Jane was determined to feel perfectly easy. She would meet Mr. Bingley and see what he had to say to her, and then it would be over. They would meet again as indifferent acquaintances, and the awkwardness would be resolved.
Yet when he arrived and took her hand in greeting, she still felt flustered. Elizabeth had set up Wards around them, and it felt uncomfortably intimate.
“Miss Bennet, I would like to apologize for any inconvenience or gossip I may have caused you. It has come to my attention that my behavior may not have been appropriate.”
Jane blushed to the roots of her hair.
“Mr. Bingley, you do not owe me an apology. No one could hold you responsible for your behavior if you were under a spell. You never behaved improperly.”
“I know I had little control under the circumstances, but that does not release me from my responsibility to make amends and ensure that your character remains intact. I know I have been following you around like a fool, and you have been very patient with me. You have sacrificed your reputation for my sake.”
“You were not yourself. You did nothing wrong.”
“That does not change the reality. We do not know each other, I know.” His earnest expression turned rueful. “Well, you know me better than I know you, since I did not become fully aware of you until two days ago. But I have heard that you did everything you could to improve my condition. I even have a vague recollection of you attempting to Heal me.”
“I would have tried harder, but I was not given the opportunity.”
Jane looked towards Caroline Bingley, who was sitting outside the Ward Elizabeth had set up to ensure their privacy. Would Jane have been able to cure Bingley if she had not been interrupted? Now she would never know.
“I am not surprised my other self was enamored of you.” His eyes grew shadowed. “I have no intention of pretending that I am in love, and I will not give you pretty speeches. But you must know you are a beautiful young lady, and I would be lucky to have you. Anyway, I am rambling a great deal because I am nervous, but I hope you will do me the honor of giving me your hand in marriage. Subject to your father’s approval, of course.”
She stood frozen in place, struggling to catch up with what had just happened. Was Mr. Bingley offering tomarryher?
She had never imagined such a thing would happen. Otherwise, she would have been better prepared to answer.
She looked at Mr. Bingley’s fine figure, his broad shoulders, golden curls, the earnest expression in his blue eyes. He was a handsome, attractive gentleman in possession of a fortune, and a Royal Mage. What young lady would turn down such an opportunity?
No young lady in her right mind would do so. Not unless she considered that until a few days ago, he had been under a spell of Entrancement that had addled his brain. Since he had only just started on the road to recovery, he could not and should not take on any other responsibilities
He was making a wonderful, noble gesture. In this at least, he was still the same man she had known. He was every inch a gentleman, through and through.
For that reason alone, she could not allow him to sacrifice his future happiness on a whim.
“I appreciate your offer more than you could possibly know, Mr. Bingley, but I am afraid I must decline it.”
***
AWEEK LATER, ELIZABETHand Jane waited with everyone else for the doors of the Great Hall to open so they could enter. There had been sounds of general hilarity coming from the hall all afternoon, along with sounds of hammering and the shifting of furniture. A general air of excitement hung over everyone.
Then the doors were flung open, and everyone filed in. The apprentices were already inside, sitting at their tables, their faces lit up expectantly as they watched for everyone’s reaction.
Elizabeth laughed at the incongruous scene before her, and Jane gasped and her hands flew to her mouth, not quite sure how to react.
The tables were set up in long lines in the Great Hall. With the influx of new recruits and the soldiers that had arrived with Colonel Fitzwilliam, the place was packed to the rafters. The older apprentices had spent the day setting up Illusions. Some Illusions were drawn from the jungle: bright green parakeets flying around, squawking suddenly, and startling the footmen or the younger apprentices; sinuous snakes sliding in and out of the wallpaper; and jungle creepers trailing down from the ceiling and tangling in people’s hair. Others were daintier, with elegant oriental fans fluttering around like birds; pastel confections of different shapes and sizes floating above the tables, and swags of silver threads like waves undulating from the ceiling. There was no rhyme or reason to the Illusions, but that only added to the general air of festivity.
Elizabeth and Jane pushed through the crush of people to find a place to sit. She spotted Colonel Fitzwilliam already seated. He waved to her to join him.
“Come, I will introduce you to Darcy’s cousin. You will like him.”
It took several minutes for them to reach the colonel. Elizabeth made the introductions. As they were about to take their seats, to her dismay, Mr. Devereux came up to the Colonel and they exchanged greetings.
It was not logical for her to be angry with Devereux, who had only been playing the role he, Darcy and Matlock had agreed on, but she could not help it. She hoped he would not sit with them. It would cast a pall on the whole evening.
To her surprise, however, he looked towards her, then came around to her side of the table.
“Mrs. Darcy, I have been sent to ask you if you will join us on the dais.”
Looking at Jane, Elizabeth considered refusing, but Jane smiled and motioned to her to go. She rose stiffly and followed Devereux until they had reached the end of the long table, then he turned to her.
