When Mr. Bennet arrived at Netherfield, he was ushered into the library, where Darcy and Bingley were waiting. "Good morning, Bingley, Darcy. Bingley, I must say you left here rather suddenly last fall. Are you in the habit of leaving a string of broken hearts wherever you go?"

Bingley was surprised at this attack, which he had not expected. As he did not know of Mr. Bennet's strange sense of humour, he was taken aback at this greeting. His face turned red and he stuttered, "Mr. Bennet, when I left here, I had every expectation of returning very shortly. Unanticipated circumstances changed my plans, but I am here now and I have every intention of correcting any disappointments I may have caused. I assure you that I sincerely regret my change in plans last fall."

"I suppose you expect the women you disappointed to forgive you? What do you expect my Jane to do if you want to renew your attentions to her? Just forgive you?"

Bingley continued to be flustered by these continuing attacks. Darcy just sat back to see how Bingley would react as he privately felt that Mr. Bennet was right to question Bingley's sincerity. "Mr. Bennet, I fully admit that I made a huge mistake in my dealings with Miss Bennet. When I left here, I did have strong feelings for her, but no one believed that she returned my feelings. I now admit that we simply did not know her well enough to detect what she was really feeling. I assure you that my feelings for her are unchanged. When my mistake was pointed out to me, I immediately convinced Darcy to come with me so I could see if she might receive my attentions again.

"My intention is to ask you for your permission to court Miss Bennet, if she will agree. If she agrees, I hope that she will eventually accept my hand in marriage."

"What do you mean when you said that when your mistake was pointed out to you? Who pointed it out?"

Bingley did not want to implicate Darcy, but Darcy saw that he had to admit his involvement in this, "I told him. When I was in Kent, Miss Elizabeth very clearly told me how we had not understood Miss Bennet's feelings as she never displays her emotions publicly. That was one of the very serious accusations she made against me. Now, I hope she will forgive us for my error as we are here now to try to try to make amends for our past mistakes."

Mr. Bennet was not surprised that Lizzy would not have hesitated to make that accusation as she was so close to Jane. He realized that there must be a lot of detail that he had not been told of the interactions between Lizzy and Darcy. "Well then Bingley, I do give you my permission to pay court to Jane if she will have you. However, I must point out that she will have to overcome several serious doubts that she should have about you. First, do you really care for her? If you do, then why did you just leave her last fall? Second, are you constant enough for her, or might your regard stray away from her to someone else? Third, will you continue to pay more attention to the opinions of your family and friends than you will to hers? You had better be prepared to convince her that these concerns are not an issue. As I said, if she will agree for you to court her, you have my approval."

Bingley was visibly relieved to receive his permission, but the accusations stated by Mr. Bennet made him think very carefully about how he should approach his angel.

"Now, Darcy, I spoke to Lizzy and Lydia and they agree with your plans. When will you be ready to go up to Pemberley?"

"We can go any time. I just need to send a message to my Pemberley housekeeper to be ready for us. We could leave in a couple of days, as long as the ladies are ready. Miss Lydia will need to take everything as she will likely not return here for a long while. We can use my carriage, but we will need a second one for the staff and luggage. I will send for one from London as I have several there."

Mr. Bennet thought for a few moments, and then said, "All right, if we are all in agreement, we should plan to leave in four days. Now I am going back home where I know I will have to tell everyone what we have decided to do. I am not looking forward to all the questions I know I will face."

Before he left, he accepted their offer to go shooting with them in the morning. He welcomed this opportunity to get to know Bingley better in more casual circumstances.

When Mr. Bennet returned to Longbourn, he saw that all five daughters and his wife were in the sitting room, drinking tea while sewing or working on remaking bonnets. He helped himself to tea and a pastry and sat down with them. When he was ready to speak, he said, "I am glad everyone is here so I can tell you all what is going to happen. First of all, Mr. Bingley has asked for my permission to ask Jane for a formal courtship. I gave him my permission but warned him that I expect a long courtship so he can prove that he is worthy of her, if she accepts him at all. I warned him that his disappearance for so many months without a word of farewell made him appear in a very bad way."

When he said this, Lizzy went to Jane and hugged her tightly. Jane was very pink on hearing her father's very plain words, but she was smiling very happily. "Father, thank you for giving your permission. I agree that we will need a long courtship so I can be sure of his constancy. However, if he came back after so many months away, that indicates that his regard for me must be strong. He has not forgotten me after all."

Of course, Mrs. Bennet's ecstasy was obvious and very loud. She exclaimed how she was sure that Mr. Bingley would save them all from being thrown out into the hedgerows when Mr. Bennet died. She also talked loudly of the glories of Netherfield, the carriages, the jewelry, and the pin money that Jane would have. Mary moralized about the duties of a wife. Kitty spoke of balls that Mr. Bingley might host. Lydia just sat quietly, wondering at what her fate might bring, and if her father's announcement might affect her.

When the hubbub died down a bit, Mr. Bennet continued, "There is more to hear, so please be quiet. For some reason, Mr. Darcy wants to help us overcome our present situation with Lydia's disgrace. We decided that Lydia has to get away from here so the gossip will die down and not affect her sisters so much." Lydia hung her head at these words. "He offered to take her to his estate in Derbyshire and to try to find someone who might be willing to marry her, even if she is with child. He will even provide a dowry for her to make her more marriageable. I will go with her so I can give my permission if we can find someone. Lydia, I expect you will agree with whomever we find. I will try to find someone who is not too fat, too ugly, or too old. We will introduce you as a war widow, except that we will have to tell the truth to any prospective husband. We even thought of a name: Mrs. Lydia Freeman." Mr. Bennet could not help himself but to tease her as he was wont to do, even in the worst situations.

Mrs. Bennet wailed at the thought of losing her youngest and most favourite daughter, even if it meant that their disgrace should be lessened. She went to Lydia and hugged her tightly.

Mary was the first to question her father, "Father, why would Mr. Darcy go to all of this trouble and expense? Why is he getting involved in our troubles?"

When Mary asked this question, everyone else realized it was an excellent question. They were quiet and looked expectantly at Mr. Bennet, who was smiling. "Oh, yes, there is one more thing. Mr. Darcy asked that I bring Lizzy with us to Pemberley so he can court her, if she will agree to go."

Immediately, all eyes turned to Lizzy in disbelief. "Lizzy, how can this be! I thought you always hated him? I thought he never looked at you except to scorn you! What are you not telling us?"

Lizzy blushed bright red. "I guess we all misunderstood his looks. Rather than looking at me to find fault, he must have been admiring me. I have no idea why he is interested in me." She certainly did not want to tell them all about his offer of marriage in Kent, or his talk with her on Oakham Mount. She tried to look innocent.

Her mother broke the shocked silence. "Elizabeth Bennet! You sly thing! You are not telling us everything. How can you keep such secrets? Ten thousand a year! Imagine what carriages, what jewels, what pin money you will have. Mr. Bingley is nothing compared to him. My dearest daughter! Mary, Kitty, just think of the rich gentlemen she will be able to throw your way. Oh, my nerves! Jane, bring my smelling salts. Quickly!"

Of all the sisters, only Jane knew something about the past relations between Lizzy and Mr. Darcy, but she did not say anything. Mary again was the one to ask the right question. "Lizzy, what do you feel about Mr. Darcy? Will you consent to a courtship with him? Will you go to his estate with Papa?"

Lizzy was still embarrassed at all the attention and these very personal questions. "I admit my feelings toward him have changed since he first came to Netherfield. I do not dislike him. I believe he is a good man who just might suit me as a husband. I am willing to get to know him better; so, yes, I will go with Papa."

Jane expected this answer, so she said nothing. Mary went to Lizzy and hugged her. Kitty just sat there, not believing what she was hearing. Lydia was not sure what she felt as she knew her fate was in Mr. Darcy's hands. In her heart of hearts, she regretted the effects of her actions on her sisters' future.

At two that afternoon, Lizzy and Jane walked toward Meryton. Sure enough, they very soon encountered Mr. Bingley, who was waiting next to his horse. He greeted Jane very shyly, and she returned his greetings in the same manner. When he asked if he might walk with them, Lizzy replied in the affirmative. Soon, she was walking ahead of them. Bingley had offered his arm to Jane, and she accepted it, even though he was encumbered with holding the reins of his horse with his other hand. When they reached the village, Bingley left them, after receiving permission to call on Jane the next day.

"Jane, I knew that as soon as he saw you again, he would be falling in love with you just as much as he had been last fall. Just one look is all it took. Remember; make him regret his leaving so abruptly. Make him earn your regard. I suggest that you make him wait, but please, do show him your feelings for him more than you did last year. I know you two will work it out; he is perfect for you. Do not let Mama push you too fast; take your time."

With these happy words, they did their shopping and returned home to the chaos caused by their mother in her excitement about all the recent events.