Just three weeks after returning home, Elizabeth received a letter that broke her heart. After a brief illness, Mr. Barlow had passed away. Mr. Barlow had been well when they left. Indeed, the last two years had seen him return to health in ways no one envisaged. His death was so unexpected, so overwhelmingly incongruent with everything, Elizabeth struggled to believe it.
It was several days before she could even let in the reality. When she finally did, Jane and Mary were ready to console her and be consoled by her. They spent time together in Longbourn’s parlour, crying and sharing their favourite memories of their beloved friend. In the days and weeks that followed, they often found themselves in tears or laughter with thoughts of him. Their shared heartache drew them closer together, and even their careless younger sisters were struck by the way they spoke of this man they had never met and how they supported one another in their grief.
The oldest Bennet daughters donned black armbands in honour of their friend and in early spring, planted his favourite kind of rose bush in Longbourn’s garden.
As spring turned to summer, the prospect of returning to Derbyshire was once more tinged with sadness. Mrs. Bennet added a further complication when she insisted she could not spare any of her older daughters who were all quite a disappointment, having no prospects at all despite being put forward quite aggressively at several holiday parties and the two spring assemblies.
Before too many arguments on the subject could be had, Elizabeth received a letter from Georgiana which changed her position entirely. Mr. Bingley, who was looking to lease an estate, had been referred to the agent managing Netherfield, one of Longbourn’s nearest neighbours. After consulting with Darcy, he decided to come and see it to determine if it would suit his purpose. Whether the nearby presence of Miss Bennet was a factor in his decision was unknown. What was known was that Mr. Darcy would accompany him in late July to view Netherfield. Before Elizabeth could compose a reply which enquired of her friend’s plans and begged her to consider joining her brother and staying at Longbourn, Mr. Bennet received a letter of his own. He advised his family of its contents in his usual way one morning.
“I hope, my dear,” said Mr.Bennet to his wife as they were at breakfast, “that you have ordered a good dinner to-day, because I have reason to expect an addition to our family party.”
“Who do you mean, my dear? I know of nobody who is coming, I am sure, unless Charlotte Lucas should happen to call in—and I hope my dinners are good enough for her. I do not believe she often sees such at home.”
“I am expecting two gentlemen and a lady.”
Mrs.Bennet’s eyes sparkled. “Two gentlemen! How wonderful. It must be Mr. Hayes and his cousin. They were quite complimentary about Jane last week after service. But—good Lord! How unlucky! There is not a bit of fish to be got to-day. Lydia, my love, ring the bell—I must speak to Hill this moment.”
“It is not Mr.Hayes,” said her husband. “This party, which I will remind you includes a young lady, is comprised of people I never saw in the whole course of my life.”
This roused a general astonishment, and he had the pleasure of being eagerly questioned by his wife and his five daughters at once.
“What young lady, Papa?” Elizabeth asked.
“A friend of yours, actually,” was his answer, which understandably prompted more questions and some guesses.
After amusing himself some time with their curiosity, he thus explained:
“About a fortnight ago I received this letter, and last week I answered it, for I thought it a case of some delicacy and requiring early attention. It was from Mr. Darcy of Pemberley with whom some at this table are acquainted.”
The astonishment at this pronouncement was great and universal, thus allowing Mr. Bennet to explain the purpose of the letter without interruption. Mr. Darcy and his friend Mr. Bingley planned to tour the Netherfield estate, as the latter was considering taking a lease there, and Mr. Darcy would bring his sister along if she might be welcome at Longbourn while the gentlemen took rooms at the inn.
“At four o’clock, therefore, we may expect these gentlemen along with Miss Darcy,” said Mr.Bennet. “He seems to be a most conscientious friend and brother—making arrangements for all and sundry. I do not think he will prove an amusing or diverting acquaintance, but I may be wrong.”
“Miss Darcy is to stay with us?” Jane asked with evident delight.
“Yes indeed, her brother seemed to think it would only take them two days to meet with the steward and tour the property, but I had some idea that you might like to have your friend here for a longer visit, Lizzy. Was I wrong?”
“No, not at all. I would very much wish for Miss Darcy to spend as much time with us as possible.”
“I am glad to hear it, for I have invited her to spend the summer with us. Her brother accepted on her behalf after I assured him we would look after her quite well.”
“Of course we will,” Mrs. Bennet huffed. “Any friend of Lizzy’s will always be welcome at Longbourn. Her brother and his friend should be our guests as well. We are quite able to look after all of them. What is this nonsense about staying at an inn? I will not have it.”
“What you will or will not have is not relevant here, Mrs. Bennet. The gentlemen are to stay at the White Hart for two nights, and Miss Darcy will stay with us at Longbourn for several weeks at least.”
“Oh, Papa, how wonderful!” Lizzy said as she, Jane and Mary all rose to offer their father an embrace and words of thanks.
The three sisters left shortly thereafter to discuss how to make their friend at home. Before doing so, Jane assured Lydia and Kitty, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet during this entire exchange, that they would love Miss Darcy and she them. The young Bennets appeared both hopeful and sceptical at this pronouncement.
The guests were punctual in their arrival and the entire Bennet family stood in the driveway to greet them as they ascended from the carriage, which Mrs. Bennet pronounced the finest she had ever seen.
Mr. Bingley stepped down first, then reached up to help Miss Darcy, who was followed by her brother. Elizabeth restrained the urge to run and embrace her friend. Instead, she stepped forward to perform the introductions.
“Mr. Darcy, Miss Darcy, Mr. Bingley, may I present to you my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and my sisters, whom you have not yet met: Miss Catherine Bennet and Miss Lydia Bennet. Mr. Bingley, this our middle sister Miss Mary, who is already known to the Darcys.”
“We are so pleased to make your acquaintance,” Mr. Bingley told them after their party had acknowledged the introduction with bows and curtsies. “Thank you for your hospitality—I find myself already much pleased with the prospect of residing in Hertfordshire.” Though he smiled at everyone, his eyes lingered on Jane.
“Yes,” Georgiana agreed, stepping forward eagerly, “I am so pleased to finally meet you all, and I am so grateful to be invited to stay with your family.”
