"Here. This will help." Mary handed her a plate of food she was holding.
Elizabeth took it gratefully. “Thank you, Mary. That was very thoughtful.”
“Oh, it was not my idea,” said Mary, with her usual bluntness. “It was Mr. Darcy who sent a footman. He knew you would be needing it. I am simply delivering it.”
She felt a rush of love for him. He knew exactly what she needed. She looked around for him, longing for him to join her.
"Why did he not give them to me himself, I wonder?”
"Perhaps because he is jealous," said Mary, in a matter-of-fact manner.
Elizabeth stared at her sister in astonishment. "Jealous? Of what? My Mirror magic?"
Mary considered the question seriously for several moments. "No. Not that. He is jealous of Riquer."
Elizabeth bit back a laugh. Her sister was not exactly the best judge of character. "Of Riquer? Why would he be jealous of him? What an odd thing to say."
"It is not odd," said Mary crossly. "It is true."
Elizabeth could see her sister had taken offense, so she tried to smooth things over. "It is possible, I suppose. I will think it over."
Mary looked mollified. Elizabeth put it out of her mind. Darcy would not go away because he was jealous. More likely something important had come up. She kept an eye out for him. As he entered the room, she waved to him and indicated that she had saved a place for him next to her. He made a regretful face, shook his head, and headed for his cousin Richard instead.
She could not help feeling hurt. He had not come up to her to congratulate her. To be fair, it would have been difficult for him to reach her when she was surrounded by so many boys and girls.
But shehadhoped he would join her. They spent so little time together. This was a perfect opportunity to be together and holdhands and bask in each other’s presence. But Darcy had other plans – it was clear he needed to talk urgently to his cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.
A few moments later, Jane came to sit next to her sisters. She was followed almost immediately by Bingley. He bowed and was about to take the seat Elizabeth had saved for Darcy. One look at the way Jane’s face brightened up when he greeted her, decided the matter for Elizabeth.
“Would you mind moving up to the other side, Bingley?” she said. “I am expecting Darcy any minute.”
Bingley turned red at the prospect of sitting next to Jane. “Of course. I would be more than happy—” His words trailed as Jane blushed and looked away.
There was a great deal of awkwardness as he squeezed past Jane to take a seat, each of them trying their best to avoid any contact. It was clear the two of them were very much in love. Elizabeth wished someone would address the issue and get it over with, but Jane had already turned down Bingley’s proposal. At the time, Bingley had offered to marry Jane because he believed he had compromised her when he was under the influence of an enchantment. Jane did not believe that to be the case. She did not want Bingley to marry her out of a sense of misplaced obligation.
Since then, they had been hovering around each other uncertainly.
Elizabeth sighed. It was not that different from her situation with Darcy, really.
The moment Darcy entered the Great Hall, he spotted Elizabeth, and of course, she noticed him. She turned around and waved tohim, indicating an empty chair at her side. He cursed his luck. Here was an opportunity to spend time with her, but once again, duty called. He hesitated, wavering between his desire to see her and the urgency of the situation.
He had no choice but to raise the issue of Riquer with Richard immediately. Darcy pointed to his cousin and mouthed that he would come as soon as he could.
Richard quirked an eyebrow at him as Darcy approached.
“Can we speak privately?” Even though Darcy was whispering, several of the tutors turned disapproving eyes on him.
“Of course. Something the matter?”
“You could say so.”
Richard came to his feet at once. As soon as they were out of the hall, Richard turned to address him.
“Aren’t you setting a bad example for the apprentices? I thought you were a stickler for the rules.”
“I would not do so without a good reason, I can assure you. It is a matter of great urgency.” Darcy set up a Ward around them so no one could overhear. “I caught Riquer outside, talking to someone through his mirror. He was speaking French.”
Richard stared at him. “Thisis the urgent matter you wanted to talk about?”
