A/N- Apologies to my readers for this rather late update. I entirely blame my non cooperative computer. Thanks a lot to JeanB, Raina and AnotherSentimentalFool for the information. It was pretty useful.
A few days later, Lydia, Kitty, Lizzy and Mr Collins once more walked to Meryton, this time with the express purpose of visiting Mrs Philips. As luck would have it, Mr Wickham was also calling on them at the same time, so the party were at last acquainted with attractive Mr Wickham. Mr Philips and Mr Wickham were getting acquainted in the study, while the others waited in the parlor. It was starting to get rather boring for all except Lydia and Mrs Philips, who were discussing a bonnet quite earnestly. The wait however, was over at last and finally the gentlemen arrived.
Mr. Wickham was the happy man towards whom almost every female eye was turned, and Elizabeth was the happy woman by whom he finally seated himself; and the agreeable manner in which he immediately fell into conversation, though it was only on its being a wet night, made her feel that the commonest, dullest, most threadbare topic might be rendered interesting by the skill of the speaker.
A game of cards was proposed, and accepted by all but Ms Elizabeth and Mr Wickham who did not play cards. Having nothing else to do, they started conversing with each other in a most lively manner. Elizabeth wished to know of his acquaintance with Mr Darcy, and after a little hesitation, broached the topic.
'Ah! I suppose you must have judged from our rather strange reaction that I and Mr Darcy have had a history.', said he.
Elizabeth colored, but nodded.
'It is a rather unusual tale, but I shall be glad to tell it if you are certain you wish to hear.'
'I would be delighted to Mr Wickham, if you don't feel that I am intruding into your personal life. You are by no means obliged to reply if you do not desire it.'
'I do not speak of it often but I should greatly enjoy amusing you for a while', said Wickham.
At the end of the conversation Ms Elizabeth was with the knowledge that Mr Wickham and Mr Darcy had been friends in their childhood, and that the late Mr Wickham was late Mr Darcy's steward. This difference in their stations in had not in any way hampered their closeness, and they were very fond of one another, at least they were till Wickham's father died unexpectedly, soon after William's father.
Since Wickham's mother was already lost to him, Lady Anne felt that he ought to have some sort of parently guidance and sent him away to live with an aunt of his. Though she was kind to him, both boys missed each other. When he was nineteen, Wickham returned to Pemberley for a short while, to say goodbye to his old friend, since he was going away to serve in the army. William entreated him not to, reminding him that the late Mr Darcy had set aside an amount of a ten thousand for him when he turned twenty.
However, Wickham could not be persuaded and had assured his friend that he would return to claim what he had been so generously granted when he felt that he had earned at least a small part of it.
Sadly, Wickham caught flu a few months later and a telegram was sent to Pemberley, but no response came. Heartbroken, Wickham was very ill but survived and after a few more months of service, he decided to confront his old friends about their sudden lack of interest in his well being, and was met with a very surprised Anne Darcy and an indignant William Darcy. They both insisted that they had not heard of his illness, and had received no telegram. They had a great argument, and after claiming his inheritance Wickham went away to make his way in life and rejoined the army, where he had been ever since.
Though Elizabeth sympathized with him greatly, she could not not quite bring herself to believe that the Darcys had been so unkind to so close a friend, and suggested the possibility of a cruel misunderstanding.
'I dare say it was possible, but Darcy flared up at my accusations and I am afraid I too rather lost my temper. Had I not, our friendship might still have been intact.'
'Surely it is not impossible even now to make up the quarrel, if it was as petty as you say it was?'
'I am afraid his pride would not allow Mr Darcy to admit to being in the wrong, and I have no desire to be humiliated again.', said Wickham so forcefully that Elizabeth let the topic rest and discussed other things.
A/N- Please please do review!