Chapter 23
Darcy would never admit it to anyone, but he was enjoying this adventure.
Even if he was disguised as Roderick's valet - and doing quite a poor job of it, as his brother kept pointing out, telling the Welshman in jest that he should dismiss his do-nothing valet without a character.
No one looked twice at servants. Wearing a valet's costume rather than fine linen was a small price for being free to leave Pemberley.
He missed Elizabeth, it was true, and his visits to the nursery to see Jenny, but he had been trapped at Pemberley for months now. Even if it was his favorite place, being unable to leave for fear of assassins or arrest was a bitter pill.
Heading off to London dressed as a servant to fight one of the most dangerous mages of all time seemed like a grand holiday. Especially since Cerridwen had told him that he would survive this mission, something she had not guaranteed last time.
But he was worried about Jack, who had grown uncharacteristically disgruntled as they traveled south, both earlier in the stagecoach and now as they gathered in Lady Anne's sitting room at the coaching inn.
Hers was the only one with enough space to hold the four dragon companions, since Frederica had chosen to travel as an impoverished gentlewoman to remain with Roderick, Darcy, and Jack.
The walls at the inn were thin, so Darcy pulled out the Artifact Coquelicot had given him, the one that would prevent anyone from overhearing them.
He pricked his finger on the sharp point inside and let a drop of blood fall into it.
Once upon a time, he would have been appalled by the blood magic.
Now he simply waited until the air filled with the odd thickness that told him the spell was working.
Jack crossed his arms, his expression pinched. “So, where will we find the evil witch?”
Lady Anne cast a disapproving look at Jack. “We will not know her location until we arrive. Most likely Carlton House, I would guess, but if she is trying to keep up appearances, she might be staying at the de Bourgh townhouse in Mayfair.”
Frederica exclaimed, “You think she would actually be living with Prinny, even while he is in mourning?”
Lady Anne's expression was grim. “As King's Mage, she can claim she is there to protect him.”
Roderick asked, “Does she know King George is at Pemberley?”
Lady Anne made an expression of distaste. “The queen says she told no one where they were going, but it is very difficult to keep their movements secret. Servants do talk.”
“So she may suspect you of harboring them,” Darcy said.
“She is unlikely to know that I have been freed of her bindings, though. As long as she believes I cannot work against her, I should be safe,” said Lady Anne. “The question is whether we can dispose of her without relying on the dragons.”
Jack scowled. “Are you suggesting that one of us kill your sister?”
“Ideally, yes.” Lady Anne’s tone would be well suited for discussing the weather. “I asked young Jasper to give me a lesson on using a knife before we left, but he said I would just muddle it. So it will have to be one of you.”
Silence greeted this shocking statement until Frederica managed to muster a diplomatic response. “Our dragons would have something to say about that. They agreed to put a binding on her, not to harm her.”
Lady Anne tightened her lips. “We were merciful to Catherine once, and look what happened.”
Roderick said gently, “Dragons are more dependable allies than the Wicked King. If his spell had held, Lady Catherine would still be no danger to anyone.”
Jack snapped, “I am not killing anyone. I made a promise to Gentiane.”
Darcy frowned at his brother. It was unlike Jack to be so irritable.
“I fear we will regret this decision,” Lady Anne pronounced.
Clearly this discussion would not be productive, so Darcy gratefully accepted Frederica’s quiet suggestion that they all needed sleep. But on the way out of the room, he took Jack’s arm. “I need to speak to you. Alone” he asked.
Jack did not look pleased, but he nodded and led Darcy to his small bedroom. When he closed the door behind them, he said, “What is it?”
“I will not deny that our mother can be aggravating at times, but you seem particularly out of sorts tonight. Is there a problem with the plan I cannot see?” he asked.
Jack grimaced. “The plan is sound enough. I am a little unwell today, and dealing with our mother is not helping.”
“Should I ask Coquelicot to check on you?”
“It is only a mild indisposition, no doubt brought on by something I ate,” Jack said dismissively. “It is hardly worth a healing.”
No, Jack did not like being fussed over. “Then I will think no more of it. I was mostly concerned because Coquelicot has told me nothing of what the dragons have in mind, other than that she will do whatever they ask. I am not fond of being left in the dark.”
Jack clapped his shoulder. “No, I would imagine not! If I hear anything, I will let you know. My sense is that they plan to use a power they wish to keep secret, even from us. It is a good thing our dragons have no desire to be tyrants. Otherwise they would be ruling us all!”
Just as Napoleon wished to use his dragon powers to do. Heaven help England when he arrived.
By the next evening, Jack was worse. He barely touched his dinner, even though it was better than the average coaching inn fare.
Darcy spotted him holding onto the wall as he climbed the stairs. “Come, Jack. No doubt you will be better in a few days, but we will be in London tomorrow. You must be in your best form when we confront Lady Catherine. Let Coquelicot take care of this.”
“I am perfectly well,” Jack snapped, but he let Darcy lead him outside where the healer dragon could come to them under the cover of darkness.
But Coquelicot had no answers either. She kept her talons on his cheeks for a good ten minutes before giving up. “I am terribly sorry, Little One, but I can find no illness in him,” she said.
“See?” Jack said. “I told you it was nothing.”
Darcy frowned. “Are you certain? Could there be forms of sickness you cannot perceive?”
“It has not happened before, but there is always a first time.” The dragon clearly felt it to be her personal failure, though, and she raised her talons to his face again. “His Talent is unusually active. It might have something to do with that.”
That made no sense. “What could be affecting his Talent?”
“I do not know,” his dragon said sadly. “Perhaps Gentiane could tell you more.”
Jack shook his head, and then he put his hand to his forehead as if he regretted the movement. “You are confusing me with Will. I barely have enough Talent to notice.”
“You are not well trained, but your Talent is strong,” Coquelicot disagreed. “And stirred up at present. I would recommend not using it unless you must, lest it misfire. At least until you are more yourself.”
Not that Jack would hesitate to employ any tool at his disposal, should the need arise. But there was nothing else to be done for now. “Perhaps in the morning this will all be gone,” Darcy said, hoping rather than believing it to be true.
“It most certainly will be, and if it is not, I will not be telling you about it,” Jack grumbled. “Fuss, fuss, fuss. I do not know how your wife puts up with you.”
“What the devil is it this time?” Jack was the last to arrive, stomping into the room Darcy shared with Roderick, in keeping with his valet disguise.
Frederica was already there. Once Darcy would have been shocked at the very idea of a young lady alone with three men. Now it was just the way things were.
But her presence still made Darcy tone down his language. “Wait a moment. I will trigger the Artifact.” He fiddled with the locket until the buzz of magic filled the room.
“Well, Darcy? What is this new problem you wanted to talk to us about?” Frederica demanded. She had been impatient about waiting for Jack, but the effect of Artifact did not last long.
Darcy rubbed his hand on his forehead. “Coquelicot says my mother cannot face Lady Catherine. Which was our entire plan.”
Roderick frowned. “Why not? What happened?”
“Lady Anne asked Coquelicot to check her one last time to be sure all the bindings had been removed. Coquelicot found only traces, which she does not think will be a problem, but she cannot be certain. More importantly, she learned that my mother is terrified of seeing Lady Catherine again, to the extent that Coquelicot fears she will be unable to oppose her when the time comes.”
“You must be joking!” Frederica exclaimed. “Lady Anne? Nothing frightens her.”
“I admit she has seemed perfectly calm about the whole endeavor, yet I must believe Coquelicot,” Darcy said. “Our scheme depends upon Lady Anne convincing Lady Catherine to go outside into a private garden with her. If she cannot, we might as well turn around and go home.”
Roderick shook his head. “If need be, the dragons can take her down in public. It would be risky, given that anyone who sees it will interpret it as evil dragons attacking a helpless woman.”
“To the devil with that,” snarled Jack. “I'll do it. I can call on the evil witch and drag her outside where the dragons can do their part. No need to convince her to go anywhere.”
Frederica sniffed. “If Lady Catherine agrees to see you, given that she apparently hates your very existence and might kill you as soon as you walk in the door. Besides, you cannot simply barge into Carlton House through all of Prinny's guards.”
Not to mention that Jack no longer seemed able to think clearly for ten minutes running. Darcy said, “The same arguments would apply to me, unfortunately.”
“Which leaves me,” Frederica said cheerfully. “Just as well. She will be glad to see me, once I tell her my story.”
Roderick's eyes rounded with worry. “What story is that?”
Frederica's grin reminded Darcy of a cat. “You shall see.”