“Perhapsyoucould cast an illusion like that, but any image of water is far beyond me,” Frederica said ruefully. “Roderick told me you can cast a waterfall, but I can hardly credit that.”
Granny’s face was wreathed with smiles. “I cannot resist a challenge.” Across the lake, the field of daffodils was suddenly replaced by a rock face, with a narrow stream of water tumbling down into the water below.
Elizabeth studied the illusion. Every detail was there, from the sunlight glinting on the falling drops to the arc of ripples crossing the lake from where the water cascaded into it. It was completely believable, except where the ripples passed straight through Darcy’s illusory swans.
“Astonishing,” Frederica breathed.
With a sly look, Granny said, “You have magical Talent enough, yet you are unable to cast an illusion of water. Is it your lack of ability – or a lack of proper training?”
Elizabeth winced. Even though Granny was speaking about Frederica, Elizabeth’s ability with illusions had proved to be disappointing. It was hard, after years of priding herself on her mastery of other magical skills. Of course, her training had been non-existent until recently.
Frederica flushed. “You will have to blame me, since the King’s Mage taught me herself.”
Granny sat back in her chair with a pleased expression. “The very same who gave Darcy his first lessons, and yet Roderick tells me he went about illusions completely backwards, using his head and not his heart.”
Frederica leaned forward eagerly. “What does that mean, casting with your heart? Can you teach me how? Or will this only work for Darcy, too?”
Cerridwen bumped against Elizabeth’s shoulder, no doubt bored with this conversation about human mage Talents. “Who is in that carriage? I have already put a binding on the two men outside it so they can tell no one of my existence.”
“I was not expecting anyone, but I should go see who it is.” Elizabeth shaded her eyes to study the new arrivals, but she could make out no details. “Roderick, I will hold you personally responsible if Frederica exhausts Granny with her questions.”
The Welshman laughed. “As if I could stop her! Fortunately, Granny does not need me to defend her.”
But Granny was looking at Frederica with approval. “Come, girl, sit down with me, and we will see what you can learn.”
Frederica did not need to be asked twice.
Elizabeth left her to it, but halfway to Darcy, she stopped in her tracks at the sight of the woman taking his hand to descend from the carriage. What was Lady Anne Darcy doing at Pemberley? Darcy’s mother, the distant, powerful King’s Mage, who seemed to care for nothing except finding and breeding new mages. And to suddenly appear without any warning? Did she think everyday manners did not apply to her?
Then a chill crawled up her spine. Could Lady Anne have discovered what was happening at Pemberley? Had someone managed to get word to her about Cerridwen, or worse, about Granny? Frederica was bound against mentioning dragons, but she could have sent a letter telling her former teacher that she must pay an urgent visit here. Surely Frederica would not have betrayed her that way! The very thought made her stomach churn.
Then Darcy put his arm around Lady Anne, who leaned against his shoulder. No, it could not be! The woman might look just like Lady Anne, but the King’s Mage would never appear in public in a simple dress and her bonnet askew, with wisps of golden hair escaping in every direction. Nor would Darcy have that protective look towards his mother, who needed no one’s protection. And the King’s Mage would never, ever have a tear-stained face.
Still, the resemblance was remarkable. Not merely the same hair color and height, but identical features, as if they had been cast from the same mold. This one was just a girl, though. She had to be Darcy’s sister – and she was clearly distressed.
A crying girl appearing unexpectedly was a different story than the King’s Mage coming to discover their secrets. Elizabeth’s fear and anger evaporated as she continued forward with a welcoming smile, even though the timing for this visit was unfortunate. She had wanted to meet her new sister, but now they would have to spend their evenings speaking of trivialities instead of dragons and the war. There was nothing to be done for it, though.
As she approached, Darcy caught her eye with a slight grimace, and his voice spoke in her head.I am sorry. I found out she was coming when I was away. I meant to tell you when I returned, but it slipped my mind when everything happened.
Everything, no doubt, meaning his discovery that Cerridwen was a dragon, and their subsequent fight over her. At least that was behind them now, thank heavens! Making up had been sweet indeed.
Darcy said, “Georgiana, dearest, may I introduce you to my wife?”
The girl released Darcy with apparent reluctance. She turned to Elizabeth and curtsied, the tearstains even more apparent now.
“Welcome,” Elizabeth said. “I am so pleased you could join us here. Your brother has spoken of you with great affection.”
Miss Darcy glanced at her brother nervously. “I am happy to make your acquaintance.” At least her voice was completely unlike her mother’s, quiet and hesitant instead of self-assured.
Darcy cleared his throat apologetically. “We have encountered a slight difficulty. My sister, as it turns out, has a deep fear of dragons. Would it be too much to ask Cerridwen to keep her distance from Georgiana during her visit?”
“I will speak to Cerridwen,” she said. Did the girl know her other brother had been killed by a dragon? It was a well-kept secret that dragons had caused the massacre of English troops at Salamanca, but both Darcy and Lady Anne knew the truth. Perhaps one of them had told her, or she might simply be afraid of all strange creatures.
“That would be helpful,” Darcy said. He nodded to a dark-haired young woman who was now descending from the carriage. “May I present Miss Lowrie, Georgiana’s companion?”
Elizabeth exchanged a curtsy with the newcomer. Miss Lowrie appeared only a few years older than Miss Darcy, certainly younger and more attractive than Elizabeth would have expected for a hired companion. She glanced at Darcy, surprised that he had not insisted on the traditional widowed lady in her later years. It was unlike him to defy convention that way, especially when it came to his younger sister.
“Oh, yes, brother,” Miss Darcy said. “I told Belinda that she could pay a visit to her family while I was here, but she insisted she must speak to you first.”
