Chapter 1
The lake reflected Pemberley’smanor house perfectly. It was a serene sight, at least until a dozen riderless horses came racing around it, headed directly towards their small party.
Elizabeth Darcy caught her breath, but not in fear. What a vast improvement this illusion was over her husband’s early attempts at horses! Roderick was right; something had fundamentally changed in Darcy’s ability to cast. And just in time, since all too soon everything would depend upon his illusions – including his life.
Granny eyed the horses critically. “Not bad,” she said. “Still, they could be better. Come here, young man.”
Darcy pursed his lips to dismiss the illusion, and the horses vanished. His clenched jaw hinted at his displeasure over Granny’s reaction, but he approached her chair. “As you wish, Lady Amelia.”
“Someday I will convince you to call me Granny,” the old lady grumbled, which elicited a small smile from Darcy. “But not today. Lean down, so I can speak in your ear.” When he obeyed, she cupped her hand so Elizabeth could not even see her lips move.
What was she telling Darcy that was such a secret?
Darcy straightened abruptly, his cheeks staining with red. “Madam!” His exclamation was a reproach.
Now Elizabeth’s curiosity was racing faster than the horses. Her husband almost never blushed.
“Oh, hush,” Granny said irritably. “Half a million English soldiers dead in Europe, and you are worried about your fine manners? This will help you stop Napoleon. And for some reason, my great-granddaughter wants you to come back to her alive afterwards, so pray do as I say.”
His color still high, Darcy glared at her, but then he closed his eyes in an obvious attempt to master himself. “Kindly give me a moment,” he said in a clipped voice.
“Take as much time as you need,” said Granny expansively, her lips twitching.
What in the world was going on? But then Darcy turned to her, his expression unreadable. No, not unreadable – she would know perfectly well how to interpret it if they were alone in a bedroom, but what did it mean here when his eyes turned smoky and his gaze burrowed deep within her? Now it was her cheeks that were growing hot.
Then he flicked his wrist, the way he always did when casting an illusion, but without looking away from her. And she was just as caught as he was, desire rising in a hot current and prickling at her skin.
“Much better!” crowed Granny. “Look at that!”
Her words broke into the odd tension between them, and then Elizabeth gasped. The horses were back, but this time they were charging uncontrollably, not merely running. One tossed its head as if maddened, and steam rose from the nostrils of another. The very sight of them made her heart pound.
Darcy’s mouth hung open, as if stunned by the illusion he had created. He moved his hand again, and the rampaging herd veered off to circle the lake. “Roderick never mentioned that technique.” His voice was half-strangled, half-accusatory.
Granny sniffed. “It is useless to anyone who cannot entwine their magic with a dragon companion, which means almost everyone. My late husband chose not to share with others that small detail of how he re-learned to usehis Talent after marrying me. At least Roderick knew to teach you the basic method.”
It was a good reminder for Elizabeth. Darcy would be the one facing the desperate dangers in France, but her abilities as a dragon companion could help him succeed. And perhaps even survive.
He frowned. “This is not a good time for me to start my training anew, but I cannot deny it is effective.” He looked at Elizabeth, his eyes drifting down her body in a way that hardly seemed appropriate in public, and then he cast again.
There were no horses this time. He must have created some sort of illusion, though. Elizabeth searched the scene before her. A kestrel circled above them, but that had to be real, since she could feel Cerridwen’s unmistakable presence in the back of her mind. Had those two swans on the lake been there before? Elizabeth could make out their wake rippling through the water, and an illusion of moving water was far beyond Darcy’s abilities – or so she had thought.
“Surely those swans are not yours?” she asked hesitantly.
Darcy rubbed his hand over his mouth. “I thought it would not work.”
Whatever this new technique was, Elizabeth wanted to learn it. But then Cerridwen stole her attention away, plummeting towards her in a steep dive. A moment later the bird landed in front of her and transformed into her beloved dragon.
It still hardly seemed possible, that her magical falcon had turned out to be a dragon! It was good to see her, too. Since Granny had lifted the years-long Silence that barred Cerridwen from the company of other dragons, Cerridwen had spent every waking moment among her fellows at the nearby Nest.
Elizabeth laid her hand on Cerridwen’s chest, letting the heat and powerful magic in the lustrous blue and bronze scales warm her, and spoke to her silently.I had not expected to see you so early, dearest.
Cerridwen’s aura spilled grumpiness.All the dragons are upset about something, and they will not tell me what. They say I am not one of them yet.
Poor Cerridwen! She had been so glad to finally be with dragons again, after giving them up to stay with Elizabeth, and now this. Had she done something to upset them?
Although Elizabeth had not meant to send that, Cerridwen often picked up on her unspoken thoughts.No, they say it has nothing to do with me. But I do not like secrets.If Cerridwen had been human, she would have been pouting.
Elizabeth put her arm over the dragon’s shoulders affectionately.Neither do I, and I am glad you came here instead. I will always tell you anything you ask.
