I just finished writing about Lady C in sisters, and I was still feeling a little aggro. I took it out on Elizabeth and Darcy.

This story starts at the Netherfield ball, with the conversation between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Things might have gone a little different.

Warning: I was not feeling charitable.

~~~00~~~

I hope you will be proud

At the Netherfield ball Mr Darcy and Miss Elizabeth converse while dancing.

A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features, but he said not a word, and Elizabeth, though blaming herself for her own weakness, could not go on. At length Darcy spoke, and in a constrained manner said, "Mr. Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends—whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain."

"He has been so unlucky as to lose your friendship," replied Elizabeth with emphasis, "and in a manner which he is likely to suffer from all his life."

'I think it is despicable of you to persecute him so mercilessly out of jealousy,' Elizabeth spat as their dance came to a close.

Darcy took a deep breath to calm himself. 'Thank you, Madam, for showing your true colours. I had come to esteem you and, in my weaker moments, had considered making you an offer of marriage. Providentially, you have shown me that you are self-righteous and judgemental despite having not the slightest knowledge of human nature. I hope that when Mr Wickham leaves town without paying his debts, and leaving half the maidens of this town, including your youngest sisters, high in the belly, you will think with pride about this conversation. About how excellent your judgment was about the true character of both Mr Wickham and myself.' Darcy bowed crisply. 'Goodbye, Madam.'

Elizabeth stared after him.

How dare he be so rude and crass. The nerve of the man to even consider that she would welcome an offer by him.

His words clearly showed his jealousy of Mr Wickham's delightful manners and personality, that he would impugn such ungentlemanly behaviour to the charming officer.

Her estimation of Mr Wickham rose to new heights. To have remained as modest and amiable despite his persecution by this odious man, was a credit to his better nature.

~~~00~~~

Two weeks after the militia moved to Brighton, Elizabeth came home from Meryton in a thoughtful mood. She had run some errands at various shops for her mother, and had overheard several conversations by the shopkeepers. They bemoaned having advanced credit to the militia, since some of them had not bothered to pay what they owed.

It appeared the chief offender was Lieutenant Wickham. Apparently, he had run up significant debts in every shop, and had not made a single payment.

Elizabeth struggled to justify his conduct. Initially she even put the blame on Mr Darcy for cheating him out of his inheritance, which meant the poor man did not have the funds with which to pay his debts. But since Mr Wickham knew he did not have the money, he should have been more careful in making his purchases to remain within his means.

She was still trying to come to terms with this conundrum, when she walked in on an argument between her two youngest sisters.

'You will see that Wickham will send for me as soon as he is settled in Brighton.' Kitty exclaimed to her sister.

'No, he will not. I will see him when I visit with Harriet. It is all arranged. He and I will be so happy together.'

'You may see him, but by the time you do, he will be my husband.' Kitty was determined to make Lydia understand.

'Why would he want to marry you? I am ever so much prettier and livelier,' scoffed Lydia.

'Because he loves me and our baby.'

'You cannot have his baby. I am having his baby, and I will marry him,' claimed Lydia.

Elizabeth was shocked to hear her sisters talk about having a man's baby in such a matter of fact and cavalier fashion, and they were not even married. 'I presume you are speaking about hypothetical babies after you are married?' she asked, startling her sisters, who had been unaware of her presence.

Kitty at least had the grace to blush, while Lydia boldly declared, 'la, what a joke. Kitty is wishing, but I know I will be having Wickham's baby.'

'No, you cannot be having his baby. I am having his baby. That is why we will be married as soon as he sends for me,' Kitty countered her sister.

Elizabeth looked from one sister to the other in horror. 'Are you saying that you are already carrying Mr Wickham's baby?'

'Yes,' was the immediate answer from both Kitty and Lydia.

'You are lying. You cannot be having his baby. He loves me, and he would never lie with you,' cried Kitty

'No. You are lying. He would never be interested in someone as plain as you. He told me that I am the most beautiful creature he has ever seen.'

While the shouting and argument increased in vitriol and volume that drew the whole family, including even Mr Bennet, Elizabeth backed away in horror.

Mr Darcy had predicted this outcome, and she had wilfully ignored his warnings. But since he had been right about Mr Wickham's character, did that mean she had been wrong about Mr Darcy's character as well?

Both thoughts horrified Elizabeth.

Mr Darcy had been wrong in one respect. There was no pride in her contemplation of their conversation, only endless shame of her foolishness.