Pride and Prejudice Part IV

After Lydia's departure to Brighton, Elizabeth prepares for a summer trip with the Gardiners, who are planning to travel North. She is very fond of her aunt, who is a sensible kind woman and very unlike Mrs Bennet. THey go to see the beauty spots of Derbyshire and then discover that they are near to Pemberley, Darcy's home. Mrs Gardiner suggests that they go there for a visit, but Elizabeth tries to get out of it. However, she tries to find out if the Darcy family are likely to be there and agrees to go when she learns that they are not going to be there. She and her aunt and uncle visit the house, and find that the housekeeper, Mrs Reynolds is clearly fond of Darcy, but she likes the house. However, while she is exploring the gardens, she finds Darcy, who has come to the house a day ahead of his party, and she is horrified that he might think she was trying to see his house. However, Darcy is polite and friendly and welcomes her aunt and uncle, inviting them to meet his party of friends when they come the next day. The Gardiners who are in trade, are surprised at his easy manner and so is Elizabeth. She meets Georgiana, his sister, whom Wickham had told her was a very haughty girl, and realises that the girl is merely very shy. She understands more and more that Wickham told her a lot of untruths and that Darcy is a far more admirable man in spite of his pride. Then, she gets a letter from Jane, express, to say that Lydia has eloped from Brighton with Wickham and then a further letter to say that she has not gone to Scotland, but disappered and they fear that he never intended to marry her.. She meets Darcy and tells him the awful news and tells him that Lydia will have lost her reputation. He lets her go and she and the Gardiners return to Longbourn. Soon afterwards, they get news from Mr Gardiner that they have found Lydia and that she is going to be married to Wickham. Mr Bennet realises that he will need to buy Wickham off in order to enforce a marriage in a way that minimises the scandal. Mrs Bennet is delighted to have one of her girls married, not seeming to understand that Lydia's marriage will cause a lot of talk...