I shook my head. “No. Whatever madness drove Miss Rees had ended. She was harmless. Iknewshe was harmless. And Mary was holding her hand! She will never forgive me.” I leaned into his body. “Miss Rees had claimed that dragon, but I… coveted him. And the black dragon seeks me. She called me her wyfe of war. Do not let me become that! Stop it!”
I stuck on that, cryingStop itover and over until his hands stroked my face. Darcy was always warm, but his fingers felt cold as freezing spring water. Simple surprise silenced me.
“You are burning up,” he exclaimed. His icy palm pressed my forehead.
“I do not feel well.” My gorge fluttered. My knees wobbled. Unconnected thoughts blurred together. I had planned to tell Jane my secret tonight—that I was with child. Had I told her? Not yet. The clash between happy anticipation and violent reality made my head spin.
The candle flames sprouted strange, round glows. The room rocked.
“I think I am tired.” My knees gave way.
I woke in bed.The window showed day. Blue sky, even.
There was a note in Darcy’s fine hand on his pillow:
“Dear Elizabeth,
I am meeting the Council to discuss urgent events. Do not worry. Rest.
Yours in love, Fitzwilliam.”
I sat up in bed. My body felt vastly better. My mind… the terror and guilt sprang to life, savage and accusing, but an obstinate, rational part woke as well, buzzing like an irritating fly and trying to impose order. To set priorities and fix problems. But a killed woman could not be fixed. I shoved my fingers into my tangled hair and pulled until my scalp ached.
What happened to me last night? A black dragon burst from the frozen Thames, and I lost my mind.
There was a soft knock, then the door opened, and Lucy stuck her head through. “I thought I heard you. Mr. Darcy asked me to check on you, but I would have, anyhow. You were raving last night! Also, he says you are to have Miss Bennet examine you.”
“I see.” Raving was not an encouraging report.
She helped me put on a morning dress and tidied my hair, then I went downstairs, not sure what I would find. The answer was breakfast, attended with ferocious normalcy by almost everyone—Charles and Jane, Lady Catherine,Georgiana, Emma and Harriet, Mr. Knightley, Mamma and Kitty. Only Darcy and Mary were missing.
The gentlemen rose when I entered. I greeted them and Lady Catherine, from whom I received a scowl, and then Emma and Harriet.
“Where is Mary?” I asked. I had no intention of being examined by anyone, but I was desperate to speak with her. To… apologize? Atone? I had no idea.
Kitty shrugged to my question, but Georgiana said, “Mary is not back yet. She sent a note. She is helping an injured wyfe.”
“Will you find me when she comes in, please?” Georgiana nodded, her blue eyes dark and serious. Had she seen the wyvern’s attack? I could not remember.
“The wyverns are much better today,” Jane said to me. I nodded, feeling relief, then guilt for the pleasure of relief.
A maid entered. “Pardon me, ma’am. Lord Wellington is here.” Mamma clucked and turned to fuss at Kitty’s lopsided hair bun.
“Were we expecting him?” I asked the room. Heads shook, so I went with the maid.
He was waiting at the doorstep and greeted me with a nod. “Mrs. Darcy.” He still wore his gray evening wear from the ball. It was wrinkled and soiled, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“Have you slept?” I asked. He shook his head. “Please come in. Breakfast is set, if you have not eaten.”
“I cannot. I am to escort you to the Council.”
“Did Darcy send for me?”
“Is he with the Council?” When I nodded, Lord Wellington’s tired eyes narrowed. “I was with the naval command. Then I received this.” He lifted an opened, official envelope. “It says I am to escort you to the Council.”
“So you said.” The government coach behind him had two armed soldiers perched on the back. “Am I being invited, or arrested?” The latter had a black appeal.
“We are both summoned. I choose to treat it as an invitation.” For the first time, his wry smile twisted his mouth. “Perhaps my judgment should not be trusted. But I have grim news and wished to speak with you. We can talk while we ride.”
