“That has been his choice,” Aelfric told the bridle.
“He has begun his decline, you know,” Eversleigh said gently. “He should be stepping down, not starting a war. Why have you allowed it to progress so far?”
Aelfric leaned his forehead against the horse’s head. “He is not far into the decline. There is no reason he cannot rule.”
“He is dragging Faerie into a pointless war because he is becoming volatile and angry. You must know this, with all the time you spend with him. It makes me wonder if you have been hiding his decline by taking responsibility for his war.”
“I do not want to lose him so quickly,” said Aelfric, his voice low. “He will not wish to see me once he goes into retirement. I always knewyou would not live long. Now I will be losing both of you, and I will be left alone. The other Sidhe see me as a child. If being a Sidhe means watching everyone you care about die while you still have centuries to live, I wish I had been born mortal.”
Eversleigh laid his hand on Aelfric’s arm. “Until today, I always assumed our father would outlive me, still hale and hearty when I am growing old and frail. I do not like discovering that is not true. You are not alone in this.”
“You do not know what it is like here when you are away. I have no one apart from him.”
Eversleigh leaned back against the stable wall. “Brother, have you ever wondered why the other Sidhe are so fond of mortals? Why they seek out mortal poets and lovers, and why Titania lavishes her affection on mortal children?”
“Foolishness, that is why,” said Aelfric bitterly.
“Mortals, being short-lived, give affection freely, especially mortal children. They do not wait a century or two to judge whether you are worthy of their respect. The Sidhe are cautious. How many of them seem to truly care for each other? Parents and children, yes, but even couples who claim blood right live separate lives. When did you last see our father show particular warmth to Titania? He respects her, and he is not unkind to her, but they have been pursuing the same quarrel for ten years, or is it fifteen? There is no hurry to resolve things when you live for centuries. And what was the quarrel about? Titania losing one of the mortal children she favored.”
“But I do not like mortals.”
Eversleigh chuckled. “Except for me, Colonel Fitzwilliam, Darcy, Libbet – you have liked almost every mortal you have met of late. What Sidhe apart from our father has ever shown you the sort of casual acceptance Colonel Fitzwilliam did?”
“But mortals die,” Aelfric said bleakly.
“Yes. I will die long before you. But you will have my children, grandchildren, and my grandchildren’s grandchildren. There is a sort of immortality in that.”
“But you have no children.”
“As my mother reminds me at every opportunity! But I will someday.” Someday when he had managed to forget Frederica Fitzwilliam. “You will have Libbet, too. I hope she will provide you some comfort and company when our father chooses to retire from society.”
“Are you going to tell him he should?”
“Yes, although with a heavy heart. He would say it is my duty. I will also speak to Titania.”
Aelfric picked up the curry comb and began to brush the horse. “Perhaps I should join you when you speak to our father.” He did not meet Eversleigh’s eyes.
“Good. That will do him honor.”
“YOU HAVE TAKEN MARVELOUScare of Augustus,” Elizabeth told Bluebird. “His fur is so silky and shiny now. I am glad I did not have to leave him alone at Rosings while I was in London.”
Bluebird scratched the tabby cat under his ears. “We have been happy to have him here, and Titania has grown fond of him. Now we can all be together.”
Elizabeth said, “He seems happy here, though it is a mystery how I came to have a fay cat who lives in the mortal world with me and a mortal cat who lives in Faerie. I think they are as confused where I belong as I am!”
“You belong here,” said Bluebird firmly, wrapping her arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders.
“I do not seem to belong anywhere else, now that Longbourn is lost to me,” said Elizabeth ruefully.
Bluebird looked up at the entrance to the bower. “Prince Evlan is back already! Titania will not be pleased to lose Marigold Meadowsweet so soon. It is good you are staying.”
Elizabeth frowned. “Something is wrong.” One look at Eversleigh’s face was enough to tell her that much, even before he walked straight past them to sink to his knees before Titania. He said something quietly to her.
Titania looked puzzled but shrugged. “Away, all of you! I would speak with Prince Evlan alone. Libbet and Marigold Meadowsweet may stay if they wish.”
Elizabeth glanced at Bluebird before moving forward to stand near Eversleigh. Somehow it felt right to be beside hershurinnin a time of difficulty.
When all the sprites and dryads had vanished into other parts of the bower, Titania said, “I am always glad to see you, Prince Evlan, but what is so important that we must speak privately?”
