“Hush. Wait.” He was smiling, unperturbed.
Ahead of them, a blue light flared up. A ghost light. Then another, then another, until she was suddenly surrounded by them.
The blue lights were released. They floated upwards until they reached the ceiling, then they began to float around in swirling patterns, like the steps of a dance. As they did so, they grew brighter, illuminating the dome in the center of the conservatory.
Elizabeth looked around her in wonder as she realized the dead plants had been cleared away. Two small palm trees had been brought in, their delicate branches fanning out under the blue light. The urns and statues that had been hidden by weeds were now standing tall and proud. The enclave where they had sat before was bordered by snowy gardenias and plumed red hibiscus. The laughter of the meandering stream reached her ears.
She laughed and clapped her hands as a dozen candles suddenly lit up all at once and revealed that a table had been set up for the two of them under the dome.
“Is this an Illusion, or is it real?”
“It is real. I have had help from some of the apprentices.”
He turned to the figures standing just beyond the reach of the light.
“Congratulations, to all of you. You have done very well. You managed to evade detection, and you executed your roles with perfect timing. Thank you for your assistance. You may go now and have your own dinner.”
Elizabeth thanked them as they took their leave. When the last of them had left and closed the door, she turned to Darcy.
“They did not evade detection,” said Elizabeth.
“You did not sense them until the last moment.” He sounded inordinately pleased with himself. “I think you are losing your touch.”
“I am not losing my touch,” she said, running a finger across his lips and watching as his eyes blazed with the flame of the candles.
His breath hitched. He snipped gently at her finger, then his gaze dropped to her mouth. Her pulse shuddered as he lowered his face and brought his lips down to hers. They were like velvet at first, teasing her and fueling her need, but then they hardened as they grew more demanding. A fierce hunger erupted through her as the Bond surged around them, merging them into one.
She became aware of Darcy pushing her shakily away. “The apprentices might still be outside. They can see us through the glass.” His voice was thick with passion, unfamiliar.
She felt bereft as he peeled his body away from hers, the air suddenly cold.
“Do you think they are still there?”
“It is not often that they are treated to the spectacle of two people kissing.”
“I do not sense their presence.”
“That is because they have become adept at Cloaking. Admit it. You did not know they were there until it was too late.”
Her gurgle of laughter seemed reflected in the sound of the stream. “Are you still thinking about that?”
“Did you think you could distract me from your abysmal failure to sense danger?”
His warm whisper of his breath next to her ear was playing havoc with her senses. She could barely think, let alone defend herself.
“That is only because you had an unfair advantage. You distracted me.” He was distracting her still, even though he had stepped away and put a distance between them.
“We could set up a Ward to stop them from seeing us,” she suggested.
Darcy shook his head, his lips curling. “We ought to have our meal before it gets cold, especially after the effort I expended having the dishes brought here.” His gaze grew serious. “Besides, we came here because I wanted to talk. I do not want you accusing me of bringing you here under false pretenses.”
She gave him a suggestive smile. “I do not mind the false pretenses.”
“But I am a man of my word.”
“Very well, then. We will talk. And we will eat. But not now. Do you have any engagements tonight? Any urgent Council meetings? Any enemy attacks to ward off?”
“No, I have no plans for any of those.”
