Chapter Five #2
“They were not at my door. They were on the staircase.”
“Then why would you think they were spying on you?”
Contrition set in for the mistake. She was silent as she resumed her seat and stared into her plate, refusing to meet his eyes. She hated being wrong and, somehow, being wrong about High Lord Darcy or his intentions was even worse.
“You thought I had sent them as spies or to keep you prisoner. That was a foolish assumption, Elizabeth. I am a powerful man with many enemies, and not all those within these walls appreciate my place next to the High King. The men I placed on guard last night are two of my finest personal guards. I set them there to protect you. Had you wanted to wander about the place, they would have accompanied you.”
“Then why did ye not tell me ye were assigning me a personal detail?”
“I had not thought it necessary when you were so tired. My intent was for you to have your bath and get some rest.”
“That does not explain where ye were off to last night.”
“Were you spying upon me?” His mouth curled up at the corners.
“No,” she muttered. “I wanted to ask ye about the guards, and Brigitta, a servant girl, said ye had left the house.”
“I did, but I was not gone all night.”
“That does not change the fact that ye were whoring about. I do not think I can live like this!” Her voice quavered with anger and fear at the thought of such a bleak marriage.
“Who told you I was whoring?”
“What else would ye have been doing in the middle of the night? Have ye forgotten that I saw ye leaving the Queen's Knees?”
“I have not forgotten, but might I remind you, my lady, that I have been away from home for an extended period of time?
I had immediate matters that needed to be tended to, which included a meeting with Sir Finnigan, Lady Jane's husband, who is my most trusted knight. He governed by proxy and apprised me of current situations. Shall I have him write you a letter of authentication?”
She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “As if I would believe any man who has sworn allegiance to ye.”
Darcy sat back in his seat and quietly closed the ledger before him. He rubbed his eyes, sighed, then levelled a dark gaze at her.
“Lady Jane shall be here soon. Believe whatever you may believe. I am learning that your mind does not see what it is not willing to see. I have much work to accomplish, so if I do not see you until breakfast tomorrow, have a pleasant day with your studies.”
He stood, paused next to her for a moment as though he were contemplating, and brushed a kiss over her forehead.
“Another reward?” she asked bitterly.
“No. Apparently, it was a punishment,” he muttered and quit the room.
* * *
Elizabeth was absently stirring her tea when Lady Jane entered. The lady-in-waiting coughed softly, bringing her out of her reverie. She smiled and motioned for Lady Jane to take a seat.
“Would ye like some tea?” Elizabeth asked, beginning to stand.
Lady Jane made haste to stop her. “First rule, my lady. You wait upon no one.”
The woman with hair the colour of honey went about making her own cup of tea then took the seat across from Elizabeth.
“May I confess an important concern of mine?” she asked.
Lady Jane nodded. “I fear that I shall be incompetent at this High Lady business. I am the daughter of a gentleman, ’tis true, but he is not near the station to which I am marrying.
This is bound to become a wretched mess indeed, Lady Gardiner. ”
“My lady, call me Jane. Lady Gardiner is my husband's mother, and she is a dreadful, frightening old bat. And, as for this wretched mess you fear, pay no mind to those qualms. You have a very valuable resource: me. I understand that you are lost right now, but I am here to help you with whatever you need, my lady.”
“Can ye fix everything?”
Jane put forward an angelic, wise smile with all the ease in the world. “My lady, I shall try.”
* * *
Jane and Elizabeth had retired to Elizabeth's apartments to begin her introduction into North Country life, and by noon, having only now learned about how the various servants addressed their betters, Elizabeth’s head ached with all the new information.
She leaned back in her chair, staring at Jane's patient face. She moaned.
“I feel utterly hopeless, Jane.”
“My lady, you fret too much. Lord Darcy will help you. I doubt very much that he wants his High Lady to fail.”
A harsh sound erupted from Elizabeth’s nose, and Jane’s brow furrowed, and her head tilted while she scratched her neck. “Ye have more faith in thy prince than I have in my betrothed.”
“Why would you say that?”
“The man is cruel and arrogant. As an observer of people, Lady Jane, surely ye must have seen.”
“Nay, my lady. Lord Darcy is not an easy man, mind you, but he is a good man.”
Elizabeth placed her hand over her heart. “Oh, dear! He does have ye fooled. Has he hoodwinked all of his subjects so well as he has ye?”
“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.