“Careful how your tongue wags, my lady. Treason is a horrible reason to be brought before the High Lord.”
“Are ye threatening me?”
Jane shook her head. “Ma'am, I am here to educate and assist. Consider my words part of your schooling.
“Lord Darcy is a proud man, but he has ruled these lands to great prosperity. Sometimes he can be harsh and unfeeling, but that is the price one pays for the kind of power he has. He is a man second only to the High King, but he did not become a High Lord by luck alone.”
“Nay, I am sure black magic was involved,” Elizabeth muttered.
Sighing, Jane stood and poured herself a glass of watered wine. “We used to play together as children. William Darcy is the closest thing to a brother I have had.
“William has always been hard, very much like a rough diamond. At one point, I believe his father, who was a cruel man, wanted us betrothed, but I met my Finn, and my father could not bear to marry me off for a bride-price.”
This was much like what had happened to Elizabeth, and she made to speak, but Jane held up her palm. Clearly, the lady’s discourse was not over.
“I believe in William's heart, my lady. It is buried so deeply within that I wonder if he has forgotten that it is still a part of him. He has lost much in his short life. He was ten when his mother died and then so did his infant sister, and he never recovered. When old Lord Darcy died, he barely mourned. I doubt he ever learned how.
“Even though he should have inherited his position, he had to battle a wretched upstart for his place as High Lord. A ferocious fight took place, and he did not come away unscathed.
“I do not think it is too much to ask to try to be patient and show William a bit of kindness now and again. I am a married woman, mind you. I know that men rarely deserve the kindness they do receive, but pray, make an effort.”
“His name is William?”
“You did not know that?”
“Nay.” Why would she have known? She had never bothered to think of him other than first as a menace then the monster who had shattered her world. To reconsider him as a human man would be entirely new.
“Well, now you do.” Jane glanced at her folded hands. “I think you've had enough education for today.”
“A thousand thanks, Lady Jane.” Elizabeth had begun to place inherent trust in Jane; she seemed to radiate goodness and knowledge. Jane, though biased in Lord Darcy’s favour, knew him well enough to see his faults and his goodness. If Jane saw that goodness, it must be in evidence.
“You are very welcome, my lady.”
When Jane was gone, Elizabeth rang for a servant, who appeared with uncanny swiftness. She sent the servant off with her orders and tidied her hair and dress, splashing some tonic below her ears and on her wrists. Once that was accomplished, she sat down and waited.
And waited.
Near to dozing off, she startled when a knock fell on the heavy wooden door. With haste, she answered it to find her obviously irritated bridegroom on the threshold. Offering a smile of peace did not work; his scowl did not disappear. How was she to speak to him when he was always in a foul disposition?
“Pray, come in.”
He brushed past her and whirled on her as she closed the door.
“What is all this about? I was speaking with one of the farmers.”
“We need to talk.”
Clearly frustrated, Lord Darcy threw his hands in the air. “Bloody hell! Another lecture could not wait until breakfast tomorrow? Are you going to feel the need to abuse me hourly?”
“I truly upset you this morning, did I not?”
“I awoke in a foul temper.”
Remembering she awoke the same way, she nodded. “Somehow, I cannot doubt that but pay it no mind. I did not ask ye here to lecture ye or to argue with ye.”
“Wonders never cease,” he mumbled, taking a seat with his long legs pointed towards the fire, crossed at the ankles. His black plait draped over his shoulder while his steely eyes watched her, wary and suspicious.
Elizabeth’s stomach tightened. He was somale.He seemed to take up the whole of the sitting room. She swallowed and pushed on. “We cannot live like this, my lord.”
