Till Elizabeth entered the drawing-room at Netherfield, and looked in vain for Mr. Wickham … a doubt of his being present had never occurred to her… She had dressed with more than usual care, and prepared in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart…”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C18
Wickham doesn’t appear at the Netherfield Ball to avoid Darcy, who he’s been telling lies about. His absence merely increases Lizzy’s dislike of Darcy, though at least Wickham never broke a promise to dance with her. The high hopes she had of conquering Wickham’s heart make her feel the disappointment so much more.
When she discovers the truth about Wickham she berates herself:
His behaviour to herself could now have had no tolerable motive: he had either been deceived with regard to her fortune, or had been gratifying his vanity by encouraging the preference which she believed she had most incautiously shown.”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, C36
Wickham’s elopement with Lydia be a final F you to both Darcy and Lizzy (who’s taken Darcy’s side). He attempts to charm Lizzy again but she’s having none of it.
If you want to discuss Austen with me you can book a time
Audio from You’re On Your Own Kid by Taylor Swift
Video from Pride and Prejudice 2005
And then there’s these lines that seemed to fit Charlotte:
Different adaptation but same story.
Charlotte does her best to not be embarrassed by her husband who she married very clearly for the security he could provide her and not his jokes. He does “save” her and she “takes the money.” Lizzy is bewildered that Charlotte would make such a choice – her eyebrow raise speaks volumes.