One thing I've wondered about was to what extent there was ever a chance that Lizzy could/would have fallen in love with Wickham.

In Chapter 26, Lizzy does tell her aunt that she is not in love with Wickham, and she recognizes that it wouldn't be prudent, but she also says, "Oh! that abominable Mr. Darcy!" as if, were it prudent, she might have been likely to fall in love.

We are told at the beginning of Chapter 18 that she "prepared [for the Netherfield Ball] in the highest spirits for the conquest of all that remained unsubdued of his heart, trusting that it was not more than might be won in the course of the evening."