Page 20

This morning, Fitzwilliam had awakened earlier than was his wont.

Since his eyes opened, he had been pacing, driven by the need to do something—anything.

More than any other diversion, he itched to climb atop Hen and gallop through the fields to relieve the restless energy within.

His engagement to Elizabeth had been announced and they would be wed on the next full moon.

How he wished they had been wed yesterday.

His feelings for her had deepened with each glimpse of her over the years, and now that he had held her in his arms and come to know her better, he was losing more and more of his heart with each day he spent in her company.

When he had finally mounted Hen and took to the fields, he allowed the horse his head to gallop with a reckless abandon that soothed Fitzwilliam’s agitation. Now, an hour later, he had regained much of his regulation and needed to meet Elizabeth for today’s practice.

At the entrance to the forest, he dismounted and took a deep cleansing breath of the crisp morning air.

How did Samhain always seem to cleanse the Earth?

The breeze was fresher, and the sky this morning was a clear vivid blue.

Yes, the breeze held a chill, but when one stood in the sun, the coolness was not as noticeable.

He led his mount through the trees and across the brook.

The willow had been a favoured meeting place since they had begun their practices in Oakham Forest. Elizabeth had confessed she enjoyed reading under the long boughs of the old tree, and the soft grass and moss that flourished beneath its branches seemed a comfortable place to rest. Perhaps before they departed Hertfordshire, they could enjoy the solitude the willow afforded together .

A crack of a branch made him whirl around. At the sight of Elizabeth on the opposite side of the stream, he could not help but smile. She was lovely, her bonnet hanging from her arm and her cheeks rosy from the crispness of the morning air.

“Good morning,” she said as she crossed on the stones.

He offered her his hand to step across the last. “Good morning, Elizabeth. I hope you slept well.”

She arched her neck just so. “I dreamt of you last night.”

With a start, he tugged her a little closer and took both of her hands in his. “You did? What did you see?” Why was her confession so alluring?

“Well, I saw two young men racing through the fields on horseback. The other gentleman was the victor and enjoyed his triumph greatly. He teased you before becoming serious. He mentioned another man, a Wickham I believe, who had caused you problems in school.”

He winced. He had anticipated this meeting, and her mere mention of Wickham had dampened the lightness in his chest with little effort.

“George Wickham is the son of my father’s steward.

He is a reprobate and tormented me whenever he had the opportunity.

I shall tell you everything, but pray, should you ever happen upon that man, do not let down your guard.

He possesses no more than a talent, but he is cunning, and though your magic is considerably stronger, he does not fight fair.

I have no doubt you could win, but I fear he would attempt some mischief and harm you before you could best him. ”

She scraped her teeth along her bottom lip. “I understand, but I do hope when we are afforded the opportunity, you will share with me what you have held back.”

“Once we are wed, I shall tell you all. I swear it. ”

He bent down and claimed her lips. He would give all he had to keep Wickham far away from her as well as from Georgiana. That man would do all in his power to destroy anything and anyone who brought Fitzwilliam happiness.

Today, he had no desire to hold back. They were not before Longbourn, and Herne was nowhere in sight.

Before he could be caught, his lips parted hers and he finally dipped his tongue in and caressed the softness within.

She inhaled sharply but did not withdraw.

Instead, one of her palms rested on his cheek while the other pressed against his side.

His chest swelled. She was accepting his kisses without reservation.

When he drew away, he pressed his forehead to hers. “Do you know how you tempt me?”

Her thumb brushed along his jaw as she pulled away. “Would you tell me who the other gentleman was in the vision?”

He cleared his throat. “That was likely my cousin Richard Fitzwilliam. He is the second son of the Earl of Glen.”

“From the feeling I had during the dream, the two of you are close.”

“Yes, we are like brothers. He and I also share guardianship of my sister, Georgiana.”

She linked her arm through his, and they started towards the stones. “He is in the Regulars?”

“Yes, if the vision is what I believe it to be, you saw a conversation we had not long after my father’s death.

Richard’s father had purchased the commission a year prior.

He was to be sent to the peninsula, so he had come to Pemberley to discuss our plans for my sister.

She is twelve years my junior, and my father had intended for her to attend school, but we had decided to wait until her mourning was complete. ”

“Does she still attend school? ”

“No, we removed her from school in April. She is currently at Pemberley with her companion, Mrs. Annesley.”

Elizabeth stopped and spun to face him. “Mrs. Joseph Annesley?”

His chin hitched back a hair. She knew Mrs. Annesley? “Yes, her husband’s name was Joseph.”

A happy laugh bubbled from Elizabeth’s throat. “Mrs. Annesley cared for me when I was a baby. She was in my father’s employ until I was five when another magical family had need of her abilities.”

He pulled his shoulders back and released them to alleviate some of the sudden tension within. “She first worked for the Darcy family when my mother died in childbirth. We required a nurse for Georgiana.”

“And Mrs. Annesley is a nurturer,” said Elizabeth almost to herself.

“My father told me another family had desperate need of her, but I was so young. All I knew was that the only mother I had ever known had left me. Nurturers are rare, so pray, do know that I understand why she had to leave, although at the time, I was desolate.”

It was no wonder. Nurturers had the ability to care for a child at any part of their lives, even if it meant being a wet nurse.

Mrs. Annesley had been with them until Georgiana had left for school.

After Ramsgate, Mrs. Annesley had returned at his request. She had served in another household, but the child was old enough that a maid would suffice.

He had been fortunate indeed that Mrs. Annesley had been in a position to return.

“I can understand why your separation from Mrs. Annesley would be painful. By the time Georgiana was placed in school, you did not require Mrs. Annesley as much as when you were young, so your father would not have required her return. ”

She wrapped her arm through his as they continued walking. “No, and Papa could not spare the expense. Mama enjoys shopping, and the herbs for her tea are costly. He does not temper Mama with the dressmaker, so he must curtail his spending in other places.”

When they reached the stones, the white stag rested at the border of the clearing in the last tuft of green grass. He snorted at their approach.

“I see our chaperon has anticipated us,” she said with a smile.

“At least he allowed me to have you alone for the walk here.” Any opportunity to steal a kiss was welcome!

She pivoted around near the altar. Her mouth firm, and her hands clasped in front of her. “I believe we should combine our powers on the stone again.”

He wasted no time in shaking his head. “No, I recall how weak you were the last time we made that attempt. I shall not have you harmed.”

“I was not harmed. Papa mixed the potion to remove the residual magic that leaked through. I also mixed some of the potion the duchess mentioned in her letter myself and have it with me.” She removed two small bottles from her cloak pocket.

Should he give in? If he did, they could know more about what was to come, but they could also increase the risk of harm to Elizabeth.

Too many unanswered questions existed! Who was this person?

Did they know of Elizabeth? Anyone with enough magic to cast spells of that calibre should be capable of visions as well.

“I am not sure.” He had just obtained her consent to marriage.

He could not lose her now. His heart had been entwined with hers since his first vision of her.

In the beginning, she was a beloved friend who visited him in his dreams, but as she matured and became a young lady, his feelings had gradually deepened until he could not pinpoint the moment when he had fallen in love with her .

She had been sheltered from their engagement, so she had not understood the connexion to him throughout her life, but now that she was aware of him and had come to know him, she had become more receptive to his attentions. Not that he had many opportunities with Herne always nearby.

He breathed in an effort to calm himself. If he was too emotional over Elizabeth, the altar would focus on their lives not only from before but also what would come after their marriage and not what they wished to know.

“Mr. Darcy?”

He spun around at the voice behind him, his arms outstretched to protect Elizabeth. When the lady dropped the hood of her cloak, his arms fell to his sides.

“Your Grace, you should not have left the protection of the cottage.” He had only met the Duchess of Ormonde twice in his life, but he recognised her with ease.

“My guards told me they had seen you with Miss Elizabeth in the forest most mornings since our arrival.” She glanced over her shoulder. Just behind the treeline stood two sizeable men who watched their surroundings with keen eyes.