Page 45

Within moments, the familiar creaking of the door meant his aunt was being welcomed into the house, so he hastened to Elizabeth’s side. He would not leave her to face Lady Catherine alone. He would be with her throughout whatever was to come.

“Where is my nephew?” echoed through the house.

The door opened, and before Mrs. Nichols could announce the visitor, his aunt shoved the housekeeper out of the way and entered.

She had not removed her coat or her hat, which boasted of a couple of peacock feathers that wrapped around the brim and trailed behind her.

It was the most ridiculous thing he had ever seen.

“You must know why I have come. Your heart must have told you I would not ignore this farce and leave you to your idiocy. I am here to ensure you do what I say.

“I have instructed my servants to gather your trunk and your belongings. We are to journey to London to meet with your uncle. He will aid me in ending this travesty you have insisted upon.”

His chin hitched a little. They had not even bowed or curtseyed. His aunt had ignored every propriety, which should not surprise him, but it did.

“No, I shall not.” He stood tall and straight. His bearing could show no signs of weakness.

She sniffed. “You have no choice in the matter.” With a flick of her fingers, two burly men entered behind her. “Grab him.”

“Stiúdú!” Elizabeth stepped in front of him with her arm raised. Indigo light flew from her hand and hit the first of the men directly in the chest. His partner gaped as the man cried out and crumpled to the floor.

“That is impossible.” The remaining man stared wide-eyed at Elizabeth as she turned her hand on him. He shifted on his feet as though considering his options, but rather than hasten from the room, he made to lunge.

“ Pairilis ,” said Elizabeth with a turn of her hand. Instead of the shocked eyes and cry, this man seemed to trip on his own feet and fell on his face.

His aunt’s jowls quivered. “What is this? Women do not have magic.”

He pulled Elizabeth back against his chest. “The Lady of the Lake did. Why could her descendent not have power as well? ”

“Niniane was a water fairy. This. . .woman has had her blood polluted by too many inferior humans to carry Niniane’s powers.”

“Yet, she bears the mark of the heir.” He turned Elizabeth’s arm and slid up her sleeve. “You would do best to abandon your pursuit. You would have to subdue me as well as my wife and the servants, who are willing to defend their guests. Your scheme will not work.”

“Do you believe these two imbeciles are the only help I have arranged?”

He did not waver at the hoofbeats coming from outside. How many more men had she brought?

Elizabeth stepped to his side. “Then bring them in, Lady Catherine. Between the two of us, we can subdue them.”

Lady Catherine cackled. “You cannot move quickly enough.”

He gritted his teeth. They would never manage whatever men his aunt had brought with her by merely standing there.

“Forgive me, aunt.” He lifted his hand. “Stiúdú.”

She had made to speak but the spell hit her before the sound could come, and she joined the other two men on the ground.

He grabbed Elizabeth’s hand. “We have to get out of this room. We are trapped if we remain.”

When they entered the hall, several more men had entered. The first one charged at him.

“Táthaigh!” Elizabeth sent the spell at the man whose arms and legs snapped together, making him fall forward like a statue. Before Fitzwilliam could lift his hand, she spun on her feet and swung both of her arms forward.

“ Pairilis !” This time, both of the men at the door dropped. One, who had landed upon his back, glanced all around the room, his eyes darting here and there even though his body did not move otherwise .

“Come!” She grabbed his hand and dragged him through the servant’s door. The maids and cooks in the kitchen all gasped when they ran through, but Elizabeth did not stop until she had pulled him out the back of the house and into the kitchen gardens.

Here, they were no longer hemmed into the house but could defend themselves more readily.

“You could allow me to defend myself here and there. It would not do for all and sundry to believe I require your protection.”

She scoffed. “You and I both know you do not require my aid. In this circumstance, it was easier for me to use my magic while you provided the distraction. Because they are after you, they are assuming I am no threat. Their stupidity makes it much easier to take them unawares.”

His wife made a brilliant point. Lady Catherine had paid these men to capture him. They had no use for Elizabeth, so they discounted her.

“I also have had no wish to damage the house. How would poor Mr. Bingley explain that to the owners?”

He chuckled. “You make valid points, my dear. Now, what are we to do about the remaining men, and how do we rid ourselves of my aunt?”

“Well, I have an idea.” He took a step back at the mischievous expression upon his wife’s countenance. What could she possibly be about?