London: December 1811

A week after the fateful ball at Netherfield Park, Lizzy was finishing dressing for Georgiana's wedding, thinking sadly about the argument she had with her aunt the night of the ball and Jane's disappointed face.

When they reached Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet and Jane followed her to her room. Over the years she had grown used to her aunt's unfair accusations, but not to Jane doubting her.

"This is all your fault, Lizzy. Mr. Darcy, from the first moment he met Jane, has been interested in her. He never noticed you, nor will ever notice you. What I wonder is: what did you do, or what did you tell his sister about Jane? Or what did you tell Mr. Darcy about her?"

Lizzy shook her head, "Aunt, you are wrong! I would never say anything bad about Jane. You have to believe me, Jane."

Jane looked at her with sadness and doubt, she had heard Mrs. Goulding tell Lady Lucas that her son had seen Lizzy talking with Mr. Darcy close to Oakham Mount, "I don't know what to think, Lizzy." She sighed, "Why didn't you tell me you meet Mr. Darcy a few days ago in Oakham Mount?"

Lizzy's eyes widened in surprise; she didn't know somebody had seen her conversing with Mr. Darcy and before she could reply, Mrs. Bennet, shook her head and added, "Are you so jealous that a rich gentleman prefers Jane that you used your arts and allurements to separate them? I'm disgusted with you!"

Lizzy shook her head, "Aunt, what you're saying is not true. I would never do such a thing. I found Mr. Darcy in my morning walk and nothing more. It was a chance meeting!" She looked at Jane, "Jane, you must believe me!"

"I don't know what to think Lizzy. I am confused; you lied to me."

Mrs. Bennet looked at her with disgust and Jane with sadness, and finally, Mrs. Bennet told her, "As a good Christian, I've let you live in my house, but not anymore. You don't deserve all the consideration we have had for you. Tomorrow I am going to have a serious conversation with Mr. Bennet. I want you to leave Longbourn as soon as possible, and I don't want you to come back again."

With tears in her eyes, Lizzy just nodded her head and didn't even protest. She didn't know if her aunt knew that her grandfather gave Mr. Bennet £400 every year for her expenses and to supplement her cousins' dowries.

Unfortunately, Lizzy believed that Mr. Bennet spent the extra money on books and port. Since she had come to live at her uncle's house, due to mismanagement and lack of investment in new farming and irrigation techniques, Longbourn's annual earnings had dropped by £300 a year.

The following day her uncle tried to convince her to go to London with her grandfather as usual but to return to Longbourn in a few months as if nothing had happened.

Lizzy didn't know if her uncle's concern was for her well-being or simply for money. Likewise, she thanked him for everything he had done for her but was adamant that she was coming of age and wanted to live with her grandfather. She would have full access to her dowry, but before deciding on whether to buy a property with that money, she needed time and her grandfather's advice.

After talking to her uncle and again being ignored by her aunt and Jane, Lizzy sat on a bench at the edge of the garden, feeling very disappointed and sad. Unconsciously, she was crying, when her friend John Lucas saw her.

"Lizzy, are you alright? What happened to you? Has someone hurt you?", a very alarmed John asked her.

Lizzy quickly wiped away her tears and with a forced smile, she replied, "Nothing's happened. I'm just gloomy because I'm leaving for London tomorrow and probably won't be back in Longbourn for a long time." She paused and continued, "I have been living here for a long time, and I'm going to miss my cousins and friends very much."

John, like all the neighbors, had heard Mrs. Bennet say on more than one occasion that her beautiful Jane and Mr. Darcy were almost engaged. Knowing Mrs. Bennet, he was sure that she had unreasonably accused Lizzy of the simple sin of Mr. Darcy preferring her company to Jane's. It was clear to him the gentleman's supposed interest in Jane - if it ever existed - had already vanished.

Looking at her tenderly, at that moment he decided that it was better to get rid of the doubt and not live the rest of his life wondering what would have happened if...

He took both her hands and said with great emotion, "It doesn't have to be that way. The truth is, although I know it is very likely that you don't feel the same, " he paused and sighed, "I must tell you that for a few years, I have been completely in love with you. I would be the happiest man in the world if you, my beloved Elizabeth, would do me the honor of allowing me to win your heart."

Elizabeth widened her eyes upon hearing his emotional confession. She had no idea that John Lucas wanted her in that way. With great sadness for causing sorrow to an exceptional young man, she shook her head and, in a broken voice, told him clearly that unfortunately, she did not love him, but she sincerely hoped one day he would forget about her or meet a girl who would love him as he deserved.

John accepted the rejection with poise and resignation. He loved her too much to hold a grudge against her, and he knew Elizabeth hadn't done anything on purpose to make him fall in love with her.

Heartbroken, Elizabeth watched him go. That night she couldn't sleep, and she was plunged into a deep sadness thinking about Jane and John.

The next morning, her grandfather came to Longbourn. Mr. Thompson spoke alone with Mr. Bennet for a few minutes. He told him, among other things, that from now on, Lizzy was going to live with him, and therefore, he was not going to send any more money.

Jane and Mrs. Bennet did not come down to see her off. Kitty and Lydia had only a very superficial affection for Elizabeth, and they said goodbye to her without much interest. On the other hand, Mary was the only one who genuinely hugged her and invited her to visit her in Kent in a few months.

Mary was very fond of her cousin, as she was the only one in the house who paid any attention to her. Lizzy had taught her to play the piano, lent her language books, and helped her learn French. Even once, when Mary was 15 years old, Lizzy had invited her to go to her grandfather's house so that she could take lessons with a good teacher. To Mary's frustration, her mother wouldn't let her, claiming that it was more important for her to practice dance steps so she could enter society sooner. For Mrs. Bennet, the most important skills for getting a husband were to be beautiful, dance well, and always smile and praise the gentlemen...