[Pride and Prejudice] Liz's Little Vest

After a three-month gap, Mr Collins "assumed" his gossip-maker duties again.

In just two days, he took his "Miss O" around 24 homes in Longbourne.

In every household he began by talking about Mr. Darcy's knighthood--of course he also talked in passing about Mr. Darcy's friend, Mr. Bingley's marriage to his cousin Jane.

After that, he must praise and bless Mr. Darcy's love, saying that he and the legendary Miss Laura Baskin are just as good as each other.

After talking about the future Mrs. Darcy, he could not help mentioning his poor little cousin Miss Elizabeth Bennet.Everyone saw the cousin's reaction that day, and combined with Miss Bingley's confirmation, everyone more or less understood the news of Miss Elizabeth's broken love.

Collins expressed his condolences for his cousin Elizabeth, but also suggested that it was her fault.After all, it is ridiculous that a daughter of a squire with no status wants to marry His Royal Highness the Viscount.

When it comes to this, Miss Augusta always mentions her kindness.Said that in order to help Miss Elizabeth resolve the pain of broken love, she specially invited her to Rosings to attend her wedding, and would introduce young talents to her.She also assured those who cared about Elizabeth that, waiting for her return from Rosings, there would be a new companion.

At last, Mr. Collins inquired with great seriousness about Mr. Wickham, the thief.When he knew that Wickham had been ostracized by the residents of Meryton because of his devotion to duty, and had left long ago, he applauded.

"My Mr. Cole and Darcy were very good friends," concluded Miss Augusta, "and he was always there to help him and his friend Bingley out of trouble. That odious Wickham was one of those very Good example."

Mr. Collins and Miss Augusta went to disturb the neighbors of Longburn, which just gave the Bennet family a chance to be quiet.

In the rare two days of leisure, Elizabeth was conceiving her own

third work.

This time, she wants to no longer describe love in a limited way, but see the big from the small, and write a grand work.Let all those who criticize her and express dissatisfaction with her creation because of her female identity be completely convinced.

Inspired by her experience in the slums of London, Elizabeth plans to start from a seemingly small theft and then involve a series of things.

Although there is a beginning, the structure is not clear, and she still feels that the overall framework is not large enough.So Elizabeth has been sitting in the study for the past two days, not going out much.

Naturally, he did not feel the spread of Mr. Collins' rumors.

It wasn't until she went to the Netherfield Manor on Sunday to attend the ball that she realized something was wrong.

Many people at the ball looked at her with sympathetic eyes, and before she could understand what was going on, she saw Miss Augusta approaching her.

Miss Augusta hugged Elizabeth's arm very kindly: "Dear Elizabeth, I have already promised my friends in Longbourn that I will help you get out of love."

Elizabeth: "..."

Elizabeth: Am I broken in love?

Seeing Elizabeth's blank expression, Augusta thought that she was deliberately covering up the pain of losing love, and said loudly: "Elizabeth, I am about the same age as you, and I may understand your feelings best. You don't have to worry about losing Darcy's attention." And feel painful, because I will give you the same attention. What kind of person do you like, tell me quickly, I happen to know a lot of outstanding young talents."

Elizabeth: "..."

Elizabeth said coldly: "Mr. Darcy and I are not what you imagined. Thank you for your kindness, I don't need it."

She was about to leave, and Augusta quickly stopped her: "Dear Elizabeth, I am not happy to see you being so negative. For you, I specially brought some friends I know to the ball! Look at Weston Officer, although he is older, he still looks handsome in red and white military uniform... Look at Mr. Orlando, he works in a hospital in London and is a good support... Look—"

Elizabeth couldn't stand Augusta's nagging, and when she saw Charlotte walking towards her, she quickly got rid of her nagging and walked towards her friend.

Charlotte also looked worried about her.

Elizabeth: "..."

She originally didn't want to accept the title as Elizabeth Bennett, in order to keep a low profile and not attract too many people's attention in Longbourn, so that she could be more quiet and leisurely.

Now, however, it appears that, fueled by Mr Collins and his fiancée, it's backfiring.

She finally understood what it meant to "lift a rock and shoot herself in the foot"!

"Although I have no expectations for marriage," Charlotte sighed, "I still hope that you will find love, Eliza. I have seen the interaction between you and Mr. Darcy very clearly. I thought you liked each other , It’s just that it didn’t break through. I was really happy for you at the time, but I didn’t expect that things would develop to such a point in just two months.”

Elizabeth smiled bitterly: "Dear Charlotte, we are really not what you believe."

"Eliza—" Charlotte paused, with a sad tone in her tone, "I know you have always been a very proud person—so you may not be able to admit such things. But since you don't want to mention it, I also I won't say anything more. I just want to know, what can I do for you now?"

Elizabeth said helplessly: "You can walk with me."

As things stood, Mr. Darcy's purpose in throwing the ball—to dance with her—was evidently impossible to accomplish.

The way she looks at Darcy now is full of helplessness.

According to the current degree of trust in the rumors, no one would believe Elizabeth's announcement that she was Miss Laura Baskin, or Darcy's statement that she had no love affair.

Under such circumstances, for the sake of Elizabeth's reputation, Darcy would naturally not show too much attention to her.

Therefore, although he proposed to hold the ball, Darcy now shows an attitude of "don't want to dance, don't get close to strangers".This made Mr. Bingley and others very confused, but soon, they suddenly realized.

There were not many married ladies present, and Darcy did not dance with unmarried ladies, obviously showing his loyalty to Viscount Laura Baskin!

They understand.

Darcy had no intention of dancing.Apart from Darcy, Elizabeth has no intention of dancing with other men, so leaving this dreary ballroom full of rumors now is the best choice at the moment.

Charlotte saw her friend like this, so naturally she didn't want to dance.

For her, helping Elizabeth get out of her sad state of mind is the most important thing.

At this point, not long after Elizabeth entered the ballroom, she and Charlotte left silently, taking a slow walk in the courtyard of Netherfield Manor.

Elizabeth looked at the sky and suddenly felt that the moon in London was rounder.

After walking for more than ten minutes, Elizabeth suddenly paused when she was about to reach the end of the yard.

In the familiar pavilion not far ahead, the moonlight outlined a familiar figure from the back.

He actually came back?

Her face was stiff, and there was a trace of discomfort in her heart, not to mention disgust, but she didn't really want to see him either.

The author has something to say:

Today's Elizabeth is Elizabeth ... Miss Bennett QwQ.