Chapter 10

Elizabeth

"It has to be her, Fitz! It all adds up!" We hear Darcy's outraged voice echoing in the halls as we enter the house.

Jane and I had been visiting with the tenants. Dropping off pastry filled baskets. Trying to help the best we can.

"Darce, you have to calm down. We don't know anything for sure!" Fitz's voice lingers in the hallway as we get closer to the drawing room.

I can feel Darcy's anger continuing to rise. The floor is shaking, and I know if he doesn't calm down soon we will have to replace another window pane. I look over at Mr. Bingley in the corner looking like he just ran across the field to our neighboring estate. He's exhausted from trying to calm Darcy down. It looks like his efforts are pointless as Darcy's Aura gets blacker as the seconds pass.

My thoughts are torn. On one hand I want to immediately calm him down, on the other hand I need to know who "her" is?

For the sake of my home, I head straight to Darcy and put my hand on his chest. My hand lands right over his heart where our soulmark resides. I have never been gifted with calming anyone down. Nothing like Jane and Charles is able to do. If anything I tend to rile people up instead. He is still breathing fiercely. But after a minute, I feel his hand rest on top of mine and his breathing slow.

Thank you, love. He looks down at me and our eyes lock.

What is going on?

I feel his other hand reach up and tuck a stray hair behind my ear. At the same time we both remember we are not alone. We look at the rest of the room and everyone is staring at us with goofy grins on their faces.

I immediately remove my hand from his chest and take a step back. He smirks back at me and I hear all the men in the room let out a laugh.

"Well done Miss Elizabeth, I could have used you a few months ago when Darce here got so upset he exploded my favorite chair to bits." Fitz said while winking at me. Darcy only glared at him.

"Anyone going to inform us what's going on?" I say frustrated looking at Darcy with an eyebrow raised.

"Miss Mary and Sabs have detected a few distinctive components in the Smoke." Darcy said while leading me over to a chair by the table with their experiments.

"The Viscount has shown me how to use my gift to take apart each particle of the Smoke." Mary's eyes light up as she speaks. I have never seen her full of such excitement before. I look over at the Viscount and he has such a sweet smile of adoration on his face. I am unsure where my sister's feelings lie, but it's pretty clear this man is very taken with her. If our mother was alive she would be beside herself with having a Viscount interested in one of her daughters.

"As I said earlier, please call me Sabastian or Strausdale. Being "The Viscount" has never been my preference." He looks sweetly at Mary and then at all of us sisters. Letting us know he hopes for us to have the same liberties. We smile brightly back at him.

Mary continues oblivious to the man admiring her. "We found three specific additions to the Smoke. Rosemary, Dill & Lilac."

"Which coincidentally my Aunt Catherine douses herself in all the time. She shouts the praises of Rosemary and Dill constantly. Believes between both herbs, they will heal all ailments." Darcy says between gritted teeth, his anger rising once again.

Aw, the "her" that was spoken of earlier.

"But as I have been explaining to my headstrong cousin, that Collins being Aunt Catherine's parson and such an admirer. Would have been in her presence often. Which easily these components could have lingered on his skin or clothes." Fitz tries to explain his reason for not overreacting quite yet.

Darcy just keeps shaking his head.

"But why do you believe your Aunt would want to hurt me? She doesn't even know me?" I say completely confused by this whole thing.

"Aunt Cathy has believed that she should be in charge of not only Rosings, her estate, but also Pemberley as well. She has been pushing her daughter Anne and Darce to marry since they were babies." Fitz says while running a hand through his dark blonde curly hair.

"But how would she even know of me? If she is the one behind this, she clearly has been planning this before we found out we were soulmates." I look at Darcy for more explanation.

"Aunt Cathy can see into the future, it wouldn't surprise me if she truly is the one behind this, that she has been planning this for a while." Strausedale says while leaning over the table. Taking off his spectacles and rubbing his eyes.

I look around the room and notice how exhausted everyone is. I know Mary and Strausedale haven't slept much at all. Desperately looking for answers.

"Well what should we do now?" Kitty stands up ready for action.

"As much as I want to surprise attack and take Aunt Catherine down. Until we are 100% positive Aunt Catherine is the dark Mage behind this, we will need to find more answers. I say we go to the Capitol as planned. We will have a lot more Mage power available if we need." Darcy looks at me, awaiting my answer.

I look at all my sisters and they all nod in agreement. "We are in. We will prepare to leave in the morning. How does that sound? I look at all the men to see their thoughts. They all nod in agreement as well.

"Sounds like a plan. Let's get some rest and leave at first light." Darcy says making sure all will be ready.

Everyone starts heading to their rooms, but Darcy holds my hand and pulls on it lightly before I can escape. Are you ok? How are you doing with all of this? When everyone else has cleared the room, he pulls me into his warm embrace. Wrapping his arms fully around me. I rest my head on his chest. I take in the steadiness of his strength and warmth that engulfs me.

I take a big breath, trying to think through all the hundreds of thoughts racing around in my brain. Honestly, it's a lot. But I know we won't be facing all this alone. That helps me breathe a little lighter.

I will always be by your side Elizabeth.

I look up at him and he looks down at me with love blazing in his eyes and lowers his head towards mine. Before I know it, I feel his lips on mine. A sweet gentle kiss. Something deep inside me tells me I want more, so much more. But I know we are pushing propriety by simply being alone in a room together. Though there are no gossiping mamas here. We have to be careful. We both are too passionate not to stop when we should. We all are aware of what happens to those who get carried away. As much as I believe I am falling in love with Darcy and that I do want to be a mother one day- there is so much at stake right now. We can not have that issue to deal with as well.

He looks me in the eye, gauging if I approve. I'm sure the lovestruck smile on my face is what causes him to lean down and kiss me again. As soon as he shows an ounce of passion, he is suddenly transported to the other side of the room.

Darcy

I'm sorry, I can't let myself lose control. It's so easy with you. I have always had extreme control over my emotions, but around you- it's like all sense and control leave me immediately.

I completely agree. Good night, Fitzwilliam.

Good night, Elizabeth.

I let her get fully up the stairs and hear the door shut behind her before I make my way to my room. I don't know why I keep tempting fate with that woman. I am all about giving her the time she needs, but if she doesn't marry me soon we will have a problem on our hands. One that will only be fixed by nine months time.

Richard, Sabastian, Fitzwilliam & Bingley- Be alert! We just got intell that their are dark Mages on their way to Longbourn at this moment. My guess is you have 10-15 minutes max before they appear. From one dark Mage we captured, we were told the main focus is Miss Elizabeth. You must protect her at all costs. Be safe sons, now go!

The commander's words jerk me awake. I glance outside and notice it is still dark outside. Must be early into the morning. Before I am even able to get out of bed all three men are in my room. Thankfully Fitz takes over. This is what he is trained for.

"Charles, inform the Bennet sisters and ready all for travel and tell them to be prepared to fight. If any can fly we should separate. We will have a better chance." Charles immediately rushes down the hall towards the ladies rooms. "Sabs, collect all evidence on the Smoke. Make sure we have everything we need to continue our search in the Capitol." Sabastian is gone before he even finishes. I am quickly packing all my stuff as he is talking to Charles and Sabs. Before he can open his mouth to direct me, I cut him off.

"I will transport me and Elizabeth to somewhere no one knows. Not even you. So no one can give us away if tortured." I nod my head towards him. "Be safe cousin. Protect her sisters."

"With my life. You as well." I then transport into Elizabeth's room.

Thankful she is dressed, since the impropriety did not even seep into my brain until I was already in her room. Thankfully she was packing the last of her things.

We must go now. I have to transport you somewhere no one can find you.

But my sisters! You know I can not leave my sisters.

I know, but you can not stay here. I can not let them harm you again. She must see the desperation in my eyes. Suddenly I see her quickly hug her sisters and hold onto my arm in acceptance.

Within seconds we are being pounded by heavy snow all around us.