The Goodness of Men

by Anngela Schroeder

  “Henry,” Darcy whispered.

  “Yes. Henry.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, before lowering his head and speaking to her belly, emotion pouring through every word. “Henry, my son. Please tell your uncle that our next child will be a boy named Fitzwilliam, and he will be taller and better at riding than his elder brother.”

  Elizabeth giggled, wiping away the tears and threw her arms around her husband, as he swung her around in circles, before he raised his eyes and whispered to the heavens, “Thank you, Brother, for once again protecting me.”

  And so, it was that Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy’s lives were complete. They had helped ease the concerns of the young women dear to them about the goodness of men. True, Jane Bennet’s belief that all men had a goodness within them could not be further from the truth. However, when situations presented themselves, true men rise to meet the challenges and adhere to the innate principles taught to them from birth—whether or not members of society would agree was none of the newlyweds’ concern.