The next morning, she told her father of her decision. He was delighted he would get to see the Pemberley library and that at least two of his daughters would get to stay at a great estate. However, several of his family at Longbourn were not interested in what he had to say about Pemberley as they had just learned that the militia was leaving Meryton to go to Brighton for the summer. Mr. Bennet would not even consider having his family follow them there. The keenness of the loss of red coats was felt especially by Lydia as she believed that a red uniform was the greatest attribute a man could have. Her mother definitely shared this belief, and Kitty, as was her habit, agreed with them.
But the gloom of Lydia's grief was shortly cleared away; for she received an invitation from Mrs. Forster, the young wife of the Colonel of the regiment, to accompany her to Brighton as her guest. This invaluable friend was a very young woman, and very lately married. A resemblance in good humour and good spirits had recommended her and Lydia to each other, and out of their three months' acquaintance they had been intimate two. Lydia flew about the house in restless ecstasy, calling for everyone's congratulations, and laughing and talking with more violence than ever; whilst the luckless Kitty continued in the parlour repining at her fate in terms as unreasonable as her accent was peevish. "I cannot see why Mrs. Forster should not ask me as well as Lydia. Though I am not her particular friend, I have just as much right to be asked as she has, and more too, for I am two years older."
In vain did Elizabeth try to convince her father that allowing Lydia to go to Brighton without any family to chaperone her was not a good idea. She represented to him all the improprieties of Lydia's general behaviour, the little advantage she could derive from the friendship of such a woman as Mrs. Forster, and the probability of her being yet more imprudent with such a companion at Brighton, where the temptations must be greater than at home. He heard her attentively, and then said, "Lydia will never be easy till she has exposed herself in some public place or other, and we can never expect her to do it with so little expense or inconvenience to her family as under the present circumstances."
Elizabeth continued to protest the possible negative consequences of Lydia's imprudent behaviour, but Mr. Bennet could not be swayed from his decision to let her go. He explained his decision as follows: "Do not make yourself uneasy, my love. Wherever you and Jane are known, you must be respected and valued and you will not appear to less advantage for having a couple of—or I may say—three very silly sisters. We shall have no peace at Longbourn if Lydia does not go to Brighton. Let her go then. Colonel Forster is a sensible man, and will keep her out of any real mischief; and she is luckily too poor to be an object of prey to anybody. At Brighton she will be of less importance even as a common flirt than she has been here. The officers will find women better worth their notice. Let us hope, therefore, that her being there may teach her her own insignificance. At any rate, she cannot grow many degrees worse without authorizing us to lock her up for the rest of her life."
Elizabeth was not satisfied with his answer but knew there was no point in arguing further. Her father had made up his mind and was thinking mainly of their trip to Pemberley. He retreated into his library and wrote to Mr. Darcy telling him of Elizabeth's reconsideration. He suggested a date two weeks in the future so her ankle would be fully healed before they left.
That night at dinner he mentioned his anticipated trip to Pemberley and said that he had been invited to take two of his daughters with him for company. He said that Lizzy would be coming as she knew Mr. Darcy best, and he said he wanted Kitty to come as Lydia would be gone to Brighton and Kitty was closest to the same age as Miss Darcy. He gave stern warning to Kitty that he expected her to act as a lady and not embarrass them. Kitty was not sure about going as there may not be much for her to do there. Lizzy told her about some of the diversions they may be able to enjoy, including the gardens, learning to ride horses properly, taking open carriage rides, shopping, and touring the country. She hinted that there might be eligible men in the area, so Kitty was somewhat mollified.
