“How can he be fay when both of our parents are human?” demanded Mary.
“Because his father is Sidhe.”
Stunned silence met her words.
Jane clasped her hands in front of her mouth. “Oh, poor Mama. Poor, poor Papa. He would not have known what to do.”
“He put a spell on his own wife so that we have never known the woman she truly is. I saw a binding spell removed recently and the lady involved was utterly changed.” Elizabeth’s voice shook on the last words.
“He could not have meant to change Mama.” Jane could never bear to think ill of anyone. “Our brother – goodness, how strange that sounds! What is he like?”
“He is –” Elizabeth broke off. It would be unfair to prejudice hersisters against Aelfric. “A friend who has known him all his life says Aelfric has a good heart. Aelfric and I did not start off well, mostly owing to a misunderstanding, and he has improved with further acquaintance.” Not improved much, but it was still true.
“I do not want a fay brother,” said Mary in a low voice. “I do not want fay blood or magic or a different mother.”
Given how hard it had been for Elizabeth to accept those things, it must be overwhelming to pious Mary. “I was devastated when I first found out about him only a few days ago. I still am, for that matter.”
“Why did you hide your magic from us?” said Mary abruptly.
“Why?” asked Elizabeth with a hint of incredulity. “Because I did not wish to be an outcast.”
Jane said soothingly, “Mary, I am sure Elizabeth intended to protect us.”
Mary made a gesture with her hand as if brushing the argument away. “That is not what I mean. Why did you not tell your own sisters?”
“I –” Elizabeth stopped short. Why was Mary asking questions with obvious answers rather than sermonizing? “The same reason. Lydia or Kitty would never remain quiet about such good gossip. I expected you would disapprove and might mention it in confession. Telling you would have been dangerous and would have accomplished nothing.”
Mary looked away, blinking behind her spectacles. “That is not true. If you had told me, I would have known that I was not alone, that it was not because of my personal failings. I tried so hard to be obedient, to pray, to read every book of sermons I could find, all in the hope that if I were only virtuous enough, the stain of magic would leave me.”
Dumbstruck, Elizabeth could only gaze at her sister. At last she said, “I had no idea. Magic has nothing to do with virtue. It is something you are born with, like the color of your eyes. I hid it, but I was not ashamed of it. I wish I had known what you were thinking.”
“Then why is magic forbidden to women?”
“The mages would prefer women not to have magic, but that is a prejudice on their part. The fay think it is barbaric that mortal women are not allowed to use magic. I had thought no ladies practiced magic, but I have learned that is not true. They learn as much as they can of magic, but very discreetly.”
“Lydia knows how to use her magic.” Mary sounded angry.
Jane gasped.
“Lydia has magic? I had no idea.” Elizabeth said.
“Why do you think Kitty follows her around and all the officers pay so much attention to her? She uses it to dazzle people.” Her words dripped scorn. “Surely that is not something to aspire to.”
“No.” One shock after another. At Longbourn, Elizabeth had an outlet for her magic with the wisewoman; what might she have ended up using her magic for had she not? “Lady Frederica told me once that it was surprising none of my sisters had magic, but I paid no attention. I should have listened to her.”
“Did you assume you were the only one of us to be so gifted, then?”
“Gifted? It sounds more like it was a curse for you. Our father knew I had magic, and I suppose I thought he would have said something to me if any of the rest of you did.”
Mary scowled. “He probably did not notice. He never sees anything he does not wish to see.”
“No, he does not,” said Elizabeth sharply. “It is probably better for me not to speak of him at present, though. I am still very angry about the spell he put on our mother. Have you thought of what you might wish to use your magic for? It can be a force for good.”
“I do not even know what it can be used for! Not to impress other people, that is certain.”
“I do not know all the possibilities either. I learned to use my magic by trial and error, and I have only recently discovered how little Iknow. Would you mind if I asked Lady Frederica to join us? She can answer your questions about magic better than I can, and she would be very happy to do so. She wishes to see more women practicing magic.”
Mary hesitated. “Would she not think me foolish?”
