Matlock scowled. “It was a mistake to come here. We are too visible in such a small community. We should have gone somewhere with a large population.”
“There would have been difficulties wherever we went, and there is nothing we can do about it now.”
It would be ridiculous to move again for such a trivial reason. Darcy would do anything to avoid it. His uncle was making too much of one innocent intrusion. Miss Jane Bennet was hardly a threat to their existence.
“Only one person so far has walked through our barriers, Uncle, and that person is a Bennet, with a clear affinity to Elizabeth’s magic.” His gaze met Elizabeth’s and he gave her a half smile. “The Bennets have exceptional abilities. Before we panic and take drastic action, I will use the other Warders to reinforce the protections around us so that none of the other members of the Bennet family can simply walk in unannounced and ring the doorbell. When Mr. Bennet comes, we can test its effectiveness.”
“Very well. I will leave that part to you, since you are the Janus Warder here, and you know your business. I hardly need to remind you that the safety of the strongest mages in the Kingdom depends on those Wards.”
“No, you need not.”
“So what is the verdict regarding my sister?” Elizabeth had a stubborn look on her face. Darcy wanted to take her in his arms and reassure her.
“Let us go upstairs to speak with Miss Bennet before I decide on our course of action,” said Lord Matlock. “Once we are finished, I will send a note to ask Mr. Bennet to call on me immediately.” He sighed heavily. “And then I will have to call a Council Meeting. I am certainly not looking forward to it. It is certain to be unpleasant.”
Darcy snorted. “All the Council meetings are unpleasant.”
“Tut, tut, nephew, and there I was, thinking that you were beginning to enjoy them.”
Chapter 13
An hour later, exhaustedwith all the questions Lord Matlock had fired at her, Jane stepped gingerly into the Healing Hall, leaning on Lizzy’s arm. She stopped in the doorway and gazed around her. It was like stepping into the past. She had been in this drawing room many times when Mrs. Prescott was alive, mostly with Mama when she came to bring the old lady the latest gossip. It had been at least six years since Mrs. Prescott had died, and then her husband had gone away.
The wood paneling that used to line the walls and ceilings was still there, as were the heavy olive and gold curtains. The picture of Mrs. Prescott’s mother that had hung above the fireplace had been removed, but Jane could still see the outline of a rectangle on the wall where the painting had been.
She would have liked to share her memories with Lizzy, but the Healers were in a Circle, and she did not want to interfere with the Healing. She tried to make herself as inconspicuous as she could.
The Healers stopped anyway, but they showed no interest in her. They all looked at Lizzy.
A tall lady with red hair raised her brow arrogantly. “Can we help you, Mrs. Darcy?”
Jane was not her usual self, which was probably why the Healers did not seem very friendly. It was particularly puzzling because, in her experience, Healers could be territorial, but they were usually kind. Why would they be territorial towards Elizabeth? She was a Janus Mage. A Warder, not a Healer.
Lizzy gave Jane a little push of the hand in the small of her back and Jane stepped reluctantly forward. She was not sure she liked these mages who reacted to Lizzy in such a hostile manner.
“I have brought you my sister. This is Miss Jane Bennet. She is unwell. She seems to have developed a cold, and she has a fever.”
