3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

L ater in the evening, when Darcy entered the Great Hall again, he was surprised how quickly it had been transformed back to its regular function as a dining hall. He spotted Bingley sitting alone at a table, and went over to him.

"Darcy! I did not expect to see you here. I thought you would be dining with the prince."

It was a sore point, and Darcy did not want to talk about it. He changed the subject, back to something he did want to discuss.

"Have you by any chance noticed anything suspicious about Riquer in the last few days?"

"Riquer? No, nothing out of the way. Why?"

"Do you see how close Riquer has grown to the Prince Regent? Do you not think it worrying that he has wormed his way into such a position when, not too long ago, he was an enemy?

"Worrying? Not really. I am glad that the Prince Regent is taking more interest in what is happening at the Royal Academy, and Riquer has been working hard to train Elizabeth." He examined Darcy closely. "You really have taken an unreasonable dislike to him, haven't you?"

Darcy combed his hair with his fingers. How had he become the villain in this story?

"It is not unreasonable. I have good reasons." He could not talk about it here, in the middle of the Great Hall.

Bingley shook his head and chuckled. "Riquer is a good sort. I think you are simply jealous that he is a good friend of your wife."

Not that again. "This is no laughing matter," he said angrily. "I tell you we may have a traitor in our midst, and you think the appropriate response is laughter?"

At this, Bingley started to laugh even harder.

Darcy checked himself as he was about to ask Bingley if he was touched in the head. Given that Bingley had been under an enchantment that had affected his ability to function, it would have been a serious faux pas . Then he remembered that it was Riquer who had freed Bingley from the dreadful spell, and that his friend was indebted to the former French mage for healing him.

As far as Bingley was concerned, Riquer could do no wrong.

Darcy sighed. He was letting his frustration get the better of him. "Never mind. I am sorry I brought it up."

But Bingley was not paying any attention to him. His gaze was fixed on the doorway, where Elizabeth's sister Jane was entering with Mary. Jane hesitated, looking around the room, and her gaze fell on Bingley. The transformation was immediate. Her face lit up and she smiled shyly, then started moving towards them.

"So that is the way the wind blows," he said, softly.

"What wind? Oh." Bingley turned red. "No. Not at all."

"But you already proposed to Miss Bennet. You cannot deny it."

"That was — different. It was the honorable thing to do at the time. I believed her reputation was at risk. And may I remind you, she turned me down."

"You should try again. She may be more receptive to the idea."

"Hush," Bingley whispered, as Jane drew closer. "Do not embarrass me more than I have already embarrassed myself."

Darcy noticed the deep blush on Jane's face and her shy hesitation as she approached Bingley. Her eyes were cast down. He shook his head inwardly at Bingley's blindness. If only the fool would realize that she was in love with him and get on with it!

Not that his situation was any better. Love makes fools of us all.

Elizabeth returned to her room exhausted. It had taken a tremendous effort not to yawn in the presence of the Regent. Somehow, she had managed it, but right now, all she wanted to do was drop into bed.

"I think I will just sleep in my robe," she said when Emily came to help her undress. "If you will just help me undo these tresses." They had been done up very tightly and were pulling at her skin, giving her a headache.

Emily looked horrified. "Surely you do not intend to sleep in your formal robes? They will be all crumpled."

Which meant the staff would have to deal with the consequences. Elizabeth did not want to give them extra work. Already the Prince Regent's presence was putting a great strain on everyone. Darcy was one of the people impacted. He would be up all night keeping watch on the Wards.

It was a small sacrifice to undress before she slept. "I suppose not. It is just that dining with the Prince Regent has left me drained."

"But it is such a great honor! How did it go?"

"In the past, I have thought him charming, with good conversation. But today was not a social occasion. His Royal Highness was only interested in what we could accomplish using Mirror magic. He kept asking questions and making suggestions. He is expecting too much. I am being pressed to do the impossible."

She should not be talking this way about the Prince Regent, but she was so weary, she did not know what she was doing any more. She felt like bursting into tears. "I cannot help feeling I will fall short. I will be a disappointment."

Emily clucked. "Now, now! Have you forgotten have far you have come already? How could you be a disappointment? And to think, when you first came here, I felt sorry for you."

"You were my only friend then," said Elizabeth, smiling. "Thank you for everything you did for me. You could have snubbed me like everyone else. I was very grateful for your loyalty."

Emily preened. "Well, I am glad for it too, because now I can boast that I am the lady's maid of the most powerful mage in the Kingdom!" They laughed together. "I crept into the hall to catch a glimpse of the prince, you know, and then I watched you doing what you do with the mirror. I was all agog. I've never seen anything like it, and I've been around mages all my life."

"That's because it's a new type of magic," smiled Elizabeth.

"And I wouldn't be surprised if Mr. Darcy was beside himself with jealousy."

Mary had said the same and Elizabeth had dismissed it. "What do you mean?"

"Well, with someone like Mr. Riquer – those dark eyes of his! They get me every time. And you spend a lot of time with him, if you see what I mean."

Elizabeth was dismayed. "Are you telling me there has been gossip? Come, Emily. You will tell me if people have been talking."

"I wouldn't call it gossip. Not really. It's just some of us have been saying we wouldn't mind being in your shoes, with two very handsome young gentlemen at our beck and call." She grinned good naturedly, then, seeing that Elizabeth was looking distressed, she put her hands to her mouth. "Oh, no! I did not mean—I would never imply—that is not what—" She shook her head then drew her shoulders back. "No one believes you would do anything with Mr. Riquer. It is just that he is a charming gentleman and—"

She was now looking pale. "I promise you, I would never in a hundred years imply anything that would blacken your name, Mrs. Darcy. It was just something to laugh about. Nothing more."

Elizabeth sighed. "Are you certain?"

"Absolutely, ma'am. I would not have spoken of it so lightly if I thought there was anything to worry about."

Elizabeth's eyes searched Emily's face. The maid was looking crestfallen, but she showed no other signs of being uncomfortable.

Reassured, Elizabeth nodded. "You would tell me if there was any serious gossip circulating?"

"Of course," said Emily.

Elizabeth still felt uneasy. How long before others started saying the same thing, this time with more malicious intent? She had come to trust Emily's view of things, and if Emily thought that way, others would think the same. She did not want to be the subject of gossip again. She had enough of being doubted and questioned, and with so much at stake, she could not afford for her decisions to be questioned based on a perceived intimacy with Riquer.

Then she remembered Emily's original words. "Do you really think Mr. Darcy is jealous?"

"Of you? Yes. That is hardly surprising. Mr. Darcy is powerful, but your magic is new and exciting."

When she had first arrived, new and exciting would have been frowned upon and regarded with suspicion, even by Darcy himself. Elizabeth was happy that people were starting to accept her unusual magic. But that was not what she wanted to know.

"What I meant to say is, do you think Mr. Darcy is jealous of Mr. Riquer?"

"It would be natural if he did. You spend so much time with him."

As Emily finished helping her and left the room, Elizabeth crawled into bed, expecting to fall asleep immediately. But sleep eluded her. She had been so busy preparing for the exhibition, she had not sought out Darcy. Now she realized how much she missed him, and suddenly she wanted to be with him more than anything else in the world. Despite her exhaustion, she knew she would not be able to sleep until she spent some time with him. She could not bear to think that he might be unhappy in any way because of her.

She had to see him. At once. She got out of bed and considered what to wear. Without Emily's help, she could only wear her training clothes. She threw them on quickly and slipped out of the room through the quiet hallways. She knew where to find Darcy. His familiar magical signature beckoned.

Darcy was Bonded with Redmond when he unexpectedly felt the tug of Elizabeth's signature. Why was she looking for him? Had something happened? Alarmed, he quickly withdrew from his Bond and searched for her.

Unexpectedly, the door opened, and Elizabeth entered. He scanned her face for signs of tension, but she was smiling. Her hair was loose, flowing over her shoulders in soft auburn waves. His breath hitched. She was like a ray of sunshine, lighting up the whole area with her presence.

Redmond took one look at Darcy's face and smirked, then excused himself. "I—um— have to—"

Darcy barely registered what his Janus Twin said. He was too busy luxuriating in her presence.

"To what do I owe this surprise visit?" he said, wondering if she had a specific purpose here, and hoping there was not.

She came up to him and put her arms around his neck. "I was not able to sleep. I needed to see you."

Her statement set him on fire. "I have needed for too long," he said, hoarsely.

He pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers. He lost himself in the feel of her, the scent of her. Her skin was so soft against his lips. He dug his fingers through her curls. Her hair – it was so silky, so inviting—

"--is this what you do when you are supposed to be guarding the Wards?" said Lord Matlock. His voice was hard. "Is this the example you set for the younger generation?"

His uncle's words were like a bucket of icy water. Darcy drew back, setting Elizabeth at arm's length. He looked towards Redmond and flushed. It had been many years since he had felt like a schoolboy, caught in a prank.

"I was just—"

"It was blatantly obvious what you were just doing," said Matlock. His gaze was steely. He did not look at Elizabeth. "If you were in the army, you would have been flogged for deserting your post."

Darcy took a deep breath. It was true. A year ago, he could never have imagined that he would do such a thing, and with the Prince Regent at risk. Especially since Darcy was still worried about Riquer's presence. Embarrassment warred with guilt at losing control. This was why he did not trust himself around Elizabeth. This was what he meant when he told Richard he could not take the risk.

When he was around Elizabeth, all reason fled.

"I am sorry. I am prepared to answer to whatever punishment you think fit."

Lord Matlock scowled. "It is fortunate that the Prince Regent was not here with me. He wanted to do the rounds, but I discouraged him."

The prince would certainly not have been happy at Darcy's cavalier attitude towards keeping him safe.

"I—" There was nothing Darcy could say to make things better. There was no excuse. Only that it had been a delightful surprise to see Elizabeth there.

Lord Matlock gave him a glacial look. "Dereliction of duty is a serious matter. I will reflect on your punishment and let you know."

Elizabeth spoke up. "Whatever punishment he receives, I should receive it too. I am equally guilty."

" You were not on guard duty, Mrs. Darcy," said Lord Matlock. His formal mode of address was an indication of his uncle's displeasure. He normally called her Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth can assist me in working on the Wards, sir," said Darcy, suddenly seeing a way out. He did not want Elizabeth to leave. "We can Bond."

"Elizabeth is fighting exhaustion. She is swaying on her feet."

How could he be so inconsiderate? He was putting his needs before hers. Of course she was tired and needed to sleep. Darcy felt foolish for mentioning it.

Elizabeth nodded and, as if on cue, raised her hand to conceal a yawn. "Then I will apologize and take my leave, my lord."

She curtseyed and withdrew. Darcy had to struggle not to look in her direction. His pulse was still racing. Even now, as he was facing the wrath of the Master Mage of the Kingdom, he still wanted to rush over and take her in his arms.

He was completely lost.