Page 17 of A Good Memory is Unpardonable (Frolic and Romance #2)

Post Script

M y wife is perhaps the most thrillingly devious creature alive.

I finally caught her in the act of putting down her final words, in the hothouse of all places.

Needless to say, I remain astonished at her calculating wiles.

I thought she was only enjoying the smell of fresh flowers in the middle of winter, but now I discover that she has been secretly penning some rather shocking assertions about our courtship.

I confess myself intrigued that she knew or suspected many things that were either erroneous or rather too close for comfort.

I never knew that she had overheard my words to George Wickham in the alley that day, but I was equally astonished to learn that she believed I had summoned my cousin to come handle the matter for me.

To this day, I have never divulged that Richard, whom she loves as a brother, had cautioned me against acting on my feelings for her.

He may find a rather chilly reception when next he comes to Pemberley, but I trust she will forgive him when he offers to play and sing with her.

I only thank God in Heaven that first impressions are not always correct, for if they were, my life would have been an empty one, indeed.

I close this final chapter in my journal with a heart full of pride and abiding joy.

By the impertinent young lady from Hertfordshire, I was properly humbled in my youth, when a man is most willing to be corrected by a woman.

I have now spent twenty years losing chess games, attempting to read to her with her head on my chest, and trying to keep up with her quick mind in conversation.

This morning, we had the pleasure of playing with our first grandchild in the nursery, so it is safe to say we have found our harmony together.

I trust that the words we have written will find their way into the hands of future generations and that the proper measure of discernment will be applied in the reading of them.

Though they are not in accord on all points, I believe the consistencies outweigh the discrepancies.

When I pointed out the passages where we were in disagreement, Elizabeth only laughed and declared, “My dear, in cases such as these, a good memory is unpardonable.”

Whatever my loving wife has held forth, I will not decry as a falsehood.

It would be safer to state that our memories and perceptions have been slightly impacted by the passage of time.

I am not above claiming a near-perfect memory in all other matters, so perhaps I will leave it to the reader to determine whose version of the history is the most accurate.

Elizabeth and I will, I do not doubt, continue to debate over the “facts” as we separately represented them and will probably never come to a satisfactory conclusion.

But it will be most amusing to “argue” with her.

W ould you like to read more of Darcy and Elizabeth's romance? I have a delightful epistolary tale for you to try next! Dive into A Proper Introduction and laugh along with our favorite couple's letters as they find the love they were destined for!