by Kate Speck
*~*~*~*~*~*
Caroline Bingley had to sit quietly, by her brother’s edicts, wearing all of her fineries and looking absolutely resplendent in her orange gown with matching orange feathers, but had to wear a veil to cover her face. Her sister’s solid punch had broken her nose and left a massive bruising under both eyes. Louisa and Mr. Hurst absolutely refused to sit with her and oddly enough, everyone in this dull hamlet avoided her. The only one who tolerated sitting next to her was Mr. King and his niece, along with Colonel Fitzwilliam next to that freckled lass who shyly giggled at the uniformed officer when he whispered something that sounded like ‘orangutan’.
After the registries were signed, Mr. Hurst practically shoved Caroline Bingley into the awaiting carriage and returned to the wedding party without a word. Miss Bingley could only watch the newlywed Darcys smile at each other, and realization finally dawned upon her that everything she had desired was truly lost, as the carriage rolled away from the merry group.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“How much longer until we arrive, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth asked.
Darcy drew her into his arms and held her tightly. “Another hour to go, Mrs. Darcy. Are you already tired of me, madam?” He teased.
She giggled as she climbed onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Not quite yet, sir. Perhaps tomorrow, I will be quite tired of you.”
Darcy kissed her lovingly and ran his hands up and down her back. “You will be tired, all right. Hopefully not of me, but definitely tired of my attentions. I guarantee it.” He kissed her deeply.
“Well, my courage rises at every attempt to intimidate me. Challenge accepted!” Elizabeth kissed him in return and began to run her fingers through his hair, making him moan loudly until his hand landed on her breast. This time, she moaned into his mouth and they were both huffing for air as they finally separated.
“You make me positively beastly, Lizzy. I lose all semblance of proper behavior when you kiss me like that.” Darcy continued to hold her tightly, kissing her neck and running his hand through her hair.
Elizabeth giggled, “You and I will be beastly together, William. I will be your loathsome beast and you will be my handsome beast.”
“Oh, no, you are definitely la Belle and I am la Bête. We have known that for a very long time.” Darcy responded.
Elizabeth jumped at this. “I loved that book! Have you read it in French?”
Darcy grinned broadly, “Yes, I had begun it after my accident but Richard told me to read more poetry. I did finish the English translation.”
They spoke merrily of the book and discussed it for the next hour and soon enough, they arrived at Darcy House.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“Georgiana had told me about Darcy House but I could not have imagined this! It is a beautiful home!” Elizabeth gushed.
Darcy held her from behind, kissing her temple as he wrapped his arms around her torso. “And of all this you are now mistress. And you will have Pemberley and Kieran Hall and Manchester Lodge to care for as well. But you will not have to worry about any of the estates at all. You have only one task required of you and I care not if you sit on your silk cushions and eat chocolate all day, as long as you fulfill your one duty.”
“And what may that duty be, Mr. Darcy?” Elizabeth turned around to wrap her arms around her husband’s neck.
He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. “Why, to make Mr. Darcy happy, of course. And you are doing it right now. You, here in my arms, I have never known such happiness.”
Darcy led his wife to the mistress’ chamber where they did not wait to partake a meal or to wait for darkness to fall; they loved each other and joined as man and wife in body as soon as the doors closed.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“It was so kind of Aunt Catherine to host Georgiana for a fortnight, but I cannot wait to see her again.” Elizabeth exclaimed.
“She has been very happy for us, my love, but I know she is eager to see us as well. Anne has enjoyed the company and is excited to finally meet you this afternoon. You will see your friend, the former Miss Lucas, at Hunsford and you will love Rosings. It is second only to Pemberley, in my humble opinion.”
Elizabeth began to laugh, “Since when have you had a single humble opinion? You just praised your own home!”
Darcy tickled her, “Our home, my love. I am only humble when it comes to you. Otherwise I am still a proud, haughty man, who will only bend to my wife’s will and no one else’s.”
Elizabeth kissed his cheeks. “As long as you are with me, we will be proud together. I am so happy, William.”
“I know I have been quite beastly, Lizzy. You are well? Are you tired of me yet?” Darcy kissed her neck as they lay together in bed and he caressed her naked body again.
“Never. I enjoy your attentions more than I ever thought possible. I love joining with you and learning new ways to make love. Mama told me to lie back and stay still but how wrong she was. You feel so good, my love.” Elizabeth could not continue, as her husband began to love her again.
“I love you, Mrs. Darcy.” Darcy softly whispered.
“I love you, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth replied in his ear.
Epilogue
Elizabeth and Darcy spent the next month at Rosings, where Elizabeth and Anne de Bourgh’s friendship grew and they would write to each other whenever apart for the next four years until Anne’s demise.
Lady Catherine would often travel to Pemberley and the Darcy children called her ‘grandmama’ in lieu of ‘great aunt’ due to their closeness. When she passed twenty years later, she was celebrated as a generous and kind lady and she left Rosings to Darcy’s second son. Mr. Collins cried copiously while he conducted the funeral but Charlotte Collins stood by his side and consoled him and cried with him, missing the great lady’s guidance during all of the years she had helped her mold her husband into a better man.
Mr. and Mrs. Bingley were happily situated in Netherfield where they resided for twelve months after their wedding, and they were most delighted when a property only twenty miles from Pemberley became available for purchase. Elizabeth was thrilled to have her dearest sister nearer, and Jane was elated to be mistress of Winterfall Estate without the constant disruptions of her mother.
Jane bore twin sons, Charles Jr. and Caleb Bingley, and a daughter, Lizbeth Bingley, and they lived blissfully together, making frequent visits to Pemberley and being so complying, never exceeding their income but always so generous that no servant ever cheated them.
Richard Fitzwilliam courted and married Mary King three months after Darcy’s wedding, and his mother was so pleased with her favorite son’s wife that she promoted the new Mrs. Richard Fitzwilliam, as she had done with Elizabeth Darcy, and society could do naught but follow the countess’ example. Taking these two women as examples, it became fashionable to take walks for pleasure and to become slightly brown during the summer months. Freckles were now considered chic, and some even went to the trouble of drawing their own onto their faces.
Caroline Bingley spent the next five and thirty years in York and took over the house when her Aunt Bingley passed away. She became the leader of the small society there with all of her accomplishments, but failed to capture any suitors and she remained unmarried for the rest of her life. She was only grateful that she was able to live a long and healthy life, instead of being hanged in the gallows as a criminal, which was kept a secret from all her friends. She never returned to London but could only envy reading about news of her family and those she recognized from the gossip columns.
Mary Bennet was surprisingly courted by Lieutenant Denny who, being the second son of a parson, appreciated the calm demeanor of this quiet middle child, and Mary entertained her fellow officers’ wives with singing and dancing in the various encampments to which they traveled.
Georgiana married two years after her coming out, not settling for those who might court her favors for her dowry and connections. She had unfortunately slipped and sprain
ed her ankle and Darcy called for his friend to treat his dearest sister.
Doctor Hastings urgently looked at Georgiana’s ankle and finding it a sprain, sighed in relief and looked up to find his friend’s little sister transformed into a beautiful young lady. He immediately gulped and excused himself from Mrs. Darcy, who had been keeping Georgiana company, and ran to Darcy, pacing like a mad man.
When Darcy was able to finally sort out what was bothering his friend, he laughed out loudly, informing Hastings that his baby sister was no longer a child and with proper intent, would allow a courtship if Georgiana agreed.
Georgiana had been in love with the doctor ever since their residing at Netherfield together after Darcy’s accident, and although she had thought it a passing fancy, she could not find anyone more worthy, even after her official coming out two years ago.
Georgiana married the good doctor four months later and using her dowry, they established hospitals to help the destitute and became one of the most charitable couples in England.
Kitty and Lydia grew to be calm, demure ladies, unrecognizable from the wild and unruly children that they once were. They were most happy to be courted by brothers and married in a double ceremony, with Mrs. Bennet nearly fainting at the excitement of having two daughters marry brothers at the same time. Mrs. Bennet praised Miss Darcy for throwing her daughters in the paths of rich men and always treated Georgiana like another daughter, caring for her and filling that void of the orphan, by being like a parent to the elegant young lady whenever they visited each other.
Mr. Bennet was also like a father to both Darcy and Georgiana, always lending a patient ear and becoming a great correspondent through letters with his favorite son-in-law. With Darcy’s advisement, Mr. Bennet took Mr. Collins by his side to educate him on how to manage Longbourn, and after Lady Catherine’s passing, he allowed Mr. and Mrs. Collins to take over the estate so he could have more time to travel with Mrs. Bennet.
Mr. and Mrs. Bennet lived in harmony for another decade when Mrs. Bennet predeceased him, thankfully never being tossed into the hedgerows, and Mr. Bennet lived out the rest of his life in the comforts of the Pemberley library, surrounded by his favorite daughter, son-in-law, and his grandchildren.
Darcy and Elizabeth had three daughters, followed by two sons. Elizabeth feared that she might be like her mother in giving her husband only daughters, but Darcy emphasized again and again that he wished for ten daughters and it mattered naught if they had no sons. Elizabeth was extremely relieved to bear their heir, Bennet Darcy, and cried with joy when Daniel Darcy was born.
Darcy and Elizabeth still argued and misunderstood each other often but never let the sun go down while still angry. They spoke openly of their worries and fears so they would accept each other’s faults and mistakes, while still loving each other with all of their hearts and committing to the other’s happiness before themselves.
*~*~*~*~*~*
“How would you feel if I was still that horrid monster you first met and it was only a hallucination these past twenty years of seeing me more handsome, William?” Elizabeth asked her husband, as they sat to watch the sunrise as they had done every morning.
Darcy chuckled. “You ask the strangest questions, Lizzy.” He gathered her into his embrace. “No matter how you appear, my little beast, I have loved you from that first day and I would not change a thing. Even when you looked deformed and freckled, I thought you lovely and wanted to kiss you.” He leaned and kissed her lips tenderly. “Even after twenty years of being married to the most loathsome creature I have ever seen, OWW!” Darcy rubbed his arm where she pinched him, “you bring me more joy than anything I could have ever imagined.”
Elizabeth giggled, “I wonder if I had hallucinated you as a monster, if I would have loved you. You were quite arrogant, ordering me about like a servant and demanding me to bend to your will.”
“Well, here we are, the Proud and the Beast, happily married and expecting our first grandchild. Let us return and see if our duchess daughter will give us a grandson or a granddaughter.” He helped her stand and walked with her hand on his arm. “No matter boy or girl, that child will be cherished, just like I cherish all our children.”
“I love you, Mr. Darcy.” Elizabeth leaned her head on his arm. “You are the best of men.”
Darcy smiled, “I love you, Mrs. Darcy. You are the best of beasts. OWW!” He yelped, as she pinched his arm again.
