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E lizabeth sat in her room, unable to fathom everything that had happened in the past hour. Her mind was in turmoil, and she knew her parents still hid something from her.

No, they are not my parents!They never were.

She looked at Jane, who slept peacefully on the bed.

Maybe Jane knows the truth. That must be the reason for her ill will towards me. All these years, they hid the truth from me, and it was never done for my welfare. They want me to marry that man to help their financial needs.

She did not know what to do or where to seek refuge. All she ever knew was in Hertfordshire, as her father had never allowed her to visit her aunt and uncle in town.

The Gardiners had visited Longbourn during Christmas, but she could never accompany her mother and sisters to see them in London and never understood why her father denied her permission.

What if I write to Aunt Madeliene?

She knew they were away on business and finally understood that Mr. Bennet’s words were true. She had no place to go.

Just then, she heard the door open and half feared it was her father, but it was Mary.

“Mary!” she cried and threw herself into Mary’s arms.

“Lizzy, please do not cry. Lizzy, listen to me.”

“Mary…you do not…you do not know what happened. I am not…” Elizabeth said in between sobs.

“I do know. I know what Mamma and Papa told you.”

Elizabeth stared at her sister in shock. Mary quickly pulled Elizabeth outside and left the room. They hurried towards a small storeroom on the same floor and shut the door.

“No matter what they tell me, you will always be my sister. I don’t know what to say, Lizzy. But they are not revealing the entire truth,” Mary cried.

“My mother is dead, they say, and I do not know who my father is. As much as I don’t want to believe them, it must be the truth, as they would not wish this misery upon their own daughter. All these years, I have lived in this house with people who detested me with all their might.”

“I understand how you feel. I cannot believe Mamma and Papa chose to hide the truth for so long. All the while, I could not understand why Mamma treated you so. But we do not have time to discuss all this, Lizzy. There is another pressing matter of concern.”

She quickly revealed about the compromise her mother and father had planned.

Elizabeth stared at her sister in dismay. Her lingering doubts about the story her parents had shared were gone, as she knew they would never plan something so evil against their own blood.

“They are heartless, and I am ashamed to call them my parents. I heard every gruesome detail about Mamma’s schemes for tomorrow, and he never said anything against it. I am disgusted with them, Lizzy; I would rather work as a maid than live in Longbourn this way.”

“I am certain Mr. Collins will not think twice to act accordingly, but he won’t succeed. I will confront them right away,” she said, standing, and Mary stopped her.

“It won’t be of any use. You cannot always be careful; they can easily orchestrate this act.

Your reputation will be ruined if the servants become aware of such details.

Mamma can convince the world that you were compromised, even if something like that never happened.

You will have to marry that hateful man then. ”

“I will not. I would rather die. How am I to escape this? I know they hate me; they hate me so much that they want to trade my life for their well-being.”

Mary looked at her with dismay.

“Leave this place,” she said without emotion.

“Do you want me to run away?”

“There is no other choice. Listen to me, Lizzy; they are prepared to do anything to save Longbourn. You cannot marry that man and repent for life. After what I overheard, they would go to any level to ruin you and get what they want. I hate to say this, but your life and honor are at risk in our home.”

“Where do I go? Uncle Gardiner is not in town. I cannot take this decision in haste; there must be another way.”

“Go to Charlotte. I trust her, and your friendship is strong. I am certain that she will help you. We do not have time. Leave the house at the break of dawn.”

Tears streamed down Elizabeth’s face. As much as she hated the idea, she knew it was the only sensible thing to do. She did not want to be caught in a compromise and marry Mr. Collins.

With no support in Hertfordshire, she knew she had to leave the place. She realized that spending another day in Longbourn would risk her entire future and welfare.

I must leave; I do not belong here, and my parents have raised me only as a burden.

She trusted her friendship with Charlotte and was certain that her friend would help her.

“But Mary, they will surely come in search of me. I would bring shame to our family if I ran away,” she doubted her decision for a moment.

“You still consider this your family, but please understand they don’t.

Please do not care about the repercussions of your actions; they are not worthy of your guilt.

I know I am asking you to leave everything and find your way in this world, but I want you to be safe, Lizzy.

I cannot see you marry that horrible man and suffer. ”

Elizabeth tried to think of any other option and found none. She knew she could never live in Longbourn with the weight of the truth.

Life would be hell! But what am I to do with Charlotte’s help?

“I could be a governess. I can work somewhere, Mary.”

“Whatever it is, I am sure Charlotte will assist you. Maybe once Uncle Gardiner returns, you can live with them.”

They quickly discussed her departure the next day, and Elizabeth realized how mature Mary appeared suddenly. She had Charlotte’s address and hoped her friend would help her.

By midnight, Elizabeth left for her room, and Mary looked at her sister with guilt and agony. She knew that her sister was not safe in their home, which distressed her beyond measure.

Jane was still asleep, and Elizabeth sat on the floor, trying hard to compose herself. She knew that, except for Mary, none of her sisters would care for her once the truth was out. She closed her eyes, and tiredness engulfed her.

What is to become of me? Is this the last night I am going to spend in Longbourn? How am I to survive such a disgrace of running away?

She woke up in the early hours the next day and packed a small bag to take with her.

Elizabeth had packed a couple of gowns and nothing else.

Before she left her room, she removed the only piece of jewelry she had, a chain her father had gifted her for her birthday some years ago and placed it on the dresser.

I do not want to be named a thief as well.

Mary waited outside in the corridor and pressed some money into her hands.

“I cannot take this.”

“It is mine, Lizzy. I have saved it over the years without spending on bonnets and ribbons. You must,” she insisted.

Elizabeth hugged her sister tightly.

“Leave now and catch the first coach to town. No one will suspect your absence for a few hours.”

Mary was certain that her family would assume she had gone to Oakham Mount, as she had always had the habit of spending the morning outdoors.

“I don’t know if we can ever meet again. I am agonized thinking about the repercussions of my actions. Please take care of everyone. I still cannot believe I am doing this. But I know this is the only option.”

There was no sight of anyone else in the house, and Elizabeth quickly left through the back door.

She almost ran out, fearing that she would change her mind. Once she reached the fields, she could see the peak of Oakham Mount.

It struck her that she could never walk up and enjoy the morning as she did before. Her life had altered forever.

Elizabeth walked as quickly as she could and did not see any familiar faces on the way.

Once she sat in the coach, she hoped no one would recognize her.

There was another woman seated opposite her, oblivious to her identity.

She sat in agony, unable to believe what she had done to save herself from ruin and the evil schemes of the very people who raised her.

As the coach started, she said a silent “goodbye” to everything she had known and loved in her life.