“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
The moment the priest intoned these words, Elizabeth and William were showered with pink flowers. William started and peered upward at blossoms spontaneously appearing out of thin air and spilling in a fountain over the happy couple.
Bemused, he glanced at Elizabeth, who was barely holding back a smile. She had a suspicion about the origin of the flowers, but she would let him assume it was her doing—at least for the moment. A spontaneous display of magic was certainly characteristic of her.
The priest stared in bewilderment but quickly regained his composure to conduct the remainder of the service. It passed in a blur, and Elizabeth soon found herself in Longbourn’s dining room beside her new husband.
Taking advantage of spring’s bounty, Elizabeth had decorated all of Longbourn with flowers for the wedding breakfast. Lavish flower illusions covered the walls of the dining room and spilled out into the adjacent corridors and drawing rooms.
William smiled appreciatively and murmured in her ear, “Caroline would be impressed.”
Elizabeth smiled at him. “Thankfully she is not here.” The Convocation Court had found Miss Bingley guilty of suasion and conspiring with Hurst; she would languish in the Convocation prison for the rest of her life. Mrs. Hurst had been given a shorter sentence when it became apparent she had known of her husband’s schemes but not actively participated in them.
The archmage approached with Georgiana on his arm. “Congratulations, Darcy!” he boomed. “I am pleased you did not let a woman like that get away.”
Elizabeth blushed, and William chuckled obligingly. “There was no chance of that, sir.”
The archmage nodded. “She is a fine woman. Fine.”
Elizabeth laughed. “She is standing right here.”
The earl pretended to be startled. “So she is!” He chuckled at his own joke.
Georgiana regarded her new sister with glowing eyes. “Is it true that you will become a member of the Convocation and teach at the Academy?” The words rushed out all at once.
“It is,” Elizabeth replied. “Once William and I return from our honeymoon, I will be instructing Academy students in illusions and spell crafting.”
The news was not yet generally known since the Convocation Council had only just decided. William and his uncle had argued strenuously in favor of both measures. It was past time for the Convocation to admit female mages as members and female students to the Academy. And if they would have female students, they would need female instructors.
There had been some token objections, but the Battle of Convocation Hall—as it was now called—had demonstrated that female mages like Elizabeth had magical knowledge that should be shared. She, William, and Mr. Bingley had even been inducted into the Convocation’s Order of the Laurel—its highest honor.
“So women will be admitted to the Academy?” Georgiana’s eyes were shining. Elizabeth was not well acquainted with her new sister but was looking forward to knowing the girl better.
“Yes, they will,” William said, regarding his sister with some bemusement. “I understand the prime minister is pleased at the prospect of having more mages to fight Napoleon.”
“Oh, he is beside himself,” the archmage said. The first class of female mages would soon start lessons at the Academy. Once they were sufficiently trained, they would take over duties that would free some of the male mages to fight the war. Elizabeth had suggested to William that someday women might fight beside the men, but he did not believe the world was ready for that.
The earl patted Georgiana’s hand and smiled down at her. “Ah, well, times are changing. I would imagine it is very exciting for young people like you. Although I must say I am not sure about some of these ‘new’ uses for magic.” He turned to William. “Mrs. Darcy has been teaching my wife how to use magic to grow something called a ‘palm tree.’ I imagine that will prove to be an expensive hobby.”
William gave his uncle a sly look. “Perhaps Elizabeth might teach my aunt to grow lemons.”
The archmage’s eyes lit up. “Now there is an idea! I am fond of lemons.” He glanced over to the table where tea and biscuits were laid out. “In fact, I might help myself to more of those wonderful lemon biscuits—” he gave Elizabeth a wry smile “—before your cousin sets them all on fire.”
Elizabeth glanced over at Mr. Collins, who was declaiming loudly about Lady Catherine’s gardens to Sir William Lucas. Charlotte was on his arm, keeping a watchful eye. “I do not believe that will happen again. Mrs. Collins seems to have him well in hand now.”
“Good! Still, one cannot be too careful. If you will excuse me…” He hurried away toward the biscuits.
Poor Charlotte really could not leave her husband alone for even a minute, but she did not appear to mind.
Georgiana was biting her lip and watching her brother nervously. “Are you well, Georgie?” he asked.
His sister was practically vibrating with excitement. “Will you allow me to attend the Academy?”
William’s jaw dropped open. Although Elizabeth had expected the question, her husband had obviously never entertained the idea. “I-I do not think— I— do you believe you possess sufficient magical talent?”
Georgiana put her hands on her hips. “Do you truly believe that your sister would only possess a small degree of magic? It is inherited after all.”
William continued to gape at her.
She rolled her eyes. “Who do you believe showered you with pink flowers?”
“That was your doing? I thought—Elizabeth?”
She shook her head. “I did not do it. Actually, I do not know how she managed it.”
“It is a spell of my own devising,” Georgiana said.
Georgiana laughed at William’s astonishment. Apparently the idea had never occurred to him. How many other women were hiding similar secrets throughout the country?
“So may I attend the Academy?”
Darcy sighed. “Yes, I will allow it—if you are certain it is what you want. I have no doubt that the first class of women will experience some difficulties. A few of the men will be less than accepting of female students.”
Georgiana shrugged. “I can manage them.” William blinked in astonishment. “And I will not be alone, will I?”
“No, indeed,” Elizabeth said. “The Convocation has already found fifteen women who desire to attend—including my sister Lydia, who is just about your age.”
“Is she anything like you?” Georgiana asked.
“Well…”
But the girl was already turning away. “I will find someone to introduce us!” She hurried away in search of Elizabeth’s youngest sister.
A warm laugh sounded in Elizabeth’s ear. “Georgiana and Lydia practicing magic together. We can only hope the Academy will survive,” William said, slipping his arm around her waist.
“I will be there to protect such a venerable institution,” Elizabeth said.
William was silent for a moment. “Perhaps I will resign from the Order of Paladins.”
“Why?”
“Bingley already has. Right before he married your sister. It really is a job for younger men.”
“Not that you are old,” she said.
“No, but…if we have a family, I would not wish to be from home too often. And our lives will be busy enough when you are traveling frequently to Oxford.”
“Oh…” She nodded sagely. “So you are suggesting that you will stay home and tend to the children while I go out into the world to teach.”
“That is not precisely what I—”
“Excellent scheme, my dear!” She stood on tiptoes to give him a kiss.
“But that is not—”
“Perhaps you might discover a spell to help a baby sleep,” Elizabeth said.
William laughed. “Now, that would be magic.”
The End