“But you are staying!” cried Frederica.
“Only because I can remain invisible for at least half an hour. I will learn what I can in that time, and then I will join you. Now go!”
Elizabeth grabbed Frederica’s hand and tugged at her. “Come, Frederica. You, too, Anne. Especially you.”
Frederica asked Eversleigh desperately, “Will you find my mother and send her?”
“If I can.” Eversleigh flickered out of sight.
Elizabeth cast an anguished glance over her shoulder towards the library as she hurried Frederica and Anne along. What had they done to Darcy? Colonel Fitzwilliam brought up the rear, stumbling occasionally as he fought a bout of nausea.
They took the servants’ staircase down to the kitchen. Fortunately no one questioned them as they paraded through to theoutside door. Elizabeth longed to tell them to run as well, but that could endanger their own escape, and none of the servants possessed magic to be misused. Still, it felt wrong to abandon them.
Colonel Fitzwilliam’s color began to improve once they were past the kitchen gardens. “We must go around the rose garden. The library windows look out on it.”
They were nearing the grove when the ground heaved under them. Elizabeth staggered and bumped into Frederica.
“Darcy must have awakened,” said Colonel Fitzwilliam with grim satisfaction. “Look at that.” He pointed towards the lake, where water shot out in jets towards the house. The ground still thrummed under them.
Anne cupped her hands by her mouth and blew. Three whirlwinds sprung up in front of her and raced towards the house. “That may help him.”
“Oh, no!” cried Frederica. “We forgot about Georgiana! She is still in the house.”
Colonel Fitzwilliam raked his fingers through his hair. “We will have to hope Eversleigh finds her. Now go!”
“Can we go into the grove safely? Will the trees fall?” asked Elizabeth.
“It is safer than staying here!” snapped the colonel.
Elizabeth shivered. “Let us go, then.”
“YOU AND YOUR FRIENDSmust remain here,” said Titania instantly when Elizabeth explained the reason for their flight. “No one will hurt you here. Dark magic is a terrible thing.”
“You are generous, great lady,” said Elizabeth. “I do not wish to bring any trouble to you, but one of the dark magicians, a man namedWickham, is half fay and can travel through the rings.”
Titania’s nostrils flared. “How do you know this?”
“He had sworn allegiance to Aelfric. None of us knew he used dark magic.”
“At least he will protect Prince Aelfric, then.”
Elizabeth shook her head miserably. “He is a liar and a cheat. If he sees an advantage to abandoning Aelfric, he will do it without hesitation.”
Titania beckoned to one of the dryads. “Go to King Cathael. Inform him that there is a mortal dark magician with the power to travel through the rings.”
The dryad bowed her head and left.
“I cannot interfere with events in your world, Libbet, but we will defend our own,” Titania said. “There is someone here who may wish to help you, though.” She raised her voice. “Albion, my love!”
A disheveled Mr. FitzClarence appeared in the archway to a private section of the bower. “Great lady?”
“My Libbet has brought ill tidings from your world. You should help her.”
DARCY SWAM BACK TOconsciousness as an acrid smell made him gag. His head throbbed and his eyes would not work. No, something was pressing on his eyes. A blindfold, that was it. His hands were tied behind his back and something sharp poked into his throat.
“Ah, I thought that might bring you back to us.” It was Debenham’s self-satisfied voice. “I would advise against trying to drench us or knock down the house before you have heard what I have to say. I have a knife at your throat and will not hesitate to use it.”
Sorcery. Elizabeth. Damn it, he needed to be able to think. “It is your life as well as mine,” he said hoarsely.
