“I can’t,” he said. “I can’t just leave when I don’t know if she will recover. I have to be with her. I am very sorry. I will try to catch up with you as soon as possible, but for now, I know my place is here with Jane.”
Darcy struggled against a sense of outrage. Bingley remaining behind with Jane felt like a defection. That he had chosen to stay with Miss Bennet rather than supporting the Royal Mages felt like a betrayal. How could he do such a thing when they might be facing the biggest danger since the war had begun?
It sat ill with Darcy, and he made sure to tell Bingley so. “Are you seriously planning to stay behind?” he said. “How can you be so irresponsible?”
“How is that any different from earlier, when you wanted to go to Pemberley with your Janus Twin and abandon us all to our fate? Or a year ago, when you actually stormed off to Pemberley because you quarreled with the Council? About Elizabeth, no less.”
“That was different,” growled Darcy. “You cannot compare the two situations. We were not facing an invasion when I proposed the idea of going to Pemberley withmy wife.”
“You do not believe these rumors of an invasion. And you have said it multiple times yourself already. Neither does the Council. That is why they only sent a handful of us.”
“A handful of thebest,” said Darcy. “You were selected for a reason.”
“As is my sister, who is the best Conjurer we have, and is fortunate enough to have three Talents rather than two. I know we are important to the mission. You do not need to remind me. But sometimes you must make choices.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “Jane was there for me when I was ill. I will not leave her until I am certain she is out of the woods.”
He gave Darcy a look that pleaded for understanding. There was guilt there, and desperation. Darcy glimpsed his ownfeelings mirrored in his friend’s eyes. “With the help of the Rochester Healers, Miss Bennet is healing rapidly. The moment I know she is out of danger, I will catch up with you. You will all probably be lounging around the beaches kicking at the sand when I arrive. You will be happy to see me because you will be bored, and there will be no Napoleon in sight.”
Darcy thought of Elizabeth, her love of long walks, and her eagerness to see the sea. The prospect of spending some time alone with her revived his spirits. Bingley was right. It might all come to nothing, but meanwhile, Darcy would take advantage of the opportunity to be with Elizabeth as much as possible.
“I sincerely hope so,” said Darcy. “And you are right. Take care of the young lady who is so dear to you. I hope she will be well enough to join us as well.”
Bingley grinned. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you understand. I have been feeling dreadful. I know you disapprove of my choice, but sometimes it is important to take care of the ones we love.”
He jumped out of the carriage, and before anyone could stop him, he disappeared into the house, leaving the three of them looking aghast.
“Shouldn’t we tell Matlock?” said Elizabeth.
“Of course not,” said Mr. Bennet. “It will only delay us, and I have no intention of dragging Bingley back to the carriage kicking and screaming.” He knocked twice to order the coachman to resume the journey.
Darcy was too stunned by Bingley’s sudden disappearance to react. Ever since he had first discovered Bingley’s Talent and brought him to the Academy, Bingley had been an easy-going person who was happy to oblige, never taking a stand about anything. For him to suddenly do something like this!
Darcy was shaken to the core.
“Why?” he said.
He was not even aware he had said the words out loud until Elizabeth answered.
“Because he has been placed in an impossible position. Just when the two of them have found their love, it has been snatched away.” She looked down at her hands. “That was what had happened to us as well.”
Her words struck a chord inside him. He understood what she meant, only too well. Only a few days ago, Darcy himself was willing to do something similar. Now, seeing it happening to someone else, Darcy realized why Elizabeth had hesitated about going to Pemberley. Love was a powerful and valuable feeling, but so were loyalty and duty.
Only now did Darcy truly comprehend what was at stake. What kind of gentleman would Darcy have been, if he walked away and left the fate of the Kingdom in the hands of someone else? How could he ever look his children in the eyes and accept that he had abandoned the other mages at their hour of need?
He glanced at Elizabeth. She meant everything to him. She was his whole world. He would do anything to be able to spend time with her, alone, to make her happy, to live the life he had dreamed of.
His heart constricted painfully. Almost anything. There was one thing he could not do, not for her, not for Pemberley, not for the sake of his family legacy.
He could not walk away from doing everything he could to defeat Napoleon.
Chapter 20
Elizabeth was thankful at least that they did not have to share a carriage with Lady Catherine. They were gloomy enough company without her, even now that Bingley was gone. They all had too much on their minds. Elizabeth was preoccupied with Jane, but also with Riquer’s message and what she could do next time to make her magic stronger.
After a long period in which nobody spoke, however, she could take it no longer.
“Who was it that claimed we would be more cheerful without Bingley?” she said. “Was it you, Papa? I cannot imagine three gloomier people. We shall suffer in silence all the way to Walmer Castle.”
Darcy put his arm around her. “I will not allow it,” he said, in his most arrogant tone.
