A/N: Sorry it took forever to get this up. I was in Cincinnati last week for a PRIDE Conference, and I miss it a lot. I miss my friends and stuff, so I'm getting over that, plus I had to write a college paper in two days laughs like a psycho so that was my past week. But here is the long awaited part seven!

Last time on An Impossible Treasure...

Elizabeth drew herself to his chest and held herself there. "I don't want to go to America, Fitzwilliam. I don't want to leave. I wish to stay here with you. Forever."

Darcy closed his eyes in order to not the pain in them show. "I don't want you to leave either. Would I have not been married. It could be our wedding in two days."

"I wish it were."

"Think of me always," Darcy replied.

"Absolutely, and you of me."

"Of course."

Elizabeth let the tears fall, and Darcy just rubbed her back comfortingly.

Chapter 7

It was nearly three in the morning when Elizabeth finally departed. Both she and Darcy knew that that was to be their last night together. Neither of them would go to the park the following evening. If Elizabeth was too exhausted for her own wedding, people would start to suspect things, and the last thing that either of them needed was suspicion.

As Darcy watched his carriage take away the one woman he loved more than life itself, he knew that he would never be whole until she was his wife. He knew that without her his life would never be complete.

I suppose I must get used to the emptiness her absence will bring, he thought despondently. He went back to the chambers that they had just exited. He took one look around the messy room and knew that the staff would suspect something. He sat upon the bed and soon his eyes were clouded with tears. He never knew pain like this before, not even when his mother died. This was worse. He knew that he would never feel the same about any other woman. He knew that every woman in comparison to Elizabeth would be just a shadow in a world of darkness.

After his grief for the night had passed, he went to open the door to leave. That was when he noticed something on the doorknob. It was a necklace. It was her necklace. He looked around the room to see if she had left anything else, and that was when he saw the note on the bedside table.

My Dear Fitzwilliam,

As we lay next to each other tonight, I decided that I did not want to leave you with nothing. You will find my necklace on the doorknob if you have not already. Keep it in the breast pocket of your jackets for all the days that you love me so that I may be near your heart always.

Love, your Elizabeth

Darcy held the necklace (which was a simple gold chain with a gold cross pendant) tightly. Then he kissed the cross before placing it in his breast pocket.

Darcy awoke dressed in what he had worn the previous day. He sat up in bed and held his head. The previous night's activities seemed like a dream to him. He reached into his breast pocket and found the necklace still where he had placed it. He knew that everything was real. He hid the necklace in the drawer of his writing table just as his manservant came in.

"Good morning sir," he said.

"Good morning Henry," Darcy replied in the most composed voice that he could manage.

Henry eyed his master's clothing carefully. "Isn't that what you wore yesterday, sir?"

"Yes, I seemed to have over exerted myself. Mention it to no one."

"Of course not sir."

After Darcy was dressed and ready for the day, he left his room and headed towards the breakfast room. On his way there, he was stopped by the housekeeper, Mrs. Woods.

"Forgive me, sir, but there was a disturbance amongst the staff this morning," she said.

"Shouldn't my father be dealing with this?" Darcy asked curiously.

"I went to him first, sir, but he said that it would be best if I let you handle it."

Darcy's brow furrowed in curiosity, but he urged Mrs. Woods to continue.

"Well this morning as the maids were changing the sheets, they saw that the first guestroom on the first floor was in complete disarray. I went to look for myself, and it looks as though someone might have snuck in and slept in there since we know that you and your father and sister were each in your own room."

Darcy tried to keep his eyes from shooting open. They thought that someone had snuck in. He could have laughed out of relief. "Did you tell my father any of the details of this?" Darcy asked.

"No, sir," Mrs. Woods said. "He dismissed me to find you before I filled him in on any of it."

"Good, well I am slightly ashamed to admit it now, but it was I who caused the disturbance. I was very frustrated last night, and I foolishly thought that it would be easier to rip apart a guest room rather than actually deal with my frustration. I am truly sorry about it, Mrs. Woods. Please tell the rest of the staff that they have no cause to worry, and the topic should be completely dropped. And please, mention my little fit to no one."

"Of course not, Mr. Darcy," Mrs. Woods said. She curtsied and allowed Darcy to be on his way.

Darcy let out a breath as he walked away from his housekeeper. No one had any cause to believe anything else, and they did not even suspect what had actually gone on.

After breakfast, Darcy began to think about the necklace. He made a decision and went up to his bedroom to compose a letter.

All day the only thing that Elizabeth could think about was the previous night with her beloved Fitzwilliam. She truly had wanted it to never end. She didn't want to get married to anyone but him, but there were circumstances not to be avoided. She might be happy with Lord Ashby, certainly not as happy as with Fitzwilliam, but there might be respect or even friendship. She sighed and knew that it was very unlikely. She had met him before, but it had been a brief acquaintance before she was off to London for her first season.

Around noon the doorbell rang, and Elizabeth was passing the door when she heard the man at the door say, "I have a letter for Elizabeth Bennet."

Elizabeth went over to the door and said, "I am she." He handed her the letter and she thanked him. Instantly recognizing the handwriting, she told the doorman to mention to letter to no one. He complied. She raced up the steps to her room where she ripped open the wax seal and was about to read the note when she felt something heavy fall in her lap. She looked down and saw the most exquisite ring to ever befall her eyes. It was a gold band with three rubies and two diamonds, one in between each ruby. The gold designs that held the gems in place were very intricate and curvy. There were eight other smaller diamonds, each placed in their own curve along the edge of the placement as well. It was breathtaking. She hurriedly read the letter.

My Dearest Elizabeth,

You have given me a necklace, in return I give you a ring. There is also a very long chain for you to wear it on and tuck into your dress so that no one will question where you got it. Wear it for every day that you love me. I love you so much and know that your necklace will never leave my breast pocket. The thought of you living so far away, leaving me, it tears me apart inside. The necklace you have given me is my only solace, my only savior from insanity. Thank you, for everything.

All my heart, your Fitzwilliam

Elizabeth found the chain and placed the ring on it. She then clasped it around her neck, and she could feel his love again. It was as if he had placed it all in that ring for her to feel always. She dreaded the morrow when she would have to become Lady Johnathon Ashby. It would be a sad day indeed.

She was glad to see that Georgiana and George Darcy had made it to the wedding. At first she was distressed that Fitzwilliam did not show, but then she remembered that she had not issued an invitation to him. She was somewhat happy that he did not come. It would have been much harder to sign away her life with him so near her.

Her first night as Lady Ashby was not nearly as wonderful as her night with Fitzwilliam. Lord Ashby tried to be unnecessarily gentle whilst Fitzwilliam did his best to make her comfortable. Fitzwilliam knew exactly how to touch her, exactly what she liked, and how she liked it. Then again, one's lover is always perfect when one is blinded by love.

She was numb. There was nothing for her without her Fitzwilliam. During the first few months of her life as Lady Ashby, her beloved would sneak in his own letters with Georgiana's. In the letter that would be his last, he proclaimed his love for her over and over again. With a smile, Elizabeth continued on to Georgiana's. It contained very grave news. George Darcy was dead.

He couldn't believe that his father was dead. He was never very close to him, but he was his father for God's sake! He was now the master of Pemberley he was now the sole guardian for Georgiana. How was he going to do this?

He knew nothing of bringing up a child. He had helped with Georgiana's care-giving when she was younger, yes, but it was different now. Back then his father was the one who hired the nursemaids and the others who were to provide for her. Now he was in charge of finding a governess and companion for her. Not only that, but he had to run the estate now.

He had had plenty of practice with that, but it was still hard to believe that he was to do it all by himself.

In the months that followed, Darcy was slowly adjusting to his new roles. Becoming Master of Pemberley was easier than being Georgiana's guardian, but he was still able to manage both superbly. He had been so busy that he never had time to write to Elizabeth. He still loved her dearly, but he imagined that she was happy. He imagined that she was no longer thinking about him since she probably thought he had lost interest with his absence of letters.

It was quite the opposite in fact. Elizabeth had asked her husband what it was like once his father had died and left him their estate. Johnathon replied that it was not easy. He was a man of thirty when his father passed, four years previous. It took a while to get used to being the master of the home even with all the practice he had acquired whilst his father was alive. Elizabeth understood that Fitzwilliam must not have been able to write to her.

Georgiana's letters still came with frequency. Even an ocean apart, the two friends still shared a special bond. Georgiana told Elizabeth everything. She told her about her brother becoming busier and busier with each passing fortnight. She told her about Anne's declining health, and nearly two years into Elizabeth's marriage, the letter arrived saying that Anne had died.

I know that he did not hold a high regard for her, Georgiana wrote, but he was still so devastated after she passed. She was his wife after all, and she was our cousin before that. Perhaps he is more grieved at the loss in general. I know that that is disrespectful towards Anne, but the true reason for their marriage was to make my father and her mother happy. They both understood that. Anne knew that she would not live forever, and she was happy to have married by brother whilst he was young. I think that she always knew that she would not survive before he turned 30. She was a very smart woman.

Elizabeth, I worry for him so greatly. Ever since your departure he has not been the same. He usually spoke to Anne regularly, but after you left he rarely spoke two words to her. It was as if he felt guilty about something.

Elizabeth was distressed to hear about Anne's passing causing William (as she had begun to call him) so much grief. After their being separated and his father's passing, the last thing he needed was added grief. Still, in Georgiana's letters following, she said that her brother was overcoming his wife's death very well, and he was beginning to spend more time with his sister. Elizabeth wrote back saying that she was glad to hear it. She could not imagine what William had gone through. Little did she know that a little over a year later, she would find out.

Johnathon had gone to Williamsburg for business one day, and he had told his wife that he would return before supper. Elizabeth had sent a smile to her husband and told him to hurry back. She and her husband had formed a friendship during the years of their marriage. She did not love him, but she grew to respect him more and more each day. He placed a kiss upon her cheek before leaving. He would never return.

Supper had come and gone, and Elizabeth became more and more worried about her husband's absence. At around eight in the evening, she received a letter from the family doctor Mr. Harrington.

Lady Ashby,

I'm afraid to say that my letter contains news of a most grievous nature. This afternoon, a few villagers barged into my office saying that I was needed immediately. There had been an accident on a road not far out of Williamsburg. I rushed to the scene immediately to see three figures. Two of the figures were servants who were both badly injured. The other, it pains me to say, was your husband, Lord Ashby. I rushed to his side immediately, but I'm afraid it was too late. He was already gone.

I examined the scene after seeing to the two servants and determined that there was a faulty wheel on the carriage. Lord Ashby was expelled from the carriage which resulted in a broken neck. He died instantly, and it is my professional belief that he did not suffer at all. I am very sorry for your loss.

Mr. Peter Harrington

At first Elizabeth was in denial that he was dead. She wore a blank expression for days and did not shed a tear. Eventually the reality caught up with her and she cried every night for nearly a fortnight. She overcame her grief, and life went on. Having only been three years into their marriage, and Elizabeth being only 18, Johnathon thought that there would be plenty of time to produce an heir. Therefore, he did not have all of his belongings signed over to Elizabeth in the event of his death. The only thing that was signed over to her was his London townhouse which he had purchased in the event that he wished for himself and Elizabeth to return to her home country. As a result, all of Lord Ashby's belongings went to his brother and sister-in-law.

Henry Ashby was as kind a gentleman as his brother. Elizabeth was very grateful to be connected to such a family. Once Elizabeth's decision to move back to England in the townhouse that was rightfully hers, Henry allowed her to stay at the plantation in Virginia until she sorted everything out.

Two years after Johnathon's death, Elizabeth was to set sail for England. The only people to know of her return were her sister Jane and her father.

Georgiana was a little surprised to receive a letter from Elizabeth asking her what her summer plans were. Elizabeth knew that she returned to London every summer, but this year was different. Georgiana was headed to Ramsgate to enjoy the seaside. What confused Georgiana the most was when a footman refused to leave without the letter saying that those were his orders and he was forced to obey them. Georgiana handed him the letter and began to pack her things to leave in the morning.

A/N: K please tell me what you thought! I'd really like to know if any of this is really good or really bad or what. Remember, flames not welcome! Constructive criticism and praise always! Thanks to those again who have stuck with this and keep reading. I appreciate it greatly!