Thanks to everyone for reading and thanks for all the reviews!
Ok so it seems that most of you understand that Elizabeth is E.B. Anne. I put this in a review of my first chapter, but I'm gonna put it here too so that you guys can all read this. Yes, Elizabeth is E.B. Anne. I don't reveal it in the story though. It's not a big thing. I put it in the beginning symbolically because it's Lizzy's secret. Lizzy has a secret, and Darcy has a secret. Secrets, secrets are no fun. Secrets, secrets hurt someone. Anyway, onto chapter 3!
Last time in An Impossible Treasure
Elizabeth only nodded, wishing more than anything that she could just vanish. She contributed little to the rest of the conversation for fear that she might say something impertinent again. She mostly kept her eyes on her plate, but whenever she looked up she would see Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy staring at her intently. She would blush and return to her plate.
Chapter 3
During the separation of the sexes, the two male Darcys and Mr. Gardiner spoke much of the sport of fishing as they took their port, while the ladies sat in the drawing room and spoke of themselves and droll stories of the past. Georgiana had a particularly funny one that her cousin Richard told her involving her brother and a rather wild toad.
"And he landed right in the pond!" Georgiana finished. The ladies all chuckled and just then the men entered. "Georgiana," George said, "I thought we said no embarrassing stories about your brother."
"Father, how do you know that I was speaking of Fitzwilliam?"
"Well what else could cause such laughter?" George replied humorously.
Darcy blushed and the ladies all laughed again as well as George and Mr. Gardiner. After a few minutes of good conversation, Georgiana went to Elizabeth and said, "Miss Elizabeth, would you like to come with me on a walk in the gardens? They are quite lovely at this time of night with the candles lit."
"Absolutely, of course," Elizabeth replied with a smile.
Georgiana looked at her brother and said, "Would you like to come along brother?"
Darcy smiled and said, "I believe I shall Georgiana." With that, the three set off.
As they walked along in the darkness with only the moon and the faint glow of the candles as their light, they made polite conversation, as though they had known each other for a rather long amount of time. They had not long been walking before Georgiana said, "Oh goodness. It's rather chilly, and I seem to have forgotten my shawl. I shall return in a moment." She walked off in the direction of the house, leaving Darcy and Elizabeth to sit on a bench and wait for her.
"Your family is wonderful Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said. "Indeed I must admit that as much as I love my own family, I would not mind having this much quietness every once in a while."
Darcy smiled and said, "It does get rather dull, I must admit. But sometimes it is very pleasant, especially because I do not hold a high regard for much society."
"You did not seem to be adverse during your time at St. James' last night," Elizabeth said.
"Yes, well," Darcy admitted, "usually there is not such good company as that of the people I met last night."
Elizabeth blushed. "You should not speak so soon sir," she replied. "You have yet to meet my mother."
"Please believe me, Miss Elizabeth," Darcy stated with a smile, "your mother cannot be any worse than any of the other mothers I have met."
"Really?" Elizabeth asked disbelievingly. "How so?"
"Do not speak of this to anyone," Darcy said playfully, "for it is not at all honorable to speak ill of people, but I once ran into a mother who tried to have me compromise her daughter in order for me to be forced to marry her."
Elizabeth's eyes widened and she chuckled a bit, "Yes I must admit that my mother would never go that far, unfortunately she does not know when to hold her tongue, and it does get quite embarrassing."
"Ah, well, you have not yet met my aunt Catherine."
They both chuckled a bit and Darcy looked toward the house. "I wonder what is taking Georgiana so long."
"Perhaps she cannot find her shawl," Elizabeth suggested.
"Well hopefully she finds it soon if that is the case," Darcy replied. "She does love the gardens at night and it will soon be time for her to retire."
Elizabeth gave him a smile.
"What?" he asked looking at her curiously.
"It is very apparent how concerned you are for your sister's well-being," Elizabeth said. "Indeed Mr. Darcy, when it comes to your sister, I can read you easier than one of E.B. Anne's novels."
The two chuckled at that and he replied, "Well I hope I am not always that easily read."
"No indeed," Elizabeth said. "Like now," she added. "Right now with the moonlight and the shadows from the candles, and of course the obvious change of subject…" He gave a quiet chuckle. "You are not so easily read. I cannot tell if you are enjoying my company or just pretending."
"I assure you, Miss Elizabeth," he said sincerely. "I am greatly enjoying your company." She sensed the truth in his words and before she knew what was happening, he was slowly leaning towards her. She began to move nearer to him as well. Their lips were just about to touch when they heard Georgiana re-enter the gardens. They were able to move away from each other in time before Georgiana happened upon them again.
The hour was late, very late. He was having the dream again, this time it was back stronger than ever. He was tossing and turning about in his bed. Sweat dripped from his forehead. He hated this dream. He always knew what was to come in the end, but he never woke up before it happened. The faces were always blurry. He always knew who the people were, but he could never see their faces, save one.
"Anne!" he cried as he shot up in bed. His breathing was hard and heavy. He recollected himself before he swung his legs over the side of his bed and lifted himself up off of it. He wiped his face with his hands and took a few breathes. He could never see her, face her again. He could never return to Pemberley, but staying in London was out of the question as well. He sighed and tried to fall back asleep as a tear rolled down his cheek.
Darcy arose the next morning with thoughts of Elizabeth in his head. He had almost kissed her last night. Thank goodness Georgiana had been there to stop it. Darcy couldn't control himself around Elizabeth, and he didn't know why. He could never focus on anything as long as she was in the same region as him. Actually since he had met her, he couldn't get his mind off of her. They had met merely two days ago and he already was captivated by her. He didn't know how this woman could bewitch him so completely in a moment, but however she had done it, he was glad that she had.
He knew that she would soon have to return to Hertfordshire. Then he would stay away from her forever, and life would return to normal. He didn't want to think about life without Elizabeth, but he knew he would have to. Eventually her memory would fade, and if they were to meet sometime in the future, he wouldn't remember who she was, and she would not remember him either. They would see each other on the street and possibly recall one another's faces, but they would not remember names or any other memories, and that would be that. Darcy sighed as he thought of that day when he and Elizabeth would see each other again and not recall the night where they almost kissed. He hoped the day came sooner than expected.
And yet, he never wanted it to come.
But she was definitely beneath him. If he was going to run Pemberley and the townhouse some day, he had to think like a gentleman. He would no longer be able to do whatever he wanted. He would have to think about others and how his decisions would affect them. He could not be selfish.
He got out of bed and readied for the day before going down to breakfast.
Elizabeth's morning was very wonderful. She had gone for a lovely stroll in Hyde Park which was a distance, but she didn't mind it. It was refreshing despite the temperature. She had tried to focus on things besides the previous night, but it was hard to forget when the man you find yourself holding a regard for almost kisses you in the most romantic setting imaginable. Elizabeth was definitely falling hard and fast for this man.
But he would never marry her. These thoughts came into her head as well. He was very wealthy, and he could have any woman of upstanding fortune that he wanted. He could have titled women if he truly wanted. She could never truly compare to most of the women of his acquaintance.
But then why had he tried to kiss her? He had definitely wanted to, Elizabeth could see that much. Perhaps Georgiana's timing was for the best. She had only met the man two days previous. She didn't really know that much about him. She only knew that he loved E.B. Anne, he was a great studier of literature, he loved his sister, and his eyes were the most expressive Elizabeth had ever seen. That was nothing to base anything off of. Not even a friendship.
She sighed with that last thought running through her mind as she entered the house. She went to breakfast with her relatives and soon she was leaving the house to run some errands for her aunt. Jane would have come along, but Mr. Gardiner had much business to do, and Mrs. Gardiner was busy as well, so Jane had to stay and care for the children. Elizabeth walked the streets of London by herself.
She was about to enter the market when someone ran into her. This being the second time she ran into a man in two days, she let out a chuckle. "I apologize sir, I did not see you."
"The fault is mine, I assure you," the man said. "Are you alright?"
"I am come to no harm I promise you," she replied with a smile. The man was very handsome. He was dressed as a gentleman and he had the manners of one as well. "I am Elizabeth Bennet," she said boldly as she curtsied.
"George Wickham," the gentleman replied as he bowed as well. "Well Miss Bennet, as compensation for my having nearly knocked you over, may I accompany you to wherever you were going?"
"I assure you sir," Elizabeth answered, "that is not necessary."
"I insist," he said.
"I do not wish to trouble you," Elizabeth tried again. It was her test to all men. Those who gave up after only one attempt were never worth it anyway. It was rare that a gentleman pursued after she refuted twice.
"Please Miss Bennet, it is no trouble at all."
She smiled and assented. "I am on my way to the market, which, as you can see, is only across the street."
He grinned and gestured his hand in the direction of the market and asked, "Shall we?"
She began to walk in the direction he was pointing, and once they had come to their destination, he did not leave.
"Well Miss Bennet," Wickham said. "It is a splendid day considering the time of year, do you not agree?"
"Indeed it is," she agreed.
"Do you often walk around London?" he asked. "I noticed that you did not have a carriage."
"I prefer walking to carriages and horseback for short distances," she admitted.
"I could not agree with you more," he replied with a smile. "I have never much preferred the company of people who like to parade around in carriages."
She smiled as she picked out the things she needed and paid for them before setting them in her basket. When she was finished with everything, she told Mr. Wickham that she was going back to her aunt and uncle's home, and he was no longer needed in assisting her.
"You do not reside in London then?" he asked.
She shook her head negatively. "No, sir. I reside a little ways north in Hertfordshire. And you sir? Are you from London?"
"I confess that I am not," he replied with a smile. "I was born and raised in a tenant home on the grounds of Pemberley in Derbyshire."
"Really?" she asked. "I have just made acquaintance with the Darcy family but two days ago."
"And how do you find them?"
"They are very good people," she replied.
"That they are," Mr. Wickham said. "My late father was the steward for Mr. Darcy. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and I are the same age, and his father is generous enough to compensate for my attending Cambridge. Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and I are both attending. I hope that one day I will be able to fully repay Mr. Darcy."
"That is very generous of him. If you and young Mr. Darcy are both attending Cambridge together, why are you not there now? If you don't mind my asking."
"Not at all," Wickham reassured her. "Young Mr. Darcy finished his studies early, and will return to Cambridge in the spring to take some extra courses. I have decided to take a year off before returning."
"I see," Elizabeth replied. "Well Mr. Wickham, I thank you for your good company and your wonderful conversation. Perhaps we will see each other again some day."
"Perhaps," he replied before taking her hand and bestowing a kiss upon it. She smiled politely at the gesture before walking back towards Gracechurch Street.
A/N: Alright, you know the drill by now. Send in that review and make me happy! ) A happy author means happy readers. Thanks again to those who have already reviewed and who've added me to their fav authors and stories lists. Totally makes my day when that happens. Luv ya!