Page 49

As a glow emitted from the duchess’s hands, she bent over the stone with a sob.

Tears began pouring from her eyes and falling upon Elizabeth while she began to sing the same haunting melody as the last time she healed his wife.

Her Grace shifted from Elizabeth’s chest to her head while the tiny droplets continued to rain down on her.

Soon the glow not only came from Her Grace’s hands but also each of the tiny tears that peppered over Elizabeth’s chest and face, but the duchess did not stop.

Instead, she moved lower to Elizabeth’s stomach and allowed her tears to continue to fall upon his wife.

Soon after, Her Grace stepped back from Elizabeth but held out her hands, which continued to give off a soft white glow.

“You were smart to bring Lizzy to Her Grace. ”

He startled and turned to where Mr. Bennet stood several yards away.

“I saw your show of sparks come from the forest and followed. I assumed you had brought my daughter to the altar, but you somehow found the cottage.”

“I recognised the clearing then yelled and begged in the hopes the duchess would open the door. When that did not happen, I removed one of the protections upon the cottage, but I missed the repulsion charm. The duchess emerged from the house not long after I was thrown away from it.”

“The charm that threw you would have caused a loud boom inside. Even though you did not succeed in getting inside, your being thrown brought her attention to you.”

He nodded. “I had considered that. If she had not come out, I would have reversed the repulsion spell.”

Mr. Bennet clapped him on the back. “I had other protections in place, but you would have been able to knock after removing the repulsion charm.

However, if you had not sought out Her Grace, I would have brought her to you.

If anyone can save Elizabeth. . .“The older man then set his palm upon Fitzwilliam’s shoulder.

“You know the duchess is doing all she can. Her tears have healing properties and setting Elizabeth upon the altar will help replenish some of the power she has lost. The remainder will have to return with time.”

“What if the duchess cannot save her?” His voice cracked. A solid lead weight rested upon his chest. The only way to remove it was to have Elizabeth well and in his arms once more.

“A chance exists that Lizzy will never be the same. You must prepare yourself for that.”

“What do you mean?” His heart had already been beating quickly, but now it raced. How could it continue at such a rate ?

“Between your cousin draining her magic and Lizzy employing the surge spell, she may never be as powerful as she was. That said, Lizzy had little choice. With her bound as she was, the surge was the only way to release herself, even if all she gained was a few mere seconds. Between Sir Lewis de Bourgh’s power and that of the duke’s, Anne had too much strength.

Since she could not wield their power for herself, the magic became a shield, which is why our attacks upon her were for naught. ”

“Sir Lewis?”

Mr. Bennet sighed. “Yes, it seems Sir Lewis did not die of apoplexy after all. Instead, your cousin drained him of his power and his life. Anne was five at the time. When did your cousin become sickly?”

Fitzwilliam’s breath left him in a rush. “She became sick right after her father’s death. Richard also told me that Anne had become weaker of late.”

“Also a result of draining the life and power of another. Do you remember what Lizzy found in that book?”

“Beware to the magician who seeks more magic than the earth is willing to provide. A high price is to be paid by those who covet the power of others.”

“Precisely. Your cousin was weakening further while she drained Lizzy. She had said she would take my magic after, but I am unsure if her body would have allowed it. I had not considered the possibility before, but there are limits to the amount of magic one can wield, and your cousin seemed to be quickly approaching that barrier. I believe Herne caught Anne at the precise moment required to kill her. As I said, the magic within her was providing protection, even if she knew not how to use it. The large amount of power she had stolen was rendering her impermeable to spells and charms, but it had degraded her body to the point the magic was surely seeping through the cracks. Perhaps Herne’s magic also was of aid. ”

“When he pierced Anne, the power was released in full.”

“Yes, and the magic returned to the earth. Whatever had fallen to the ground was absorbed not long after you took Elizabeth away.”

A loud raspy inhale came from Elizabeth as her entire body sucked in a heaving breath.

The duchess continued to watch Elizabeth. She now held his wife’s hands while she remained hovering over her. An occasional tear fell, but they were not as frequent. “She is healing, though it is slow. The draining of her magic alone has damaged her. Your child survived, though.”

His stomach tightened into a brick and fell into the bottom of his abdomen. “Child? She is with child?” They had known a babe would come, but was that why the altar had shown them the image? To let them know the child would have been conceived before Anne’s challenge?

Her Grace placed her palm upon Elizabeth’s flat stomach.

“The babe is too young for her to feel the quickening, but I can sense the child within her. Her body and power shielded the new life within while she was being attacked. It is why her magic surely seemed to ebb so quickly; a certain amount belongs to the child.”

Elizabeth began to tremble violently upon the altar. He rushed forward while removing his great coat and placing it over her.

“She is freezing. When can I return her to Longbourn? I need to get her warm.” He could have taken her to Netherfield, but something in him screamed that she needed to be at the seat of her family’s power.

Longbourn had housed centuries of Bennets—since Arthur had hidden Merlin’s son in the heart of Hertfordshire.

“Do you still feel the rumble of the earth? When that has ceased, the altar will have completed its part.” The duchess helped to tuck the coat around Elizabeth .

His wife’s teeth chattered, although some of her colour had returned. Despite the chill of the stone and the air around them, her forehead was warmer than at the cottage. She was improved.

Mr. Bennet joined their vigil and added his coat to protect Elizabeth. The duchess placed her hand over the layers and on top of Elizabeth’s abdomen. Did that have something to do with his child?

“She is out of danger,” said Her Grace.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head to kiss Elizabeth’s lips. “Fight, my love. I need you to open your eyes.”

“She is unlikely to awaken for a day or two. Her body needs rest more than anything.”

They stood there for what seemed to be hours before the ground stopped its restless movement. Her Grace stepped back from Elizabeth. “The earth has done all it can.”

“Your Grace, we should move you closer to Longbourn now that the threat is gone. We need not keep you so secluded. I shall send a cart to the edge of the forest for you, your lady’s maid, and your guards at three.”

She nodded. “We shall be there.”

Fitzwilliam required no further invitation to take his wife. He scooped her into his arms, and began to turn, but at the last moment, faced the duchess.

“I cannot thank you enough for your aid.”

Her Grace smiled and placed her hand upon Elizabeth’s crown. “The Bennets have been friends to my family for centuries. Your wife is not only important to carry on the legacy of magic within the Bennet family, but also to the balance of magic within our world. I could do no less.”

With Elizabeth held tightly to him, he made his way to where Hen still stood near the turn to the cottage. He led the stallion out of the forest. Mr. Bennet emerged from the trees soon after and took Hen’s reins.

“I shall take your horse to the stable. When you reach Longbourn, you and Mrs. Hill can settle Elizabeth into her old bedchamber.”

He lifted her higher, so her face rested upon his shoulder. In that position, her warm breath fanned upon his cheek. He needed that—he needed that reassurance that she was still alive, that she would not go anywhere. She was his, and she would be his forever.