The militia's arrival brings new excitement to Meryton, none more welcomed than the charming Mr. Wickham. His easy manners and handsome face win instant favor. When Elizabeth encounters him in town, his attentiveness is as flattering as it is unexpected. Then comes the shock: Mr. Darcy rides past, and the two men's eyes meet with such barely concealed hostility that Elizabeth's curiosity blazes. There is clearly history here, dark and complex.