Elizabeth was amazed and pleased to observe her sister, Lydia, radiating newfound passion and drive for something entirely novel. Her own pastime of reading novels added to Elizabeth's curiosity about the world her sister was creating. As Jane wasn't keen on discussing the current state of their household, Elizabeth chose to pay a visit to her best friend Charlotte. She brought her a new book as a birthday present; but upon arriving at Lucas Lodge to congratulate Charlotte, Mrs. Pierce informed her that everyone had left to purchase trousseau for Louise's upcoming wedding with Mr. Glouding. This news stunned Elizabeth because she did not have an intimate relationship with Louise; however, whenever she had interacted with other members of the Lucas family, they had always acted warmly toward her.
Elizabeth was happy for Lucas family , though she feared her mother's response would be less so. Mrs. Bennet and Lady Lucas were both friends and rivals, united in sharing local news but divided when it came to the fortunes of their daughters. With a married daughter now in the picture, Lady Lucas had gained an advantage over Elizabeth's mother in their private competition. She also thought of Charlotte - how would her friend feel about the situation? Despite society's disapproval of younger sisters marrying before older ones, Elizabeth felt strongly that those who found love should not be judged if they chose to get married before their elder siblings.
When Lizzy trudged toward Lucas Lodge, she saw Charlotte standing at the window of her room, seemingly lost in thought. She waved to get her attention, but Charlotte didn't react. Noticing a rosebush with snow-white roses growing nearby, Lizzy plucked one and tossed it at Charlotte's window, finally catching her friend's eye. Seeing Lizzy below, Charlotte grinned like a Cheshire cat and motioned for her to come up since there was no one home.
When Charlotte arrived upstairs, she hurriedly approached her with a radiant smile. "Oh Lizzy! You could have just walked right up instead of chucking a rose at me."
Lizzy's eyes twinkled with amusement. "You wouldn't have smiled so happily then, and Mrs. Pierce would have been horrified seeing me bring such a scandalous thing into your house." She revealed the second volume of Charlotte's beloved novel in her hands.
Charlotte's gaze widened as she saw the book. Excitedly snatching it away from Lizzy, all she could ask was, "Where did you find this? It wasn't available in any of the bookshops in Hertfordshire!" This statement made them both dissolve into laughter.
"I asked my uncle Gardiner to help me out for your birthday," Lizzy said with a sly smile. "I couldn't give it to you that day though, since none of you were home. Oh, and Mrs. Pierce mentioned something about Miss Louise's wedding plans and the shopping trip you all went on."
Charlotte nodded nervously in response. "Yes, Mr. Glouding proposed to her only recently, without even asking our father for permission to court her first." She shook her head incredulously.
Elizabeth had an amused expression on her face as she looked at Charlotte. "It's not just us who are doing peculiar things these days," she continued, "but also back in Longbourn. My youngest sister Lydia has taken up writing stories and poems! I was quite surprised by her newfound hobby, but pleased that she found something else to occupy her time besides chasing officers or attending parties."
Charlotte's eyes widened at the news. Hesitantly, she inquired, "But wouldn't it be a bit scandalous for an upper-class woman to become an author?"
"We discussed that, too," Elizabeth replied thoughtfully. "Lydia decided to publish her work under a false name."
Charlotte raised an eyebrow skeptically. "And what would that be?"
Elizabeth stared intently at the white rose she had tossed at Charlotte earlier. Then, after a while, she whispered, "Rose."
Charlotte's eyes widened as she made the connection. "Rose," she repeated thoughtfully. "It's perfect."
Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "It suits her, doesn't it? And it's much better than some of the other names she came up with."
Charlotte chuckled. "I can only imagine."
The two friends spent the rest of the afternoon discussing Lydia's newfound passion and sharing snippets of Rose's stories. As they talked, Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for her little sister. Lydia might be flighty and impulsive, but she was also creative and passionate. Perhaps there was more to her than Elizabeth had previously thought.
As the sun began to set, Elizabeth realized that she needed to start heading back to Longbourn. She stood up and brushed off her dress, preparing to say goodbye to Charlotte. "Thank you for the lovely afternoon," she said with a smile. "I always enjoy our conversations."
Charlotte walked her to the door, still smiling. "Likewise, my dear. And do give my regards to your family."
Elizabeth nodded and stepped out into the crisp autumn air. As she began to make her way towards home, her mind wandered back to Lydia and her newfound talent. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Lydia had found something that made her happy and brought her joy, while Elizabeth struggled to find her own passion in life.
Lost in thought, Elizabeth didn't notice the figure approaching her until it was too late. A rough hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams as she was dragged into the nearby woods. Elizabeth struggled against her attacker, but it was no use. Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to escape.