A loud crash broke through the sensual spell trapping Elizabeth. She pulled back from him just as a second crash was followed by the sound of shattering glass. Something slammed shut with a resounding bang. It seemed to be coming from above them.
Good heavens, how had she ended up on Darcy’s lap?
The third crash made the walls shake. Elizabeth scrambled off Darcy’s lap and raced up the stairs, Darcy close behind her.
The wild racket was coming from Miss de Bourgh’s room. Elizabeth threw open the door. Inside a whirlwind had knocked over furniture, pulled paintings off the wall, and scattered bits of debriseverywhere. A window hung open, dangling from a single hinge.
Darcy’s hand on her shoulder tugged her back. “Do not go in. It is not safe for you.” He strode past her into the room, ignoring the whirlwind tearing at his clothes, and pulled back the bed curtains to reveal a sleeping form.
How could Miss de Bourgh possibly sleep through this racket?
“Good heavens!” Frederica stood behind her in nothing but a nightgown, staring at the wreckage.
Pounding footsteps on the stairs signaled the arrival of a footman and the maid, now wide awake and gaping at the sight. A blur of white fur passed by them, racing into the room. Pepper leapt onto the bed and sprawled herself across Miss de Bourgh’s sleeping body.
There was sudden silence as the whirlwind vanished. The whistling of the wind outside disappeared.
Darcy tipped his head back, as if consulting heaven. “It was not me,” he said incredulously. “It was her.”
“She created the windstorm while she slept?” Elizabeth asked in astonishment.
He nodded. “Your cat is worth her weight in gold. She stopped it.”
“Pepper did? Then she deserves all the fish she can eat tomorrow.”
Pepper purred loudly enough to be heard from the door.
Darcy came back out to the landing, rubbing his forehead. “Since my father died, I have been the only strong elemental mage in England. It never occurred to me that the windstorm could be caused by someone else. I should have seen it coming. My uncle said Anne had elemental magic.”
“What should we do, sir?” The footman’s voice trembled.
Darcy glanced back into the bedroom. “It will be safe as long as Pepper stays with her, but we should be prepared in case she leaves. Wewill need five basins of water, one under the bed and the others around it. The banked coals should be removed from the fireplace and replaced with paper, and metal pots with paper placed around the bed as well.”
“Water under the bed and paper in the fireplace?” The maid clearly thought he had lost his mind.
“She is stirring the elements when she dreams, and whatever items are closest to her will be affected. If she calls water in her sleep, the water under the bed will spill, but the lake will not flood. If she calls fire, the paper in the fireplace will burn rather than the house. Placing things with little value around the bed will help if she casts unmaking – better that she unmake some crockery than the walls. I have no idea what to do about calling wind. I rarely had difficulties with that.” He shook his head in disbelief. “Someone will have to stay awake to watch over her in case the precautions are not enough.”
Frederica, her eyes wide, said, “I hate to think what she could have done if she had not exhausted her magic earlier.”
“I will start teaching her elemental control tomorrow.” Darcy ran his hands over his face. “This is like revisiting my childhood.”
“You did this sort of thing?” said Frederica, sounding horrified.
“Every night. Usually I created floods in my sleep rather than windstorms, though.”
The maid asked, “Should we wake her if it starts again?”
“No. That could be dangerous. There is no telling what she might do if she is startled awake. Fortunately, it appears she can sleep through almost anything.” He looked at Elizabeth. “It was not me. Or at least it was mostly not me. Most likely I added to the disturbance. I cannot believe it.”
Frederica smothered a yawn. “What are you doing here anyway, Darcy?”
Elizabeth said quickly, “He stopped by to tell me what they had found in Sir Lewis’s study, and I am very glad he did. His timing wasimpeccable.” At least the shadows on the dark landing would hide her blushes.
“Darcy, I think you should stay here tonight, or whatever is left of it,” said Frederica. “You are the only one who understands this.”
Darcy turned to the maid. “Is there a bed that can be prepared for me? A sofa or a cot in the servants’ quarters will do.”
“Yes, sir.” The maid hurried off.
