Pride and Prejudice Chapter 42 Summary

Elizabeth realizes that her parents' marriage is not a model marriage, and her father's amusement at his wife's foolishness has always made her feel badly.
Elizabeth now sees how such an unfortunate marriage affects children, and she begins to judge her father. Although Mrs. Bennet might have been silly and vain, he could have protected his daughters and raised them as respectable young women.
Lydia writes rarely and mostly about the new gowns she has bought or her latest flirtations.
Mrs. Gardiner writes to say that she and her husband are going to Derbyshire. Elizabeth is invited to go with them. Derbyshire is Mr. Darcy's country and Elizabeth wonders if she will be able to enjoy it without constantly thinking about him.
Soon Elizabeth is in Derbyshire and Mrs. Gardiner urges her to visit Pemberley, Darcy's estate.
Elizabeth doesn't want to go, for obvious reasons. That evening, though, the chambermaid lets her know that the family is not down for the summer. That means there's no risk of running into Darcy.
The next morning, Elizabeth tells her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner that she would like to go see Pemberley after all.