Tragedy strikes the Gardiner family and Elizabeth sacrifices her own prospects to help the family heal. She performs a heroic act while in London and then has to deal with the consequences for her and her family.

Upon her return to Longhorn she attends the Assembly where Mr. Darcy very much does not act the gentleman.

This is the story of a young woman overcoming all that is thrown at her, metaphorically. Caroline Bingley did not literally throw something at Elizabeth, however much she was tempted.