Epilogue “A gentleman to see you, Ma’am.” Her butler held out the tray upon which a card lay. She picked it up and read with considerable surprise, “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy”. She hesitated only briefly. It had been more than ten years since they met – at his wife’s funeral, she recollected. “Show Mr. Darcy in, Mr. Blake.” Darcy entered the room. He must be almost five and seventy she thought. He walked stiffly with the aid of a cane but the years had otherwise been kind to him. He remained a handsome man. “I wish to extend my condolences, Mrs. Bingley, upon the passing of your husband. He was a fine gentleman. I must also apologize for the delay in doing so but I was in Scotland visiting my son and did not learn of it until a week ago.” She smiled and gestured to a chair. “Please sit, Mr. Darcy. I thank you for your kind words.” “I paid a short visit to Charles and your sister while I was travelling here. He looks well and your sister is as beautiful as ever.” “Jane never seems to change. And your sister, is she well? I seem to remember being told she was taken quite ill but was recovering.” “Georgiana is better but I confess I worry about her. That illness taxed her sorely and she has not gotten over it completely.” “She had her family around her and that is ever a comfort.” “And your children, Mrs. Bingley? They are all well?” She laughed, “Indeed they are – all seven of them. I had never thought to be so blessed for they are a great comfort and a joy. And yours, Mr. Darcy? They are well?” “Emma and I were perhaps not as fortunate as you and James but our two sons are good men and married well.” Darcy had married Emma Finlayson some five years after Elizabeth’s marriage. While the James Bingleys and Darcys had only occasionally been in company together, Elizabeth had formed a good opinion of the woman. She had never inquired into the particulars of the Darcys courtship. It was none of her affair and, in fact, she had only learned of the marriage a year or two after it had taken place. “I am glad to hear it.” She replied. “Do you live here by yourself?” He asked. “No indeed. My eldest son and his wife and their children – well most of their children, for two are married with homes of their own – live with me. He is at his offices and Estelle and her daughters are out shopping.” “So you have grandchildren then?” He smiled at her and she marvelled how he became even more handsome when he did so. She wondered why he had not been so pleasant when she first knew him. Perhaps age and marriage had mellowed him. It had done so for her, she knew. “My dear Mr. Darcy, I am an old woman now. I have a too many grandchildren to keep track of, and a great-grandchild – young Elizabeth is just a year old.” "I do not believe, Mrs. Bingley, that I can ever see you as an old woman. You were one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance when I first met you and I hold to that opinion even now.” She stared at him uncomprehendingly. “You are surprised, Mrs. Bingley. Did you never understand I admired you?” She shook her head. Speechless for long moments before finally managing to stutter, “Never. . .I thought. . .you said. . .I took your attitude to be one of disdain, if I must be honest. I found you more civil before you left Hertfordshire but admiration? How could that be?” “It is only the truth, Mrs. Bingley.” He replied, “I cannot, upon reflection, be overly surprised that you did not recognize my regard for I made every effort to conceal it from you. I had. . .well I did not wish to excite any expectations that I felt I could not fulfill.” “You were quite successful, Mr. Darcy, I assure you. I had no expectations of you at all; and, I must confess, I quite disliked you for much of your residence in Hertfordshire.” Darcy looked surprised. "Did James never tell you?" "Tell me what?" "We met quite by accident some months after Charles' wedding to your sister and I confessed to him how fortunate he was to have recognized your value immediately and gotten to the point without delay. That he was lucky I was such a deliberate man, someone who did not act precipitously. Because by then I was certain then, just months after you married, that I too would have offered for you." Elizabeth smiled to herself upon hearing Mr Darcy's confession, and thought that James must have truly enjoyed that conversation. She wondered how, after all these years, Darcy could still be so self-absorbed, so confident, so . . .certain she would have accepted him. "No, Mr Darcy, my husband never mentioned it. It must have slipped his mind." He accepted her words graciously, rose to take his leave, bowed over her hand and had turned to walk away when some impulse caused him to stop and turn back towards her. A small smile curled his lips. “I have often wondered what might have happened had I chosen not to be so reticent, had instead attempted to gain your favour?” Elizabeth's shrug was almost imperceptible. The questionable was unanswerable and she said as much. “What is done, is done, Mr. Darcy. We can only dictate our actions. We can only live with the consequences that follow.” With that, Darcy bowed once more and took his leave. Shortly after his departure her eldest son entered the room. “I have” he said, “thought to have father’s portrait moved into your sitting room.” “Thank you. I could wish for nothing more, James.” And all thoughts of Mr. Darcy were banished and they were never to meet again. The Endhttps://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121245#msg-121245Sat, 30 May 2026 14:00:15 +0100 Phorum 5.2.22 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,123198#msg-123198 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,123198#msg-123198
Seriously, this is quite well done and is a lovely tale of integrity and assurance in courtship. Thank you very much for sharing the fruits of your labor with us.]]> Gioia Derbyshire Writers' GuildSun, 23 Oct 2016 10:29:19 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121274#msg-121274 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121274#msg-121274 myredturtle Derbyshire Writers' GuildSat, 07 May 2016 01:58:26 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121273#msg-121273 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121273#msg-121273 Michelle Ann Derbyshire Writers' GuildSat, 07 May 2016 00:37:26 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121266#msg-121266 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121266#msg-121266 Peter Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 12:49:57 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121265#msg-121265 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121265#msg-121265 LisaY Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 12:15:07 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121263#msg-121263 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121263#msg-121263 LisaY Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 11:52:06 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121262#msg-121262 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121262#msg-121262 LisaY Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 11:51:30 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121261#msg-121261 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121261#msg-121261 Peter Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 11:23:26 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121260#msg-121260 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121260#msg-121260 Peter Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 11:23:26 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121256#msg-121256 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121256#msg-121256Thank you for the charming story, Peter!]]> Lucy J. Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 05:43:20 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121254#msg-121254 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121254#msg-121254
Thank you for the story and for a great, very telling epilogue!]]> EvelynJean Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 01:47:19 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121253#msg-121253 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121253#msg-121253
Wouldn't've really been believable, but it would have placated all the "Lizzy must wind up with Darcy" advocates.

Did you ever consider, and then reject, that option, Pete?

JIM]]> Jim D. Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 01:42:01 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121252#msg-121252 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121252#msg-121252 Lucie Derbyshire Writers' GuildFri, 06 May 2016 01:15:03 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121248#msg-121248 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121248#msg-121248 Peter Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 05 May 2016 21:50:55 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121247#msg-121247 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121247#msg-121247 Harvey S. Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 05 May 2016 21:23:56 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121246#msg-121246 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121246#msg-121246 ShannaG Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 05 May 2016 21:23:45 +0100 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121245#msg-121245 https://dwiggie.com/phorum/read.php?5,121245,121245#msg-121245Epilogue

“A gentleman to see you, Ma’am.”

Her butler held out the tray upon which a card lay. She picked it up and read with considerable surprise, “Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy”.

She hesitated only briefly. It had been more than ten years since they met – at his wife’s funeral, she recollected.

“Show Mr. Darcy in, Mr. Blake.”

Darcy entered the room. He must be almost five and seventy she thought. He walked stiffly with the aid of a cane but the years had otherwise been kind to him. He remained a handsome man.

“I wish to extend my condolences, Mrs. Bingley, upon the passing of your husband. He was a fine gentleman. I must also apologize for the delay in doing so but I was in Scotland visiting my son and did not learn of it until a week ago.”

She smiled and gestured to a chair. “Please sit, Mr. Darcy. I thank you for your kind words.”

“I paid a short visit to Charles and your sister while I was travelling here. He looks well and your sister is as beautiful as ever.”

“Jane never seems to change. And your sister, is she well? I seem to remember being told she was taken quite ill but was recovering.”

“Georgiana is better but I confess I worry about her. That illness taxed her sorely and she has not gotten over it completely.”

“She had her family around her and that is ever a comfort.”

“And your children, Mrs. Bingley? They are all well?”

She laughed, “Indeed they are – all seven of them. I had never thought to be so blessed for they are a great comfort and a joy. And yours, Mr. Darcy? They are well?”

“Emma and I were perhaps not as fortunate as you and James but our two sons are good men and married well.”

Darcy had married Emma Finlayson some five years after Elizabeth’s marriage. While the James Bingleys and Darcys had only occasionally been in company together, Elizabeth had formed a good opinion of the woman. She had never inquired into the particulars of the Darcys courtship. It was none of her affair and, in fact, she had only learned of the marriage a year or two after it had taken place.

“I am glad to hear it.” She replied.

“Do you live here by yourself?” He asked.

“No indeed. My eldest son and his wife and their children – well most of their children, for two are married with homes of their own – live with me. He is at his offices and Estelle and her daughters are out shopping.”

“So you have grandchildren then?” He smiled at her and she marvelled how he became even more handsome when he did so. She wondered why he had not been so pleasant when she first knew him. Perhaps age and marriage had mellowed him. It had done so for her, she knew.

“My dear Mr. Darcy, I am an old woman now. I have a too many grandchildren to keep track of, and a great-grandchild – young Elizabeth is just a year old.”

"I do not believe, Mrs. Bingley, that I can ever see you as an old woman. You were one of the handsomest women of my acquaintance when I first met you and I hold to that opinion even now.”

She stared at him uncomprehendingly.

“You are surprised, Mrs. Bingley. Did you never understand I admired you?”

She shook her head. Speechless for long moments before finally managing to stutter, “Never. . .I thought. . .you said. . .I took your attitude to be one of disdain, if I must be honest. I found you more civil before you left Hertfordshire but admiration? How could that be?”

“It is only the truth, Mrs. Bingley.” He replied, “I cannot, upon reflection, be overly surprised that you did not recognize my regard for I made every effort to conceal it from you. I had. . .well I did not wish to excite any expectations that I felt I could not fulfill.”

“You were quite successful, Mr. Darcy, I assure you. I had no expectations of you at all; and, I must confess, I quite disliked you for much of your residence in Hertfordshire.”

Darcy looked surprised. "Did James never tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"We met quite by accident some months after Charles' wedding to your sister and I confessed to him how fortunate he was to have recognized your value immediately and gotten to the point without delay. That he was lucky I was such a deliberate man, someone who did not act precipitously. Because by then I was certain then, just months after you married, that I too would have offered for you."

Elizabeth smiled to herself upon hearing Mr Darcy's confession, and thought that James must have truly enjoyed that conversation. She wondered how, after all these years, Darcy could still be so self-absorbed, so confident, so . . .certain she would have accepted him.

"No, Mr Darcy, my husband never mentioned it. It must have slipped his mind."

He accepted her words graciously, rose to take his leave, bowed over her hand and had turned to walk away when some impulse caused him to stop and turn back towards her. A small smile curled his lips.

“I have often wondered what might have happened had I chosen not to be so reticent, had instead attempted to gain your favour?”

Elizabeth's shrug was almost imperceptible. The questionable was unanswerable and she said as much.

“What is done, is done, Mr. Darcy. We can only dictate our actions. We can only live with the consequences that follow.”

With that, Darcy bowed once more and took his leave. Shortly after his departure her eldest son entered the room.

“I have” he said, “thought to have father’s portrait moved into your sitting room.”

“Thank you. I could wish for nothing more, James.”

And all thoughts of Mr. Darcy were banished and they were never to meet again.


The End]]> Peter Derbyshire Writers' GuildThu, 05 May 2016 20:25:51 +0100