Once again, Elizabeth peered through the milky whiteness. The room appeared before her in all its details. It was still early in the morning and the maids were cleaning the fireplace and scrubbing the floor. No one was there.
If it was all over, and everyone was safe, surely they would convene to discuss the duel? She tried the breakfast room again.
“I am beginning to tire, Mrs. Darcy. I cannot hold the spell much longer.”
She moved away from the mirror as he covered it up. What could be taking so long? She did not know if it was a good sign or a bad sign that no one had returned inside. Perhaps the duel had not yet finished. It could be that Darcy was holding his own. But it might also mean that both contestants were dead, and the members of the Council were in the garden, arguing what to do next.
“I do not suppose you can tell me what this duel is about?”
She shook her head.
“Considering how badly they are treating you, I am surprised you still feel you owe them any loyalty.”
“That is exactly what I would expect you to say, Monsieur de Riquer. You will turn me against my own people.”
Though who those people were exactly was uncertain. Only Darcy was certain. He was the candle in a world of shadows. He and her sister Jane.
“It never ceases to amaze me how people only see what they choose to see. Twice I have had the opportunity to score a point for Napoleon by killing you, and twice I have refrained. How do you explainthat, based on your expectations? And how do you explain that I showed you my magic, when you could have destroyed it? Please do not talk about expectations. I told you what I want. But I can see you do not believe me.”
“I need time.” She felt a flash of anger. “I have other concerns right now. I do not know what has happened to my husband. I do not know what will happen to me. Your request is not the only thing on my mind.” She picked up on what he had just said. “So you believe me capable of destroying your magic if I connect with you?”
“As it so happens, I do not. But you are a very dangerous mage, Mrs. Darcy. I do not think you are aware of the full extent of your powers yet. There are a great many things you have yet to learn, Mrs. Darcy. The Council has not made good use of your abilities, especially when it comes to your Talent of connecting.”
Ironic, that he was the only one who seemed to understand that. “Why do you say that?”
“I will answer your question, Mrs. Darcy, only on condition that you promise to convince the others that I wish to join them.”
“You are overestimating my influence.”
“Perhaps, but do I have your word?”
“You have it.”
“Then here is your answer. You did not hurt anyone by connecting with them. When you opened the rift in the Ward, you enabled one of my fellow mages to reach your friends and cast a spell on them. Itwasintended to entrance them temporarily. They do not know a spell that can do such long-term damage. Something must have gone wrong.”
So Jane had been right after all. Someone had cast a spell on the Warders. It meant their affliction was not caused by Elizabeth. The news would have delighted her if she was not eaten up inside with worry.
“In some ways, youwereresponsible for your friends’ injuries, but it was not because you were connected to them. It was because they were exposed. If you were all inside the Wards, we could not have done it..”
“We?”
He gave an apologetic smile. “It offends you, no? I cannot pretend I was not one of them. I can only insist that I would rather notcontinueto be one of them. Whether you will allow me the opportunity to make amends or not is up to you.”
“It is not my decision to make. I still do not understand. Why should we trust you?”
“Because I am prepared to help you undo your friends’ captivity.”
