“Shurinn,” Eversleigh corrected. “It means that we are kin through Aelfric.”
“Not true kin, though. More like a stepbrother, if anything.” Darcy had no intention of allowing Eversleigh to presume on his very slight connection to Elizabeth.
“To a mortal, yes. Among the Sidhe, half brothers and sisters are the rule rather than the exception, andshurinnis considered a blood tie.”
“Ridiculous,” said Richard. “You can call it what you like, but youand Miss Elizabeth are not related.”
“It may seem illogical, but nature works differently in Faerie. It is a true bond we are born with. Lord, this is difficult to explain to a mortal!” Eversleigh rubbed his hands over his face. “When two Sidhe, or a Sidhe and a mortal, are close kin, they share a magical connection, and it comes with obligations and bindings. If I concentrate, I can sense certain things about Aelfric – where he is, what he might be feeling, if he is in pain – even when he is not present. The bond also forces me to protect him. If I allowed him to be hurt when I could prevent it, I would feel physical pain.”
“So you have a magical bond with your brother. Fine. But Miss Elizabeth is not related to you.” Richard crossed his arms.
Eversleigh took a sip of his coffee, looked at the cup dispassionately, and pushed it aside. “There are three kinds of fay blood kinship. What you think of as relatives, close kin who share blood, like Aelfric and me, are calledtiarinn.Shurinnare kin through a blood relation. Elizabeth was carried in the same womb that carried my brother, and that makes us kin. Titania isshurinnto me by her blood tie to Oberon.Shurinnis not as intense a bond astiarinn, but it is still strong. I had never experienced it with a mortal before meeting Elizabeth. It is a strange sensation.”
“How can that be?” asked Darcy. “Would not all the Sidhe beshurinnsince their bloodlines are intertwined?”
“No. Only close blood ties matter, within two steps of relation. Father, mother, brother, sister, child – each of those is one step. Aelfric is one step from both Elizabeth and me. If Elizabeth had a child, Aelfric would betiarinnto the child, but the child would not beshurinnto me because that would be three steps. The fay recognize the concept of aunt and uncle, since that is two steps, but not the concept of cousin, because that is three steps.”
“You and Elizabeth are related despite having no shared blood,while Aelfric and his own cousin would not be?” Richard asked in disbelief.
“Essentially, yes. Still kin, but without the bonds of obligation or magic. The shared food ties between a Sidhe and his mortal followers are stronger.”
“This makes no sense!” exclaimed Richard.
“It does not matter if it makes sense,” said Eversleigh irritably. “It is not a choice, but something we are born with. Perhaps it is the same inexplicable instinct that makes mortal mothers protect their newborn babies with their lives.”
Darcy shook his head. “Elizabeth does not seem to feel that connection to Aelfric. She seems to have taken him in intense dislike, and certainly does not feel protective of him.”
Eversleigh sighed. “Ah, that is the other side of Sidhe kinship. Sometimes kin do not like each other, but because there is forced mental closeness, the bond can turn oppressive and lead to even greater conflict. Aelfric and Elizabeth met badly. I hope they will not always have a troubled relationship, but it is possible they will. Even if they do, should Elizabeth see someone trying to hurt Aelfric, she would stop them at all cost. And if Aelfric asks her to do something, she will do it unless she feels it is immoral.” He gave a slight smile. “She will also resent having no choice.”
Darcy could easily believe that part. “Are you alsoshurinnto Elizabeth’s sisters, then? You may not find that a comfortable bond. Her younger sisters would be very pleased to be able to give orders to a viscount.”
Eversleigh groaned. “I will try to avoid meeting them. The closeness ofshurinnis often not as comfortable as it is between Miss Elizabeth and me. We each treat the bond with care.”
Darcy could not help himself. “Do the Sidhe forbid incest?”
“Betweentiarinn, yes, but not betweenshurinn.” Eversleighpicked up his abandoned coffee cup and drained half of it.
Darcy stood and strode to the window. He could not even bear to look at Eversleigh. So that was why Elizabeth had said nothing was possible between them. She might be attracted to him, but what did he have to offer compared to a viscount with whom she had a magical bond?
“Wait,” said Richard. “Did you not say there were three kinds of Sidhe kinship?”
Eversleigh nodded, for all the world as if he had not just shattered Darcy’s world. “The third kind,eliarinn, is rare. You may safely forget about that one.”
Darcy wished he could forget the entire conversation, but he expected it would haunt him forever.
Part IV – London
Chapter 12
“Did you sleep well?” Frederica asked Elizabeth the next morning in the breakfast room at Matlock House.
“Tolerably well, I thank you.” But she had dreamed of being in Darcy’s arms. She had barely seen him at Rosings after Lord Matlock’s heart paroxysm. He had always been off with Anne de Bourgh or meeting with the other mages. He did not come to the Dower House again. She had seen him only for a minute when he came to bid his aunt and uncle farewell, and she had been able to speak only a few sentences to him. Her chest had ached all the way to London.
“Good. You will need to be well-rested. Mama is planning to take us to the modiste today to discuss our costumes for the revel. The designs are likely to take hours, and Mama also wants to order a dress for you.”
Elizabeth’s shoulders stiffened. “That is kind of her, but I am not in need of a new dress.” In truth, she was greatly in need of new garments after losing what she had in Kent, but Lady Matlock’s modiste would be far more expensive than the seamstress in Meryton.
“I would not recommend fighting her on it, or she will claim to be heartbroken that you will not allow her to buy you a dress after saving her husband’s life. When it comes to my mother, it is better to save your stamina for important battles. Besides, she intends for us to attend a few soirees while you are here, so a new dress will be useful.”
