Her eyes grew wet again. “That thought has already crossed my mind a number of times. I am beyond grateful for any assistance you can give me.”
“I do not need your thanks for doing what any gentleman with an iota of decency would do!” he burst out.
She was too grateful for his assistance to worry about theimpropriety of it. “If I can only get to London, my uncle there will take me in.”
“That is an option, but you would have to return the day after tomorrow. Perhaps we can take a room for you at the inn, with a maid to bear you company.”
Elizabeth bit her lip. “If word reached them that I was a witch, a maid could not keep me safe, nor even a manservant,” she said in a low voice.
“There must be a way. Let me think.” He rubbed his hand over his forehead. “I have it. I know just the thing.”
RICHARD GREETED DARCYand Frederica in the imposing entrance hall of Rosings Park. “Welcome back, Darcy. Freddie, I had not expected to see you here.”
His younger sister untied her bonnet. “I am in disgrace at home, and events here sounded more interesting than anything in London. I want to meet the famous Miss Bennet.”
Richard raised a finger to his lips. “I strongly advise you against mentioning –”
“Is that you, Darcy?” Lady Catherine’s shrill voice came from the drawing room.
Darcy made a wry face at Frederica. “I had hoped to avoid this,” he saidsotto vocebefore striding into the drawing room. “Yes, Aunt, I have only just returned from London. Lady Frederica has accompanied me.” He bowed to Lady Catherine and her daughter.
“Frederica? Why is she here?” asked Lady Catherine querulously.
Darcy had preferred it when his aunt had been restricted to her rooms. “She wished to come, and I saw no reason to object. I am glad to see your health continues to improve.”
“I have been in perfect health for days,” snapped Lady Catherine.
Frederica said soothingly, “That is excellent news. I must write to my father tonight. He has been most concerned about you.”
Lady Catherine ignored her. “Darcy, I do not see why you had to go running off to London on a fool’s errand. I did not give you permission to leave.”
As if he needed her permission! “I had vital information which had to be delivered to Lord Matlock in person. Now I must ask you to excuse me, as I need to find Miss Bennet.”
Lady Catherine’s face distorted with rage. Pointing a bony finger at him, she hissed, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live!” Her wits must still be wandering.
Richard strode in, his lips tight and his face white. What had been happening at Rosings while Darcy had been in London? “That will be quite enough, Aunt,” Richard said firmly.
This time Lady Catherine shrieked the words. “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live!”
Richard’s hand snaked out and caught her wrist. “Sit down!” he commanded. “You must stop this. Miss Bennet is in London.”
Confused, Darcy said, “Why did she go to London?” He winced as Frederica’s foot connected with his ankle.
“It is a long story,” Richard said through gritted teeth.
Lady Catherine declared, “You should have let me die before you allowed that witch to touch me!”
Richard snarled, “I wish I had taken her advice and let the surgeon cut off your arm!”
Darcy held up his hands. “Miss Bennet used no witchcraft on you, only magic, just as Richard or I would do.” Out of the corner of his eye he saw Anne swooning, attended by Mrs. Jenkinson.
“A woman with magic is an abomination!”
Frederica stepped in front of Darcy. “You are a woman withmagic. So was your sister, Darcy’s mother. So is your daughter Anne. So am I. None of us are abominations.”
“How dare you? I have never been soiled by magic, nor has Anne!”
“That is not true.” Richard swung to face Darcy. “She has been like this since you left. The servants let her out of her rooms yesterday and refused to put her back. Last night I had to throw her over my shoulder and carry her there myself, but somehow she got out again.”
