A/N: Someone commented I was being unfair when having a grief-stricken Bingley blame Caroline for Louisa's death, and that the footman might have infected her. I sat down and worked out the timelines and backstory carefully before starting writing (I have spreadsheets of it all). From infection to the first flu like symptoms is around 10 days (give or take a few), and they then become infectious around 3 days later, meaning that Louisa, Lydia and Mrs Bennet were infected at the Lucas's party.

So it goes like this for those interested: The Netherfeld Party arrive on 29th Sept. Footman gets 'flu' ~1st Oct (his infection was in London where the outbreak is). He is found by Mikey (the stablehand) on the 4th, who is infected then. He carries on working in the Lucas stables while his family look after the ill man (which they think is chickenpox) and they gradually get ill. His eldest sister is last to be infected and actually gets it from her brother, at around the same time as Maria Lucas (who was sneaking out to see him as she had a crush on him) ~16th Oct. The stablehand's sister had been hired to work at the Lucas's party on the 30th Oct (the family need the money badly now as they have the 2 youngest children to bury, and her brother is only just starting his recovery) so she (unwisely as it turns out) goes to work even though she's not feeling well. This is when the biggest infection takes place and many families are exposed. Mrs Hurst's illness kicks in a little more quickly as she is pregnant. Lydia is a little ahead of her mother as she saw Maria Lucas a day or 2 before the party. So yeah, all the subsequent infections stem from the footman being thrown out of Netherfield.

23rd November

Elizabeth spent much of the morning with Lydia, who was progressing well, but she felt as though they were all just waiting for the next disaster to fall.

The household, minus Lydia and Mr Collins, gathered for luncheon and as they were about to leave the table Dr Williams informed Elizabeth that he was going to visit Longbourn and then on to Lucas Lodge, and would be glad to carry messages to them if she had any to convey.

'That is very kind of you. It seems an age since I last heard from Charlotte. I will write her a note, and if you would wait a half hour, I will write Jane to let them know I plan on walking over to visit with mamma a little later.'

With the notes safely written and dispatched, Elizabeth gathered her outdoor clothing and left the house, in need of some fresh air and exercise.

She had not been long walking, heading toward her favourite thinking spot on Oakham Mount, when the sound of hoofbeats brought incoming company to her attention. Turning, she saw Mr Darcy atop his stallion heading her way. Upon reaching her, he swung himself down and greeted her.

''tis a fine day for a walk,' she replied. 'I've spent too much time indoors recently.'

'May I join you?'

She flushed with mild embarrassment but nodded her assent, indicating where she was headed. 'I was on my way to Oakham Mount, one of my favourite destinations when walking.'

'It does have a good prospect of the area,' he replied. 'I showed Colonel Fitzwilliam the view when he first arrived.'

'Yes, I am aware,' she replied, her voice dry and devoid of humour. 'Unfortunately, I was here at that time.'

'Ah, yes.'

'I did not intend on eavesdropping, it was inadvertent, and I only remained hidden because I was slow to realise that I should announce my presence, before the conversation turned…' She struggled to find an appropriate word. Shrugging, she continued, 'personal. By then, I did not think revealing my presence would be advisable.'

He nodded. 'I must apologise for what you overheard. I was unconscionable of me to say what I did. I have no excuse, but that something happened in the summer that adversely affected a member of my intimate family. I brought my bad temper with me to Hertfordshire. The actions of one, made me see others in a similar poor light.'

They walked in silence for several steps, before Elizabeth said, 'I know some of my family can be difficult, but they are not vicious. My mother means well even though she may not go about things the right way, and my youngest sisters are… are unguided, but they are my family and I love them, despite their faults.'

'I realise now that you are a loving and close-knit family. That is something worthy of admiration and shall admit to a certain amount of envy.' He caught her look and added, 'Yes, you may look surprised, but my immediate family is now so small—only myself and my sister. Colonel Fitzwilliam is the closest thing to a brother I have, but my sister is alone and, I think, lonely for female company nearer her own age. Maybe, one day…'

She looked up at him, noting his hesitation. 'Yes?'

'I would hope, one day, to introduce Georgiana to your acquaintance.'

Her surprise was evident, but she managed to assent, and express pleasure at the thought of meeting his sister.

By this point they were nearing their destination and Darcy tied off his horse to a fence before Elizabeth led him through a narrow path, lined by bushes. The area opened out into a clearing, giving a wide view of the surrounding countryside.

'The best view is from here,' she said, moving toward a fallen tree and seating herself on her usual spot. 'Sunrise is my favourite time to be here, though.'

'Facing due east, I can see why,' he said, dropping down to sit beside her on the trunk. 'Do you have a favourite place for sunsets?'

She twisted round and indicated another pathway 'That path leads to a spot a little north of west. Good for summer sunsets but without a handy seat.'

'I shall make a point of visiting it sometime before I leave the area.'

She nodded, but the thought of his leaving and never returning caused something inside to twist. She pushed it away and pointed to her right. 'Longbourn is over there, you can just see the top of the chimneys. I plan on extending my walk to visit mamma. It is not so far from here.'

'And you are a great walker, after all.'

'Yes indeed. It helps me clear my mind.'

'Do you never ride?'

She grinned and stood. 'Not often. We only have the one saddle horse and I find Nelly rather too sedate. It is just as quick to walk and does not require all the preparation.'

'I will walk with you, if I may. I understand Bingley to be vising again today.'

She inclined her head in assent and led the way to the path down the hill toward Longbourn. 'It is steep in places, but I think your horse will manage.'

They had descended the slope and were walking the woodland path to the road when voices were heard. Elizabeth noticed Mr Darcy stiffen when a male voice spoke.

'We must not be seen.'

There was a feminine giggle in response to the words that Elizabeth immediately recognised, although it usually came from her youngest sister. She flushed, avoided Mr Darcy's eye, and listened to discover the direction the voices came from.

The female voice came. 'There is no-one in these woods. Only Lizzy walks them and she's at Netherfield.'

'Kitty,' muttered Elizabeth. 'What is she up too…'

'They are over there,' said Darcy in a low voice, 'and I know who the other is.'

'You do?'

'He was an old friend of the family, but has not been welcome for some time now,' he muttered.

'I can see there is a tale there, but it will have to wait. I must get my sister home immediately. She is not supposed to be wandering the countryside.'

Elizabeth strode forward in the direction indicated by Mr Darcy and discovered the couple behind a large tree. Kitty was pinned with her back to the tree, a stranger in a red coat preventing her escape with a hand against the trunk on either side. Not that Kitty seemed to want to go anywhere, she seemed well pleased with her situation, and judging by their reactions when Elizabeth made her presence known, they had been up to no good.

'Lizzy, what are you doing here? What a good joke!'

Before she could reply, Elizabeth saw her sister's eyes widen and felt a presence come up behind her.

'Darcy!' said the man in the red coat, his face flushing to match his uniform as he stepped back, away from the tree.

Mr Darcy was pale with anger. 'Mr Wickham. I might have known you'd be up to your usual tricks.'

Elizabeth strode forward and caught her sister by the wrist, pulling her aside. 'Kitty, what on earth do you think you are doing. You should not be out here.'

'La! I was so bored,' said Kitty, trying to pull free. 'Now that Mamma is sick, Papa sent for me to come home. My dear Wickham managed to send me a message and I was just dying to see him again.'

'How do you know this man when you've been in quarantine since Lydia first fell ill?'

Kitty flushed and looked away, and Elizabeth decided that her father should deal with this. 'Right, we are going home this minute.' She pulled her sister back onto the path. 'Mr Darcy, my apologies. I must take her home and speak to my father. Will you join us there?'

'I will. First I must speak with…' He gestured at the man called Mr Wickham.

Elizabeth nodded and left, dragging a reluctant, and loudly protesting, Kitty behind her like a wild horse.

'What on earth were you thinking, Kitty? Did you even stop to think about the scandal this could cause if anyone were to see?'

'Scandal? Why were you in the woods with a man then? That's just as bad.'

Elizabeth gritted her teeth and counted to ten before responding. 'We were not being intimate up against a tree, unlike you, but met as I was walking to Longbourn. He offered to escort me there, as Mr Bingley is visiting Jane. Not only that, but Papa has met Mr Darcy, who is a gentleman and the intimate friend of Mr Bingley.'

'Compared to Mr Darcy he's a true gentleman. Mr Darcy is a nasty man.'

'You know nothing of Mr Darcy. Has papa met that man at all?'

'I'm sure he will eventually. He's not allowed to yet, due to the quarantine after all.'

'That's another thing. You should not be meeting people—you may have been infected before Lydia came to Netherfield.'

'I've been vaccinated, silly.'

'If you'd already been infected the vaccination was likely too late.'

'Really? Oh, well never mind. I'm fine, I assure you. Everything is so boring right now. Even having the soldiers here is not as much fun as it should be. But I found my dear Wickham, even so.'

Elizabeth stopped walking and turned to look at her sister. 'What is wrong with you? You sound just like Lydia and, believe me, that is no compliment to you.'

'Oh pooh, you're just jealous I found myself a hero in a red coat.'

'Well, we'll just have to see how papa looks on your behaviour when we get home.'

Elizabeth threw herself into her father's embrace, on arriving at Longbourn. 'I'm so glad I decided to visit today papa, I've missed being home.'

'I've missed you too, my dear. How are things at Netherfield?'

'It's been pretty bad since Mrs Hurst died. Mr Hurst is most upset, and Miss Bingley is hiding in her room, as it is due to her actions that the smallpox has spread through the neighbourhood.'

'Is it really? You have much to tell me I can see. How is Lydia?'

'She's progressing well, I think. The doctor is not concerned with her. She seems well enough. She did say something…' Elizabeth paused, 'I will tell you later. First there is something more worrying to discuss.' She glanced sideways at Kitty.

'Well, out with it then, my dear. What has happened?'

'Can we speak in your study? This needs to be said privately.'

Once the three of them were behind the closed door of the study, she continued, 'I was walking here—'

Kitty interrupted, 'She was with a man, papa!'

Elizabeth shot an angry look at her sister, who frowned and flopped onto a chair. 'I met Mr Darcy on the way and he offered to escort me, that is all. On the way we heard voices in the woods and discovered…' she gestured to Kitty, 'and a man who is unknown to me. One of the militia camped at Meryton, I think. They were close together against a tree. Mr Darcy knows him though, and was most disturbed.'

Mr Bennet frowned. 'What do you have to say for yourself, Kitty?'

Kitty pouted. 'We weren't doing anything naughty.'

'What were you doing then, child?'

'Talking. Mostly.'

'I heard him say they mustn't be caught, and she said no-one would see,' said Elizabeth. 'Whatever they were doing was not so innocent.'

Their father peered over the top of his glasses at his second youngest daughter. 'Well, Kitty?'

Reluctantly, she said, 'We just kissed a little.' Then more brightly, 'At first, I thought I liked Mr Denny best, but then I met Wickham. I told him everything that's been going on here... he was very interested in Netherfield for some reason.' She shook her head as if to clear away the random thought. 'Anyway, he now wants to marry me, so surely it is well to kiss the man I am to marry?'

Mr Bennet's frown deepened. 'An honourable man would have come to speak with me if he indeed wished to marry you. Instead you sneak off into the woods and allow him to seduce you.'

There was a short interruption by a knock at the door and Mr Darcy entering.

Mr Bennet nodded a welcome, and continued, 'I'm not sure which is worse, you compromising your silly self or breaking your quarantine.'

'The former I would say, considering who she was with,' said Mr Darcy.

'You know the man?' asked Mr Bennet.

'I do. To my cost, but we should speak of this privately.'

Kitty jumped to her feet and pointed at Mr Darcy. 'I know all about you. Wickham told me about how you cheated him out of his living. You're evil!'

Mr Bennet grabbed her arm and pushed her toward the door. 'Kitty, go to your room and do not come out until I call for you.'

'But papa…'

'Now!'

Kitty fled, her footsteps thumping up the stairs, followed by a slammed door.

Mr Bennet sighed, 'With Lydia absent, that girl has assumed her ability for folly far too easily.' He turned to his visitor. 'Shall we continue?'

'I am ready, sir.'

'Lizzy, why don't you go up and visit with your mother while I talk with Mr Darcy.'

Elizabeth reluctantly agreed, despite her desire to hear what was said. She would just have to ask her father later about it and hope he was forthcoming.