He changed horses, too, to aid his speed. If only dragons were still large enough to ride.
* * *
“Magess Athelia is out today,” said the housekeeper to Cassia and her aunt and uncle. “And High Mage Darkwood is expected in two days’ time.” She had just started their house tour and now took the party up the stairs to show them the atrium, complete with an illusion garden containing bioluminescent butterflies that sparkled when they landed on one’s hand.
After several upstairs rooms, all of which amazed Cassia by their taste and size, they came down the stairs again.
“Now, High Mage Darkwood’s favorite room,” said the housekeeper, “is here. The portrait gallery.”
Cassia had marveled at every part of the grounds and estate so far. A huge lake had greeted them, with koi-like fish, though more iridescent, flying through the air and splashing over and over again. Most of the house had beautiful, though not overdone, decor and the only magic easily viewed was the atrium.
He wasn’t quite the show-off his aunt was.
At first Cassia wondered why the portrait gallery would be his favorite. Large oils of family members hung evenly spaced, with accolades hanging from the relatives’ epaulets. Then she saw it. Every few pictures there was a dragon, immortalized on canvas. Huge ones, small ones, green, blue, and purple. These must have been paintings of all the types of dragons that used to exist.
The tour of the whole house lasted nearly two hours, and then the housekeeper turned them over to the gardener. “I did notice the particularly splendid lake,” said Mr. Gareth. “Will you take us around the whole of it?”
“Yes,” the well-spoken servant answered.
Smiling ear to ear, her uncle trudged forward with the gardener. Cassia kept her aunt company at a slower pace, admiring the thick woods to the south of the lake.
“Oh, how I’d love to get lost in there,” she said to her aunt.
“It is a lovely property, isn't it?” They walked a few moments in silence, then her aunt spoke again. “Now tell me, for Gynelle mentioned a bit in a letter, are you much acquainted with High Mage Darkwood?”
“A little,” Cassia couldn’t bring herself to admit how much. A proposal, after all, wasn’t just an acquaintance. Being here at Pemberley almost made her regret her decision. She had not forgiven the man of all his many shortcomings, but his calming land and tasteful house did help the case against him.
“Cassia,” Mrs. Gareth pulled Cassia from her thoughts. “Do you mind if I catch up to Mr. Gareth? I would like his strong arm. I can tell you wish to take in every detail. Do not let me rush you.”
“Oh of course, I won’t stay back long,” said Cassia. She did want to stop and admire the foliage more.
Her aunt took off down the hill, calling to her husband, and Cassia drew a little closer to the edge of the woods. She was just admiring the size of the large trees when a man on horseback bolted out of the woods. Cassia gasped and nearly tripped backward.
The rider, too, was startled, and he immediately pulled on the reins.
“Woah, woah, there,” he called. His top hat raised just enough Cassia beheld the man’s face. Slightly curled, dark hair, penetrating eyes. None other than High Mage Darkwood himself.
“Excuse me!” he called. But then his gaze fell on Cassia and he inhaled sharply. “Good-day,” he said softer, immediately coming off his horse.
Cassia wished to crawl inside her bonnet and hide. She thought to duck behind her aunt’s slight frame, but she was now half a quarter mile ahead, not to mention Cassia had clearly already been seen.
High Mage Darkwood’s eyes met hers with the same intensity as always, though they carried less anger than the last time she had viewed them.
“Miss Cassia,” he said, still slightly out of breath from his tantivy. He bowed.
Cassia’s throat felt dry. “I am so sorry,” she managed, “we understood that everyone was away, including yourself…”
“And Athelia isn’t with you?”
“Oh no, we didn’t wish to intrude on anyone, or we wouldn’t have been shown the house.” She tried to look deliberately toward her aunt and uncle. She cleared her throat. “As far as I understand,” said Cassia, sure her embarrassment belied her attempt at calm, “the housekeeper said your sister and her chaperone had chosen to spend the day with a nearby acquaintance.”
His broad shoulders relaxed. “I see.”
“My aunt convinced us to visit Pemberley today, begged us to do so.” Cassia pursed her lips and looked down.
When she looked up, Darkwood’s face flushed a smile, and his head dipped as he gestured around him. “Do you approve of the grounds, then? And the house?”
A warm tingle ran the length of Cassia’s body, stopping at her crown, bringing an automatic smile to her lips. “Yes, it is allquitelovely.”
