Sorry if the flashbacks have made things seem disjointed! This is now officially Chapter 1 :)

Two days before Jane goes to Netherfield (November 10th)

Elizabeth had a headache. Her mother was wailing about something or other, and Lydia had been nagging her all morning to walk into Meryton with her. Apparently she wanted some new ribbon for her bonnet, because she and Kitty and Maria Lucas had met the most 'dashing' man from the Militia in town two days prior. It was not until Lydia burst into her room that she finally decided to give in, if only to gain some much needed respite from her mother's howls.

'Oh, Lizzy, Lizzy, do say you'll come! He is the most handsome, charming man. I daresay you would like him very much too. Oh, please!'

'Very well,' Elizabeth said ungraciously, setting down her book. 'Just let me fetch my bonnet.'

Ten minutes later, they were walking down the lane into Meryton. Kitty was with them, and she and Lydia were giggling together over something or other. Elizabeth sighed.

'Lord, do not look so glum, Lizzy. We will never catch his attention then!'

'Who's attention might that be, Lydia?'

'Why, Mr Wickham of course!'

'Mr Wickham? Am I to understand that Mr Wickham is the handsome soldier you and Maria Lucas met?'

'Yes, Lizzy,' Lydia said impatiently. 'Lord, he is so handsome.'

'And so charming,' giggled Kitty. 'He spun the most outrageous tale of Mr Darcy!'

Elizabeth's ears pricked. 'Mr Darcy? Are they acquainted, then?'

'Oh, yes, from their childhood, I think.'

'Lordy, he made his sister sound so droll!' Lydia exclaimed.

'Whose sister?'

'Why, Mr Darcy's of course! Apparently she is very spoiled and haughty.'

'That is not very hard to believe,' Elizabeth said under her breath.

'What, Lizzy?'

'Nothing,' she said. 'Just that it will be interesting to meet him.'

After a further half hour, they met a pair of exceedingly handsome redcoats in the middle of Meryton. They bowed. 'Good afternoon, Miss Lydia, Miss Kitty,' said one of them politely. The other had fixed his gaze on Elizabeth and said, 'I do not believe we have had the pleasure of your acquaintance, my lady.'

Elizabeth blushed. 'Miss Elizabeth Bennet, sir.'

'Another Bennet!' he said smiling. 'Pray tell, are there any more of you hiding about the place?'

'I have a further two sisters, sir.'

'Indeed! Well, allow me to introduce myself. I am Mr Wickham, and this is my friend, Mr Denny.'

'It is a pleasure to meet you,' she said, curtsying.

'Allow us to escort you to your destination,' he said gallantly.

They thanked him, and walked on. Elizabeth found herself walking next to Mr Wickham. She was eager to hear his opinion of Mr Darcy, but could not ask without appearing rude, forward, and a little too eager to gossip. Her curiosity was soon satisfied, however.

'Your sisters tell me they have had the occasion to be in the society of a Mr Darcy,' he said.

'Yes, we have,' Elizabeth replied.

'And what do you think of him?'

Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, but was unsure of why she did so. She detested him, did she not? 'He appears most disagreeable.'

'Yes, I am afraid so. I can account for it firsthand, having been connected with his family since infancy.'

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows in surprise, eager for more, and within a short five minutes he had spilled all of his dealings with Mr Darcy. Elizabeth was outraged.

'What a dastardly, uncaring man!' she cried. 'To deprive you of such a living – one can hardly think of it!'

Wickham shrugged. 'What is past is past. I loved his father dearly, I will not hold such a grudge against his son.'

'You are very forgiving,' Elizabeth said admiringly. 'I am not sure I would have ever forgiven him, had I been in your position.'

'I thank you, but I am sure you would have. You seem a most amiable lady.'

Elizabeth blushed. She was beginning to like Mr Wickham exceedingly.

November 13th

Mr Wickham, alone today without the usual presence of a certain Mr Denny, was strolling along the high street. He tipped his hat to a couple of the shopkeepers' daughters as he passed. They giggled. He smirked, eyeing them carefully. Perhaps one of them would do for this evening. Further along the road, he glimpsed one of the Miss Bennets, like him, alone today. The absence of her sister was striking, but Wickham pondered it only for a moment before approaching her.

'Good morning, Miss Lydia,' he said with a bow.

'Oh, hello Mr Wickham! You look very well this morning,' she giggled.

'As do you,' he replied gallantly. She smiled widely. 'And where is Miss Kitty today?' he inquired.

'Oh, she is just looking at some fabric. Lordy, you do not want her company, do you? We shall be fine by ourselves.'

'Indeed.' He was surprised by her lack of propriety, but not disapproving, for obvious reasons. 'And how are your other sisters?'

At this, Lydia giggled. 'Oh, Lizzy is most exasperated. Mr Darcy persists in staring at her so. Why, at the Lucases, he could hardly take his eyes off her! I cannot think why, she is not that pretty. Oh, how I pity her.'

'And why do you pity her? If she has caught the eye of a wealthy gentleman, is that not a good thing?'

Inwardly, his mind was whirring. So, Darcy had taken a liking to Elizabeth, had he? Well, Wickham thought he knew the perfect revenge, and this time he would be much more successful than he had been with Georgiana.

'Oh, it is not that! No, our other sister Jane was taken ill at Netherfield just last night. Lizzy went to tend her this morning and now she is stuck in that house with Mr Darcy and his stares all day!' Lydia chortled.

This jerked Wickham out of his thoughts. 'Indeed?' He hesitated convincingly for a moment. 'Miss Lydia … I fear there are … certain things … I must warn Miss Elizabeth about. Involving Mr Darcy. Is she to remain at Netherfield?'

'Oh, yes, but I daresay she will not be there all the time. She would grow such a temper! No, she is always traipsing about the country like a wild thing. I think she would go mad without her morning walk. Mother says it is a stupid, irresponsible thing to do, but Lizzy persists!'

Wickham smiled smugly. Elizabeth Bennet was going to find out just how stupid and irresponsible it was to go traipsing around the countryside unchaperoned. 'I thank you, Miss Lydia. You have been most informative.' He bowed.

Lydia beamed, and as he hurried away, he rolled his eyes at her idiocy. Quickly banishing thoughts of Lydia from his mind, he set to work on the beginnings of a plan. He thought tomorrow morning would be a good time. Better sooner rather than later while the two Bennet sisters were still at Netherfield. That way, Darcy would see firsthand the product of Wickham's revenge. Yes, tomorrow morning would suit very well.