Chapter 18 #3
DARCY SHOOK THE HAND of the alert young man in the clerical collar. “A pleasure to see you again, Mr. Cox. Thank you for coming to Rosings today. I realize it is somewhat inconvenient for you, but you will understand why I did not wish to ask Mr. Collins to preside at my wedding.”
“Of course not.” Mr. Cox’s lips tightened. “His behavior has become something of an embarrassment to the local clergy. In any case, I am glad to come here. I have been hearing some odd rumors from Rosings Park.”
“They are likely all true,” said Darcy resignedly. “At least if they concern the fay and sorcery.”
“I was surprised to notice the fay as I arrived. I have not been able to see them since I was a child.”
“They have chosen to make themselves visible because of recent events. It is a long story, and a rather difficult one to credit. Perhaps you might wish to sit down while I explain.” Darcy owed him the full story after his help with the servants when they discovered Lady Catherine’s sorcery.
A quarter hour later, Mr. Cox’s brow was furrowed. “Sorcery is the devil’s work, and I rejoice that it will no longer taint our world. But I am shocked that Lord Matlock should be a suicide in contravention of God’s law!”
“He did not commit suicide.” Lady Matlock’s cool but determined voice came from the door. “No more than a soldier who marches into a hopeless battle for the sake of his country, or, for that matter, Our Lord who permitted himself to be killed to redeem our sins. Lord Matlock did not wish to end his life, but he did so to save England from untold misery. That is not suicide.”
Darcy jumped to his feet. “Lady Matlock, may I present Mr. Cox, the curate of Chiddingstone? He is the one I mentioned who offered support to the staff here around the question of Lady Catherine’s sorcery.”
Mr. Cox bowed deeply. “My apologies, Lady Matlock. I had not thought the matter through yet, but you are correct.”
Lady Matlock acknowledged his words with a regal nod. “If we continue to have more contact with the fay, the church may face some challenges in determining how their magic can be accounted for within our Christian beliefs.”
“Understanding more of God’s creation can only enrich us all,” said Mr. Cox.
“Perhaps we can speak of this more later. Eventually I would like to hold some form of service at the site of the spell. The wedding can take place there as well.”
Darcy shook his head. “There are still many fay keeping vigil there. I would not wish to cause any offense to them.”
“I agree with Lady Matlock.” Mr. Cox’s eyes had new fire in them. “The fay are heathen. It is to their benefit to observe a Christian service, even if it offends them.”
“Exactly so,” said Lady Matlock.
It was not worth arguing over. “Very well.”
DARCY FOUND ELIZABETH by the Great Spell with Frederica, Eversleigh, Richard and Aelfric. “Are you ready, my love? The curate has arrived, and my aunt insists we must have the ceremony here by the tree.”
Elizabeth looked up at him through her lashes. “I hope she does not think the tree will be able to see us.”
Darcy’s lips twitched. “I would prefer not to argue the point with her.” He held out his hand to her, his heart filled with love for her.
Eversleigh said, “Can you wait a few minutes before starting?”
Darcy turned to Elizabeth. “I suppose there is no reason we cannot.”
“Good!” Eversleigh hurried off towards the group of Sidhe keeping vigil.
“We may regret this,” said Elizabeth with good humor. “I hope there will be no fay pranks.”
“Ah, here is Mr. Cox,” said Darcy. “Miss Bennet, may I present Mr. Cox, the curate at Chiddingstone? Mr. Cox, Miss Bennet is today’s bride.”
“It is a pleasure,” said Elizabeth. “Thank you for coming today.”
Mr. Cox bowed. “I am happy to be of service.”
“Oh, dear,” Frederica murmured.
“What now?” asked Richard darkly.
She gestured across the lawn. “Look at Eversleigh.”
Eversleigh was speaking to Cathael, moving his hands to demonstrate a squared-off shape. Cathael replied, and several benches suddenly appeared facing the spell. Eversleigh shook his head and said something. Now it was two rows of benches with an aisle down the middle.
Mr. Cox’s eyes were bulging.
“Is he trying to make it look like a church?” Elizabeth asked. “Who does he think will fill all those benches?”
“I have no idea,” said Darcy. But the answer became readily apparent as Sidhe and lesser fay began moving towards the benches.
“This was not quite what I had in mind,” said Mr. Cox quietly. “I suppose it will serve, though.”
Eversleigh strode back towards them. “I hope that will be satisfactory,” he said to Darcy.
Darcy raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason you wish the fay to attend our wedding?”
Eversleigh grinned. “Not as such, but you showed great honor for fay traditions last night. They wish to show you the same respect by honoring your mortal tradition.”
Lady Matlock appeared behind him. “If that is the case, we should do this properly. Richard, you will stand up with Darcy. Elizabeth, do you wish for Lord Eversleigh or Aelfric to give you away?”
“Why would anyone want to give Libbet away?” asked Aelfric. “You cannot give people away.”
“It is a symbolic part of the ceremony,” said Lady Matlock. “It would usually be performed by Elizabeth’s father, but in his absence, one of her male relatives would take on the role.”
“Then I should do it,” said Aelfric firmly.
Elizabeth said tactfully, “Mr. Cox, may I present my half-brother, Prince Aelfric of the Sidhe? Could he perform that role even though he is not a Christian?”
Mr. Cox had gone rather pale. “I suppose it would not be a problem as long as he is respectful of our Christian tradition.”
Lady Matlock nodded. “Who would you like to stand up with you?”
Elizabeth peered across the lawn. “Is Bluebird here? She is my oldest friend.”
Eversleigh cleared his throat. “ Shurinn .”
Elizabeth turned to him with a look of mock dismay. “Oh, dear. Lord Eversleigh has already made up my mind for me. Who shall it be?”
He colored. “Titania performed your blood right ceremony. It might be seen as insulting to exclude her now.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Very well, but you must ask her, shurinn . And quickly, since we know the fay do not like to be kept waiting.”
“Titania?” Mr. Cox’s voice quavered. “As in Shakespeare?”
“The very one,” said Elizabeth with a smile.
As Eversleigh hurried back to the fay, Lady Matlock said, “If it is to be done quickly, let us all take our places, in as simple a manner as possible. Elizabeth, will you explain Aelfric’s role to him?”
Within a few minutes, her ladyship had arranged it all to her liking and allowed the service to begin. Mr. Cox’s voice only cracked once as he began to read the ceremony. Aelfric handled his duties with dignified aplomb, even when a white raven flew in and landed on Elizabeth’s shoulder as they were walking down the aisle.
AFTERWARDS, WHEN DARCY and Elizabeth had walked up the aisle as man and wife, Darcy said hesitantly, “About the ring. I will get you another that will fit properly. I was so concerned about getting the license that I forgot completely about a ring.”
Elizabeth held up her hand to admire the ring. “I am very happy with this one, and it fits perfectly.”
“It cannot possibly fit you. Your fingers are much smaller than mine. ”
She extended her hand so he could see it did indeed fit. “Is it perhaps of fay manufacture?”
“Yes. How could I forget? Eversleigh gave it to me.”
Cathael was the first of the fay to reach them. “Among our people, it is customary to give a gift on coming of age. Since that was not possible for you, I hope you will permit me to do so on this occasion.” He took Elizabeth’s hands and clasped his silver filigree cuffs around each of her wrists. They immediately shrank to fit.
“That is most generous of you. They are exquisite and will always remind me of the first time we met in your silver filigree hall.” Elizabeth sounded oddly shaken.
“This is for you, Diarcey.” Cathael handed him a silver dagger whose hilt was studded with rubies.
Darcy took it, since he had no idea what else to do. What did one say when given a gift worth a king’s ransom? “It will be my great honor to wear such a royal gift.” He tested the edge with his fingertip, having discovered during the blood binding that Sidhe knives were far sharper than any blade made of silver could possibly be.
“It is of dwarf manufacture. It will never lose its edge, and as long as you carry it, the elements will not trouble you and no harm shall befall you.”
He could feel the magic tingling through it. An emperor’s ransom, then. “It is a greater treasure than I deserve and almost as precious as the reward of peace between our people.”
“It was a fortunate day when you stumbled into my keep. Without it, we would be at war and sorcerers would roam your land.” He touched the coronet he wore. “It has led me on a most unexpected road.” He nodded to them and walked away.
Elizabeth looked at the cuffs on her wrist. “I shall stop feeling guilty about not bringing a dowry to our marriage.”
“Good. I do not care in the least about a dowry as long as I have you.”
“That is not what I meant.” She held one of her cuffs up so he could see the diamond set in it. It was the size of a wren’s egg. “These should be in the Crown Jewels.”
He smiled. “My question is how I can carry a magic jeweled dagger with my modern attire. We no longer wear dagger sheaths.”
Elizabeth glanced down at his waistcoat. With a mischievous look, she said, “Most gentlemen may not, but it seems you do now. Perhaps you will set a new fashion.”
Frowning, he followed her gaze and discovered that indeed there was a leather dagger sheath hanging down below his waistcoat. “How did that...oh, never mind. I will never become accustomed to Sidhe magic.” He gingerly tucked the dagger into the sheath.
A few elves, dryads, and Sidhe also came forward to present them with gifts. Many of them gave a gift from nature – a perfect seashell, a rounded stone, a variegated leaf, or a flower. Darcy managed to follow Elizabeth’s lead in admiring each of these as much as the occasional priceless gem or magical harp.
A scowling brownie stomped up to them and stopped in front of Elizabeth. “’Tis nae so bad, that.” She jerked her head towards the Great Spell.
“I met you at the Millers’ cottage, did I not?” asked Elizabeth.
“Aye.” With a ferocious frown, the brownie thrust something into Elizabeth’s hand before stomping away.
Elizabeth smiled. “From a brownie, that is the height of civility towards a mortal.”
“What did she give you?” asked Darcy.
Elizabeth opened her hand. “It looks like a seed. A magical seed.”
“What will it grow into?” said Darcy cautiously.
“I have not the least idea, but it will be interesting to find out.”
Eversleigh joined them with Frederica on his arm. He pointed to Elizabeth’s wrist cuffs. “Did Cathael tell you the meaning of those?”
“No, and I do not feel any magic woven into them,” said Elizabeth.
Eversleigh smiled dryly. “No magic, but silver cuffs are the traditional gift a Sidhe gives his daughter when she comes of age, and she wears them all her life.”
“What do they give their sons?” asked Darcy.
“A silver dagger.” Eversleigh pulled one out of a hidden sheath under his coat. “Oberon gave me this.”
Darcy drew out the one Cathael had given him. “You will have to show me how to wear a dagger sheath properly. Does the gift have a particular meaning?”
“I would guess he is acknowledging a debt to you. It suggests you have the right to call on him for assistance in the future.”
“Interesting,” said Elizabeth, with a lilt of laughter. “I often find weddings a little dull. This one has been the exception.”
“I think it was absolutely perfect,” said Frederica.
Elizabeth gave her an arch look. “I agree. I think every bride should be given away by a Sidhe, attended by the Faerie Queen, and have a phouka on her shoulder.”
Frederica sighed. “Being married at St. George’s, Hanover Square is going to be so very dull in comparison.”
“Ah, yes, there is that.” Elizabeth took Frederica aside and lowered her voice. “May I say something extremely impertinent and improper?”
Frederica’s eyebrows rose. “Pray do.”
“You are aware the fay bring fertility to the mortal world. Today they have been very busy, especially during the wedding ceremony. We were surrounded by fertility magic. Every gift I was given was infused with it. Titania practically drenched me in it. I will be astonished if I do not conceive a child tonight. I can sense nearly as much fertility magic on you. I know your mother plans to delay your wedding until the Season begins, and...well, I also know how difficult it is not to consummate blood right even for a day. If you are hoping to take precautions against conception until your wedding, I must warn you they are very unlikely to be effective. Very, very unlikely.”
“Ah.” Frederica’s gaze grew distant. “I thank you for the warning. I had best speak to my mother about the wedding date.”
“If you can convince your mother to consult your father on this, I suspect he would support you. I imagine he has a better understanding of wild magic now.”
Frederica giggled. “Oh, yes. Poor Oberon. Father must be badgering him mercilessly with questions.”
“Thank you for not taking offense at my suggestion. I am not looking forward to speaking to Georgiana about this, nor trying to explain to my new husband why his little sister should be under armed guard around Sidhe men. They seem to be leaving her alone for now, but it cannot last.”
“Poor Georgiana! Will you warn Anne, too?”
Elizabeth’s lips twitched. “I will leave that to Aelfric to explain. Your poor mother might not be able to bear yet another hurried wedding.”
“At least our children will be of an age and will be able to play together,” said Frederica.
“How very practical of you,” teased Elizabeth.
Eversleigh joined them. “About that wedding at St. George’s, Hanover Square –”
“You need not worry, shurinn . I have already warned her,” said Elizabeth.
Relief flickered over his face. “As I have said before, you are the very best of shurinns. ”
“I cannot believe the two of you can even speak together about these matters!” exclaimed Frederica, blushing.
Elizabeth smirked. “After you have spent as much time in Faerie as we have, you will find yourself just as unembarrassed. But there are limits to what I will say to other men, shurinn, so I am counting on you to explain matters to the Fitzwilliam brothers and Mr. FitzClarence.”
Eversleigh bowed. “I have already warned them to direct their attention only to Sidhe ladies for the time being, and I do not believe either will have any difficulties with that. Fitzwilliam is already discovering his new popularity.” He gestured across the lawn where Colonel Fitzwilliam stood between Aislinn and another Sidhe lady, each of them stroking his arm. He did not seem in the least distressed by his predicament. “Jasper disappeared a few minutes ago with a Sidhe lady.”
“They must think they have died and gone to heaven,” said Frederica.
Eversleigh wore his mischievous look. “They will soon discover heaven can be an exhausting place. Sidhe ladies have great difficulty conceiving children, and an unusually fertile mortal man will find himself very popular indeed.”
Frederica clapped her hands over her burning cheeks. “I have not spent nearly enough time in Faerie to listen to this!”
“You may be relieved, then, to hear that Aelfric has used his very best glower to warn every Sidhe man here away from Georgiana.” Eversleigh sounded amused.
“Thank God!” said Elizabeth.
SINCE ELIZABETH APPEARED to be sharing secrets with Frederica, Darcy took the opportunity to approach the curate. “Mr. Cox, you are a courageous man. I must apologize. I had no idea you would be thrust into the middle of the fay like this. I know how shocking my own first experience with them was.”
The young curate ran his finger under his clerical collar. “It was certainly unexpected, but I am glad of the opportunity to meet with our invisible neighbors. Viscount Eversleigh was kind enough to assist me while the fay were asking me questions about Christianity. I had not expected such curiosity from them. Of course, I have never before had the privilege of leading a service in front of a living miracle.” He nodded towards the oak tree.
A miracle, indeed. “Have you always lived in Kent?” Darcy asked.
“No, my family is in Norfolk. I came here two years ago in response to an advertisement for a curate.”
“One of my family livings in Derbyshire is currently vacant. It is not the most valuable of livings, but it is a respectable and secure one. If you might have an interest in it, perhaps we could discuss it further.”
The curate’s eyes widened. “I...Why, yes, I would be most interested in discussing it, whenever it is most convenient for you.”
“Good. I expect to remain at Rosings for at least a few days.”
“Lady Matlock has already asked me to return tomorrow to discuss another service.”
Darcy wondered if his aunt was planning a memorial service or another wedding. She had not been pleased to discover Frederica had claimed blood right. “Tomorrow, then.”
AS SUNSET APPROACHED , the fay began to trickle away until there were only a pair of elves left standing guard by the Great Spell.
“What are they guarding?” Elizabeth asked Eversleigh.
“I have not the least idea,” he replied. “They say this is how it is done, and that appears to be all the answer we will get. Miss de Bourgh, I fear your Great Lawn has become a sacred place to the fay, and you are likely to find them there frequently. I expect mages will also wish to visit the Great Spell.”
Anne shrugged. “They are welcome. We almost never had guests at Rosings until my mother left, and now there are always people coming and going. I like it.”
“If you continue to encourage your cook to put out food for the fay, there will be even more,” said Eversleigh.
“Good. Aelfric says mortal food is what gives them vitality, but only if it is given to them voluntarily. I am willing to provide that.”
“You might wish to consider replanting the lawn as a garden,” said Elizabeth. “I suspect it has the most fertile soil in England now, and your gardeners may tire of having to cut the grass every day.”
Anne appeared to consider this. “I would like a new garden.”
Elizabeth felt a touch on the inside of her elbow that sent a trickle of heat through her. She did not even need to look to see who it was.
“I have arranged to have our dinner served in my room.” Darcy’s warm breath tickled her ear as he spoke quietly. “I have been sharing you with everyone all day. I want to have you to myself.”
She looked up at him through her eyelashes with a teasing smile. “I hope that means we can go there now.”
His eyes darkened with desire, sending a pleasurable fluttering through her insides.
AT LONG LAST, THEY were alone together. Darcy looked across the small table at Elizabeth’s fine eyes. His wife, his eliarinn , his Elizabeth. His for the night and forever, here in his bedroom.
He was determined to act as a gentleman tonight, wooing Elizabeth over dinner, even if every instinct insisted on making passionate love to her immediately. He would do this properly if it killed him. He would not think about sliding the blue muslin of her dress off her shoulder, revealing the flesh he had dreamed of for countless frustrated nights, nor what it would be like to feel her lithe body moving under his, her dark curls spread across his pillow as he made her his. No, he would not think about that. Not yet. He would show Elizabeth he could restrain himself.
Elizabeth picked up her wine glass and studied it, appearing engrossed in the reflection of the candle flame on the curved surface. She bit her lip.
He took her hand in his. Even that slight touch raised his desire to near-painful levels. “Is something troubling you?” he asked. “We do not need to hurry this if you do not feel ready.” Of course, he might burst into flames if he had to wait much longer, but Elizabeth’s comfort tonight was paramount. The tastes of her passion he had already experienced were intoxicating, and he would not allow a bad experience to taint her desire.
Her face cleared, and she smiled. “Oh, it is nothing like that! I am just thinking about what will likely happen after tonight. Did you feel all the magic pouring over us at our wedding?” She reached out and ran her finger along his cheekbone.
God, but her touch was a heady thing! He could feel the heat of it spread through his body. “It would have been hard to miss, but I could not tell what it was doing. It did not feel malicious.” How could he think about magic when all his attention was on retaining his sanity for the next hour until he could decently take Elizabeth to his bed?
“It was fertility magic. A very great deal of it.” She tilted her head with a teasing look.
Fertility magic? That was what the fay usually did in the mortal world, was it not? Then it hit him. “You mean the magic was for you and me?”
“Yes. We will not know for certain for some time, but it seems very likely that tonight you will not only make me your wife, but also the mother of your child.” She seemed to be watching him with some anxiety. “I hope you do not mind it happening so quickly.”
Elizabeth, carrying his child. He could practically feel his blood rushing through him. By morning his seed could be growing inside her. They would be bound together in every way. If he had been aroused by her before this, it was nothing compared to the desire now pounding through him.
“Mind it?” he somehow managed to say. “Quite the opposite.”
How could he restrain himself now? The Sidhe believed in acting on their urges immediately, and he was bound to Elizabeth by Sidhe blood and magic. Perhaps it was time to do honor to that tradition instead of proper society manners. If the fay wanted Elizabeth to bear his child, he would oblige them. Immediately.
He stood behind her chair, plucked her wineglass out of her hand, and set it down. His finger trembled as it traced her soft skin just above the fabric of her dress.
“Mmm.” She pressed against his touch like a cat.
Good God, how many buttons could fit on the back of one bodice? Tiny buttons that kept slipping through his fingers as he tried to undo them, but now the hidden flesh above her shift was beginning to appear. He could not keep himself from pressing his lips against each inch of newly-exposed skin.
Elizabeth gave a soft moan at his caress. “The fertility magic seems to be working already,” she said, her voice husky.
He bent to nibble her earlobe and whispered, “If the fay want you carrying my child, would it not be rude to let anything stand in the way?”
“Terribly rude,” she said with a breathy laugh, and rose. “I will assume I need not call for a maid to help me undress.”
“Absolutely not.” There were even more buttons than he had thought. Oh, to be a Sidhe who could wave his hand and make her dress vanish completely! There was only one thing to be done if he wanted to preserve his sanity. He grasped each side of the dress and yanked until the buttons gave way, revealing her shift and stays. One less layer to go.
She turned and wound her arms around his neck, her eyes smoky with desire. “I have been wondering how long it would take you to do that, eliarinn . You are not the only one who is impatient.” She brushed her mouth against his.
Restraint be damned. He teased her lips apart and claimed the delightful taste of her. This close together, he could feel her desire washing over him and intensifying his own.
Elizabeth.
MUCH LATER, DARCY RAN his fingers through Elizabeth’s hair. “I hope you were not too shocked, my love.”
Elizabeth giggled. “The feelings engendered were a surprise, but as for the rest – well, I have spent time with Titania and her dryads. One learns quickly not to be shocked.”
“I suppose that is true.” Darcy kissed the corner of her lips.
“Besides, I think both of us have grown accustomed to experiencing the unknown. Do you recall the first time I introduced you to Pepper in her raven form, before you had been to Faerie? You looked as if your entire world had tumbled upside down.”
He smiled. “Birds are not supposed to meow.”
“And now you ask my cat to identify sorcerers for you and you let my Sidhe half-brother pull snakes from your sister’s head. Why, you barely blinked an eye when your uncle slit his throat and turned into a tree!”
“I did blink my eyes several times at that,” said Darcy with mock austerity. “But you are right. Magic which shocked me a few months ago now seems almost routine. You had the advantage of knowing about it all your life.”
“I had other things to learn.” Elizabeth ran her hand down his chest. “I remember telling Charlotte once that nothing would ever change. Magic would always be forbidden to women, and I was sure you were looking for an excuse to put a binding spell on me. I could not have conceived of a time when the Collegium would disband or the Sidhe would come out of the shadows, much less that I had a brother among them. And the idea I could consider Eversleigh a friend when he was Master of the Collegium! Compared to those earth-changing things, your uncle turning into a tree was barely worthy of notice. Everything has changed, and I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. I cannot imagine a world free of sorcery and the Collegium where women are safe to use their magic.” She sounded wistful.
“Our world will be different, at least for those of us with magic, but as long as I have you, I am happy.”
“Good, since you cannot get rid of me.” Elizabeth laid her head on his shoulder. “I wonder if anyone has ever been both married and eliarinn before.”
Darcy wound his fingers in a lock of her hair. “I cannot say if there have been any in the past, but, as Lady Matlock asked Mr. Cox to return tomorrow, I think we will have company soon.”
“Without a doubt.” Elizabeth yawned, her eyelids drifting down. “I always did want to start a fashion.”