Page 8 of Triumph at Pemberley

Chapter 3

As the carriage pulled away from Whitehall, Lady Frederica Fitzwilliam took her newly betrothed by the hand. His free hand, that is, not the one tightly clutching a sheaf of documents as if his life depended on it, instead of only his country’s independence. “We did it!” she exclaimed happily. “Signed and sealed, and conditional only on waking the King’s Bond in Jack.”

The treaty that, against all odds, she had somehow managed to negotiate. Including their marriage, something she had never dreamed possible.

Roderick leaned his head back. “Waking his bond worries me less than the rest.”

“What are you fretting about now? Your precious Gwynedd will be independent, and you get to marry me with a vast royal dowry.” He could at least look pleased about it!

He shrugged. “They will likely be disappointed with the results. The English King’s Bond was weakened by the string of murdered kings in the Wars of the Roses. I doubt Jack will be able to do as much as they hope.”

With a sly glance, Frederica said, “The treaty is not dependent on how much he can do.” And Jack Darcy might be happier if he could not move mountains.

“True.” He shifted restlessly. “How soon can we be married? I must return to Gwynedd quickly.”

“We must return,” she said tartly. “It will take at least a few days, between getting the license and signing the settlement.” It would ordinarily take far longer, of course, but her father had insisted it be done within the week. At least it would mean an end to sneaking around to hide their nights together. “What is the hurry?”

Roderick frowned. “I have been gone too long. Even from here, I can feel the unhappiness in the land. More so than when I was away last time.”

She had hoped to do some shopping and pay some calls before leaving for Wales, but there was no point in arguing with Roderick when it came to his precious land bond. She would have to speed her preparations along. “Then I suppose you should go find my errant cousin and awaken this bond.”

“You must come, too.”

Frederica blinked. “Are you certain? It seems like something just between the two of you.”

“I need a third person. Jack is supposed to have a Defender, a family member who serves as his witness. It was originally to protect the recipient while he is physically helpless. It may not be necessary, but in case the ritual requires it in some way, I would rather have you there.”

Would a king in olden times have taken advantage of the awakening to dispose of a troublesome neighbor? Not that Roderick would do such a thing, but she was glad of the excuse to watch the magic. She had so many questions about the King’s Bond!

“I have never done this before,” Roderick said. “I was taught the theory, so I could perform it on my own heir when the time comes, but I never expected to do it on someone not of my blood. The same principles should apply, though.”

Was he nervous about his ability? If he could not wake Jack’s bond, it was all over – their engagement, Gwynedd’s freedom, the last hope of defeating Napoleon’s imminent invasion.

No, their formal engagement might end, but one way or another, she was marrying Roderick. Even if it meant eloping.

If he could still afford to take her without her royal dowry. Gah, life was too complicated! Firmly she said, “Then let us find Jack and get this done.”

Frederica finally spotted Jack sitting on the damp grass by St. George’s Chapel, his eyes closed, leaning back against the stone wall. It looked uncomfortable, but Jack seemed untroubled by it. Was that part of the King’s Bond?

Roderick said, “Hold a moment.” He stripped off his glove, knelt, and placed his bare hand on the grass. “I am here to help, in peace.” It was not clear if he was speaking to the land or to Jack, who should not be able to hear him from across the lawn. After a moment, though, Roderick seemed satisfied and rose up again. “It should be safe to approach him now. Best if you stay at least a few feet away from me, though. This is hard enough on the land.”

Hard on the land? Oh, there were so many questions she wanted to ask! But this was not the time.

Roderick stopped a dozen feet from Jack, whose eyes were still closed. “Are you awake?” he asked gently.

“Yes. Unfortunately.” Jack sounded as if he were miles away.

Roderick nodded. “For me, it was only a matter of hours between when I claimed the Bond and when my father activated it in me, but I remember. It felt like I did not know where my body was.”

“So much noise, all clamoring for something I cannot give. I hope you are here to put me out of my misery.” A thread of bitterness ran through Jack’s words.

“Yes. For your sake, I wish I could have done it sooner.” Roderick was speaking gently, as if to a wild animal that might spook at any moment. “There are things I must explain to you first. You should know what you are agreeing to.”

“Will it make this go away?”

Frederica winced. Jack had always been the happy one, ever up for an adventure. Now he sounded defeated.

“The discomfort? Yes. But the King’s Bond will change you. It will force you to make room for the power of the land in you. You will never be able to spend an hour without being aware of it, knowing what is happening in odd corners of your new self which extends over so many miles. It is an overwhelming responsibility, particularly at first. Over time, you will learn to manage it more easily – if you choose to accept it.”