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Five young Darcys would come along to fill the nursery and to enliven the halls of Pemberley as only children can. Darcy adhered to his plan to gather the family for breakfast, and Pemberley breakfasts became known for being cheerful and chaotic.

Jane and Charles stayed on at Netherfield for about a year until they were satisfied that Mrs. Bennet was entirely well. They then purchased an estate much nearer to Pemberley and moved there with their own growing brood of children.

Mary, Kitty, and Lydia all benefitted by visits to their sister Elizabeth and by the dowries that were provided for them in settlement of the damages done by Wickham and Lady Catherine. Each was given a London Season, and each in her own way managed to marry well.

Lydia realized her dream of marrying a gallant soldier, but he was a promising young captain, a gentleman’s eldest son in Colonel Fitzwilliam’s regiment. When he sold his commission some years later, he and Lydia made their home at the estate he had inherited from his father.

Kitty simply fell in love with London and did not wish to live anywhere else.

She happily joined the Darcys whenever they were in Town and eventually married a Mr. Edward Renfrew, who had been a clerk for her father’s old friend Sir Henry Martin.

Mr. Renfrew had a gift for the law and went on to a promising career as a barrister in London.

The Renfrews settled in a small but exquisite town house in an excellent neighborhood, and Kitty entertained and visited to her heart’s content.

Her husband frequently and readily asserted that she was instrumental in assisting him to advance her career.

Mary did not appear to be inclined to marry, preferring to remain quietly at Longbourn with her parents.

She was the subject of much anxious correspondence between Elizabeth and Lydia.

Elizabeth feared that the experience with Wickham might have been too much for Mary’s sensibilities and that she would never marry.

Lydia’s attitude was more relaxed, and she told her sister that Mary would wed when she found the right man—or when the right man found her.

While Mary stayed at Longbourn, occasionally visiting her sisters and the growing throng of nieces and nephews, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet continued to enjoy the society of their friends in the neighborhood surrounding Meryton.

Eventually, Mr. Bennet found that the day-to-day management of the estate had become something of a burden.

James Hill, who had become a notable farmer in his own right, became Mr. Bennet’s steward and deputy, and Longbourn prospered under his management.

Jem and Mary had formed a friendship after their shared experience with Wickham, and no one in the neighborhood was surprised when that friendship slowly grew into a much deeper mutual affection and regard.

They were quietly married in the church at Longbourn and settled initially in the farmhouse on the property Jem had received.

Eventually, Mr. Bennet wished to retire, and the young Mr. and Mrs. Hill took over the management of Longbourn, eventually inheriting the property when Mr. Bennet passed away.

Sergeant Parker remained in Darcy’s employ for years, marrying a pretty Derbyshire lass and taking her to London. He eventually rose to the position of steward at Pemberley, though he always had an eye for a puzzle or a mystery.

Anne settled down at Rosings with her cousin Fitzwilliam as everyone suspected she might.

She grew rosy and healthy, though she was never plump, and there were several little cousins in the nursery for the Darcy children to visit and play with.

Charlotte astonished everyone by accepting the hand of the new rector at Hunsford.

Slightly older than she, he was a good, sensible man—but an incurable romantic. He simply swept her off her feet.

One blustery February day, when the Darcys had recently concluded their first Christmas celebration, a footman brought a letter for Elizabeth. It was much traveled, and she noted that it came from the city of Philadelphia in the United States.

“Tis from Arabella Grant, Mrs. Mason,” said Elizabeth.

“She writes that Mr. Mason is become well established in Philadelphia. His firm is quite successful, and they have broken ground on what she calls ‘a fine, large house in the suburbs.’ She also writes that a little one is expected in the summer.”

The Bennets were frequent visitors to Pemberley. But the most frequent visitors of all were the Gardiners, who remained warm and lifelong friends of Elizabeth and Darcy.