Vicious Propensities

A succession of fair weather on the heels of Elizabeth Bennet's first meeting with Mr. Wickham in Meryton allows her to observe him in the days leading up to the ball at Netherfield Park. What Elizabeth sees soon disquiets her, for Mr. Wickham appears nothing like the man he portrays himself to be. Mr. Darcy, however, appears changed in those days, for he visits Longbourn many times, his interactions with Elizabeth improving so much that she enjoys his company. Fitzwilliam Darcy knows Wickham better than he wishes, for in Wickham he has always seen a man eager to take advantage of others with no care for those he hurts. When Darcy overhears a conversation between Wickham and another officer making suggestive comments about the Bennet sisters, he resolves to protect them against anything Wickham might try. As the situation with Wickham worsens, Elizabeth slowly understands that Mr. Wickham is not telling the truth about his adversary, and Mr. Darcy is proving to be far more than she had ever expected. To Darcy, the determination to protect Miss Elizabeth has become something more, for Darcy soon realizes that she is all he ever wishes to have in a wife. Now all he needs to do is convince her.