Chapter 7
Darcy had not yet managedto talk to Matlock about Elizabeth’s encounter with the Healers. The past two days had been an interminable nightmare as everything was quickly set into motion. Express messages went back and forth as he arranged to rent Netherfield from Mr. Prescott’s man. Then there was the move itself, which, despite all the uncertainties around it had gone relatively smoothly. At any rate, no one had attacked them, and everyone had arrived safely. Now there was the ensuing chaos as they all waited for the house to be cleaned and everything to be set up. This part was just as bad as he had envisioned, but it was steadily improving.
And then there was Bingley. Darcy’s anxiety over his friend was increasing. He felt terrible that he was spending so little time with him. So far, the Healers had kept him alive, if only barely, but any day now, his friend might head into a decline.
And there was Elizabeth, who was haunting his thoughts day and night. He dreamed each night of going to Pemberley with her, only to wake up to the grey light of dawn that reminded him that the dream was impossible.
There were some things that were within his reach, however. He would put a stop to the rumors that were circulating about Elizabeth and fight for her right to take her place among the Royal Mages. So on the third morning, as soon as he knew his uncle to be awake, Darcy went to find him. Matlock was in the breakfast room, sitting at one end of the long table, half asleep over his coffee.
He started up when Darcy entered.
“Oh, it’s you. What can I do for you, nephew?”
Darcy decided to take the bull by the horns and come straight to the point before someone could come in and interrupt.
“I am here because Elizabeth’s situation has become untenable, Matlock. Elizabeth left Founder’s Hall because Lady Alice and her cronies drove her away. Lady Alice is no longer among us, yet the attitude towards Elizabeth has not changed. She has been ostracized, almost as if she has some foul disease that will infect anyone who so much as speaks to her. No one—not a single person—has shown her any of the appreciation she ought to receive for her heroic actions. She saved Founder’s Hallsingle-handedly. Do you realize what would have happened to us if she had not been there to stop that fireball?”
The words poured from Darcy like a torrent. He aired all his frustrations at once. That was not how he had intended to present it. He had let his feelings get the better of him.
His uncle took a deep gulp of his coffee. “Perhaps you should shut the door, while I set up a Muffling spell so no one can listen to us. Come and sit down.”
Darcy felt foolish. He should have set up Wards before blurting out his thoughts. When had he become so impulsive?
“I will come to the point directly, as you did,” said Matlock. “You are quite right. No one appreciates what she has done. Do you know why?” He waited expectantly for an answer.
Darcy sifted through the myriad reasons he could think of, but in the end, he simply asked a question.
“Why?
“Becauseno onesaw or sensed that fireball you spoke about. Not the soldiers posted at the postern. Not the Elemental mages who should have been able to do so. No one. That is the irony of the situation. Why was that? Because Elizabeth acted so swiftly to minimize the impact, people do not believe it happened.”
He had heard rumors accusing Elizabeth, but this rumor was brand new. Darcy was incensed. It was beyond farcical.
“Iwitnessed it. Does my word count fornothing?”
“It counts for a great deal normally, but not in this case. Firstly, because Elizabeth is your wife, and it is only natural that you will confirm her story whether it is true or not. Secondly, and probably more importantly, because acknowledging that we were almost obliterated without even knowing we were being attacked raises a hundred questions that no one wants to explore. It is easier to point the finger of blame at Elizabeth than to point the finger of blame on each other. Who is responsible for the lapse that made us open to attack? We cannot afford to ask ourselves that question, not yet, not if we want to preserve some semblance of unity. That is why it is easier to make a scapegoat out of Elizabeth.”
This was exactly what Elizabeth meant when she said ‘they’ had closed ranks against her. She had gauged the situation very well.
