A/N: So here's the conclusion to the story. I wanna thank you all for sticking through all the angst. I hope it was worth it in the end. Leave reviews 'cause everyone who reviewed will be thanked in the next chapter. 120+ reviews! Fantastic guys, I really appreciate it!

Last time in An Impossible Treasure...

During the course of the rest of the day, Elizabeth barely spoke a word to anyone. She was still contemplating William and why he had acted that way. He kept the necklace, Elizabeth thought. Surely that means something. But according to his behavior, it did not.

She did not sleep that night. She couldn't keep him off of her mind. She sat up in bed and did nothing as the first of many tears made a trail down her cheeks.

Chapter 13

The sun rose and marked the beginning of a new day. As he stared out the window, Darcy vowed to at least try to get along with Elizabeth. Could he truly fault her for no longer holding affection for him? She did not know that he would still love her after all these years, and he could not accuse her of anything more than being sensible enough to realize that they were better off.

And yet…

He couldn't help but wonder what things would be like if she still loved him. They could be engaged or already married. Would she be happy? He could not see. Whenever he had these fantasies, he only saw his own happiness. He never really saw how Elizabeth was feeling. It is selfish of me to keep these feelings, he thought. Move on so that she can do the same. It is obvious that she wishes for you to find someone else. She doesn't want to feel guilty for being with another man. It was a ridiculous thought of a hopeless romantic, but Darcy always had it in his mind.

As he entered the breakfast room, he noticed that she was there as well. Alone. He offered her a smile, and she returned it with a confused look. He did not waver and continued his trek over to her.

"Good morning, Lady Ashby," he said as he took a seat near her. "I trust you slept well."

"I did, thank you," she lied. "And you? Did you sleep well?"

"Yes," he replied. "Are your accommodations to your liking?"

She smiled genuinely. "They could not be better. Never have I seen such a grand guest room."

"I have seen portraits of your plantation back at your townhouse," Darcy said. "Surely you had some wonderful guest rooms there."

"Yes, but not quite as grand as the one I have been assigned," she replied. "Whoever decorated truly had good taste."

"That would be my mother," Darcy replied. "After she died, my father did not have the heart to have any of the rooms changed and neither did I once he passed."

"He was truly a great man," Elizabeth said. "His life ended far too short."

"Only because he started drinking far too early," Darcy mumbled. Elizabeth heard him, but did not comment. She took a sip of her tea and said, "I don't think I ever told you how wonderfully you have raised Georgiana. She is a very polite, accomplished young lady, and she will soon grow into a fine woman."

"Yes," Darcy said shortly. Elizabeth smiled at the protective demeanor that overcame his features. "I think, however, that it is time for her to have a female guide her. I have done all that I can. I am a man, I can only raise her to an extent. A woman, well, Georgiana needs to be understood. She's getting to an age where I can no longer do that."

Elizabeth nodded. She doubted that he realized the meaning of his words to her. He is thinking of getting a wife, Elizabeth thought. And with his tone, and easiness of manner, it will not be me. He will marry a woman who is far more suitable to helping his sister.

"I wonder if…" he continued. Then he paused. "I do not wish to be presumptuous, nor intrusive…"

Elizabeth remained silent, and that encouraged him. "I was hoping that perhaps you would be the woman to do that."

Elizabeth unintentionally sucked in a deep breath. Darcy did not notice. "I was hoping that perhaps you could oversee her lessons while she is in town. You could teach her about society, and…" He did not know what else to say.

"Are you sure that you want me to do it?" she asked with a teasing smile. "Miss Bingley seems so much more…accomplished than I."

Darcy tried to contain his laughter, but it was etched in his tone. "Well with that argument, I must say that I am now begging for it to be you."

Elizabeth made a pouty face. "No groveling?" She sighed. "Well I suppose that that shall have to wait. Mr. Darcy, I would be honored to be your sister's…instructor." He would have made a reply, but Georgiana had just entered the room. She saw the smiles upon her brother's and Elizabeth's faces, and she smiled as well.

"Good morning to you both," she said as she took a seat next to her brother and across from Elizabeth. "Did you both have a good night's rest?"

"Very much so, Georgiana," Elizabeth replied.

"Indeed," Darcy answered.

Georgiana looked at her brother intently, but he just shook his head. Elizabeth looked confused.

"It is rather fortunate that you joined us at this time, Georgiana," her brother said. "Lady Ashby has just agreed to help you learn the ways of society so that you may come out in a year or two."

"Thank you Lizzy," Georgiana said with a relieved sigh. "I should very much feel awkward if I was being taught by a stranger."

"It is no trouble Georgiana," Elizabeth said. "You have always been like a sister to me."

"And you to me."

The two girls shared a smile and the small party was soon joined by the Gardiners. They spent the rest of the morning amiably, and shortly after lunch, the party found themselves seated on the terrace. That was when Darcy approached Elizabeth with a question.

"Have you had much time to explore the grounds of Pemberley, Lady Ashby?"

Elizabeth looked up, slightly surprised to have been singled out. "Much to my chagrin, I have not."

"But you must," Darcy said. "I myself am in the need for a walk if you should like to go now."

Elizabeth smiled a bit and said, "I should like that very much. Georgiana, aunt, uncle, would you like to join us."

All three politely declined and Darcy and Elizabeth were soon off on their walk. They headed towards the edge of the lawn and disappeared into the woods.

"How long do you think they'll be in there?" Mr. Gardiner asked.

"That all depends on if they begin to realize that they have much in common," Mrs. Gardiner said. Georgiana just smiled to herself.

Meanwhile, there was little conversation going on between Darcy and Elizabeth. She was admiring the scenery, and Darcy was unknowingly admiring her. The sunlight perfectly reflected off of her stunning brown eyes when she looked upwards. He smiled as her eyes filled with wonder at the beauty around her.

"You have remarkable grounds, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said attempting to strike up a conversation. "It is a pity that my relations and I will not have more time to explore them."

Darcy was not expecting this. "Surely you are not leaving so soon?" he asked. "You have only been here a week at least."

"We wish to move onto Matlock sooner than I had predicted," Elizabeth said.

"All of you, or…or just you?" he asked hoarsely.

Elizabeth looked down at the ground.

"Are you displeased with Pemberley?" he asked. Again, she did not respond. He found the answer himself. "You are displeased with me."

"Of course not, Mr. Darcy. Why would you say such a thing?" she said as she stopped in the middle of the path. He stopped as well and turned to her. The sunlight shone off of unshed tears. He watched as she swallowed thickly.

"I saw the look of terror on your face when you found the necklace," he said. "I feel like a fool having hung onto the impossible for so long."

A tear fell down her cheek. Her eyes filled with hurt. "I see Mr. Darcy," she said with an icy tone. "You are a fool for loving me, I understand you completely now." She turned and began walking back to the house.

"That's not what I meant at all!" he called to her. When she did not turn around he ran after her. "Elizabeth!"

She stopped dead in her tracks. The way he said her name had always sent chills down her spine, and it was no different now.

"Please," he said. "I only meant that it was apparent that you had moved on, and I was a fool for ever believing that you would still love me after all these years. Believe me, I have done my fair share of foolish things, but loving you will never be one of them."

Another tear fell down her cheek and she nodded. She believed him. She always believed in him, and she always would.

"I know that…that you no longer care for me," he whispered.

"Why do you keep saying that?" she asked in a hushed voice.

He swallowed and answered, "I have to make myself believe it in some way or other."

It was then that she started fidgeting with her hand. A few moments later, she held up his ring. He stared at it in awe. "But…the chain…"

"It broke on the ship," she said. "I couldn't bear to get a new one because it would not be from you, so I wore the ring in the only other way I could think of."

He couldn't believe it. But it was true. She…she still loved him?

"All these months," he said. "I wasted all these months."

"They were not wasted," Elizabeth said. "We are hardly the same people we were all those years ago. Now we know who we are, and I…I know that I still love you."

He could not speak. He was completely stunned. But he was so completely happy at the same time. He swept her up in a very romantic fashion and kissed her hard on the mouth. She responded with just as much fervor, and when they parted, breathing heavily, Darcy asked, "Please Elizabeth, please tell me that you'll marry me. Make me the happiest man in all of England."

She smiled and nodded. He kissed her forehead and picked up her right hand. He took his ring off of her forefinger and placed in on her ring finger on her left hand. She gasped when she realized.

"You gave me a piece from the family collection?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Only the best for you, my Lizzy."

She smiled at his endearment to her.