“How is Miss Bennet? Any calmer?” asked Richard.
“I could not find her. Most likely she has gone for a walk to compose herself. The servants will send a message when she returns.”
“Good,” growled Lord Matlock. “I need to talk to that girl. Have you found out more about what she knows?”
Richard shook his head. “Very little. She spoke freely about it the day Lady Catherine was injured, but afterwards she became more reticent. Perhaps she is embarrassed by it.”
“Or perhaps she realized her knowledge had value and should not be given away for free,” Darcy said. Apparently she had taken his suggestion.
“We can find some way to recompense her, if necessary. Richard, how powerful is her magic?”
“Middling,” Richard responded. “She has done well at learning to use it in the absence of spells.”
“Middling power or not, she can see fay and communicate with them,” Darcy said. Why did he care what they thought of Elizabeth’s powers? “There are few enough of us who can do that.”
“True, but she will have to demonstrate her abilities before I believe it. It is easy enough to say she can see fay.”
“I can attest to it,” said Darcy. “She spotted a redcap coming up behind me. She got between us and scolded it until it fled. Later a dryad showed herself at her request.”
Lord Matlock’s eyes narrowed. “Could she be a changeling?”
Darcy shook his head. “I saw her hold iron shavings in her bare hand.” He had wondered the same thing briefly, especially since Elizabeth was so unlike her mother and younger sisters. “Her father is a mage, and his father before him.”
“What of her mother’s family?”
“They are in trade, so it is unlikely they have any magic.”
“I have wondered if magic powers might be more common than we think. If the stories are true, many common people have some fay blood. A pity there is no way to tell.”
More of those ridiculous theories. “On the subject of breeding, I wish to speak very clearly. I will not marry Anne. That is not negotiable.”
Lord Matlock waved his hand in dismissal. “You are the perfect choice for her. You have the skills to manage her, and it will keep Rosings in the family.”
Darcy spread his fingers on the table and leaned forward. “Annedoes not like me. I do not like her. I do not want a wife with the mind of a child, and I most especially do not wish to be my wife’s jailer. If you want her to have children, marry her to someone with lesser powers. Otherwise you risk having a child even more out-of-control than she was. I will not do it.”
“You would have her remain under a binding spell for the rest of her life?” demanded Lord Matlock.
“That is not my responsibility. Why do you not take her into your household? You could control her as well as I. I do not understand why you did not do so years ago.”
“I had duties to the Collegium, and Catherine insisted she remain here. She had lost her husband and did not wish to lose her daughter. She asked that Anne remain bound all her life.”
Darcy snapped, “You may be certain I will give her my opinion on that when she regains her wits.”
DARCY WATCHED THE CLOCKhands creep forward. Mrs. Collins had returned to the parsonage after answering Lord Matlock’s questions about Lady Catherine’s health. It should have taken her no more than a quarter hour to reach the parsonage, perhaps another quarter hour to greet her husband, and one more to allow her to send him a message saying Elizabeth had returned. It had been nearly two hours, and dusk was approaching, but no word had arrived. Darcy had even asked the butler if a message had come and made it clear there should be no delay in delivering it to him when it arrived.
Then it was two and a half hours, and only a little light left in the sky. Darcy sent a kitchen boy to the parsonage to ask after Miss Bennet. When he returned without any news apart from Mrs. Collins being worried, Darcy’s stomach tied in knots.
Unable to keep a calm demeanor with Richard and Lord Matlock, Darcy ordered a lantern and set out for the nearest posting inn. He could not imagine she would flee without a word and with none of her belongings, but it was the only way she could have left the vicinity. But no one had seen her at the inn.
Darcy returned to Rosings empty-handed, after making certain every stable boy knew they would be well rewarded for sending him word if Miss Bennet did appear.
He could not sleep. Elizabeth would never stay away at night, no matter how frightened she was. It would ruin her reputation and stain her for the rest of her life. Not that he cared about any of that, but he knew she would.
Dawn found him at the parsonage door. It was a completely inappropriate time to call, but what did that matter?
Despite the hour, Mrs. Collins herself opened the door, her face lined with worry. “Is she at Rosings?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Nor here, I take it.”
