A/N: Thanks again to everyone who reviewed. It seems that less and less people are reviewing, but I'd really like your input on everything. I know that the story was pre-written, and there's not a whole lot you can change with this one, but there's room for improvement in other works. So with that said, onto chapter 10!

Last time in An Impossible Treasure

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.

Chapter 10

Three weeks after their arrival, her father finally left a card. A few days later, he appeared in the Bennet carriage, and Elizabeth had been waiting for him all day. When at last he appeared, she rushed as quickly as propriety would allow to the front door. He had just had his cloak and his hat removed when she came upon him.

"Papa!" she said excitedly. He looked up the stairs where she stood, and she hurried to him. He held her close in an embrace and once they parted he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Lizzy, is it truly you?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Yes, papa, it is I," she replied with a smile.

"My, how you have grown." Elizabeth laughed a little and they spoke a little as she led him to the drawing room where Mr. Bingley was waiting to greet his new guest. He was more than a little surprised to see Elizabeth clinging to his arm.

"Mr. Bingley," she said with a smile. "Please allow me to introduce my father, Mr. Bennet."

"A pleasure sir," Mr. Bingley said. "Lady Ashby, I did not know that you had family in the area."

"Certainly, sir," Elizabeth said. "Longbourn is but three miles from here."

After a few minutes of conversation between the three of them, Mr. Bennet asked Mr. Bingley if he had been invited to the Meryton Assembly that would be held in a week's time.

"Indeed, sir, I have," was Bingley's reply. "Sir William Lucas invited me, and I assured him that I and my party would all be in attendance."

After a few more moments of talking with Mr. Bingley, Elizabeth and her father spent a long time deep in conversation about what had happened to Elizabeth after her last letter two months ago. She told him everything and he was glad to have her back. After nearly two hours, Mr. Bennet felt that it was time to return to Longbourn.

"Papa," Elizabeth said. "Please do not tell the others that I am here. I wish to surprise them when we meet again at the Assembly." Never able to deny his favorite daughter anything, Mr. Bennet smiled and complied.

After seeing her father off in his carriage, Elizabeth began to make her way up the stairs when Mr. Darcy accosted her.

"There you are Lady Ashby," he said. "Forgive me, but I have been trying to find you for the past two hours. It seemed as though you had disappeared."

"I was talking with my father," Elizabeth replied. Their conversation was emotionless, and it left Elizabeth uneasy. "He came here this afternoon to call on Mr. Bingley and make him feel welcome in the neighborhood."

"Miss Bingley has been looking for you for quite some time," he said. Elizabeth's eyes fell a bit. She did not know Caroline Bingley very well, but what she did know, she did not like. Caroline seemed friendly enough, but it all seemed to be false. Perhaps it was Elizabeth's fortune and place in society that came with her marriage, but she wasn't sure. Reluctantly, she followed Mr. Darcy to the drawing room where Caroline Bingley waited.

A week later, the Netherfield party all climbed into two carriages and made their way to the Meryton Assembly hall. They were late because Miss Bingley took an absurdly long time to ready herself. Elizabeth had nearly burst laughing when she saw Miss Bingley and Mrs. Hurst's gowns. They were very elegant and not at all what the people of Meryton would be wearing. Elizabeth was in one of her more humble gowns, and Miss Bingley was almost shocked that she would wear something so simple to a party.

As they entered the hall, the music stopped playing. People began to stare, but Elizabeth's head began to dart around the room looking for her family amidst the crowd. When she spotted her sisters, she smiled and noticed that they were not looking at her but rather at the gentlemen around her. She was not surprised. Such action was probably under her mother's advice. She followed the rest of her party to the front of the room, and when they turned about, she noticed that nearly all of the attendants were staring directly at her. She smiled graciously, and the dancing recommenced. Elizabeth then watched as Mrs. Bennet dragged over Jane who had a hand on Charlotte Lucas. Elizabeth's smile widened.

When they arrived, Elizabeth began to make introductions. "Mr. Bingley, please allow me to introduce my mother, Mrs. Bennet, two of my sisters Miss Jane and Miss Mary Bennet, and my dear friend Miss Charlotte Lucas."

"It's a pleasure sir," Mrs. Bennet said. "I have two other daughters, but they are already dancing."

"I'm delighted to make your acquaintance," Mr. Bingley said amiably.

"And also allow me to introduce Miss Caroline Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and Mr. Darcy."

"Mr. Darcy," Jane said. "Your sister has mentioned you in many of her letters. It is good to see you again."

"And you as well, Miss Bennet," Darcy replied. He was surprised that he still remembered Elizabeth's sister. They had not been very well acquainted in London, but apparently he left a lasting impression on her. Then again, Georgiana was a close friend to both Elizabeth and Miss Bennet. Perhaps she had mentioned Miss Bennet in a conversation…

Bingley requested Jane's hand for the first set, and Elizabeth was sad that she did not have the opportunity to talk to her sister right away, but she was given the opportunity to speak with Charlotte.

All in all, the evening went splendidly. Elizabeth was able to speak with her family and friends, and she danced with many gentlemen including Mr. Darcy. Not only that, but she was able to induce him to dance with others of her acquaintance.

"I am simply shocked and amazed," Mr. Bingley had said as he and Elizabeth watched Mr. Darcy dance with Charlotte Lucas. "He never dances with people he has just met, and he rarely dances at all. I wonder what has changed his mind."

Elizabeth had just smiled. "Perhaps a little persuasion was all he really needed."

The next day Elizabeth journeyed to Longbourn to spend more time with her family. During the ride to her destination, it began to rain. She was a bit put out by the weather, but she would just have to manage with seeing Longbourn's outdoors on the morrow.

Darcy was indifferent to Elizabeth's departure. It had become so natural to have her near him so often that when she was out of his company…he felt somewhat hollow. He knew that he still loved her, and the knowledge that she no longer felt the same was more than he could tolerate. He always wanted to leave her company, maybe it would help him overcome his feelings faster. He found that he could not, however. He was completely incapable of not being near her. He resolved that it was easier to be near her and know that she no longer cared for him rather than bearing the pain of being away from her. The pain had lasted ever since she had set sail for America, and it remained with him until he was in her presence again.

When she returned home that evening, Darcy had made up his mind that it would not be good for him to stay in her company for so long. He needed to overcome his feelings for her, and he would not be able to do that if he spent as much time with her as he did.

When he told Charles that it would be best if he returned to town, Charles would have none of it. He asked Darcy what was going on, why he had been acting so strange lately.

"It is none of your concern," Darcy snapped.

Bingley looked affronted. "Darcy ever since your father died, you've been so withdrawn. After Anne died you barely even spoke to Georgiana. All of a sudden, Lady Ashby enters your life, and it's as if you're at Cambridge again. It is almost as if the past five years have never happened." Darcy sighed and sat in a chair with his head in his hands. "You love her, don't you Darcy?" Bingley asked.

Darcy gave in. "I do," he admitted. "I love her, Bingley. I have always loved her, and I will continue to love her until the day I die."

"But you barely know her…"

"Yes, but I used to know her better than anyone else in the country."

Bingley looked confused.

"I never explained how Mrs. Ashby and I met," Darcy said, preparing to share his tale.

A/N: PLEASE REVIEW!! Means a lot to me!!