A/N: As usual thanks to all who reviewed. Here's chapter nine. 5 chapters left!!
Last time in An Impossible Treasure
"Georgiana, what is it?" Elizabeth asked her friend.
"My brother has fired Mrs. Younge," Georgiana said. "I cannot imagine why. She was an amiable enough woman, and she knew her place."
Elizabeth sighed and said, "Perhaps it is your brother's belief that she did not." Georgiana did not understand her words, but she thought no more of it. She had initially come to invite Elizabeth on a shopping day. Glad that the young girl had overcome her puzzlement so quickly, Elizabeth agreed with a smile.
Chapter 9
A week later, the three friends were on their way back to London. They stopped at a quaint village for lunch before continuing on their way. Once they reached London, Georgiana extracted a promise from Elizabeth to join them for dinner in two days time. After Elizabeth's agreement, the Darcy carriage went in the direction of Grosvenor Square, whilst the Ashby carriage was bound for Belgrave Square.
Elizabeth was no longer discomfited by Mr. Darcy's presence. She was beginning to realize that he probably no longer held any regard for her. He would always know how she felt by the ring that now rested up her middle finger of her right hand as opposed to a chain around her neck. She would never take it off as long as she lived.
She had been informed when the invitation was issued that she would not be the only guest at the Darcy table that evening. Darcy had invited one of his friends along as well. Elizabeth could not imagine what this gentleman would be like. He would not be at all like Darcy, for Mr. Darcy's personality could not possibly be duplicated. With the way Mr. Darcy spoke of Mr. Wickham, the man could not be a rake either. Darcy would never befriend such a man.
Elizabeth was not disappointed. Mr. Bingley was a very affable man who always had a smile on his face. She was exceedingly pleased by his manners, but she feared that he was too obliging at times. During dinner, Mr. Bingley had tried to initiate a conversation with her about London's diversions, but she responded, "I'm afraid I do not know much of London. Before my marriage, I had been here but once for my first season out. After my marriage, I moved over to America with my husband, and I have only just returned a fortnight ago."
Mr. Bingley was surprised. "Well Mrs. Ashby, in that case I must ask this question. Which is better, England or America?"
"Without question the answer is England," she replied with a smile. "Perhaps I am biased because I lived here 15 years and only 5 in America, but America does not seem as ordered nor as beautiful as England at least the England that I have seen."
Bingley smiled and nodded and asked her what America was like.
"Well," Elizabeth replied. "I will not deny that it had its positive attributes. Lord Ashby ran and owned a tobacco plantation, and the aroma was very pleasing. The winters in Virginia are not so severe as here in England, and I am more inclined to believe that the people in Williamsburg were more friendly than the majority of London."
All in all, the evening was a very pleasant one, and it was agreed that it must be repeated some time.
"Perhaps next week," Elizabeth offered. "I am hoping to have my aunt and uncle dine at my home. The three of you are more than welcome to join us."
"Thank you, Mrs. Ashby. I can say that Georgiana and I shall be there," Darcy said. Georgiana nodded her agreement. Bingley said he would join them as well, and everything was set.
Elizabeth was exceptionally happy to see her aunt and uncle again, and they were just as pleased to see her.
"Oh Lizzy," Mrs. Gardiner said. "We have missed you so."
"And I have missed you."
"In your letter you stated that we would not be the only ones in attendance," Mr. Gardiner said. "Who else shall be joining us?"
"It is Mr. Darcy and his sister and a Mr. Bingley whom I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with just last week," Elizabeth answered. "I am not sure if you remember Mr. Darcy…"
"Yes," Mr. Gardiner replied. "Ever since our first meeting in town all those years ago, he has become a regular visitor to your aunt and I."
"He has brought his sister as well," Mrs. Gardiner said, "and she and the children get along so dearly. It will be such a pleasure to see them again. But tell us about this Mr. Bingley."
"I must admit, he is very much like Jane," Elizabeth said with a smile. "He is Mr. Darcy's good friend, and he has one of the happiest dispositions that I have ever seen. He is so obliging and good."
"You seem to like him very much Lizzy," Mrs. Gardiner said with a smile.
"Oh, no aunt," Elizabeth replied with a mimicked smile. "No, I fear that Mr. Bingley is too obliging for me."
Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner chuckled along with Elizabeth just as Mr. Bingley was announced into the room. Introductions were made, and the four adults ignited a wonderful conversation, one that the Darcy's joined upon their arrival.
During dinner, there was much conversation to be had amongst the group.
"So, Mr. Gardiner," Bingley said, "I hear that you are in trade. My own father was in the business, and indeed, my uncle still runs it to this day. What sort of trade do you do?"
"Mostly port," Mr. Gardiner replied. "It is a blooming business, and my parents always said that I had a fine taste for a fine wine."
"My father was in the cigar business."
"I wish I had known him, then," Mr. Gardiner replied. "We would have made a fine team."
"Indeed, I believe you would have."
"Mr. Gardiner is my main supplier of port," Mr. Darcy said. "I am pleased to say that neither his taste nor his deals have ever faltered."
"He is my supplier as well," Elizabeth said. Both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley looked at her with shocked faces.
"Well, I need a fine supply when I find elegant gentlemen such as yourselves as guests in my home." Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner smiled and laughed as did Mr. Bingley and Georgiana. Darcy looked down at the ground uncomfortably. This did not go unnoticed by Elizabeth. She too, looked at the ground embarrassedly. Darcy said considerably less throughout the meal.
Over the course of the following two months, Mr. Darcy, Georgiana, Elizabeth, and Mr. Bingley became a merry group of friends. Elizabeth felt a little guilty for spending so much time with them and not having gone to see her family, but she assured herself that she would soon return to Hertfordshire. The night after she had made that promise, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy were in her presence, yet again, at Mr. Bingley's townhouse.
"Did Georgiana not accompany you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Unfortunately Georgiana is suffering a headache today," Darcy explained. "I would have stayed with her, but she insisted that I come."
"Please send my wishes for her to feel better upon your return," Elizabeth said.
"I shall."
It was then that a woman entered the room. Elizabeth noticed that she seemed to have favoritism in the color orange. She was not remarkably pretty, but she had the aura of someone noble.
"Charles, you did not tell me that we would be having company," she said. Upon noticing Elizabeth, she seemed to become even more…haughty.
"I thought I had mentioned it at breakfast," Bingley said. "No matter, Mrs. Ashby, I would like to introduce you to my sister, Miss Caroline Bingley."
"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Bingley," Elizabeth said as she bowed her head. Upon hearing her title, Caroline seemed to loosen a little.
"'Tis good to meet you as well ma'am," she replied before making a beeline for the seat beside Darcy. Elizabeth would have guessed that the two had an understanding with each other, but Darcy's immediate reaction to Caroline's presence was to scoot as close to the arm of the couch as possible.
"I have some news I wish to share with all of you," Bingley said. "I have decided to lease an estate."
"Really, brother?" Caroline said, sounding surprised. "And where, might I ask, is this estate?"
"It is in Hertfordshire, near a little village called Meryton."
"Wonderful choice, Bingley," Darcy said. Darcy had helped Bingley search for an estate in the spring, and they had seen many. Netherfield was the best option for him.
"Yes," Bingley agreed, "and I invite you all to join me and my sisters for my first few months there. Georgiana is invited as well, Darcy."
"I thank you Bingley," Darcy said. "I shall accept your offer. Unfortunately, my sister has neglected her studies for far too long, and it is high time that she returned to them."
"I see," Bingley said. "And you Mrs. Ashby? Would you be willing to put up with me for a few more months?"
Elizabeth laughed a little, and the smile would not come off of her face. "Yes, Mr. Bingley. I accept your offer whole heartedly. Thank you."
It was decided that they would not leave London for another month. The house needed to be readied, and Elizabeth and Darcy had many dealings to handle with their households. Elizabeth had told the staff that she did not know when she would return, but she would write them in advance so that they were not scurrying about for her arrival. Darcy warned his staff of the same thing, but he also had to prepare his staff at Pemberley for Georgiana's arrival, and his steward needed to be notified that he would be sending all letters of business to Netherfield until further notice. In the middle of September, the Darcy and Ashby carriages set off together in the direction of Hertfordshire.
Directly upon their arrival, Elizabeth and Darcy were led to the drawing room on the second floor where Elizabeth became acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Hurst. Elizabeth did not have much an opinion of Mr. Bingley's relations. Mr. Hurst was man who enjoyed his ale, Mrs. Hurst was a woman who enjoyed things such as fashion and lace, and Miss Caroline (as Elizabeth had surmised earlier) was a woman who held a high regard for fashion, lace, money, social rankings, titles, and, of course, Mr. Darcy. Miss Caroline cared for everything that Elizabeth possessed and cared little for. Mr. Darcy, of course, was an exception to both of these characteristics.
Elizabeth still loved Mr. Darcy and she had not been alone with him since the first night of her travel in Ramsgate. Since she had not been forced to speak only to him, she avoided it as much as possible. It slowly diminished the pang that tugged at her heart every time she saw him.
Not long after the party entered and was settled in Netherfield, local fathers began to call upon the house, leaving their cards for Mr. Bingley. Elizabeth was a little more than surprised to not see her father's card amongst them. She was sure that her mother would have forced him to visit them by then. She would wait until he called to let him know that she was there. It would be a difficult task to make sure that she was not seen by any men that she recognized, or any that she didn't as a matter of fact. Elizabeth knew that Meryton was a delightful village that was known to gossip. She did not want it getting out too soon that she was back in Hertfordshire.
A/N: You know the drill. Leave a review and I will love you forever! lol. I've been thinking about starting another fic, but I don't know how long it would take to write it or what it's even about lol. I like sticking to the theme of Elizabeth and Darcy met in the past. I have some ideas, and I'm gonna share them with you cuz I can.
-Lizzy and Darcy meet in 1809 ish (two years before the novel)
-Love at first site, but they never really meet. So it's like they see each other on the street and know they're meant to be lol
-Lizzy doesn't meet him at the Meryton Ball because she and her aunt and uncle are touring the lakes. Consequently, Mr. Collins does not propose and marries Mary instead (because that ship rocks lol)
-The rest of the novel follows suit, but Elizabeth does not go to Hunsford because Mary was never close enough to any of her sisters to invite them.
-Lizzy and Darcy finally meet at Jane and Bingley's wedding
That's about all I have. If anyone has any ideas, feel free to share them, and if this story happens, I will gladly put credit where it is due.
