Darcy’s hand gently tightened around hers. “Lady Catherine is ruthless, amoral, and power hungry. She would not hesitate, if she thought it could be to her advantage. And she is a powerful enemy.”
“What do you propose to do?” Frederica asked. “And can we help?”
Rowan again took the lead. “In fact, we will need your assistance. We must put the Traitor Companion under a binding that stops her from using her Talent, but this is a complex process that requires us to be near her. Since only dragons with companions can make the journey, it falls to those of us here. The Eldest says it will require four dragons to complete the binding.”
Roderick spoke up instantly, “I am at your disposal.”
Frederica nodded. “I am prepared to go, naturally. Darcy, would you be willing to take on the lesser bond with Coquelicot again so she could participate? Her experience would be a boon to us, and she would be the best at removing the bindings Lady Catherine has made on Prinny and the others.”
Darcy said, “I am willing, if we can find a way for me to travel safely. I would have to be in disguise.” But he sounded eager, which was hardly surprising. It was no secret how much he hated being trapped at Pemberley when there was so much at stake in the wider world.
But this was dangerous for him. Not just the part about facing Lady Catherine and her vast Talent, either. No matter how carefully he was disguised, he would still be at risk from both the French assassins and the High Fae.
Her heart pounded. How many times would she have to stand by while he risked his life? But she could not deny that it needed to be done.
At least this time she would be there to help defend him. “I will go, of course,” she said determinedly.
Cerridwen spoke in that echoing, odd voice that Elizabeth had learned to associate with her dragon’s far-sight. “Not Elizabeth.”
“Why did you say nothing of this earlier?” Quickthorn demanded. “Now we will have to change plans.”
“I did not know,” Cerridwen said in a low voice. “Not until the vision came.”
Elizabeth wanted to protest, to say she must go, but she swallowed it before a word came out. She could argue with Cerridwen her companion, but not Cerridwen the Seer. And it was probably for the best that one of them would remain with Jenny. Both her parents should not go into danger at the same time.
Darcy frowned. “I do not like leaving Elizabeth here by herself, given the attacks that have occurred.”
She did not like staying behind either, not one bit, but that was because she could not help to protect Darcy. “I will have Cerridwen, Jasper, Granny, Georgiana’s lesser fae, the wards, and the Pemberley Nest here. Between them, I should be perfectly safe.”
Darcy looked as if he would like to disagree. “If we must.”
Frederica shook her head. “If Elizabeth cannot come, we should find another companion. Granny needs more time to recover. We could ask one of the Scottish companions, I suppose. Not that they feel any loyalty to England or the royal family, but I imagine they would do it if the Eldest requests it.”
“I suppose we have no choice,” Roderick said. “The Eldest would prefer not to involve other Nests. She sees Lady Catherine as a personal failing of the Dark Peak Nest, but needs must. Bronwyn from Gwynedd is too young, as is her dragon.”
They would all be leaving her again, then. “How long do you expect to be gone?”
“It depends on how much time it takes to find Lady Catherine at a vulnerable moment. Perhaps no more than a fortnight, with travel time, if nothing goes wrong.”
If nothing goes wrong. The words echoed in Elizabeth’s mind. Because of course this would be risky, especially when the War Office wanted to arrest Darcy and give him to Napoleon.
Then a piercing scream split the air, making her jump. From the front of the house, if she was not mistaken. What had happened? A French assassin, or could the High King have defeated the wards?
Darcy was already on his feet and racing out the door. Elizabeth followed.
A white-faced maid was running past, and Elizabeth grabbed her arm. “What has happened?”
“A ghost! You must flee, madam!” She lifted her skirts and hurried off.
“Ghosts are not real,” Elizabeth said to the empty air. But she had thought dragons were extinct and that she would never see a fae, too. Her skin prickled. Still, she would not be intimidated, so she hurried onward down the half-flight of stairs into the grand entrance hall.
An unknown young man stood just inside the door, looking perfectly healthy and not at all like a ghost. But a burly footman was backed up against the great tapestry, and Hobbes – totally imperturbable, stony-faced Hobbes – had actual tears on his ashen cheeks.
Ahead of her, Darcy hurled himself at the man. For a moment Elizabeth thought he meant to attack him, but then he threw his arms enthusiastically around the newcomer. “You made it!”
“Indeed I did, although I had hoped for a happier welcome than screaming maids,” the man said with a laugh.
A gasp came from behind Elizabeth’s shoulder. It was Frederica, her hands covering her mouth in shock. Behind her stood Jasper Fitzwilliam, slack jawed, with his sword drawn but sagging in his hand.
