Darcy smiled. “I am a sad excuse for an ambassador. I am much more in sympathy with Cathael’s directness than the hemming and hawing of the Foreign Office. A meeting with Cathael takes ten minutes. The foreign office drones on for half a day.”
“Was he angry they did not agree to have the groves replanted?”
“No, because I had warned him that nothing would happen quickly. We came up with a plan, though. He will tell the lesser fay to stop working around any destroyed grove, and he will send extra workers to the adjacent rings. When there is a circle of failed crops around each destroyed grove and the crops in the very next field are rich and thriving, the Foreign Office may be more willing to replant the groves.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You are indeed a sad excuse for anambassador! You are consorting with Cathael against our government.”
“Well, Cathael is right,” said Darcy reasonably. “I explained to the Prime Minister that you could not have normal negotiations with someone who makes instant decisions and can sense any deception, but he seems not to understand. Cathael mentioned Titania has been missing you.”
“How can she be missing me?” Elizabeth exclaimed. “Last week when I visited she had her two new followers, Rowan and Honeysuckle, not to mention Mr. McKee doing another painting of her, a poet she called Buckthorn, and, of course, Mr. FitzClarence. How many mortals does she need?”
Darcy leaned down to caress her lips with his. “None of them are you. She has known you all your life, not just a week or two. I am in full sympathy with Titania on this. No one else could take your place for me, either.”
DARCY TOOK ELIZABETH’Shand as the carriage turned into the lane leading to Longbourn. “Are you ready, my love?”
“No,” said Elizabeth with a breathy laugh. “But I doubt I will ever be.”
He brushed his lips over her knuckles, turned her hand over and repeated his action on the inside of her wrist.
She shivered. “You are trying to distract me!” she accused.
Darcy smiled, that slow smile she had never seen before the last few days. “Is it working?”
“How vain you are!” she teased.
The carriage drew to a halt. Darcy stole a quick kiss before the door opened. As he handed her out, he held her gaze warmly.
Elizabeth took a deep breath at the sight of her former home.Had it grown smaller in her absence? She smoothed the silk of her skirt, a rose silk dress Frederica had given her. Elizabeth no longer felt like the same girl who had left Longbourn in March, so she had chosen to wear a dress that would make her look different as well.
The familiar butler opened the door, his expression changing from surprised pleasure to wariness. “Miss Lizzy!”
“Is my mother at home, Jenks?” asked Elizabeth in a businesslike manner.
“She is in the drawing room. Shall I announce you and... Mr. Darcy, is it not?”
“It is.” Darcy handed him a calling card.
“No need to announce us, I think,” said Elizabeth.
She paused outside the drawing room and drew a deep breath. “Very well,” she said, more to herself than to Darcy, and walked in.
Mrs. Bennet jumped to her feet. “Lizzy!” She hurried forward to embrace her. “What a happy surprise! Oh, just look at you! If you try to tell me that this dress did not come from a London modiste, I will not believe you! And those beautiful cuffs! You look like a faerie princess.”
Elizabeth, breathless from this enthusiastic greeting, said, “Your new style suits you very well.” As she had in London, Mrs. Bennet wore a simple dress with only a small amount of lace and no flounces at all, but with elegant lines.
Jane appeared beside her mother. “Oh, Lizzy! I am so glad you have come! I received your letter but did not know where to write to you.”
Elizabeth kissed her sister. “Once Mr. Gardiner told me you were engaged to Mr. Bingley, I could not stay away.” It had been the final impetus for this trip, especially since Elizabeth wanted any unpleasantness with her father over and done before Jane’s wedding.
“You will come for the wedding, will you not?”
“I would not miss it for anything!”
Bingley was shaking Darcy’s hand. “It is good to see you, my friend.”
Mrs. Bennet appeared to notice him for the first time. “Mr. Darcy, forgive me for allowing my pleasure at seeing Lizzy to overtake me. You are welcome to Longbourn.” Her voice held puzzlement.
Impulsively Elizabeth took Darcy by one hand and her mother by the other, joining all their hands together so Mrs. Bennet’s hand covered theirs. “Mama, Mr. Darcy and I have claimed blood right.”
