Elizabeth thought that Mr. Darcy would bring his sister to visit her the following day. However, they arrived at the inn in Lambton that very morning, shortly after Georgiana had reached Pemberley.
When Elizabeth saw their carriage from the window, she was very nervous. She wanted to make a good impression, but she was afraid she would be too embarrassed to speak. Her uncle and aunt, the Gardiners, were also very surprised. They began to suspect that Mr. Darcy must be in love with their niece; otherwise, he would not be so attentive to her.
When Miss Darcy was introduced, Elizabeth realized that the young girl was just as nervous as she was. In town, people said that Georgiana Darcy was very proud, but Elizabeth saw at once that she was only very shy. Georgiana was only sixteen, but she was tall and graceful, with a gentle and kind face. Elizabeth felt relieved that the girl was so easy to like.
Soon after, they heard a quick step on the stairs. It was Mr. Bingley! He entered the room with his usual friendly smile. Elizabeth had stopped being angry with him a long time ago, and she was happy to see him so cheerful. He asked about her family in a kind way.
The Gardiners watched the scene closely. They noticed how Darcy looked at Elizabeth with deep admiration. It was clear to them that he was very much in love.
Elizabeth was busy trying to understand everyone’s feelings. When she looked at Mr. Bingley, she thought of her sister Jane. She wondered if he still cared for her. At one point, when the others were talking, Bingley said to Elizabeth in a regretful voice, "It is a very long time since I last saw you. It has been more than eight months. We have not met since the 26th of November."
Elizabeth was pleased that he remembered the exact date of the ball at Netherfield. She felt sure that he was thinking of Jane.
She also watched Mr. Darcy. He was polite and civil to everyone, including her aunt and uncle. This was a huge change! A few months ago, he had looked down on her family, but now he was trying hard to please them. He was no longer cold or proud. He seemed like a completely different man.
Before they left, Mr. Darcy and his sister invited the Gardiners and Elizabeth to dinner at Pemberley. They accepted, and the visit was set for two days later. Mr. Bingley told Elizabeth that he had a lot more to ask her about their friends in Hertfordshire. Elizabeth knew he wanted to talk about Jane, and this made her happy.
After the visitors left, the Gardiners talked about how much they liked Mr. Bingley. They also realized that Mr. Darcy was truly in love with Elizabeth. They had heard the housekeeper’s praise, and now they saw his good manners for themselves. They decided that the stories about his bad character must be wrong. In Lambton, they also found out that Wickham was not well-liked; he had left the town with many debts, which Mr. Darcy had paid.
That night, Elizabeth lay awake for a long time thinking about Mr. Darcy. She certainly did not hate him anymore. Instead, she felt respect and, most of all, gratitude. She was grateful that he still loved her, even after she had been so rude to him in the past. He had forgiven her and was now being incredibly kind to her friends and family. She wasn't sure if she was in love with him yet, but she was starting to care for him very much.
The next morning, Mr. Gardiner went to Pemberley to go fishing with Mr. Darcy and some other gentlemen. Elizabeth and her aunt planned to visit Georgiana Darcy later that day. Elizabeth was looking forward to it, though she still felt a little nervous about seeing Mr. Darcy again.