Charlotte Lucas and Elizabeth Bennet are best mates, singletons leading uneventful lives in the village of Longbourn. Their families are friends, as people are in small communities, and Lizzie’s mother is a bit sniffy about Charlotte’s mother, as is the way of women everywhere.
Charlotte is the plain, intelligent one; Lizzie is the good-looking, sparky, lively one. They relish each other’s company and value their friendship. Lizzie confides in Charlotte, and misses her company if they don’t see each other for a week or so. Then a man comes between them, and it’s never the same again.