Rating: 16+ just to be on the safe side, even though nothing too explicit will happen
Warning: This chapter is not beta read, so if you find any mistakes, whether grammatical or historical, please do tell me and I will fix them! Also, English is not my first language. I welcome criticism with wide open arms, but please be kind!

Summary: Elizabeth, disguised as Elliot Bennet, attends Cambridge at the tender age of fourteen. She has to cope with a society full of men and get to know her (future) roommate, the serious, fastidious and infuriating Mr. Darcy. Although inspired by your typical college romance story, this one will mostly explore that maddening period when students lose their name of boys... and have to act the part of men! Without further ado, I present you...

A Gentleman in the Making

Chapter 1: A Peculiar Encounter (with the Ground)

When questioned upon the utility of collegial education, it seems that at least half of the undergraduates are of the opinion that Cambridge and other such institutions serve more as a means to divert its residents rather than instruct. These students, in fact, often affectionately refer to themselves as "sporting men" as opposed to those whom, fastidious and ill-tempered, fancy themselves "reading men". A clear distinction is to be made, as third-years would assure newcomers, for these two categories of students are clearly defined and seldom confused. Whereas sporting men strive for things such as amusement and distinction, reading men labour to graduate with honours enough to compensate for the former's lack of academic success.

If one were to inquire after Elizabeth Bennet's first impression of Cambridge as her carriage drove down Trinity Street, she would be compelled to answer honestly: it all seemed too good to be true. She was a young woman that possessed as little wealth as experience of the world, and the very idea of a superior institution of education (reserved strictly for men) within reach of her, seemed too much to believe. Yet believe it she must, for with each sway of the carriage, a little more of the inner corners of the Great Gate were revealed. She clasped her hands tightly together in an effort to contain her excitement, for the Elizabethan building only grew taller with each passing moment, and it was all she could do to prevent herself from jumping off the car and running the rest of the distance to the school. It was just a little before noon, and with most residents rushing to the dining Hall, very few remained to crowd the entrance.

"Well my dear Lizzy," began Mr. Bennet as he fondly patted her intertwined hands. "I daresay that with such a prospect before you, three months shall not pass before you become entirely too bored with it and come running back home. Indeed, what are you to do without the diversion provided by your younger sisters and your mother and her nerves?"

Elizabeth, recognizing her father's attempt at alleviating his own reluctance to part with his favourite daughter, tried to lighten the mood. "I shall not deign to answer you, sir, for I do not recognize any person named Lizzy here at all!" she professed with an impertinent smile and an arch in her brow.

"Forgive me, Elliot, I was not aware that the name was required attired as you are," Mr. Bennet countered good humouredly. For surely enough, Elizabeth, or rather Elliot, as she would prefer herself, looked nothing short of a gentleman's daughter in her cream muslin gown and bonnet.

"Certainly, it is a pardonable mistake," she conceded saucily. "My appearance might not yet have undergone significant metamorphose, but I dearly wish to become accustomed to my new name before being unpleasantly surprised should one of my peers decide to use it. Surely, being unable to answer to one's own name might be attributed to a case of severe foolishness and I would rather not want to, as mama would say, ruin our family's good name."

Mr. Bennet could not resist answering to such impertinent banter with a hearty laugh. "Enough of that, Lizzy," he said soberly once the effusion passed and the carriage halted. "You had better leave before I reconsider my decision. To think that I am sending you to live for three years amidst young men, half of which probably as silly as your younger sisters…"

"Papa..."

"No, no, do not interrupt me. How you managed to convince me of this, I shall never understand. Ten years into the future, I am certain I will look upon this day and berate myself for spoiling you thus. But no matter, you need not look at me like that young lady, for we are already arrived and little would come out of this lengthy trip if you were to return with me."

Once convinced of his own reasoning, Mr. Bennet climbed out of the carriage and firmly shut the door. Soon, blinds were drawn over the windows and the next person to exit the vehicle was attired in such a manner that Mr. Bennet needed not assist them out.

In truth, the passageway from the Great Gate to the dormitories could not have taken more than five minutes to cross. After securing the key to her quarters where the footmen settled her luggage, Elliot Bennet decided to challenge this belief and took her time walking along the lanes of Trinity College. The second time, she prided herself in taking seven minutes from the entrance to her room. Along the way, she noticed a particular patch of greenery, comprised mostly of climbing plants, shrubs and large trees that cast into shade a corner where two buildings met. Situated right outside her dorm, she judged it would be the perfect place to hide should she wish to amble about as Elizabeth. She would not want to be seen walking out of Elliot's dorm dressed in womanly gowns and summarised that she could quickly run from her chambers and hide in that secluded corner. Once she made sure no one was about, she would emerge once more and pretend to be walking the grounds. After all, visitors of the fairer sex, mostly accompanied with their families, were seen often enough visiting these areas during the permissible hours. Elliot was certain she would welcome the occasion to shed her breeches and her wig for the alternative of feminine gowns and natural hair once every fortnight or so.

As of now, the urge to return to the confinement of womanly clothes was nowhere to be found. In fact, Elliot presumes that no member of the fairer sex, after having adorned a gentleman's clothes, would find the tightness of a corset superior to its masculine alternative. Granted, Elliot was not yet fifteen, and unlike her elder sister Jane, had yet to experience the inevitable physical changes that womanhood brought about. This convenience, she would take for granted for many a month to follow.

Before dinner, Elliot had already familiarized herself with her new environment. She had secured her schedule for the entire Michaelmas term, visited the classrooms she was to frequent, collected her cap and gown, peeked with a blush or two into the (currently unoccupied) common baths, and even found a particularly becoming tree to climb sometime in the future. Once everything was settled for the beginning of class two days hence, Elliot felt confident enough to face her peers, most of whom convalesced in the dining Hall.

She had barely managed to collect her meal when a tall man collided into her. Elliot was rather displeased that her quick action only managed to salvage half her soup, the rest of which spilled on the tray. Once in equilibrium again, any words of civility she had in mind for the tall man quickly died in her throat. The offender glared at her, his form straightened as if to remind her of his physical superiority. Elliot esteemed he could not have been older than one-and-twenty. Without even a word of acknowledgement, his brisk pace brought him to the very end of the Hall where he settled down alone and proceeded to eat his dinner.

Collegiates should have manners superior to that of a spoilt child's, Elliot thought fervently, but ended up pursing her lips to prevent the snide remark from escaping. She had not taken two steps forward when a strong slap landed upon her shoulders, causing her to spill whatever was left of her soup. Her lips, she could no longer prevent it, opened disbelievingly at the remarkable turn of the evening and she directed her most menacing glare to the new offender.

He was a handsome man, not as tall as the first, but with such a becoming smile stretched upon his face that once again made Elliot's words die in her throat.

"Well, old sport!" he began, giving her shoulders a few more pats as he spoke. "You should not let yourself be bullied so by that fag[1] Darcy! Pray, how old are you? You look quite young for a Trinitarian[2]."

"Sir…" Elliot managed to choke out, baffled at this gap between what she was taught of civility and what was practised in the University.

"Beg your pardon, George Wickham at your service," the fellow said with a mock bow.

"Elliot Bennet. I am fourteen, Mr. Wickham," she replied. She was about to curtsey when she suddenly realized at the imprudence of doing so. Instead, she bowed rather stiffly and prayed he had not seen through her act.

"Fourteen! Why that is the youngest age to attend College," he replied with a grin. "Well, Elliot," he continued, adopting the name without her permission, "I have not seen you around so I assume you are newly moved in."

"You assume correctly, sir."

"Sir? That is such a tedious way of speaking. Call me Wickham, for we are to be often thrown into each other's company for the next three years, are we not?"

Elliot thought that this man, for all the roughness he had shown her, was a rather pleasant and outgoing person. He had no way of knowing she was actually a woman and therefore concluded he had acted just as any other of his sex ought. With a becoming smile, she decided she would like to become better acquainted with him. "And have you noticed, Mr. Wickham, that your enthusiasm has cost me my soup for the evening?" she countered, hoping it was appropriate to tease in such a manner between men. "What shall you do now, for I am quite cross with you."

"Let me remedy that immediately then, Elliot!" Wickham led the way to a table where a few other men sat, and gestured Elliot to take a seat in front of him. He then offered the soup from his own plate to him.

Elliot was pleasantly surprised with such an act of kindness and gratefully accepted the offer. Soon, a joint was passed down the table, each man taking an ample portion of the roasted meat. Elliot decided to take a size comparative of her peers, for fear of being suspected should she instead take a lady's amount. However, a few bites later, she found she could not finish it at all. Instead, she pushed the meat around in her plate while listening to her peers banter.

"This is peculiar indeed," began the man to her right. "You are the first I know that cannot finish his portion of joint! We fellow Trinity Bulldogs[3] are known across campus to devour our meals faster than any other Cambridge freshman."

"Come, give Elliot a chance," Wickham said defensively. "He is but fourteen and has just moved in. Rather late, considering classes are starting in two days, I give you, but I'm sure he will grow into a good and loyal friend." With that said, Wickham gulped down the remaining piece of meat in Elliot's plate to the sound of clapping and cheering of his friends. Once he finished chewing, he stood up and again gave a mock bow.

As the both of them left the Hall in favour of their dorms, Elliot could no longer resist thanking him for his kindness earlier.

"You give me too much credit, for I assure you I only wanted a little more of that roasted pork," he replied good-naturedly.

"And are you headed toward your quarters, Mr. Wickham?" Elliot asked, for they had been walking in the same direction for quite some time.

"Indeed, I am. Perhaps we live close together," he replied.

Wickham could not have been more correct, since both of them stopped at the same time, with Elliot's chambers being directly to Wickham's left. "Well, it seems we are to be neighbours" she remarked with a lift of her brows.

"Then we have much to anticipate in the following years. If you need me, I will be at the Combination room. There is a wine party tonight that I dearly wish to attend." With a last pat on Elliot's shoulders, Wickham disappeared into his room.

Once safely settled in her own quarter, Elizabeth pulled her wig off and heaved a sigh of relief as her natural curls cascaded down her shoulders. Most of her belongings had already been unpacked and scattered across the chamber. Only a locked suitcase containing her gowns and other womanly accoutrements remained safely hidden under her bed. A tray of wine stood on the table in her living room but she paid it no heed. Instead, she skipped into her study and penned a lengthy letter to her sister Jane, detailing her voyage from Hertfordshire to Cambridge and her first day in College. Although it could not have been later than seven by the time she was done, the carriage ride and the activity of the day tamed even Elizabeth's spirit. She quickly washed her face in the bassin, unlocked the case where she kept her feminine nightgowns and quickly settled for bed.

Elizabeth rose with the sun on Tuesday morning with a growing anticipation for the beginning of class. Since they would not start for another day, she decided to try walking the grounds as a woman on her last free day. She would test the secrecy of that secluded corner right outside her chambers and determine how often she could change her identity without being suspected. She quickly slipped on a pale yellow gown, pulled up her gloves and fastened her bonnet. Since it was very early in the morning, she dared to crack open her door and peek outside. Seeing no one in sight, she quickly bounded for her safe haven. It took her but a few seconds to reach her destination and, shielded by the greenery, she finally released the breath she was holding.

A little off to the side, a very becoming tree, covered with thick leaves and blessed with sturdy lower branches tempted her closer. Very few people roamed the corridors in front of the dorms so early in the morning since most of them were still happily snoring in their beds from the previous night's wine party. Biting her lips as she considered whether acting so inappropriately was prudent, it wasn't long before her passion defeated her reason and she hastily hoisted herself up the tree. She was still very young after all, and her neighbours were certainly not conscious enough to chastise her on her behaviour.

Once high enough to be hidden amidst the leaves, Elizabeth heaved a sigh of satisfaction. She peeked through the foliage to admire the beauty of the school grounds. Perched atop some of the highest branches, she could see the sun steadily climbing up the sky in the East. As she turned the other way, she could distinguish the famous Cam river flowing steadily downstream and bereft of its equally famous boating men. (Once again, they were happily snoring in their own quarters).

By six o'clock, some of the early risers would begin to prepare for the day. Although they rarely ventured outside their room before seven, Elizabeth felt it prudent for her to return to her bedchamber and change into Elliot. As her attention was solely focused on climbing down the tree and making as little noise as possible, she had not noticed, until the very last moment, that a man sat at the bottom of the trunk with a book.

Despite her best efforts, the branches rattled as she neared the ground. As the man began to lift his eyes up to the noise, she realized all at once that by doing so, he could view not only her ankles, but the entirety of what was supposed to be hidden beneath her dress! She bit her lips to muffle a squeal of indignation, and in her panic, she slipped on the lowest branch and fell the rest of the way down.

Thankfully, she did not land upon the man, but a little to his right. Her gown had landed in such a fashion that her womanly sensibilities were completely covered. Except for a dull ache on her lower back, Elizabeth felt that she had much to be grateful for. As she glanced up, however, she noticed the man staring back at her, his eyes wide with befuddlement and a hint of disapproval. Several leaves that had fallen with her had nestled their way into his otherwise impeccable hair. At once, she recognized the tall student that had bumped into her the previous day at the Hall and she quickly lowered her face. Of all the people she was to obfuscate in such a manner, why did it have to be him? What if he had recognized her? What if, in a fury, he denounced her to the Head Master and expelled her from school? Everything she had done in the past two years to convince her father of sending her here would have been in vain!

"You must excuse me for my bluntness madam, but I believe this rather peculiar encounter has robbed me of any sensible vocabulary. Pray tell, what in the world were you doing up that tree?" the man asked, his eyes still wide with surprise and his hands fervently plucking the leaves from his head.

"I…" Elizabeth began, but was quite lost to finish her sentence.

"Do you live nearby?" he said, glancing at her clothes which definitely did not pertain to that of a maid. "Women of your age seldom visit the institution at such an hour. And you seem quite alone. Surely your family would disapprove of such behaviour."

Elizabeth's joy at his words was simply too grand to be described. The gentleman had not only failed to recognize her as Elliot, but had already constructed a plausible explanation to her presence here. She need not lie, nor even respond to his queries. She was significantly different enough in her womanly attire as not to be associated with her impersonification of Elliot. Best of all, she was not to be kicked out of Cambridge! Elizabeth bit her lower lip to contain her joy and kept her face down so as not to give the man further chance of recognizing her. She did not answer his questions, instead, she quickly curtsied and rushed out of the College gate. She dared not look back, and most definitely did not walk toward her chambers, but before long her laughter escaped at the folly of the event that morning.

She could not have known that his gaze followed her until she disappeared through the Gate, and she definitely was not aware that the man, despite his rigid upbringing, rejoiced in the sound of her laughter after the difficult night he had spent yesterday.

Elizabeth exhausted the rest of the morning by walking down Trinity Street, taking care not to attract too much attention. She decided that she had no choice but to miss going to the Chapel at seven that morning. She did not want to risk encountering the tall man… Mr. Darcy, if she remembered correctly. Elizabeth dared to walk as far as Christ College before retracing her steps. By the time she returned to Trinitarian grounds, it was already noon. She expertly sneaked inside amidst other visitors.

Elizabeth found her hiding spot and, when the halls were once more deserted, quietly returned to her room. There, she switched into Elliot's garments and went to lunch. To her satisfaction, the rest of the day passed uneventfully. She dined again with Mr. Wickham and his friends, then ate a light supper in her room. She retired early in anticipation of the morow's classes.

TBC

[1] Fag: A person who reads and labours hard.
[2] Trinitarian: Undergraduate that studies at Trinity College, Cambridge
[3] Trinity bulldogs: another term for students who study at Trinity College, Cambridge. (Although the rest of the sentence is a fabrication entirely of my own)

What do you think will happen next? Don't forget to haul some rotten tomatoes (or flowers, if possible!) at me! Comment below!