Chapter 15

...

The next morning was cold but clear. Elizabeth was sat with Samantha discussing the plan for the day, they were reviewing the ice skating idea, when they heard a rider on the drive. The horse was riding fast.

"Goodness" Samantha commented "I do hope nothing is wrong."

There were raised voices in the hall and Elizabeth stood, a look of confusion on her face as the door burst open and Mr Darcy came striding in. He looked flushed and unkempt, as if he had dressed in a hurry.

"Elizabeth" he stood over to her and cupped her face "are you well, is everything alright?"

He looked around the room as if looking for someone.

"I am perfectly well Mr Darcy" Elizabeth was quick to reassure him, the look of confusion still on her face "what is the meaning of this? there is nothing the matter!"

Darcy looked back at her, "there is nothing wrong?"

"No, sir" their eyes held, Elizabeth could feel the chill from his fingers on her cheek, they were so close, their faces not far from each other, as if he had thought to search out answers from her eyes. The air felt thick and she saw his eyes dip to her lips before he blinked and stepped away.

He bowed to her friend who was dismissing the footmen, who were hovering as if not sure what to do with the odd man who had come barging in so early.

"Mr Darcy this is my friend Mrs Mitchell" at the moment they were joined by her husband, who had obvious been fetched by the butler "and her husband Mr Mitchell. The owners of Billingham manor. Mr and Mrs Mitchell this is my husband Mr Darcy of Pemberley."

"We have met before" Mr Mitchell held out his hand "although briefly and only once or twice. And never under such, exciting circumstances!"

"Good morning Mr Mitchell, Mrs Mitchell. Allow me to apologise for my intrusion. I had reason to believe that my wife was in danger."

Mr Mitchell raised an eyebrow. "Did you now? Were the scones preparing an attack?"

Both Samantha and Elizabeth muffled their laughs at the sarcasm.

"Come, sit down, have some coffee and then perhaps you would care to explain?" Mrs Mitchell was all calm and gracious in her hostess duties.

"I thank you."

Once everyone was seated he looked around, they were all looking at him.

"I do apologise, I have a gift you see, I feel a pull when there is danger."

Elizabeth gasped "and you felt something this morning? Such as the feeling in London?"

He looked at her worried face "yes, well sort of" everyone in the room was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Elizabeth looked at her friends "my husband has a gift, beyond the traditional magic. He can sense when his family is in danger. It has always led to a member of his family that was injured, or ill or threatened somehow."

Both Mr and Mrs Mitchell looked intrigued.

Elizabeth looked back at his face.

"What happened?"

"Well, I woke up and could feel the pull. It was less acute than the usual feeling, more like how I feel about Richard in France"

Elizabeth looked puzzled again "but I am not in danger."

"What were you doing?"

"We were having breakfast, we had discussed looking at the pond to see if we could skate on it."

Darcy looked pensive "maybe that is dangerous today, maybe that is why."

Elizabeth did not think he looked convinced, "we hadn't even decided to go, but I cannot think of anything else."

Darcy sighed wearily.

Mrs Mitchell rose, pulling her husband to stand "we have some things to attend to, feel free to make yourself at home, you probably need to discuss matters. Elizabeth you are welcome to stay here for a few more nights, if you wish."

Elizabeth smiled at her friend as she left the room. Once they were alone Darcy rose and folded Elizabeth in his arms. "I have been so worried about you."

"You can see I am quite well!" She exclaimed, still rather confused.

"I missed you"

Elizabeth smiled in to his shoulder "I did too, you that is."

"I am so sorry about what happened. I can assure you my aunt and I have been most harsh on him, there will be no gossip. You will not have to spend any time alone with him, I will make sure of that. I am sorry I did not protect you."

Elizabeth looked up at him "you could not have known, and I am quite well as you see. He did not lay a hand on me."

Darcy sighed with relief "I am thankful for that."

"What shall we do now?"

"I would like you to come home, we could all go back to Pemberley?"

"I would like that" she smiled a brilliant smile at him and for a moment they stood in each other's arms gazing at each other. Elizabeth felt the familiar tingling in her lips and she was just about to lick them when she heard a noise at the door and reluctantly stepped out of his arms.

"Elizabeth?" Mrs Mitchell looked in

"I believe I am to return to Pemberley with Mr Darcy, if you can bear the loss of my company?" Elizabeth smiled at her friend.

Darcy left to check on the carriage, which had followed him on his horse.

"I cannot thank you enough for having me Sam." Elizabeth moved forward and grasped her friend's hands.

"It has been an absolute pleasure my dear. You are always welcome, I hope, now that we live so close, that we may see each other frequently again?"

"You can count on it."

Darcy re-appeared and held his arm out for his wife, who took it with a smile and they left to board the coach.

"Elizabeth" her sister exclaimed, clearly happy to see her. "My brother had me worried."

"Georgiana my dear" Elizabeth reached out and squeezed the girls hands "I am well as you see."

Georgiana's face crumpled in a frown "then why?" She trailed off in puzzlement.

"Do you feel it also? I do not believe we have discussed your powers" there was a shout outside and the carriage jolted in to motion, Elizabeth waved to her friend and then turned her attention back to her young sister.

"Well you know I a, a... But I have higher than basic ability in..."

Elizabeth smiled "I know, you are quite gifted."

Georgiana blushed with pleasure.

"Nothing like yours mind."

Elizabeth smiled "there is no reason to compare my love" Elizabeth shared a look with Darcy, they had only shown Georgiana her water and fire abilities, although more than the extent that the rest of the family were aware of, they had told her they did not want society at large aware of her abilities. She also practiced earth and air to a similar ability to Georgiana, that is slightly above what was deemed basic, but not enough to suggest a higher affinity.

"And your Darcy... ummm... powers?" Elizabeth wasn't sure that was the correct word.

"Well they are not as acute as my brother, not when people are in danger anyway. We think the men have the protective instinct. I am attuned to feelings though. I can tell my brother was worried and is less so now. My aunt is quite cross at the moment, as is my cousin. I am better at understanding people's emotions when they are closer to me or in extremes. So when Fitzwilliam would feel a twist and a pull for someone in danger I would feel they were hurt or scared. At least that's how I interpret the feelings as they come to me."

"Fascinating."

Georgiana smiled "mother was like me, at least that was what father said."

"And when did you feel me?"

"On the day you married Fitzwilliam."

Elizabeth smiled, then her smile dropped. She did not feel the same link.

"What is it Elizabeth?" Georgiana reached out and squeezed her hand, Elizabeth made and effort to put the smile back on her face and push away her worries.

"Tis nothing dear, tell me how was Boxing Day at Matlock house?"

Georgiana cheerfully related all that had happened the last few days and Elizabeth told them of her stay with Mrs Mitchell. Georgiana did not ask what prompted her to leave and Elizabeth did not volunteer the information. In this manner the journey to Pemberley passed pleasantly, although Darcy added little to the conversation except when pressed.

...

The new year rolled in and the Darcys settled in to their life at Pemberley. A routine was established and Elizabeth found her days pleasantly filled. She would spend time with the household matters in the morning, Georgiana and she would spend time together over luncheon and in the early afternoon and then Darcy would join them and she would learn more defensive magic. Her shields were quite proficient and could stop anything that Darcy could throw at them, even an object not thrown with magic, as long as they were of the earth. She was also good at hurling magical missiles and could penetrate anything but the strongest shields. They were learning together to combine two elements which would allow for a higher success rate.

As January became February, Elizabeth found herself rising to face the day. She called for her maid and attended her toilette. As usual in the morning her mind drifted, trying to pin point her feelings of unease. Ever since Darcy had collected her from Mrs Mitchell's residence, something had not quite been right with him. Not just her concerns with their marital relations. After her conversation with Sam she had felt much better. She was happy that her feelings were nothing to be ashamed of but she had to respect the wishes of her husband and if he did not wish for her advances she should not press them. However this feeling of danger had not left Darcy on returning to Pemberley and it had been causing a rift between them. She thought back over their disagreement of a few days prior.

"Elizabeth" the shout was so loud it made her and the stable boy jump "what on earth are you doing?"

She dismissed the stable boy, gave the horse one last pat and walked towards her husband, who was striding from the house towards her.

"I have just had a short turn on petal and I was admiring Georgiana's horse"

"You were not thinking of riding her?"

"Not today."

"But sometime?"

"You wanted me to learn to ride, I have learnt what I can on petal, sweet thing that she is. I was thinking about trying something more challenging. Would you please lower your voice, sir."

They were walking back to the house and he was drawing attention from all nearby.

"I could feel you were in danger."

Elizabeth sighed, this was the fourth time he had sought her out for feeling her in danger, the feeling seemed to rise and fall but they could not pin point a reason. He was becoming increasingly vexed with each day.

"I think you are putting yourself in danger for your amusement."

"You think I find this amusing, sir?" She was struggling to keep her voice even "you yell accusations at me across the lawn for half the staff to hear and now accuse me of enjoying this spectacle. You are mistaken. I have no idea what has happened with your power but it is not my doing. I am not putting myself in danger just to vex you nor am I pleased by my husband accusing me of such behaviour."

Darcy sighed and raked a hand across his face.

"I have already promised not to leave the house without a footman, I believe I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself and we have the grounds men checking the grounds for signs of intruders. So far nothing. What more do you ask of me?"

"I cannot help it if I am worried for your safety."

"No, but behaviour such as this is not one of worry" she had softened her voice.

Darcy knew she was right, but his worry always gave way to irritation when he saw she was well, what was happening to him? They had reached the front hallway.

"If there is nothing else, I promised Georgiana to practice a duet with her for when the Bingleys arrive." She dropped a curtsey and without another glance left him standing alone.

...

Elizabeth was brought back to the present once again, reminiscing in the morning becoming an increasingly common habit. She could not help her irritation at Darcy's behaviour over his powers going awry. She admitted to herself that a little bit of her irritation was rooted in concern over her own uncertain status as a Darcy. From what she could tell looking through the Darcy lineage; wives tended to get their power on their wedding day, there were some cases where this had not occurred, usually when there was an unwanted marriage. Elizabeth had read some journal entries from former Mrs Darcys to that effect and had worried what that meant for her own marriage