K, thanks to all for the reviews. It makes me feel good. Sorry it's been a while since the last chapter. I finally got internet back on my laptop and it's been a massive file sharing mess and I have too much homework crap going on because I'm a procrastinator to the extreme. College will suck. Anywho...

abyssgirl: i almost had a ten year old hosting a ball. that was made aware to me on the other site i'm posting this story on, and i changed it so she's not exactly hosting, but help plan. slaps hand i know it's still bad, but at least i caught it this time lol. Anyway on to chapter 4...finally

Last time in An Impossible Treasure

"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.

Chapter 4

When she arrived, her aunt thanked her for running the errands and said, "Lizzy, you have received a note from Grovesnor Square. I believe it is from one of the Darcys. I have placed it in your room."

"Thank you Aunt," Elizabeth said. She walked hurriedly to her room to read the note. She saw it placed upon her bed, and she instantly snatched it up. She read it quickly. It was very simply put.

Dear Miss Elizabeth,

Last night was such fun, and I hope that we may be able to do it again sometime. If you should wish it, I would very much like for you and your sister to join me for tea tomorrow afternoon. I have enclosed directions to my home in case you have forgotten. Please send your reply quickly.

Signed,

Georgiana Darcy

Elizabeth smiled and sought after her sister. When she found Jane she told her of Georgiana's offer, and when Jane answered with an affirmative reply, Elizabeth sought out the permission of her aunt and uncle who both readily obliged her. It was set that Elizabeth and Jane would arrive at the Darcy townhouse at 2 o'clock.

Since Grovesnor Square was quite a distance, Jane and Elizabeth were permitted to use the carriage. As they rode along, Elizabeth asked Jane what she thought of the Darcy family.

"They are delightful people," Jane said. "Mr. Darcy is so polite, and young Mr. Darcy is no different. And dear Miss Darcy, she is such a treasure."

"For once Jane, you and I have found a family in which all the members of it please us both," Elizabeth said with a chuckle. Jane smiled and blushed a bit and Elizabeth told her of the run in she had with the acquaintance of the Darcys.

"I believe that the Darcys have spread their good manners to those around them as well," Jane said with a smile.

"I believe they have," Elizabeth replied as they came to a stop. They exited the carriage and entered the house. When their winter attire had been removed and hung, they were received by Georgiana and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy in the music room. Georgiana had been practicing on the pianoforte and she had just finished when the guests had arrived.

"You sounded very well, Miss Darcy," Elizabeth said.

"Thank you Miss Elizabeth," Georgiana said. The three ladies curtsied to each other and Darcy came over and bowed before taking his leave. The ladies sat and took their tea and Georgiana inquired Elizabeth about her first season out. Elizabeth told her about all the things she liked and all of the things that she could do without.

"When you first come out into London society," Elizabeth said, "all of the gentlemen who aren't acquainted with you or have never seen you before…well it is very obvious that it is your first season out. They all just…look
at you and I find it absolutely unnerving."

Except for when he looked at me, she thought.

"I remember that as well," Jane said.

"Yes but the men were staring at your beauty, not your awkwardness," Elizabeth replied with a smile.

"They were not," Jane blushed.

"See, you are blushing because you are being modest," Elizabeth said.

"She's right, Miss Bennet, you are being modest," Georgiana piped in.

Jane's blush deepened and the two other ladies laughed. All too soon, it was time for Elizabeth and Jane to depart. Darcy waited at the main entrance for them to take their leave when all of a sudden Georgiana said, "Oh I almost forgot. I have something for the two of you."

"Miss Darcy you really didn't need to…"

"I wanted to," Georgiana said with a smile. "Miss Bennet, would you please come with me to get them?"

"Of course," Jane obliged. That left Darcy alone with Elizabeth…again.

Having her in the house the entire afternoon and having seen her only once was pure torture for Darcy. So many times he wanted to go into the music room, pretending to have forgotten something, but he knew that that would be no excuse. His sister would have found him out in an instant.

"I came into the acquaintance of an old friend of yours, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said.

"And who might that be?" Darcy asked genuinely interested.

"A Mr. George Wickham. He said he grew up with you at Pemberley when his late father was your father's steward."

"Ah yes, Mr. Wickham," Darcy said. "He and I are attending Cambridge together."

"Yes, he mentioned that," Elizabeth said.

"What else did he mention?" Darcy asked cautiously.

"Just that you were done with your studies and were planning on taking more in the spring. He also said that he was taking a year off of his studies, and that your father was kind enough to pay for his tuition to the school."

"His information is all accurate," Darcy said with a smile, thankful that for once his old companion told the truth. "Hopefully Mr. Wickham is taking the year off to decide what he would like to do with his life. He has many…interests, and therefore he is undecided as to what he would like to do."

"I see," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"I am actually fairly grateful to the man for something," Darcy added. The word 'grateful' burned in his throat as he said it.

"And what is that?"

"It was he who introduced me to E.B. Anne," he replied with a smile. Elizabeth chuckled a bit and asked, "Did he accumulate the first copy for you?"

"No actually we were both in a book store around the time her first novel came out. He didn't want to be there, but I convinced him to go there for a little while as I picked out a few books to purchase. Then I said that we would go to my father's club for a little while. He was teasing me about liking books over actual fun, and he picked a book off of the shelf and tossed it at me gently as he was taunting me. It just so happened to be E.B. Anne's first novel. I was interested so I read it, and I was captivated ever since."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Well then it was a perfect time to be teased, was it not?"

He laughed and said, "It was indeed." He hated talking about Wickham so much, so he moved to a different topic. "When do you return to Hertfordshire?"

"Not for another two months or so," Elizabeth said. "My mother wishes for Jane and I to stay in London for as long as possible."

"Ah yes, you spoke of your mother the last time we met."

"I did," Elizabeth replied in the affirmative. "She will be disappointed if Jane and I do not come home engaged."

Darcy laughed a bit even knowing full well that Elizabeth was serious. "I have met many mothers who are like yours."

"With one big difference," Elizabeth said.

"And what is that?"

"My mother is only the way she is because she is worried for her family, not because she wants her daughters to become as rich as possible."

"I don't think I understand," Darcy said.

"My father's estate, Longbourn, is entailed away from the female line. Upon my father's death, the estate will go to a cousin of my father's. He will then throw my mother and myself and my sisters out into the street, and we will be destitute. My mother just wants to see her children married and well off so that we do not have to live like that."

"Ah yes, I see," Darcy said with a comforting smile. "The thought of being tossed out into the street doesn't seem to scare you much. Why is that?"

"The chances of me making a good match or even a match at all are very small, Mr. Darcy," Elizabeth said. "I am prepared for the worst."

The passion in her voice and looks was far too much for him to overcome. He came in closer, much closer than propriety allowed. He cradled her head in one hand and placed the other hand on the small of her back. Their bodies melted together and he placed a kiss upon her lips. It was not very long, and after they parted they simply stared into one another's eyes. Soon they were leaning in again. The second kiss was a bit longer, and a bit deeper, but it was cut short by the footsteps of Georgiana and Jane on the stairs. They parted and made it look like nothing had happened but small conversation.

"Here you are Miss Elizabeth," Georgiana said handing her a small bottle of scented water. "Yours is lilac and Miss Bennet's is rose."

"Thank you Miss Darcy," Elizabeth said with a smile. "But wherever did you get roses and lilacs at this time of year?"

"I have a talent for growing flowers in my room in the winter," Georgiana replied. "Do you like it?"

"Very much," Elizabeth replied. "Lilacs are one of my favorites."

"Good," Georgiana said with a happy smile. Darcy said his goodbyes, and Georgiana walked her friends out to their carriage. Before they got in, Georgiana said, "Miss Elizabeth I know that I did not truly need Miss Jane to come with me to simply get two bottles of perfume."

"I admit that I had wondered why she went with you," Elizabeth admitted.

"Forgive me, but I needed your sister's advice. You see, in a week's time there will be a surprise ball for my brother's twenty second birthday. I'm undertaking some of the preparations, and I showed Miss Bennet some of the plans that I have. I assumed that she had been to more balls and assemblies that she might have a better opinion. Was it wrong of me?"

"Not at all," Elizabeth said with a reassuring smile. "I probably would not know anyway. Are you planning the party all by yourself?"

"Heavens no," Georgiana said. "I am only ten! No, my housekeeper here and my housekeeper from Pemberley are both helping me with everything. I am very grateful to them. Here is the formal invitation for you and your aunt and uncle. I hope you can come."

"We shall be happy to if we have nothing else planned," Elizabeth said. With that the carriage pulled away.

A few days later Elizabeth gave a reply to Georgiana's invitation stating that Mrs. Gardiner was not feeling well, so she would not be able to attend, and Mr. Gardiner and Jane had already had a prior engagement at an assembly, so it would only be Elizabeth attending. After receiving the note, Georgiana changed the seating so that Elizabeth would be placed next to her instead of some strangers that she did not know.

In honor of the occasion, Mrs. Gardiner had purchased a new ball gown for Elizabeth that went along with the fashions so that her niece would not feel out of place. When Elizabeth went and picked up the dress the day before the ball, she was amazed with how elegant and wonderful it was. She thanked her
aunt over and over again, and she looked absolutely stunning for the ball. She was very excited.

When she arrived she was received by all three Darcys who all welcomed her warmly.

"Thank you for coming, Miss Elizabeth," Georgiana said. "I was sorry to hear about your aunt, but I was happy to learn that no one else became unwell."

"Thank you Miss Darcy, and please, starting tonight call me Elizabeth. I think we have gone past formality now," Elizabeth said with a smile.

"And you must call me Georgiana."

Elizabeth moved on to the next host which happened to be Mr. Darcy.

"Wonderful to see you again Miss Bennet," George said bowing to his guest.

"A pleasure, Mr. Darcy," she replied with a curtsy. She moved on to Mr. Darcy and said, "Happy Birthday Mr. Darcy."

"Thank you Miss Bennet," Darcy said as he took her hand and bowed over it which received a smile from the recipient. Mr. Darcy and Georgiana were busy greeting the next guests and did not notice. "You look stunning," he whispered as she walked past. A blush crept on her face as she entered the main room. She saw many people about, none of whom she knew. She was very concerned now. The only people she knew here were the Darcys and she was very nervous about meeting new people of high rank, especially with her being quiet low in social rank even as a gentleman's daughter.

Just then a man who seemed a few years older than Master Darcy approached her. "Hello madam," he said. "I do not believe that we have had the pleasure of meeting. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Richard Fitzwilliam of the Fitzwilliams in Matlock. I am Mr. George Darcy's nephew."

"A pleasure to meet you sir," she said with a curtsey. "My name is Miss Elizabeth Bennet of the Bennets in Hertfordshire. I am a recent acquaintance of the Darcys."

Just then a few other people came up behind the gentleman and he said, "Ah, Miss Bennet, allow me to introduce my father and mother, Lord and Lady Matlock. This is Miss Elizabeth Bennet a recent acquaintance of the Darcy's."

"A pleasure Miss Bennet," Lady Matlock said as she and her husband greeted the young girl. "You say you are a recent acquaintance of my brother's and niece and nephew. Forgive my asking, but how long have you known the family?"

"A little more than a week ma'am," Elizabeth replied.

Lady Matlock smiled, hardly the reaction Elizabeth was expecting. "I suppose you are rather close to Georgiana, yes?"

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Indeed ma'am. She is a dear girl, and a wonderful friend."

The men took their leave of the two women, leaving them to talk. "And are you just out in society? You look rather young."

"Yes, I am not yet sixteen and this is my first season."

"And how does London suit you?"

"Very well, thank you."

"But you prefer the country do you not?"

Elizabeth blushed and said, "It would seem that tonight I am very easily read."

Lady Matlock chuckled and said, "I have the same look in my eye when I am in town and longing for the country."

Elizabeth chuckled as well, and soon the two were joined by Georgiana.

"I see that you have already met my aunt, Elizabeth," she said with a smile.

"Indeed," Lady Matlock said. "Georgiana, the party is lovely, you did a wonderful job."

"I had some help from Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Woods," Georgiana said. "And of course from Elizabeth's sister Miss Jane."

Lady Matlock smiled at the informality with which her niece spoke of to Elizabeth. "Is your sister here Miss Bennet?" she asked.

"Unfortunately no," Elizabeth said. "She and my uncle had a prior engagement to attend to."

"And your aunt? Is she not here?"

"My aunt is regrettably ill as of late, but she sends her best to the family."

"Please send my condolences and best wishes for a speedy recovery," Georgiana said.

"I will."

Just then it was announced that the first dance of the evening was about to begin.

"I suppose I should find my husband," Lady Matlock said. Georgiana added, "And I my father. He said the only way I can dance tonight is if it is either with him or my brother. He was the first to claim the first set."

She smiled and went off to the dance floor, Elizabeth was about to turn around when she heard a voice behind her say, "I guess that that leaves you and me."

A small grin appeared on her face and she turned to see Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy smiling at her. "Would you do me the honor of dancing the first two with me, Miss Bennet?"

"How can I refuse the guest of honor?" Elizabeth asked with a smile. He led her to the dance floor with a smile, and after the first set, young Mr. Darcy danced with his sister, and Elizabeth danced with his cousin. After the second set, Elizabeth mainly stayed with Georgiana who introduced her friend to many other relatives and acquaintances. When they were all seated for dinner, Elizabeth was relieved to find that she was seated in between Georgiana and Lady Matlock. Georgiana mainly stayed in conversation with her brother and father, and Elizabeth conversed with Lady and Lord Matlock.