“And I, sir, am warning you. If you do not come with me, I shall send my wife to fetch youafterI have told her you wanted me to tell her you were dead.”
Any other man would have scoffed at the Royal Second sending his wife into a perceived battle, but Finn would bet that Darcy would rather face the edge of Finn's sword than the edge of Jane's tongue any day. Darcy leaned back in his chair and stared at the fire for a long time before he turned to glare at Finn. What was going through the prince’s mind?
“That is cruel, to threaten me with your wife.”
“I am not above harsh punishment, William.”
Darcy sighed. “How is she?”
Finn understood that although Darcy cared for Jane, Elizabeth was the one he needed to hear about. “Scared and confused. Jane has sent messengers to me almost daily with updates. Your wife thinks you persist in your search for George Wickham. She is not aware of his fate.”
“You have not told her?”
“I could not find the words to explain why he was gone. I could not look at her hopeful face and inform her that our men were uncertain what happened to you. She has been ill, and my wife will not allow upsetting news to reach her. Jane has been constantly by her side and even sent for Lady Elizabeth's father in the hope that his presence will make her feel better.”
* * *
Darcy stood, almost knocking over his chair, leaned against the mantle, and kicked up a cloud of ash from the hearth. “She has been ill? Have the best physicians been sent for?”
“Sir, you need to return,” Finn replied, his tone low and his voice grave.
Gloriana had said to listen to his friend. “She has been ill” was lodged in his brain as if the rest of the conversation had not occurred.
Finally, his head flew up, and he was overwrought with panic and worry for his precious wife, but try as he might, he could not get Finn to elaborate any further on Elizabeth's condition. He looked down at his ragged, bloodstained clothes and his filthy hands.
“I cannot go home looking like this.”
“Take the night. We can ride at first light.”
“But—”
“Sir, we can ride at first light.”
* * *
The doors of the Great Hall opened, and William slipped through them as though he had never been gone. She gasped and stared. His handsome countenance appeared a little older, a little more strained, and more than a little exhausted but remained the face of the realm's beloved prince. The occupants of the room gaped; footmen and nobles alike all wondered at the survival of their High Lord and his sudden appearance.
Nobody, though, was more shocked than Elizabeth. Seated on her husband’s throne, she clutched the arms until her fingers ached and her knuckles were white. He stood at the open door while he stared at the room as though trying to place it. Then his eyes fell on her and his face changed.
She stood in a heartbeat and was barely aware that her feet had carried her towards William. Never before had the length of the Great Hall seemed so painfully long, but, after what seemed like hours, she was before him and had gathered him to her.
“My William, oh, you have come home!” she cried. When he did not return her embrace, she stepped back to examine him. “Draw the High Lord a bath and fix his favourite meal! We shall welcome him home properly tomorrow, but tonight we must restore him to himself. Call upon the physician.”
“I need no bath nor physician,” he gruffly replied. “I want nothing more than to rest.”
“Then you shall have what you want.”
She wrapped her arm around his waist and led him from the Hall, not caring what their subjects thought about her affection for him or her selfishness in keeping him from them after so long an absence. They went to their chambers, but William hesitated before entering.
“I cannot go in there.”
“Do not be daft. 'Tis our chamber. Of course, you may go in.”
“I can no longer share a chamber with you.”
Her arm dropped and she stared hard at him. With an angry huff, she pushed open the door and shoved him inside. Had she been in a better humour, she might have recalled their wedding night when he had done almost the same thing, but she did not. She blocked the door behind her.
“What do you mean you cannot share a chamber with me? I am your wife!”
