London: December 1811
A week after the fateful ball at Netherfield Park, Elizabeth 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.
Upon arrival at Longbourn, Mrs. Bennet and Jane followed her to her room. She had grown accustomed to her aunt's unjust accusations over the years, but she was taken aback by Jane's disbelief in her.
Looking contemptuously at Elizabeth, Mrs. Bennet said, "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 he ever notice you. What I wonder is: what did you do, or what lies did you tell his sister about Jane? Or what lies did you tell Mr. Darcy about her? His change of attitude doesn't make any sense otherwise. Are you so jealous that a rich gentleman prefers Jane over you that you had to ruin her relationship with him?"
Elizabeth shook her head vehemently, "Aunt, what you are saying is not true! I would never say anything bad about Jane." She looked at Jane imploringly, "Jane, you must believe me."
Jane looked at Elizabeth with sadness and many doubts. She had heard Mrs. Goulding tell Lady Lucas that her son had seen Elizabeth talking with Mr. Darcy very early in the morning close to Oakham Mount, "I don't know what to think, Lizzy." Jane sighed heavily and asked, "Why didn't you tell me you met Mr. Darcy a few days ago in Oakham Mount?"
Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise. She was not aware that somebody had seen her conversing with Mr. Darcy. Before she could reply, Mrs. Bennet shook her head and looked at Elizabeth with disgust. "Are you so jealous that a rich gentleman prefers Jane that you used your arts and allurements to separate them? You are a fallen woman, and I am disgusted with you!"
Elizabeth shook her head, "Aunt, you are wrong! I would never do such a thing. By chance, I found Mr. Darcy on my morning walk and nothing more. It was a chance meeting!" She looked at Jane imploringly, "Jane, you must believe me!"
"I am confused, Lizzy. You lied to me."
Mrs. Bennet looked at Elizabeth with contempt and finally said, "As a good Christian, I've let you live in my house for several years, but not anymore. You don't deserve all the consideration and care 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, Elizabeth just nodded her head and didn't even protest. She didn't know if her aunt knew that her grandfather gave Mr. Bennet £300 every year for her expenses and to supplement her cousins' dowries.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth believed that Mr. Bennet had been spending the extra money on expensive 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 with Mrs. Bennet and Jane.
Elizabeth was not sure if her uncle's concern was for her well-being and happiness 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 her money, she needed time to think about her future and her grandfather's sound advice.
After talking to her uncle, and again being ignored by her aunt and Jane, Elizabeth 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.
Alarmed at seeing Elizabeth crying, John sat on the bench next to her and asked, "Lizzy, are you alright? What happened to you? Has someone hurt you?"
Elizabeth 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 morning and probably won't be back in Longbourn for a long time." She paused and with a forced smile 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 Elizabeth 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 and your hand in marriage."
Elizabeth was very surprised upon hearing John's emotional confession. She had no idea that John Lucas cared for her in that way. With great sadness for causing sorrow to an exceptional young man, she shook her head. In a broken voice she told him clearly that unfortunately, she did not love him, but she sincerely hoped one day he would forget about her and meet a young woman 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. He couldn't force her to love him.
Heartbroken, Elizabeth watched him go.
That night Elizabeth couldn't sleep, and she was plunged into a deep sadness thinking about Jane and John.
The next morning, her grandfather arrived at Longbourn. Immediately, Mr. Thompson had a heated and private conversation with Mr. Bennet. Among other things, Mr. Thompson stated that Elizabeth would be living with him full-time. Therefore, he would not send any more money to Longbourn.
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. Elizabeth had taught her how to play the piano, lent her language books, and helped her with her French lessons. Even once, when Mary was fifteen years old, Elizabeth had invited her to stay with her at her grandfather's house so that she could take lessons with a good piano master. To Mary's frustration, her mother didn't allow her to go, claiming that it was more important for her to practice dance steps so she could enter society sooner. According to Mrs. Bennet, the most important skills to catch a husband were to be a good dancer, always smile, flirt, and praise the gentleman.