“You claim that you can use your magic despite the Wards surrounding us. Thereisone way of discovering if you are controlling Devereux. Allow me to examine your signature.”
He was silent for a long moment. Her heart started beating wildly. She wished she could take back the words. What would she do if she discovered hewasthe one? Would he have to kill her as well, if Elizabeth discovered his secret? She was completely at his mercy. She had no way out. The mirror would not obey her. Her magic was incapacitated by the Wards.
She turned to scrutinize him. He was regarding her solemnly. To her astonishment, she realized he was trying to decide whether to trust her. It had never occurred to her that he would be equally suspicious of her motivation.
“You are asking a great deal of me,” he said, heavily. “You want me to expose my magic to you. What if you connect with me and take it all?”
So he knew about Bingley and the others. Or at least he knew what the other Royal Mages suspected.
“I will not do that. I give you my word.”
“Your word may not mean much. We are enemies, and as the saying goes, all is fair in love and war.”
His gaze bit into her. She stared back at him. They were at an impasse.
“If you are not willing to reveal your magic, I will take it that you are guilty, and I cannot answer for the consequences.”
He exhaled heavily.
“I am a great admirer of yours, Mrs. Darcy, and I believe you to be honorable. Still, how do I know I am not making the biggest mistake of my life?”
“Have I given you any reason to doubt me?”
He considered her statement, then gave one of his shrugs. “D’accord. I will allow you to do it.”
Shutting his eyes, he released the spell that hid his magic. Elizabeth reached out tentatively towards the threads that became visible to her senses.
It took a mere two seconds to recognize his powerful signature.
She had encountered it before, of course. Even though his magic had been Cloaked, she could feel its taste on her tongue, along with her terror at the time. He was the fifth mage at Founder’s Hall, the one whose purpose she did not know. Hewasthe enemy. There was no question of that.
But, whatever else he may have been, he was not the mage who had attacked Darcy in the garden.
Elizabeth let out her breath, the fight leaving her.
“Well?” he said. “Am I guilty?”
“You were right. You are not guilty of attacking Darcy in the garden,” she said, avoiding his gaze. “But you were one of the mages that attacked Founder’s Hall.”
“I have never denied that. You caught me outside Founder’s Hall. That is certainly evidence enough.”
It felt very strange to be talking to the enemy. By rights, they should be killing each other. Yet Elizabeth had never felt threatened by him. In some ways, he had been kinder to her than many of her fellow mages. She felt a kinship to him. How could that be? Was she a traitor to even regard him that way?
Those questions would have to wait for another time. She had more immediate problems now. She was left with no idea who the culprit was.
“I am sorry to have accused you.”
“Quite understandable under the circumstances, dear lady. In your position, I would have done the same.”
She turned her thoughts to Darcy’s uncle. He had betrayed her today and prevented her from helping Darcy. Could it have been him who had sent her the note? Was it his footmen who had thrown her in here the first time? Matlock had refused to listen to her, and he had imprisoned her.
Was he justified? She had interrupted the duel despite his warning – and Darcy’s— not to intervene. She had even tried to Bond with Darcy. If she had succeeded, she would have broken every rule in their rulebook. But did that give him enough of a reason to imprison her and accuse her of mutiny?
She tried to remember his magical signature. She had not suspected him, but was it possible that he was the one? Was that why the signature was familiar?
The prospect was terrifying. If he was willing to destroy his own nephew, there was no knowing what else he was capable of. The hairs on her body bristled.
As if thinking along the same lines, de Riquer broke into her thoughts. “So, Mrs. Darcy. Why did they bring you back here this time? Or did you choose to come here because you missed my company?”
