Lady Anne looked away, as if she were studying the horizon. “My sister was a jealous woman, especially when it came to my affection. She could not tolerate the idea that I might love anyone else. I learned when I was fifteen that it was safest if I kept everyone at a distance.”
Was she deliberately being inscrutable, or was she trying to speak around a binding? Elizabeth decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. “What happened when you were fifteen?”
A sad smile flitted across her face. “A great many things, of course. My brother came home from school. Like me, he had adored Catherine when he was in the nursery, but he had changed while he was away and had no time for a bossy older sister. He was still my favorite, though, so I spent every minute I could with him. Until he suddenly died.”
Elizabeth’s mouth went dry. “What happened to him?”
“They found him in his bed one morning, lifeless, after being perfectly well the night before. No one could explain it. Catherine said it was my fault, that if I had not listened to him so much, he would have lived. She had killed animals before, my pet spaniel and a kitten I had taken a liking to. No one would ever believe me when I tried to tell them.”
“You thought she would harm yourchildren?” A chill went through her, and she clutched Jenny closer. This was beyond belief, no matter how evil everyone said Lady Catherine could be. How could Hornbeam haveaccepted her as a companion, if this was true? Surely Lady Anne must be mistaken.
“I did not doubt it, especially when I had the son she wanted.” Lady Anne kept her eyes on Jenny, avoiding Elizabeth’s gaze.
Elizabeth’s skin crawled. She hardly knew whether to give any credit to the story. Engaging on the subject further felt dangerous. Instead, she changed the subject. “I was surprised to hear you were no longer the King’s Mage,” she said.
“No more than I,” Lady Anne replied. “I intended to serve as long as I could, but those fools in the government needed someone to shoulder the blame for my son’s mission, and they decided I was the most expendable. A fine reward for our family’s loyalty, to throw us to the dogs.” Her lip curled. “Their story is that the assassination attempt was my plan, and they knew nothing about it. They hope it will be enough to placate Napoleon – as if anything could do that.”
“I cannot imagine it would stop him.”
“Nothing will do that. We have gained a little time, thanks to the Tyrolean rebellion. He must put that down before he comes here, but he will be here by summer, if not sooner. His invasion barges are already being built. Our Navy will be helpless to stop them, thanks to the sea serpents sinking our ships, and most of the Army is stuck in the Peninsula for the same reason.” Lady Anne sounded almost indifferent.
A shiver went down Elizabeth’s spine. No one would be safe when that happened, but Darcy would be in the gravest danger of all.
For now, all she could do was to continue her training, and pray it would be enough to keep Jenny safe against a mad dragon leading the French army. If not, they would have to flee to Wales, where the dragon defenses were better established. Or would Darcy insist on sending her there with Jenny, while he remained at Pemberley?
The tiny infant slept so peacefully in her arms. Here they were, sitting on the beautifully manicured lawn of Pemberley, with servants to provide any service she might desire and enough wealth to purchase anything she dreamed of. But it was all as fragile as a thin glass bauble, ready to beshattered by the upcoming invasion. Today she was a wealthy, pampered lady; next year she might well be running for her life, hoping desperately to find enough food to keep Jenny alive.
And she could do nothing to stop it apart from pursuing her dangerous Forbidden Talent.
A lump formed in her throat. After all they had done, risking their lives in France, trying to make Pemberley as safe as possible, it was not enough. Unless she could learn to open a Gate, it was likely to be the end of her life at Pemberley.
She pushed the thoughts away. “I hope you are finding the Dower House comfortable.”
“I was pleased to see it has been so well-maintained. It is hard to believe how many years it has been since I last stayed there. I never expected to make it my home.” A trace of disbelief entered her voice. “Though I intend to return to London briefly in a few days.”
“Already? It is a long journey.”
Lady Anne gazed out over the lake. “I would prefer to avoid it, but there is business I must attend to, now that the bindings are gone. People I must make amends to, and explanations to make. It is not pleasant to look back on some of the decisions I made under them”
Elizabeth shivered. “It was terribly cruel, what your sister did to you.”
Lady Anne’s mask wavered for a moment before returning to her usual apparent indifference. “Regrets will change nothing. I have always favored looking forward instead, and I intend to do just that.”
Chapter 16
Darcystrodeangrilytowardsthe Dower House. What did his mother think she was doing, browbeating poor Thompson at the gate to let her bring in two additional carriages without his approval – and not even allowing the gatekeeper to look inside them? Now apparently there were several men lurking outside the gate, wearing commoners’ clothing but standing like military men.
Lady Anne had gone to London barely more than a week ago, after staying at Pemberley only a few days. Did she not understand that they had good reasons for these restrictions?
Not to mention that he had set those rules, and Pemberley was his. She seemed to think he was a child whom she could overrule.
As if there were not enough problems here already!
His footsteps echoed loudly on the narrow wooden footbridge, and he took a deep breath to calm himself, struggling to keep his temper in check, a state which had been all too common since his return from France. But he managed it, and by the time he reached the Dower House door, he could knock on it rather than simply walking in, which would have been his right, if somewhat less than polite.
The door opened to reveal Watson, the Pemberley under-butler. Mrs. Reynolds must have sent him to the Dower House to serve as Lady Anne’s butler. He clearly needed more training, though, for he stood blockingDarcy’s way, rather than stepping back as was proper. Darcy had thought better of Watson.
“Mr….Mr. Darcy,” Watson stammered, his face growing pale.
