Page 15 of Triumph at Pemberley

The dragonet preened. “I chose Topaz for my use-name. For my new scales.” Indeed, the larger scales beginning to appear on his flanks were golden brown instead of grey.

“Topaz, then. Wait here, and I will return with news.”

Once outside the ballroom, Darcy shook his head. Dragons!

Chapter 6

Darcy braced himself outside the parlor. He needed to smile and be pleasant if he wanted a new beginning with his mother, even if long habit warned him to keep a cool reserve. Then he walked in.

“Welcome, Mother. I did not expect you until tomorrow.” He was still surprised she had taken him up on his invitation to live at Pemberley, or rather in the Pemberley Dower House, instead of remaining in London as the King’s Mage.

Lady Anne Darcy, as always, looked perfectly poised and elegant, as if she had not just spent days on the road. “We made good time.”

What did one say to an estranged mother who would be living on one’s estate? “Elizabeth was pleased to hear you were coming. I apologize she is not at home to join me in welcoming you.”

His mother nodded. “I look forward to seeing her soon. I bring greetings from her sister Mary, who is taking over my position as King’s Mage.”

“She must have made good progress in her training, then.” Mary Bennet had not even known she was a mage two years ago.

“She studies hard and is the best we have available.” Lady Anne’s expression turned serious. “Leaving was a hard decision. I hate the idea that the royal family is in danger and I will not be there to protect them. But when my own family, my son and granddaughter, are also threatened, how can I choose to defend the royals instead?"

No word of affection, of course, or of wanting a closer connection. Darcy wondered why he was surprised. "We are glad to have you here, and any assistance you can give with the defense of Pemberley is most welcome. We would like little Jenny to know her grandmother.”

“I am looking forward to that.”

The coolness was back, though, which made it easier to say the hard part. “If you are to be a regular caller here at the main house, as I hope you will be, I have one request."

His mother stiffened. "What is that?"

"I want you to make your peace with Georgiana. This is her home, and she deserves to feel safe from criticism and being ignored. I am not asking you to be friends, simply that you treat her with the same courtesy you would give any friend of mine." He held her gaze steadily.

She paused. "I suppose that is fair. Perhaps it would be best if we met privately before doing so in front of the staff. I imagine she has things she would like to say to me that we would not want others to hear.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “And I could get past the shock of seeing someone wearing my face."

That had gone better than he had expected. "I believe she is as uncomfortable with that as you are. She makes a point of styling her hair very differently and dressing plainly."

Uncharacteristically, she shifted in her chair. "May we do it now? I would rather not have time to worry over it." Was she actually admitting to discomfort?

He gave one quick nod. "I will ask her, but the choice will be up to her."

After a minute’s consideration, Georgiana agreed to meet with Lady Anne. “But only if it happens right now. I do not wish to spend hours or days anticipating it.” It was eerily similar to what Lady Anne had said.

“Thank you,” he said. “If she is in any way disrespectful to you, I will step in.”

She merely nodded, and they made their way back to the drawing room. Darcy made a point of closing the doors behind them.

Lady Anne rose to her feet. “Thank you for agreeing to see me. It is a consideration I have done nothing to deserve.” Her words were courteous, though not warm.

“For my brother’s sake, I would prefer there to be peace between us.” Georgiana’s voice was almost steady.

“As would I. I owe you a much overdue apology for my behavior towards you. None of what happened was your fault. You were an innocent victim, and I should not have blamed you for not being who I wished you to be. Nor for being a reminder of my greatest mistake.” It was more generous than Darcy had expected.

Georgiana seemed to take a deep breath. “I never intended to injure you in any way, but the mere fact of my existence could not help but do so. I did not choose any of this, though.”

“No, of course not. Most likely you would never have been stolen from your own fae family, had I not made my ill-conceived bargain with the High King.”

Georgiana’s brows furrowed in a precise reflection of how Lady Anne showed confusion. “I have no fae family,” she said softly. “I was created solely to be a changeling.”

Lady Anne flinched. “Created?”