“Certainly.”
“Crescas.” Anne held the stem between her thumb and forefinger and frowned in concentration. “Nothing is happening.”
“Do not give up. Almost everyone with magic can make plants grow, even if just a little. It is a matter of finding the knack for it. It is intensive magic, so do not expect dramatic results.”
Darcy suspected that was why Freddie had picked this particular task. If Anne needed to burn massive amounts of magical energy, growing a plant or two should be enough to exhaust her. Then they could decide what to do next.
The fern slowly began to unfurl and extended itself inch by inch. Leaves began to form on the fronds. Darcy encouraged the water in the stream to soak into the bank, since the rapid growth must be draining the soil of every bit of moisture it contained. Soon the fern stood a foot tall, towering over its neighbors in its full glory.
“Impressive,” remarked Eversleigh. “I doubt any of us could have taken it that far except perhaps Darcy, and even he would have had to make an enormous effort.”
Anne stared at the fern. “I need more.” She ran off towards the orchard, her skirts kilted up in her hands. Frederica followed at her heels.
Eversleigh raised his eyebrows expressively at Darcy. They followed the path to the orchard at a more sedate pace.
In the orchard, Frederica remonstrated with Anne, whose hands were wrapped around the trunk of a recently planted sapling. “You will exhaust yourself. It is not wise.”
“I want to exhaust myself!” Anne closed her eyes and leaned toward the sapling, twigs brushing against her forehead. The leaf buds swelled and burst forth in greenery. Then, incredibly, the tree grew taller inch by inch. The trunk thickened between Anne’s hands, even as she grew pale, her arms trembling. Frederica wrung her hands.
Elizabeth appeared followed by two footmen, one with a tray of food and the other with a pitcher of lemonade. She stopped short when she spotted Anne, her mouth open.
Anne’s head now leaned against a trunk too wide to wrap her hands around. The growth appeared to have stopped. Slowly Anne slid down to her knees. She seemed to be barely breathing, but she whispered, “That is better.”
Darcy could not believe it. Lord Matlock had believed Darcy would be able to manage Anne’s outbursts of magic if he married her. Based on this performance, that task would be as far beyond his abilities as flying to the moon.
Elizabeth motioned the footman forward to offer the food to Anne, who grasped a roll in one hand and a piece of sausage in the other and did her best to devour them simultaneously.
Eversleigh sidled over to Darcy. “I am rather glad I did not know the powder keg we were sitting on when I weakened that defensive spell,”he said quietly.
“I would not have believed it possible.”
“I can tell you one thing,” said Eversleigh. “If her father was indeed studying sorcery and he had that magnitude of magical power to call upon, I think we are all very fortunate he died when he did.”
“Amen,” said Richard.
Frederica raised her head, her arm around Anne’s shoulders. “I fear she has fainted. She will need assistance returning to the house.”
Richard stepped forward. “I will carry her.”
“Not you, Fitzwilliam,” said Eversleigh. “You are a source, and if you touch her right now –”
“She will drain every ounce of magic out of me, even unconscious. You are correct. It is going to take some time for me to grow accustomed to this new Anne,” said Richard.
“I will take her,” said Eversleigh. “No, not you either, Darcy. Your arm is injured. It might be improper, but to be honest, my carrying your cousin to the house is probably the least shocking thing that has happened today.”
“Take her to the Dower House,” said Frederica. “We do not need Lady Catherine hearing about this.”
“WHAT ARE YOU GOINGto do about Sir Lewis?” asked Frederica from her place beside Anne’s unconscious body on the fainting couch.
“Damned if I know,” grumbled Richard. “I am not looking forward to telling my father.”
Darcy said, “Surely we should at least investigate his study before troubling Lord Matlock.”
“First things first,” Eversleigh said crisply. “Neither of you is going to do anything unless I ask you to do it. I do not want to deal withquestions later about why blood relatives were allowed to lead this investigation – and that goes for Lord Matlock as well. By default, that means this is my investigation, and you are following my instructions.”
“You will hear no objection from me,” said Richard. “I am happy to cede this responsibility.”
“I was going to suggest the same thing,” said Darcy. “Especially since you are on the Council of Mages.”
