Chapter 1

Dec 12, 1811 London

Fitzwilliam Darcy leaned his head against his arm where it rested against the mantle. He was determined to conquer his feelings for Miss Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourne in Hetfordshire. Her family was vulgar. Her connections to trade a disgrace, but she was everything perfect. She had a lively playful manner. She was well read and intelligent. Her figure was light and pleasing. Her eyes were uncommonly fine. His heart raced at the thought of her. The notion of giving her up was painful but he knew it was for the best.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Darcy," the voice of his close friend Charles Bingley said pulling him out of his thoughts. "Caroline, I'm sure, is waiting to make her grand entrance until you are stationed at the bottom of the stairs."

Bingley's voice was uncharacteristically weak and lacked his usual good cheer Darcy noted. The last three weeks had been hard on his friend. Bingley had returned to London on a matter of business. His sister Caroline Bingley had packed up Netherfield and quickly followed her brother to town, bringing along Darcy, Bingley's other sister Louisa and her husband Gerald Hurst. The only one who showed any reluctance to leave had been Hurst. Caroline assured Hurst she sent all the proper notes needed to take their leave, and away they were.

Once in town, Louisa and Caroline set about making it clear to their brother that Jane Bennet was not an acceptable match for him. When appealed to, Darcy agreed with them and added that he saw no signs of regard on Miss Bennet's side. His friend, though, looked as awful as he felt. Darcy wondered if perhaps his friend would have been better served returning to Netherfield. Darcy shook his head. He only desired his friend's return to Netherfield for his own selfish reasons. He longed to see Miss Elizabeth just one more time. It was best they stay away.

"Come Bingley, let us go watch your sister's entrance and then be off to the night's entertainment. I'm sure it will lift your spirits. There will be plenty of dancing," Darcy said in a voice devoid of good cheer.

…

Dec 13, 1811 Meryton

Riding into the town of Meryton, Col. Richard Fitzwilliam gave a grim smile. A fellow officer had let it slip last night that a certain George Wickham of Derbyshire had donned the redcoat of a militia officer and was stationed here. Col. Fitzwilliam had a score to settle with the not so honourable Lt. Wickham. Wickham had long been a thorn in his cousin and best friend's side. The most recent blow was not one Col. Fitzwilliam intended to overlook. He and his cousin Darcy shared guardianship over one Miss Georgiana Darcy, a young 15-year-old girl. Wickham had attempted to elope with his innocent baby cousin and in the process bruised her tender heart. Col. Fitzwilliam had long considered Georgiana to be like a little sister to him, and being a man of action, he intended to take his revenge. Darcy had allowed the scoundrel to go free. Col. Fitzwilliam understood his cousin's position but did not agree with it. Darcy always gave in to the man out of duty to his father's misplaced affection for Wickham, and Wickham always came back for more. If he wasn't dealt with now, he would come back to threaten Georgiana's reputation as soon as he thought it was lucrative, no matter what he claimed about not saying anything currently with Darcy's money lining his pockets. Darcy was too noble to understand how a blackmailer worked. They never went away, always coming back for more.

Seeing his prey escorting a diminutive figure with chestnut curls, his features tightened, and he nudged his horse forward to intercept the pair. Dismounting near the pair, he called out in challenge, "Wickham!"

To his delight, Wickham paled and stumbled. His companion halted and looked towards Col. Fitzwilliam with sparkling green eyes. The combination of dark hair and green eyes in a heart-shaped face momentarily distracted Col. Fitzwilliam. Wickham had selected a true beauty this time, he noted.

"Col. Fitzwilliam, "Wickham gasp out nervously.

"The one and only. You didn't think I would let you get away, did you Wickham? And you've done me the favour of placing yourself in the militia, an area I have some sway in. A lowdown scoundrel like you shouldn't be allowed to run free and prey on innocents. Just how many debts have you accumulated here? What lies have you told the townspeople? Still using the story of the denied living that I know you were compensated with 3,000 pounds for?"

"3,000 pounds sir?" the young lady who had been walking with Wickham said with a gasp.

"Plus another 1,000 in his godfather's will," Col. Fitzwilliam said grimly.

The young lady spun to face Wickham, drew back her hand and slapped him. "We don't tolerate liars in Meryton. Consider yourself banned from Longbourne. I will be speaking with my father and the shop keepers," she said before storming off.

Watching her leave Col. Fitzwilliam was impressed. Wickham had truly found a gem this time. She certainly had spirit, and her eyes had reflected back more intelligence than he was accustomed to seeing in a lady's eyes. "That is one heiress that was far too intelligent and spirited for you," Col. Fitzwilliam said eyeing the handprint on Wickham's face."

"She isn't an heiress. Has barely a dowry," Wickham said grimly. "She has naught but her charms to recommend her. So, I suggest not toying with her affections."

"Like you have been?" Col. Fitzwilliam ask in disbelief.

"That truly is the kicker, isn't it? I hadn't meant to value her, yet I find myself more put out that you have destroyed Miss Elizabeth's opinion of me than I ever would have expected."

Grabbing Wickham's arm, Col. Fitzwilliam said, "Pity that. I believe your commanding officer is a Col. Foster. It's time he and I had a chat." Having said his piece, Col. Fitzwilliam with a firm grasp on Wickham's arm strode toward the militia encampment headquarters, his well-trained horse trailing behind.

"I intend to go quietly," Wickham said stiffly. "You don't have to drag me."

"But I do so enjoy it," Col. Fitzwilliam admitted with a grim smile.

…

Elizabeth Bennet strode angrily away from Lt. Wickham and the officer that had confronted him. To have been so taken in like a simpleton. The other man's very bearing screamed honorable officer. She hadn't doubted him for a second, recognizing instantly that he told the truth and that Wickham was naught but a pale imitation of what a gentleman should be. The way Wickham stumbled and paled when the man had addressed him told the tale before the other officer said a word. She had been proud of her discernment,but it was all an illusion. She had blindly believed a charming rogue because he flattered her. Now in her thoughts she saw the impropriety of his confiding in her so early on in their acquaintance. He claimed he would not dishonor his Godfather by speaking against the son and did so in the very next breath. And, fool that she was, she hadn't questioned it, seeing truth in his looks. Now she saw that while he was blessed with happy manners and charming looks, she knew no actual good of him. She resolved to not allow herself to be drawn in again by charm and pleasing manners in the future. Being made a fool of once was quite enough.

Her ears burned in shame as she entered the first establishment and with careful questioning found out that Wickham regularly put things on credit there. The next few shops revealed the same thing. It was with a determination to protect those that had been taken advantage of that she set off back toward Longbourne to recruit her father's help. The amount of debt Wickham was accumulating in their small town was dangerous.

"Miss Elizabeth?" an unfamiliar voice hailed her. Turning she saw the officer that had confronted Wickham.

With a curtsy she acknowledged the greeting and accepted the stranger's arm when he held it out.

"Col. Fitzwilliam at your service. I'm sorry to introduce myself like this,[add comma] but our mutual acquaintance is currently unable to do so," Col. Fitzwilliam said to her.

"That is quite alright, Colonel. I find myself rather embarrassed today. I'm afraid I, along with the rest of the local populace, fell for Lt. Wickham's lies. I have spoken to the shopkeepers and intend to recruit my father's help in setting things to right."

"Perhaps I can offer my assistance in speaking to your father. I have spoken to Lt. Wickham's commanding officer. Wickham was a stranger here, and without prior knowledge of him, it would not have been in your power to be aware of his true nature," Col. Fitzwilliam assured her. From what he had overheard and observed in the last shop, Miss Elizabeth was intelligent, kind, caring and determined. She was perhaps one of the most appealing, intriguing females he had ever come across. In the few moments he had observed her, he had concluded that Wickham, despite everything else, had exceptionally good taste.

Elizabeth suddenly halted and in a disgusted tone said, "That prideful, arrogant- Of course I shouldn't be surprised to find he was too proud to lower himself to warn our small town. Forgive me Colonel. Our town appears to have had more than one scoundrel in its midst recently. There was a gentleman here recently that knew Mr. Wickham, but he disliked all of us here and didn't think any who reside in the area worthy of being warned about Lt. Wickham's tendency toward debt." Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. "I thank whatever benevolent wind blew you into our town to bring Wickham's less then gentlemanly behaviour to my attention. Meryton is in your debt, sir."

"I am pleased to finally see the scoundrel given his due. Seeing Wickham slapped will be one of my favourite memories," Col. Fitzwilliam told her with a smile. The pair continued onto Longbourne enjoying easy conversation.