As if to prove her sister right, Jane sneezed, and their gazes shifted to her. Jane shrank away from the attention.
“I am perfectly well, Lizzy. You worry too much. All I need is a good night’s sleep, and I am quite certain I will be completely recovered by tomorrow.”
Truly she did not need to be Healed. She just wanted to lie down.
But then her attention was drawn by the patient they were healing. It was a young gentleman with golden curls. He was sitting upright in his bed, a serene smile on his face. He did not look at her. She had the feeling he did not look at anyone. There was something unusual about him, but she could not tell what it was.
The tall lady with red hair came forward and touched Jane’s brow.
“You are certainly feverish.” She turned to another of the Healers. “Lady Hazelmere, which bed should I put her in?”
Once she had received instructions, the red-haired mage smiled at Jane and led her to a bed. She seemed concerned now.
“Come and lie down, and we will take care of you.”
She did not smile at Lizzy, however, and when she spoke, her voice was reserved. “Thank you, Mrs. Darcy. You may leave your sister with us.”
Jane wanted to ask her sister to stay, but she did not like to make a nuisance of herself, so she let her go.
Come back soon, Lizzy, she wanted to say, but Lizzy had already left.
***
WHEN JANE AWOKE A FEWhours later, it was daytime. Her throat felt as if it was on fire, and she was desperate for something to drink.
There was a screen blocking her view, so she could not tell if there were any Healers in the room.
“Is there anyone here?” Her voice came out as a croak.
When there was no answer, she sat up shakily and moved her legs so that she was at the edge of the bed. Perhaps she could find something to drink herself. That way, she would not inconvenience anyone. Slowly, she pulled herself up to a sitting position, but her legs buckled when she tried to get up.
Then she heard shuffling steps, and the golden-hair gentleman came into view. He came and sat on the chair next to her bed.
Partly because she was too ill to think clearly, and partly because she sensed that he needed her help, she put her hand out and took one of his. He did not pull away, which was good, because she could tell a great deal about a disease through touch. She closed her eyes and focused on imagining a quiet, unruffled lake. Then she reached out the threads of her magic to look for what was wrong. The tiny threads glowed and spread out through his body, looking for shadowed patches where his lifelines were weaker.
The threads did not get far. They were obstructed by a barrier. As she tried to go beyond it, the lake turned into a raging sea, with waves sweeping upwards and towering as high as a steeple. The water roiled and boiled and slashed about, trying to kick her out. Jane struggled to control the storm to see what was behind it, but she was not strong enough.
She would have to wait for another time. She pulled back her hand.
The young man did not seem to have noticed, one way or the other. It was sad. She wished she could help him.
The door opened, and one of the Healers came in. Gasping as she saw the young man sitting next to Jane’s bed, she came over at once.
Jane closed her eyes. She did not want to be suspected of impropriety. Not that she had done anything wrong, but it was only too easy for a lady’s reputation to be ruined.
“Mr. Bingley! What are you doing here? You had better come with me. I will take you to Mr. Darcy.”
Now Jane knew his name. Mr. Bingley.
***
TWO DAYS LATER, TOElizabeth’s relief, Jane woke up free of fever, and Elizabeth was able to collect her from the Healer’s Hall. As Elizabeth hugged her and led her away, Jane inquired anxiously about the Council’s decision.
“They are planning to speak to you before deciding anything.”
Jane gave a sigh of relief. “That is very kind of them.”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes at such a characterization of the Council, but it was not in Jane’s nature to question people’s motives. “I’m not entirely certain we can call themkind.”
