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“I think you should write to your uncle. Ask to return to Gracechurch Street, and request that he send his carriage on the 6th.”

“What if my father refuses?”

“Your uncle still has your guardianship, does he not? It has not been revoked?”

“If I defy my father, even if legally permissible, all it takes is him revoking the guardianship and ordering me home. I would still have five months until my majority.”

It was Claire’s turn to sigh.

“Then do not request the carriage but explain the situation to him.”

Elizabeth stared vacantly out of her window, wondering how her life had managed to get to this point.

“No, I do not think I will write to my uncle. I do not think he would subject himself to close to 50 miles of carriage travel to come and intercede with my parents, but I cannot rule it out.”

Little did either know that events were proceeding as they had planned, but from an unexpected direction.

--

“Come in and sit down please Elizabeth.”

That her father referred to her as ‘Elizabeth’ rather than ‘Lizzie’ was her first sign that this was not going to be a relaxed chat. She had been invited in on two occasions shortly after her return to Longbourn but she and her father had discovered they had little in common anymore. Her reading had been mainly about the real world, the current world of the early 19th century; her father preferred the world before the Roman Empire split, more than 1500 years earlier. But Elizabeth did not think this invitation was to discuss Homer or Ovid.

“It has been three months since your return to Longbourn and I think we can both agree it has been a turbulent period. You have changed, and I am unsure that it is for the better. Your frustrations with your role in our family have been obvious, and I am saddened and disappointed in some of your actions, both against family members but also a guest in our home. I raised you to be better than the behaviour you are currently exhibiting.”

It required Elizabeth to take extreme measures to sit before her father, calmly displaying no emotion. That she had squeezed a finger nail into her hand so severely as to draw blood was not evident to her father.

“Your mother and I have discussed your current attitude and behaviour and we are in accord. It would be better for both you and those of us who remain at Longbourn for you to return to the care of your Uncle Gardiner.”

Elizabeth recoiled in her seat.

“You would banish me, disown me?”

“No. There will be none of that. You are a Bennet and you will remain one. But surely you can see that the current situation is untenable.”

That last sentence cut to the heart of the matter, and was the only objectively true statement when viewed by both parties. What Elizabeth did recognise was that her father did not waste time demanding a change of behaviour. Her parents would never change but they did not think she could change either. It was an odd moment to be proud.

“I will send a letter to my uncle immediately.”

She stood to leave. Her father had obviously expected more of a reaction.

“That is all you have to say?”

“What else is there to say?”

Within 10 days Elizabeth was ready to leave Longbourn for the last time. Her uncle would send his carriage for her on the 6th of January and she had but one trunk to pack. What was interesting to watch was how her father dealt, or rather did not deal, with her leaving. Elizabeth had told Mary of her exile, there had many tears shed during that meeting, but no one else. She had approached Jane to tell her as well but Jane had made it clear she had no wish to talk to her sister at present. She walked to Meryton the day before her departure making her Aunt and Uncle Philips aware of the situation.

But during this time Mr. Bennet said nothing to the rest of the family. Elizabeth was not going announce the news for him. She presumed Mrs. Bennet knew but none of her other three sisters acted as if they were aware of her impending departure. Even at breakfast on the 6th there was still no announcement from her father. It was only the preparations for Mrs. Bennet, Kitty and Lydia going into Meryton that led her to say farewell to them.

“I will have left for London before you return. I wish you well, and will write to father to let him know I have arrived safely.”

“You are returning to Gracechurch Street Lizzie?”

“Yes Kitty I am.”

“How long is your trip for this time?”

“It is undecided as yet. I shall let you go. Goodbye Mama, Kitty, Lydia.”