Page 50 of Triumph at Pemberley

Or was there? A sensation ran up his arm, a tingling of power. Not mortal Talent, though; this was something different, with a flavor of – was it protection? Yes, a sense that the power would protect Elizabeth. It would keep her safe from harm.

Well, on that much they could agree, he and this strange Artifact. Even if all he seemed to do was to bring Elizabeth suffering, he would do anything in his power to keep her from danger.

He lifted his eyes to her beloved face, seeing worry in her eyes. Was she sensing his discomfort? On an impulse he did not care to examine too closely, he said, “I have not told you how proud I am of you. When we married, I knew you were clever, lovely, and Talented, but I did not appreciate your bravery, nor your dedication to doing what is right. When we stood before the High King, I could not have wished for anyone else by my side.” He raised her hand, turned it over, and pressed a lingering kiss into her palm.

It was apparently the right thing to say, for her expression softened, her lips curling into warm smile. “I thank you.”

“Now I should let you sleep.” He leaned over to blow out the candle beside the bed, but no sooner had he inhaled than the door opened.

His lynx padded in and jumped up on the bed. How long would it take before the sight of his familiar did not remind him of the Wicked King’s vicious lynxes?

“Oh, hello, Fire Eyes.” Elizabeth reached up to scratch the lynx beneath his ears.

Darcy stared in astonishment. His lynx had started coming into the house recently, always staying with him, but he had never gone on a bed before. He touched the animal's mind, but found no sense of danger in him. The big cat curled up against Elizabeth's side and closed his slanted eyes.

“I supposed he will keep me warm.” The natural amusement was back in Elizabeth's voice.

He could not help smiling. “He will look after you while I am with the others.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly, wishing he could remain by her side like the lynx. “Sleep well, my love.”

The next morning as Darcy walked down to the breakfast room with Elizabeth, he tried to keep his annoyance from showing. Damn it, was it too much to ask for a half hour with Elizabeth before having to turn around and leave? He had not even been home a full day yet.

His wife was not easily fooled, though. “Bad news from the invasion?”

“Nothing reliable. The papers say there is nothing to worry about, since the militia is certain of their victory over the invaders. Complete nonsense.” Everyone knew the militia did not stand a chance. Jack might be able to help them to a degree, but unless his King’s Bond had changed, it would make little difference.

Darcy should be here planning the defense of the estate. Preparing for his family to leave Pemberley, perhaps forever. The thought made bile rise in his throat.

Instead, he was going to play glorified messenger boy.

“What is troubling you, then?” she asked.

He needed to tell her, even if it ruined breakfast. “Rana Akshaya is sending Coquelicot on a mission. Since Coquelicot cannot travel without me, I have to go, too. Nothing dangerous, only delivering an Artifact. But apparently I will be away for two nights, perhaps three.”

She frowned. “Can it not wait? We have only just returned!”

“Coquelicot says it is urgent and has to do with stopping Napoleon.” The one argument he could not refuse. “She says it should have happened days ago, but the new Indian dragon companions do not speak English well enough. With Frederica away and the two of us trapped in the tower, they had to wait.”

Elizabeth’s eyes seemed to unfocus. Then she sighed. “Cerridwen is apologetic, but says there is no choice. Which usually means she had another vision.” Her voice shook, but she lifted her chin and said, “I suppose the soldiers marching to their doom would envy us our position.”

It did not matter how vital his mission was. He still had to stop to kiss his courageous, beautiful Elizabeth.

At breakfast Darcy was grateful for Elizabeth’s conversational skills, since he could think of nothing to say. Especially when he sat directly across from Georgiana’s usual chair, now empty. Where was his sister? Did she hate him for what he had done?

And why did he have to leave already?

But Elizabeth still managed to act as if nothing was wrong, at least until a scratchy voice chirped beside her. “Greetings, my friend!”

Darcy froze at the unexpected sight of their lesser fae jailer from the tower. Then he quietly picked up his table knife, holding it like a dagger. It must contain at least a little iron. Silently he reached out to Coquelicot and asked her to listen to the conversation. At least someone would know what happened if the little fae somehow made off with the two of them.

Elizabeth recovered first. “Sparrow? Why are you here?” Her voice was higher-pitched than usual.

Sparrow beamed. “Sparrow came to see you! Sparrow wants to be with her friend and far from the cruel High King.”

“Your friend?” Elizabeth asked faintly.

The little fae wiggled proudly. “You said Sparrow was your fae friend. Sparrow has never had a friend before.”

He remembered it now, when Elizabeth had ironically referred to Sparrow as her fae friend. Apparently sarcasm was lost on the little fae, who clearly had taken it as the literal truth.