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Epilogue

Happy for all
her maternal feelings was the day on which Mrs. Bennet got rid of her last
daughter. Mary, in a fine gown, standing up in church next to a comfortably
rich man in his prime – it was a sight that good lady had never expected to
see. And yet now it seemed to her perfectly right and reasonable that one of
her offspring should again preside at Netherfield.

Mrs. Bennet’s
enjoyment had not ceased since her return from Derbyshire. First, she had the
satisfaction of announcing to all her friends that her daughter Kitty was now
Mrs. Tristan Collins and would be remaining at Longbourn as its mistress. Then,
when the furor had died down, the upcoming nuptials between Mary and Mr.
Farnsworth had been publicized, prompting another gratifying round of
felicitations.

In all this
merriment, there was one occasion for sadness, however. At the church, the
empty place in the pew beside Mrs. Bennet was a poignant reminder of the absent
head of the family. Had Mr. Bennet known what revolutionary changes would occur
that year, he surely would have found it worth his while to remain on earth a
little longer. As it was, he was consigned to observe these events from afar,
from his seat amongst the angels.

Although Mr.
Bennet was not present in body on the day Mary and Harrison Farnsworth
exchanged their vows, a cloud of witnesses were there to represent him: his
widow, his five daughters, their respective husbands, and a growing throng of
grandchildren. With all these to bear testimony to the mark he had left on the
world, there would be no doubt of his memory living on into the foreseeable
future.

To the sum of
his natural grandchildren, Mr. Bennet could that day add those he was acquiring
by Mary’s marriage – a healthy-looking boy of nine and a pair of fine girls,
twelve and fourteen years of age, all of whom were in their best clothes and
behaving tolerably well. These were much regarded and much talked over by those
interested persons who had never before set eyes on them. During the wedding breakfast
at Netherfield, following the ceremony, Kitty observed that the three appeared
very happy about their father’s marriage. Jane viewed the trio with sympathy
and said how pleased she was to know that the children would now have a mother
again.

Lydia’s thoughts on the topic were less charitable. “I do not envy Mary,” said she. “Three
to care for, and not one of them her own! I daresay the only saving grace is
that they are already half grown, and she may hope to be soon rid of them.”

Elizabeth, who
saw signs of mischief in the boy especially, was of the opinion that Mary would
have her work cut out for her there.

“Your sister
will manage very well, with her new husband’s help,” Darcy told her. “He is not
the sort to tolerate tomfoolery for long, and I would wager nothing much gets
the better of him – certainly not one small boy.”

With an arch
look, Elizabeth told him, “Ah, but I have seen with my own eyes the power of
one small boy to bring a proud man to his knees. And where there are three
children, the poor man does not stand a chance against them.”

Darcy answered
dryly, “How lucky, then, if he has a sensible wife to stand in the breach, lest
the man be completely undone. No one wants that.”

“I feel certain
it is no longer Mary and Mr. Farnsworth of whom we are speaking, Mr. Darcy, but
of ourselves.” She then continued in a whisper. “That being the case, sir, I
must disagree with you and say that I think I should rather
like
seeing
you completely undone.”

Whilst Mr.
Darcy joined his wife in the indulgence of these private musings, the rest of
the company continued unawares. They ate and they drank. They toasted the happy
couple, wishing them health, wealth, and length of days. Then finally they
waved as the newlyweds departed on their wedding journey to Spain.

For an idyllic
month, Harrison and Mary Farnsworth escaped the English winter to bask in the
temperate heat of the Mediterranean sun and of each other’s company. They often
strolled along the beach and dined on the sumptuous local cuisine before once
again retreating to the privacy of their rented villa overlooking the sea. If
sufficient warmth were ever lacking, which it hardly ever was, either he or she
was sure to find some inconsequential point of differing opinion that admitted
spirited debate. Were the wines of Spain superior or inferior to those made in France? Which was the more beautiful – the sunset they were currently enjoying or the one
of the previous night? The friction of the ensuing argument never failed to
kindle a fire of a kind best enjoyed behind closed doors. In this form, the
bride and groom were able to carry home a share of the romantic Spanish
atmosphere to enjoy ever after.

Mr. Farnsworth
had arranged that certain changes be made at Netherfield whilst he was away, in
order to make his bride’s homecoming more agreeable. For one, all of her
belongings were to be properly installed in the house, with special care taken
over her books, which henceforth would occupy a section of their own in the
main library. Secondly, a new suite of rooms was to be fitted up for their
mutual use, so that the second Mrs. Farnsworth would not be obliged to sleep in
the very shadow of the first. Most importantly, however, the more recent
mistress of Netherfield was to be completely exorcised from the house. Miss
Lavinia Farnsworth had been instructed by her brother to pack her things and
go, not to return even as a visitor until she was prepared to make a full
apology to Mary for her many acts of grievous ill-usage.

These things
accomplished, Netherfield stood ready and in eager anticipation of the return
of its master and new mistress. When Mr. Farnsworth handed his wife out of the
carriage at the front door, she was hardly recognizable to the household’s
servants, who had assembled in welcome. Gone were the weeds of a daughter in
mourning. Gone were the severe dress and coiffeur of the governess, replaced by
a softer, more stylish and elegant picture. No one was likely to mistake the
lady for a servant again.

“Welcome home,
Mrs. Farnsworth,” said Mrs. Brand at the front of the receiving line.

Mary smiled and
nodded her head to her housekeeper friend, and then acknowledged the succession
of other familiar faces in a similar fashion. Lastly, she and her husband came
to the children, who were waiting on the porch, and here all formality gave
way. Nothing less than a fervent embrace would do for each of them, and then
everybody seemed to be talking at once. Questions flew back and forth with no
time for the answers.

“Are you well,
Michael?”

“Did you see
any bull fights in Spain, Papa?”

“How are your
studies progressing, Gwendolyn? Have you had any letters from your Bancroft
cousins?”

“What did you
bring us from your trip?”

“Dear Grace,
how are you?”

All these ran
together before one question stood out from the rest.

“Oh, what shall
I call you now?” Grace asked Mary.

Mary was taken
aback and silenced.

“I cannot
continue calling you Miss Bennet any longer, can I?” the girl added.

“No, I suppose
not,” Mary answered, looking to her husband for assistance.

Mr. Farnsworth
crouched down to make himself equal to his young daughter’s height. “Would you
like to call her ‘Mama,’ Gracie?” he asked. “It would be perfectly acceptable
if you would.”

Grace
vigorously nodded her head, and so it was settled for the two younger children.
Gwendolyn, who retained a stronger impression of her natural mother, received
permission to call Mary by her given name for the time being.

Mary had been
in training for the children’s mother over all her years as their governess.
And four weeks in Spain with Harrison had taught her the first important
lessons in the art of being his wife. Now another month was required to make
her equally confident as mistress of Netherfield. After that period had
elapsed, the Farnsworths gave a ball to celebrate their marriage with all their
friends and neighbors.

The Bingleys
and the Darcys came from the north, but Mary’s other two sisters were too far
advanced with child to appear. There was a delegation of select friends from London invited, as well as the usual families from that corner of Hertfordshire where the
Netherfield family resided.

Gwendolyn and
Grace came in to watch Mary dress that evening.

“Please, Mary,”
said Gwendolyn, “may I not come to the ball tonight? I am nearly fifteen.”

“Oh, Gwen,”
Mary answered, stroking her new daughter’s cheek with her gloved hand, “you
must not be in such a hurry. You will have balls and parties enough in another
year or two, and we shall be sure to include your Bancroft cousins,” she added
with a wink. “For tonight, however, you must be content to watch the dancing
from the doorway.”

The girl’s eyes
twinkled with fun. “Like when we crept down and spied on the ball last summer?”

“Exactly, only
this time you need not be so secretive because you and Grace have my permission,
and your father’s.”

So Grace and
Gwendolyn were there to observe the general splendor of the scene in the
ballroom that night. Mary looked every inch the lady as her distinguished
husband led her out onto the floor to begin the first dance.

“The moment is
here at last, my love,” he told her.

“I am not
certain I understand you, Harrison.”

“Nine months
ago, I made you – I made myself – a promise. You would not dance with me that
night in the library, but I vowed then and there that another time you would.
Now, here we are. I have kept my word by bringing it to pass,” he said, ending
in a tone of triumph.

“Ah, yes,” said
Mary wryly. “How well I remember your words on that occasion. You cannot take
full credit for their accomplishment, however.”

“And why not?”
he asked indignantly. “I should like to know who else claims a share in it.”

“Have you
forgotten the part Elizabeth played? And
I
must demand a portion of the
credit as well, if wishful thinking counts for anything.” Mary looked straight
into the cool, blue fire of her husband’s eyes. “For I assure you that not a
day has passed between that night and this when I have not pictured myself
being swept away in your arms.”

Harrison
Farnsworth returned her penetrating gaze, and one side of his mouth curled decidedly
upward. He tugged his wife a bit closer; the music of the opening dance began;
and with its heady strains, they moved off together as one.

The End

About the Author

Author Shannon Winslow specializes in writing fiction
for fans of Jane Austen.
The Darcys of Pemberley
, her popular sequel to
Pride
and Prejudice
, was her debut novel in 2011.
For Myself Alone
– a
stand-alone Austen-inspired story – followed in 2012. Now comes
Return to
Longbourn
, the next chapter in the continuing
Pride and Prejudice
saga. Shannon has something entirely different waiting in the wings – a
contemporary “what if” novel entitled
First of Second Chances
(date of
publication yet to be announced). After that, she has in mind a
Persuasion
tie-in, which is currently in the planning stage.

Her two sons grown, Ms. Winslow lives with her husband in the log home
they built in the countryside south of Seattle, where she writes and paints in
her studio facing Mt. Rainier.

For more information, visit
www.shannonwinslow.com
.

Follow Shannon on Twitter (as JaneAustenSays) and on Facebook.

Appendix

Author’s Note:
Below you will find all the direct Jane Austen quotes used in this novel. In
some cases, slight changes were made from the original text to allow the
excerpted passages to fit more seamlessly into the manuscript. The reader may
recognize other familiar phrases, too short and numerous to cite here, which
also point to Miss Austen’s work.

Key:
References
are followed by their
source –
book title and chapter, in abbreviated
form. Abbreviations are as follows: P – Persuasion, NA – Northanger Abbey,
S&S – Sense and Sensibility, P&P – Pride and Prejudice, E – Emma, MP – Mansfield Park.

Chapter 1:
It is a truth universally acknowledged…P&P, opening line. Mrs. Bennet was
really in a most pitiable state. P&P-23. “You look pale. How much you must
have gone through. P&P-47. I was going to look for you…She followed him
thither [; and] her curiosity to know what he had to tell her [was] heightened
by the supposition of its being in some manner connected with the [letter] he
held. P&P-57.

Chapter 2:
[Elizabeth] lifted up her eyes in amazement, but was too much oppressed to make any reply.
P&P-47. It sometimes happens that a woman is handsomer at twenty-nine than
she was ten years before. P-1.

Chapter 3:
It did come, and exactly when it might be reasonably looked for. NA-26 “What is
there of good to be expected?” P&P-49. Three thousand pounds [! He] could
spare so considerable a sum with little inconvenience. S&S-1.

Chapter 4:
Bless me, how troublesome they are sometimes! P-6. …not at all afraid of being
long unemployed. There [are] places in town, offices where inquiry would soon
produce something… E-35.

Chapter 5:
…must be in want of a wife…the rightful property of [some] one or other of
[their] daughters. P&P-1. They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk
that led to the copse. [Elizabeth] was determined to make no effort for
conversation… P&P-56. I feel myself called upon by our relationship… to
condole with you on the grievous affliction you are now suffering under, of
which [we were] yesterday informed by a letter from [Hertfordshire].
P&P-48.

Chapter 6:
“And what am I to do on the occasion?” P&P-20. “I will make no promise of
the kind.” P&P-56.

Chapter 7:
“I
do assure you, Sir, that I have no pretensions whatever to that kind of
elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man.” P&P-19.

Chapter 8:
“For
heaven’s sake, madam, speak lower. What advantage can it be to you to offend
Mr. [Darcy]? You will never recommend yourself [to his friend] by so doing.”
P&P-18.  The [Frank Churchill] so long talked of, so high in interest, was
actually before her. E-23

Chapter 9: 
“I
wish I were too. I read it a little as a duty, but it tells me nothing that
does not vex and weary me.”  NA-14.

Chapter 10: 
“I
have not the pleasure of understanding you.” P&P 20

Chapter 11:
…he
bore with the ill-judged officiousness of the mother, and heard all her silly
remarks with [a] forbearance and command of countenance…P&P-55.  …when
suddenly the clouds united over their heads, and a driving rain set full in
their face… to which the exigence of the moment gave more than usual propriety;
it was that of running with all possible speed…S&S-9

Chapter 12:
[we] are so very, very different in all [our] inclinations and ways, that I
consider it as quite impossible [we] should ever be tolerably happy together…
MP-35 

Chapter 13:
“I have the greatest dislike to the idea of being over-trimmed.” E-17

Chapter 14:
 
He took her hand, pressed it, and [certainly] was on the point of carrying it
to his lips when, from some fancy or other, he suddenly let it go. Why he
should feel such a scruple, why he should change his mind when it was all but
done, she could not perceive… The intention, however, was indubitable. E-45

Chapter 15:
 
“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the
will of others.” P&P-31

Chapter 17:
 
[They] must be a great loss to your family. P&P-45  I know he has the
highest opinion in the world of [all your family,] and looks upon
you[rself]…quite as his own sister[s]. S&S-22

Chapter 20:
 
What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant?
P&P-43,  They descended the hill, crossed the bridge, and drove to the
door… P&P-43

Chapter 21:
 
“It is not time or opportunity that is to determine intimacy; it is disposition
alone. Seven years would be insufficient to make some people acquainted with
each other, and seven days are more than enough for others.” S&S-12

Chapter 22:
…she felt it to be her duty, to try to overcome all that was excessive, all
that bordered on selfishness, in her affection for [Edmund]. To call or to
fancy it a loss, a disappointment, would be a presumption for which she had not
words strong enough to satisfy her own humility. To think of him as [Miss
Crawford] might be justified in thinking, would [in her] be insanity. To her he
could be nothing under any circumstances; nothing dearer than a [friend].
MP-27.

Chapter 24:
 
Under these unpromising auspices, the parting took place and the journey began.
NA-2

Chapter 28:
 
“[Mr.] Bennet, have you no more lanes hereabouts in which [Lizzy] may lose her
way [again today]?” “…walk to Oakham Mount [this morning.] It is a nice long
walk, and [Mr. Darcy has] never seen the view.” Etc. P&P-59

Chapter 29:
 
“You must be satisfied with such admiration as I can honestly give. I call it a
very fine country – the hills are steep, the woods seem full of fine timber,
and the valley looks comfortable and snug – with rich meadows and several neat
farm houses scattered here and there. It exactly answers my idea of a fine
country, because it unites beauty and utility. And I daresay it is a
picturesque one too, because you admire it.” S&S-18.  “I will hear whatever
you like. I will tell you exactly what I think.” E-49

Chapter 33:
 
“let me intreat you to say and look everything that may set his heart at ease,
and incline him to be satisfied with the match.” E-46

Chapter 34:
 
Her heart sunk within her… exertion was indispensably necessary, and she
struggled so resolutely against the oppression of her feelings, that her
success was speedy, and for the time complete. S&S-22

Chapter 36:
 
“Is there no one to help me?”…as if all his own strength were gone. P-12

Chapter 37:
 
“Say nothing of that… It has been my own doing, and I ought to feel it.”
P&P-48

Chapter 39:
 
“I am determined to go directly. I have said nothing about it to any body. It
would only be giving trouble and distress.” E-42 

Chapter 41:
 
A speedy cure must not be hoped, but everything was going on as well as the
nature of the case admitted. P-13

Chapter 42:
 
“You may ask questions which I shall not choose to answer.” P&P-56.  “Do
anything rather than marry without affection.” P&P-59

Chapter 43:
 
“A most suitable connection every body must consider it – but I think it might
be a very happy one.” P-17.  “A little sea-bathing would set me up forever.”
P&P-41.  “The only wonder was, what they could be waiting for, till the
business [at Lyme came]; then, indeed, it was clear enough that they must wait
till [her brain was set to right.]” P-18.

Chapter 48:
 
…made the important communication. The effect was most extraordinary; for on
first hearing it, Mrs. Bennet sat quite still and unable to utter a syllable.
Nor was it under many, [many] minutes that she could comprehend what she heard…
She began at length to recover, to fidget about in her chair, get up, sit down
again, wonder, and bless herself. “Good gracious! Lord bless me!” P&P-59

Chapter 49:
“I must go farther back.” S&S-31,  “You may imagine what I felt and how I
acted.” P&P-35