Chapter 9

The coffee turned in to two and a walk around Kensington gardens. They talked for ages about everything. She told him about her school, Longbourn junior, where she had met Collins and Charlotte. About her crazy family and her new job. He told her about how difficult it was to find a good job in London. Working as a barista, the mate he was staying with.

It turned out his mum and dad had been close to Darcy's parents. His mum was their nanny helping raise Darcy alongside George. His dad used to manage the grounds of his country home, Pemberley. He was a landscape architect but Darcy had hired him full time when he had done such a good job many years before George was born. His parents had both died when he was still at school and they had taken him in rather than sending him to live with his only aunt in Newcastle. He had got on so well with Mr Darcy (senior) that he had paid for him to go to uni. This is when his tale became difficult. Mr Darcy died when he was in his first year at uni. Just before the first year exams George had asked Darcy if he would be paying for the rest of the years as his old man had asked, Darcy had said no and when George tried to question him he called his uni academic board of governors and got him kicked out.

Elizabeth was horrified. "How could he do such a thing?"

"Well, after old man Darcy died my attendance had slipped and Darcy managed to get the board to use that as a reason to expel me. My grades weren't great but I would have passed. Now I don't even have a year of uni to use as a higher degree. I can't afford to pay for another uni anyway and even if I could with an expulsion on record I can't get in anywhere."

"How awful. I'm so sorry"

"I also was quite good friends with his sister. Georgie. She is only 16 but such a sweet girl, like a little sister to me. She was having some trouble with bullies at her school and Darcy was out of the country so I came to stay with her at the beginning of the summer. Darcy found out and flipped. Kicked me out of the house, with no notice and nowhere to go and banned Georgie from calling me again. I have no idea how she is now that term has started again. I doubt Will cares enough to check on her!"

"I'm sorry George. That must be really hard. And to think he looked mad at you"

"He wasn't happy that I was staying in his house for a couple of weeks. Called me a freeloader and all sorts."

"But it was your house too for a long time"

"Yep, but there is no need to repine. I have found my way here and am happy to start again. I'll find a job sometime and take it from there"

Elizabeth really enjoyed her afternoon with him. He was fun to chat to and charming. At the end of the date she kissed him. He keenly returned the kiss. He was a good kisser, if a little handsy. When she stepped away she smiled.

"I'd like to see you again"

He grinned at her, "me too"

"Bingley is having a Halloween party next Friday. Big house big party I believe. You wanna come?"

"Will Darcy be there?"

"I would have thought so, but I am not sure."

"Well I shouldn't be scared away by him. I am sure we can let bygones be bygones. If it means I get to see you again I will be there"

She smiled and gave him a quick kiss before turning and heading to the tube station.

Life was going pretty well for Wickham. He even managed to whistle a little as he walked away from the pretty little firecracker named Elizabeth 'revenge on Darcy' Bennet. He had a few pounds in his pocket still. His little venture over the summer had been more profitable than expected, and fun too. He had a fairly easy job at the moment, which he would keep for now for respectability sake.

George was one of those people who lived for the thrills in life. Sex, drugs and upsetting Will Darcy were his main pursuits at the current moment. He just couldn't help but be a thorn in Darcy's perfect side. If only the old man hadn't died so soon he was sure he would have been written in to the will. Then he would be sitting pretty. But c'est la vie.

His contact in Darcy enterprises had passed on information that darcy had plans to go to a karaoke bar one evening. Who'd have thought the distinguished Mr Darcy would be caught in a karaoke bar? Wickham knew something was up and had followed him there. He had managed to sweet talk one of the girls of the group of friends and had found out it was a birthday party. He watched some more and saw the way Darcy looked at and chased after the pretty dark haired girl. Sweet figure, lush hips that swayed and a great voice.

Once Darcy was gone, and unfortunately the girl too, he had rejoined the group. Steering clear of Bingley and his sister. Not that they knew him. He used a false name and managed to garner some interesting information off the girl. He couldn't remember her name. He found out that Jane and Elizabeth Bennet were sisters. Elizabeth lived with Charlotte in London. Jane was dating Bingley and Elizabeth did not like Darcy. It was thought that he didn't like her either but Wickham saw the way he looked at her. Definitely interested at the very least. Really this girl talked too much but he wasn't going to be the one to tell her that. He even found out that Elizabeth worked for the birthday girl's dad, so he had a way of tracking her down too.

She had even taken him home, Wickham chuckled at how easy some girls were. He had a plan forming for his next assault on Darcy's perfect life! Elizabeth turned out to be a bonus. Funny and cute and what a kisser. He was more than happy to persue her to see how she could be used against his enemy.