Lady Anne made an expression of distaste. “The queen says she told no one where they were going, but it is very difficult to keep their movements secret. Servants do talk.”
“So she may suspect you of harboring them,” Darcy said.
“She is unlikely to know that I have been freed of her bindings, though. As long as she believes I cannot work against her, I should be safe,” said Lady Anne. “The question is whether we can dispose of her without relying on the dragons.”
Jack scowled. “Are you suggesting that one of uskillyour sister?”
“Ideally, yes.” Lady Anne’s tone would be well suited for discussing the weather. “I asked young Jasper to give me a lesson on using a knife before we left, but he said I would just muddle it. So it will have to be one of you.”
Silence greeted this shocking statement until Frederica managed to muster a diplomatic response. “Our dragons would have something to say about that. They agreed to put a binding on her, not to harm her.”
Lady Anne tightened her lips. “We were merciful to Catherine once, and look what happened.”
Roderick said gently, “Dragons are more dependable allies than the Wicked King. If his spell had held, Lady Catherine would still be no danger to anyone.”
Jack snapped, “I am not killing anyone. I made a promise to Gentiane.”
Darcy frowned at his brother. It was unlike Jack to be so irritable.
“I fear we will regret this decision,” Lady Anne pronounced.
Clearly this discussion would not be productive, so Darcy gratefully accepted Frederica’s quiet suggestion that they all needed sleep. But on the way out of the room, he took Jack’s arm. “I need to speak to you. Alone” he asked.
Jack did not look pleased, but he nodded and led Darcy to his small bedroom. When he closed the door behind them, he said, “What is it?”
“I will not deny that our mother can be aggravating at times, but you seem particularly out of sorts tonight. Is there a problem with the plan I cannot see?” he asked.
Jack grimaced. “The plan is sound enough. I am a little unwell today, and dealing with our mother is not helping.”
“Should I ask Coquelicot to check on you?”
“It is only a mild indisposition, no doubt brought on by something I ate,” Jack said dismissively. “It is hardly worth a healing.”
No, Jack did not like being fussed over. “Then I will think no more of it. I was mostly concerned because Coquelicot has told me nothing of what the dragons have in mind, other than that she will do whatever they ask. I am not fond of being left in the dark.”
Jack clapped his shoulder. “No, I would imagine not! If I hear anything, I will let you know. My sense is that they plan to use a power they wish to keep secret, even from us. It is a good thing our dragons have no desire to be tyrants. Otherwise they would be ruling us all!”
Just as Napoleon wished to use his dragon powers to do. Heaven help England when he arrived.
By the next evening, Jack was worse. He barely touched his dinner, even though it was better than the average coaching inn fare.
Darcy spotted him holding onto the wall as he climbed the stairs. “Come, Jack. No doubt you will be better in a few days, but we will be in London tomorrow. You must be in your best form when we confront Lady Catherine. Let Coquelicot take care of this.”
“I am perfectly well,” Jack snapped, but he let Darcy lead him outside where the healer dragon could come to them under the cover of darkness.
But Coquelicot had no answers either. She kept her talons on his cheeks for a good ten minutes before giving up. “I am terribly sorry, Little One, but I can find no illness in him,” she said.
“See?” Jack said. “I told you it was nothing.”
Darcy frowned. “Are you certain? Could there be forms of sickness you cannot perceive?”
“It has not happened before, but there is always a first time.” The dragon clearly felt it to be her personal failure, though, and she raised her talons to his face again. “His Talent is unusually active. It might have something to do with that.”
That made no sense. “What could be affecting his Talent?”
“I do not know,” his dragon said sadly. “Perhaps Gentiane could tell you more.”
Jack shook his head, and then he put his hand to his forehead as if he regretted the movement. “You are confusing me with Will. I barely have enough Talent to notice.”
