Coquelicot’s aura flushed through confusion, disbelief, and then settled on annoyance. “I am sorry, Cattermole of the British government, but I cannot permit you to do that. This man is mine, and I will not let you take him. He has important work to do.”
Cattermole’s mouth opened and closed twice before a word came out. “He must go, or all of England may suffer.”
“That is not my problem. Your behavior reflects badly on your British government,” she said, like a schoolteacher chastising a misbehaving child.
Then Darcy felt her presence in his head, sorting through his memories of his meeting with Cattermole.
Do not fret, Little One. I will take care of him.Her voice in his mind was soothing, but nothing would calm him. Not now, not after all he had suffered in France.
Instead he snapped, “He is threatening to send soldiers to drag me away, though I have told him that will not work.”
The scales of her chest rippled with amusement. “It most certainly will not. They will not get past the wards. Even if they managed that, would they walk through the wall of fire I would create? No, little mortal, stop wasting our time.”
“No Englishman can defy the government!” Cattermole finally managed to say.
“After what you have done to me? You will be surprised,” Darcy snarled. “And we all know this government’s days are numbered.”
Footsteps sounded behind him. It was Elizabeth, breathing fast as if she had been running, her hands bunched in her skirt. “What is wrong?”
Coquelicot must have sent for her.
The dragon stared disdainfully down at Cattermole. “Thismanwants to arrest my Little One and give him to the Evil Emperor. I am trying to explain to him why he cannot, but he appears to lack common sense.”
Elizabeth turned wide eyes on Darcy. “Surely this cannot be true,” she whispered.
“It is true.” He struggled to modulate his voice. “The War Office is under the gravely mistaken impression that it will placate Napoleon.”
Coquelicot shook her head sadly. “Indeed you are a fool, Cattermole of the British government. There is no reasoning with a mad dragon like Napoleon.”
Her words gave Darcy a second wind. “They do not believe he is a dragon. But perhaps now, Cattermole, you will acknowledge that I am a better judge of what a dragon is than you.”
As if to prove his point, two falcons flew in the open doors from the ballroom balcony and transformed into Cerridwen and Quickthorn. Coquelicot truly had called out the cavalry. His skin tingled as sendings flew back and forth between the dragons.
Now Cattermole was pale and shaking, his mouth gaping like a fish. He tried to pull away again, but Darcy only tightened his grip.
“Oh, no. You started this; now you can face the consequences,” Darcy bit out. “I will not offer to introduce you to my wife, but perhaps you would be interested to know that she is companion to Cerridwen the Seer. And that green dragon is Quickthorn the Truth-Caster, who also resides at Pemberley. Tell me, do you still think you have any ability to force me to do anything?” He could barely believe the words coming out of his own mouth – but he could never have conceived of the War Office wanting to turn him over to the French.
Or that he would ever find himself siding with the dragons against his own government, the one he had risked his life for.
“Let me go, I beg you,” Cattermole said brokenly.
More running footsteps, and then Frederica skidded into the room. “What in heaven’s name is going on?”
Tell her, Coquelicot sent.
In a clipped voice, Darcy recounted his conversation with Cattermole.
Jasper’s soft voice came from behind Frederica. “I never thought to see our government sink so low. Darcy, I hate to see you dirty your hands on such a swine. He will not try to flee while I am here.” He made the slightest of bows to Cattermole. “Jasper Fitzwilliam, most definitelynotat your service, and I can put a dagger through your heart before you get out the door.”
For some reason, Jasper’s clear fury over Cattermole’s breach of honorable behavior calmed Darcy. “No bloodshed, I pray you. There are ladies present.” Cattermole might deserve it, but it would upset the dragons, too. Darcy released Cattermole’s arm – he hoped he had left bruises! – and ostentatiously cleaned his hand with his handkerchief.
Sometimes the trappings of honor were useful.
Quickthorn said, “Frederica tells me that if this man arrests you, he could also take Pemberley away. Is that true, Darcy?”
“Unfortunately, yes. The government would most likely confiscate the estate, or at best give it to a distant Darcy cousin.” All because he had tried to serve his country. His stomach churned.
“In that case, this matter affects the Nest as well, and I must question him myself.” The sea-green dragon stepped closer to Cattermole. “Companion Frederica will assist me.”
