Nothing happened.
***
DARCY KNEW IT WAS STUPIDto attend the Council meeting. He did not care about their discussions and arguments. All he cared about was Elizabeth. He had come here hoping that, as a group, they would come up with ideas about what to do next, but he was at the end of his tether. Everyone had suggestions, but none of them had anything useful to say.
The knock at the door brought all conversation to a halt. All eyes turned towards the man who entered, who came up silently to Matlock, whispered something, and handed him a note.
“I have just been handed a note concerning Mrs. Darcy’s whereabouts by my valet,” said Matlock. “I cannot confirm the contents, since I have no idea who wrote it. He said it was pinned to my door.”
“For Heaven’s sake, Matlock, tell us what it says and put us out of our misery.” Devereux looked as if he might stride over and grab the note from Matlock’s hand. For once, Darcy had the same impulse. Why did Matlock not just read it out without an endless explanation?
Matlock raised his brow and gave Devereux a quelling look. Devereux returned the look, unrepentant.
“I will now read the note to you, if no one else decides to interrupt.”
Darcy was ready to tear his hair out by now. The only thing that mattered right now was that Elizabeth was safe.
Your lordship. When I went to get coal from the coal chute, I heard voices. They were coming from the cellar where the prisoner is held. I heard Mrs. Darcy’s voice. She was talking to the French prisoner.
Matlock put down the paper. “It is unsigned. One of the servants, I presume.”
As Darcy struggled to come to terms with what was happening, he could hear the shocked reactions to the note. The reactions echoed his own.
“What the devil is she doing with the Imperial mage?” Grayson was frowning. “Do you have an explanation, Darcy?”
Darcy bit back the angry response that rose to his lips and did his best to moderate his answer.
“If I had an explanation, Grayson, I would not have spent the last six hours mounting a search.”
Was it possible? Elizabeth was in the cellar? Talking to de Riquer? Had she gone against his advice and decided to talk to the captive, and was taken hostage instead? Of all the foolish, headstrong things to do! He could only suppose she had done it in a fit of pique after their argument.
Two opposite urges battled inside him. He desperately hoped she had not done something so foolhardy. At the same time, he hoped she had, because at least it would mean she was safe.
Unless she was not. What if the French mage had taken the opportunity to slit her throat?
Once the possibility had taken hold, it would not let go. Darcy sprang to his feet with a growl. He would kill de Riquer with his bare hands if the villain had harmed a hair of Elizabeth’s head.
“Are you going somewhere?” Devereux’s voice held a sneer.
“I am going to rescue my wife from the clutches of a French mage. I hope you have no objection.”
“Wait.” Sudbury’s voice was calm, a soothing counterpoint to Devereux’s nastiness.
Darcy would not have stopped for anyone else, but Sudbury was the most rational of the Council members, and even if Darcy did not always agree with him, he was generally the voice of common sense.
Fighting against the compulsion to rush down and rescue Elizabeth, Darcy waited for Sudbury to have his say.
“I understand your anxiety, Darcy, but before you go off on a wild goose chase, consider that this may be a trap. It is possible that Elizabeth is being used as bait to capture you.”
Devereux seemed much struck by this idea. He dropped his usual belligerence and gave Darcy a thoughtful look for once.
“Sudbury is right. You cannot go down there alone, Darcy. But we cannot all go with you, either. We do not know what that French mage is capable of, once we open that door. We have to come up with a plan.”
Elizabeth could be injured, or worse, and they spoke of plans? He had no patience at all. The Council would deliberate for days if he gave them a chance.
“You come up with a plan, Devereux, and good luck to you. I am going to get my wife out of there.”
“Wait!” Grayson stood up. “I will come with you. As an Elemental mage, I can react faster than you if he attacks. Just make certain we are both well Warded.”
