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Social rules dictated they should not talk to a gentleman to whom no one had introduced them. But they could not simply walk on because he was also blocking their way. Hopefully their sisters would catch up to them soon.

Slightly out of breath from rushing to her sisters, Elizabeth spoke up with determination.

“I am so sorry we fell behind, sisters. Now that we are here, we can continue to our destination.” She watched as Mary looped her arm through Kitty’s and Jane did the same with Lydia.

Elizabeth took up a defensive position, her body blocking her sisters from the soldiers’ view.

When the gentlemen did not move back, Elizabeth looked the leader in the eye.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, we have somewhere to be. I am sure you have somewhere to be as well.” The soldiers all moved aside, the leader bowing low, and the Bennets continued on their way.

They all walked silently until they reached the tearoom and had gotten settled in their seats.

Kitty was wondering if all the soldiers would be so ill-mannered. “I was unsure what to do with him blocking the path, but I knew you would catch up with us shortly.”

Elizabeth was trying to maintain her dignity in a public place, but it was a struggle. “The nerve! Blocking the path and trying to talk with girls who are obviously not out yet.”

Jane was trying to figure out how someone might behave so poorly to young girls not yet out in society. She gazed at Lydia, but the younger girl appeared to be bouncing back. “Maybe they did not learn proper behavior growing up? Maybe being a soldier will help the leader learn proper behavior?”

Elizabeth chewed at her lip pensively. “I feel that lead soldier was completely out of line, but last time I felt this way, I was sorely mistaken. I dislike questioning my instincts so. What do you all think?”

Mary, though not as lively as either Elizabeth or Lydia, felt a deep-seated need to protect.

“They were certainly trying to ingratiate themselves with Kitty and Lydie. By blocking the path, they put the girls in an uncomfortable situation, which is not gentlemanly behavior.” Her voice was firm as she spoke to her sisters.

After smoothing her skirts and squaring her shoulders, Lydia declared.

“I no longer want to think of those uncouth soldiers. My lemon tart and tea are calling my name. I was looking forward to this and I will not let some stupid boys prevent me from doing so.” With that, Lydia stirred the sugar in her tea and swirled it around.

A moment later, she took a sip and sighed with contentment.

“I think you may very well be the smartest of us all, Lydie.” Elizabeth took her own sip of tea and endeavored to think of more pleasant things.

Across the street from the tearoom, Wickham stood in contemplation of the situation.

He had brushed off his fellow officers and stated that his failure was part of his plan, but the situation was perturbing.

Those girls should have at least giggled, even if they did not speak to him.

They were young and na?ve. They should have been puppets to be manipulated by his greater expertise.

More than the girls not bending to his will, the older sister was also a conundrum.

She spoke to him with an unflinching confidence, without a single blush.

Her eyes narrowed in a menacing glare, acting as if she could see right through him.

Her voice had a cutting edge that spoke volumes.

That never happened. He always caught women unawares until he left them to pick up the pieces.

Yet somehow the emerald-eyed Valkyrie had glared, her eyes sparking fire and contempt.

Wickham considered that he might have been resting on his laurels.

It was too easy to take advantage of innocent maidens.

Maybe he should move on to the Valkyries of the world.

It certainly would be more satisfying to bring down someone with more spirit.

To be successful, he would need to do some research and lay groundwork. He was going to be busy.

Mrs. Bennet rode in the carriage on the way to her sister’s card party, fighting a certain amount of trepidation.

Her sister had always taken strongly after her mother and liked to throw parties with as many people as possible.

Constance Philips tried to show that she was better at throwing parties than her younger sister, Mrs. Bennet.

She never understood why Fanny did not throw lavish parties as the mistress of one of the largest estates in the area.

Fanny Bennet often wondered why she went to her sister’s gatherings, but in the end, she decided she did not want to create more drama by refusing to go.

There was already so much discord in her family; why give rise to more when she could avoid it?

She surveyed the carriage and wished her girls didn’t have to attend the card party.

She had reason to believe that her sister would invite the officers.

After what the girls had told her of their experience in town, she did not want to expose Kitty and Lydia to their presence again.

But at least with Lydia and Catherine coming with them, they could all return home early and would not have to linger.

Elizabeth sighed as she looked around the room.

Though she would normally enjoy such a gay evening, she was hesitant to let herself go.

The experience with the soldiers in town had made her wary of all of their smiles and compliments.

There were so many red coats in the room that she felt there was nowhere she could relax.

If this was anything like what Mr. Darcy felt, she needed to apologize for underestimating the feeling.

Across the room, she noted that the plan to stay in pairs seemed to work.

Jane stood with Lydia and Maria Lucas talking softly, and Mrs. Bennet was talking with Kitty and Mrs. Long and her niece.

Mrs. Philips bustled up to her niece, sitting by herself in a corner.

“There you are, Lizzie dear. I wanted to introduce you to one of the newer officers in Meryton, Lt. George Wickham. Lieutenant Wickham, my niece Elizabeth Bennet. She may not be as pretty as her sister Jane, but she is quite the conversationalist.” Mrs. Philips, having performed her introductions and her slight, felt free to leave the two together and be on her way to stir up more fun elsewhere.

Mr. Wickham executed a perfected bow before beginning his siege.

“Miss Elizabeth, it is truly an honor to meet you at this splendid gathering. It seems your aunt is a remarkable hostess.” Wickham looked at the lady before him, the one that he had spent so much time trying to find out about.

Everyone, privileged and pauper alike, respected her.

It had not taken long to find out that she would be at her aunt’s gathering this evening, so he got himself invited.

He would start on his plan this evening and hopefully soon there would be delectable results.

“Lieutenant Wickham, I am sure that my aunt will be happy to hear that you admire her abilities.” Elizabeth caught sight of Mary coming back with her lemonade. With Mary beside her, she felt confident she would not confront Wickham on his blatant lies in an unladylike manner.

Mary handed her the glass while evaluating the situation. “There seemed to be more than a few people waiting to get lemonade. I am sorry it took so long.”

Wickham directed his cerulean gaze at Mary and increased his flirty behavior for the plainer sister.

“I was keeping your sister company. I would hate for any lady here to feel neglected.” Compliments and attention seemed to go farther with girls who got less attention regularly.

He had no intention of settling for the younger sister, but it could not hurt his chances with the older sister if he was nice to the other.

“Oh, is that so?” Mary replied.

Not being able to ignore him, Elizabeth was determined to understand who he was. She sensed the possibility of deception in her immediate future. “Mary, this is Lieutenant Wickham. From what I understand, he is new to the militia. Lieutenant Wickham, what has brought you here to Hertfordshire?”

“With my sense of duty to society, I knew I had to make a difference. So when the church was unavailable, I sought to keep my home country safe from any dangers.” Wickham’s eyes glinted with satisfaction at their obvious interest.

Not liking the look in his eyes, Elizabeth continued. “Did you not feel the need to join the regulars? With the war on the continent and the battle against the tyrant, there would surely be a noble effort.” Elizabeth felt sure that this would not have suited the well-groomed man before her.

“Yes, it was something I thought of, but found that I could not be so far away from my home soil.” What ladies spoke of the war? Wickham did not understand why it was so hard to direct the women from this family.

Mary doubted Mr. Wickham’s motives, but it would not do to roll her eyes at him. “Are you able to earn your way in the militia? I have heard that the pay is much less than that of an officer in the regulars.” Maybe if he felt he was not being held in the best light, he would leave.

“Had things gone the way they should have, I would have a much better situation now. But being as ill-used as I have been, I must work to support myself.” Being careful to look woebegone and yet brave, he waited for the questions to begin.

“How are you finding Hertfordshire, Lieutenant Wickham?” Elizabeth looked at Mary out of the corner of her eye. This might be fun.