Good point—I agree Lucy does not understand Edward at all and I think without this understanding she would have been incredibly desperate to eliminate Elinor as a rival once she suspected he esteemed her more than herself. I also think it sheds light on why Lucy never does believe Elinor has no designs on Edward—Elinor knows it is hopeless to care (although she does) or plan a life with Edward because she does understand he will not break his engagement. I think Lucy does not understand the idea of honor. I think it is worth noting that Lucy operates through the world by manipulating people--flattering them and being outwardly submissive to their will--I have two thoughts from this observation. First that Lucy may think Edward will act as she does and submit to his mother's wishes for favor and second Lucy hoped to spare Edward the opportunity of dumping her by securing his families approval and dependency through flattery and being submissive to their will as she does with Lady Middleton—if successful Edward would not be handed the convenient excuses of loss of fortune or parental fidelity for breaking his engagement. Also to delve into Lucy type thinking for a moment—she might have thought the possibility Edward would do what was best for Edward was high, no one can think--including him--that loosing his fortune is best so because Lucy herself is not a stranger to doing what is best for Lucy--holding on to Edward even though he obviously prefers another woman--she was probably very worried. (;D)