiting her younger daughters. Mr. Bennet claimed to detest travel, yet he appeared at Pemberley so often that Elizabeth questioned his sincerity. Mr. Bennet declared he came for Mr. Darcy’s books.
The most curious tale of all was Miss Bingley’s, for her life followed a path none of them could have predicted. With Mr. Darcy’s engagement, she had no choice but to throw herself into the season, trying to find a man who exceeded Mr. Darcy’s standing. To the shock of them all, she succeeded to an extent. The man was a baron, higher in society than Mr. Darcy, but one notorious for dissipating his family’s wealth, engaging in the worst debaucheries, and in need of an influx of capital to save his failing estate.
“Caroline insists she will accept him,” said Bingley the day he learned of the proposal and his sister’s acceptance. “Hurst and Louisa have tried to make her see sense, but she will not listen.”
“Shall you go to London?” asked Darcy. It was only a week before the wedding, and Darcy knew his friend did not wish to depart from Hertfordshire at present, though he would go to protect his sister.
“It seems there is little point,” grumbled Bingley. “Caroline is of age and may do as she pleases.”
“She sees nothing other than the status he can give her,” observed Darcy.
“Aye, that is the truth,” agreed Bingley. “What she has chosen to ignore is that he will waste her dowry on his pursuits and she will be left with only the title, without even the trappings of wealth to bring her comfort.”
In the end, Miss Bingley married her baron, and matters proceeded as Darcy and Bingley had expected. Within a year, the man had gutted much of her fortune. When he died only eighteen months after their wedding, leaving no heir and a legacy in shambles, his penniless wife returned to the north to stay with her family, humiliated by how it had all come about.
Then had come the next surprise, for she had attracted the attention of a small landowner close to York and had married him. Perhaps she learned the insufficiency of her pretensionsor learned there were more important things in life than wealth and standing—the Darcys never learned the truth. Mr. Bingley, however, reported that she appeared happier in her situation, though the siblings were not close forever after.
As for the Hursts, they became closer without the disruptive influence of Mrs. Hurst’s sister, and in time, they too produced several children. With the Darcys and Bingleys, they remained forever intimate, as both Darcy and Elizabeth were sensible that Mr. Hurst had, by informing Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy of the truth of matters in Hertfordshire, brought about the conditions that secured their lasting happiness. Mr. Hurst might be called dull or a bore, yet for that alone, he had their esteem.
The End
