Many people believe that men did not learn to fly until around one hundred years later, but in November 1811, as George Wickham flew backwards down the lane in Meryton, his feet never once touched the ground.

MacLeod, Mr Darcy's valet and unofficial protector had been raised in a rough part of Edinburgh prior to entering service and with five brothers and a heavy handed father he was formed of teak when it came to fisticuffs. He had been in service as Darcy's valet since the man was five and ten and while he could not defend him from his own strict father (especially when young Wickham had spun him a tale to rile him up against the young master), he could certainly defend his name and person in all else. Being fully five years older than the master had given him a protective older brother attachment to the man, especially as he saw him take on the weight of the world after his father passed.

When he had first spotted Miss Elizabeth Bennet struggling away from Mr Wickham, who at that time was trying to embrace her against her will in an alley between two stores, he unceremoniously grabbed Darcy's arm and spun him towards the trouble.

Fitzwilliam Darcy was a very private man, but nobody could be as close to him as his loyal valet and not know what Miss Elizabeth was to him; even if he wasn't prepared to rebel against his family's expectations quite yet the man was lost to her and so stubborn and loyal that even should she reject him he would remain lost to her forever.

The first Wickham knew of the intervention was when he was bodily dragged away from Elizabeth by his shoulder and then Darcy subsequently had quickly flung him into the wall at the side of the butchers shop in Meryton, knocking the air from him. MacLeod wondered for a moment at the master's strength, when he would ordinarily avoid violence at all costs. Yes something about Miss Elizabeth animated the man.

George Wickham had carefully timed his move after working on Miss Elizabeth with his tragic story about the denied living, flattering her and her family endlessly and enjoying the crusader personality he had recognised in her being brought to life in blackening Mr Darcy's name and reputation on his behalf in the community. Really things could not have been going better. Charitable people truly are stupid thought he, they never see how open they are to exploitation.

Knowing that the woman would take the blame for being ruined had for many years left Mr Wickham with no impulse control at times (although he tried to hide it and succeeded most of the time) and it showed now as the opportunistic predator had sallied forth to try and embrace and kiss her, drawing her with him off the main street. Little did he know that as much as she believed she esteemed him, Elizabeth was not Lydia and she intended to gift no liberties to anyone but her future husband. She was ever determined to find love and placed appropriate value on herself as a young Gentlewoman.

Mr Darcy already stood over Miss Elizabeth Bennet raising her gently to her feet, after his action wrenching Wickham away had unbalanced her. When Elizabeth raised her eyes the mask the man wore when uncomfortable was gone, concern, mild panic and boundless love showed in his eyes and expression, as if he was rescuing the greatest treasure in the world to him.

While his back was turned the rat Wickham attempted to draw his sword and gain the advantage, but having lost the protection of George Darcy he should have paid closer attention to Mr MacLeod who was now free to intervene and had waited years for this.

His left fist drew back and lashed out with a fierce speed, driven by knotted muscles and over ten years of resentment at the evil little rake; each knuckle connected with the scoundrel's right cheek which shattered his whole world into blinding white pain, before he lost consciousness mid-flight. He then crashed to the ground with a grunt as the air once more left his body and he moved no more other than to breathe.

This grunt broke the spell between Darcy and Elizabeth, who by now were standing too closely together for propriety and still clasped each other's hands in comfort.

Elizabeth gave a little start before laughing quickly to herself and saying, "Thank you Mr Darcy, and to you Mr MacLeod."

Just then the butcher's boy emerged from a side door and took in the scene, gasping aloud when he spotted Mr Wickham's crumpled form.

MacLeod quickly responded to the sight of him, "You laddie, have you such a thing as twine or string? This officer attacked my master and the young lady and I had to come to his rescue. He has taken his commission by fraud and he sought to silence the master so he may carry on his defrauding tradesman and spreading falsehoods."

MacLeod felt he was on safe ground with these accusations thanks to the good natured gossiping servants hereabouts. Many of the Gentry forgot about such networks, but below stairs staff looked after their own when a wolf was amongst the sheep.

"Yes Sir," stammered the boy and returned in a short moment with the large well-muscled butcher following him closely.

"Mr Maddison, James, thank you for your quick assistance. It appears that Mr Wickham has a false appearance of goodness and has attacked a gentleman who knows the truth of him. He was no doubt trying to avoid exposure."

"Aye many a shark smiles right until it devours the sailor in the water!" Stated MacLeod with feeling.

Elizabeth was very grateful for Mr MacLeod's quick thinking and care of her reputation. She was also ashamed and annoyed at herself, due in great part to what could have happened to her and the blame she would have carried for it. This was all due to her own stubbornness and pride in her oft claimed ability to read character accurately, she thought.

Looking back up to Mr Darcy's face as the other gentlemen secured the villain Wickham, she wondered how far wrong she'd been reading with this man too. He did not appear proud right now, he was not belittling her, judging her or blaming her; if anything she would guess he was taking the blame on himself as his face appeared crestfallen.

She looked askance at him with a raise of her eyebrows.

"I should have warned you about him when I first saw the villain arriving. His schemes have negatively affected me for much of my life and I know what he is. I'm sorry Miss Elizabeth, I should have been a better man for your sake. I was just so concerned for someone close to me."

"Do not think on it Sir, you have your reasons I am sure and you cannot own another man's sins."

"I would seek to make it up to you Miss Elizabeth, if you would allow me to call on you and let you see the real me?"

"Well we all have to start somewhere and I did not much like our first beginning." She said, "Yes, let us make a new start from now, I would welcome your call."

MacLeod smiled.