“That is what the queen says. Everyone in London says my true name, Jennifer, is odd simply because it is Cornish, so I am glad she gave me a new one. But how do you dare to wear your hair down?”
The elegantly dressed Miss Holmes, now Honeysuckle, shook her loose tresses. “Think of it as a costume ball. I like the freedom of it.”
“But people are staring at us!”
“Pay them no mind. Let them stare and see that we are not afraid,” said Miss Holmes.
Frederica grabbed Elizabeth’s arm, her eyes wide. “Stand up, all of you, this second,” she hissed frantically. “He is here, though Lady Jersey did not expect him. And Eversleigh is not! He was supposed to deal with him if he came.”
“Deal with what?” Elizabeth struggled not to trip over her silks as she stood up.
Frederica leaned over Titania and said urgently, “The Prince Regent is here. He acts in the King’s name.” She swallowed hard and whispered, “He is very fat. Do not say anything about that.” She dropped gracefully into a full court curtsey and bent her head.
The Prince Regent? Good heavens! Elizabeth did her best to imitate Frederica, who had the advantage of having been presented at court in her first Season, but the narrowness of her underskirt and the uneven ground made it difficult. With her head bowed, she peekedthrough her lashes to see a large number of boots coming towards them.
“Prince Aelfric, you should stand with Titania.” It was Lady Matlock’s voice. “Where is Viscount Eversleigh?”
Aelfric said, “He is in Faerie, healing from an injury caused by dark magician – what you would call a sorcerer.”
“Another one?” Lady Matlock sounded exasperated. “Well, I suppose I will have to do it myself, then. Queen Titania, the Prince Regent has requested the honor of an introduction to you.”
Titania’s silks floated as she stood. “You must rise, all of you. He has his retinue, and you are mine.”
Startled, Elizabeth raised her head. At Lady Matlock’s nod, she rose from her curtsy, attempting to keep her wobbling to a minimum.
Lady Matlock said briskly, “Let us have your dryads directly behind you, with the mortals and sprites after them.”
“Libbet and Marigold Meadowsweet will walk with my dryads.” Titania’s voice did not leave room for argument.
Her legs weak, Elizabeth obeyed, not even objecting when Bluebird took her by the hand.
They stood far enough back that she could not make out the words that passed between Titania and the Prince Regent, but from their voices, it seemed to be a cordial meeting. Elizabeth could barely believe she was in the presence of royalty. He looked just like the caricatures she had seen.
Her legs were starting to feel stronger when Lord Matlock approached the royal party. His hearty voice carried well. “Your Royal Highness, we have a special entertainment planned to celebrate Queen Titania’s visit, and we would be deeply honored if you would permit us to present it to you.”
“What sort of entertainment is it?” The Prince Regent eyed the dryads hopefully.
“It involves three young ladies. Among the fay, all womenperform magic, and they find our ban on ladies employing magic to be barbaric. I tend to agree, especially now that I have learned what accomplished young ladies can do with magic. My daughter, Lady Frederica, my niece, Miss de Bourgh, and our dear friend Miss Bennet will join together in delighting us with an illusion of the King’s Hall in Faerie. It will be unlike the flat illusions you have seen in the past. With this illusion, you will be able to walk through it and experience it from all angles just as you would if you actually travelled to Faerie.”
Prinny’s response was clearly in the affirmative.
Elizabeth wished she could hide somewhere, but she reluctantly stepped forward with Frederica towards the spot where Anne de Bourgh was waiting between Lord Matlock and Titania. The idea of performing the complicated illusion in front of half thetonhad been intimidating enough. Adding the Prince Regent to the audience made it terrifying.
Titania said softly, “Libbet, child, your gift is still unsteady from the blood binding.”
What was that supposed to mean? “Perhaps, but I cannot step back from this now.”
Anne took hands with Frederica on one side and Elizabeth on the other. “Let it begin.”
Elizabeth did her best to ignore the audience, focusing her attention on building the illusion, first creating a mist and then solidifying it into the vaulting ceiling of living wood of the King’s Hall. She felt Frederica building the opposite side, while Anne channeled power to both of them. She adjusted her construction to bring out the fine details of the gargoyles and to make the falling water from the fountain glisten.
But part of her ceiling was turning back into mist. She forced her attention there to repair it, but then the fountain slowed and the grassy floor began to fade. The sounds around her began to disappear, and something was wrong with her feet. This had not happened when theyhad practiced it. Surely she could not fail now in front of this august audience and the Prince Regent himself!
Then she felt Aelfric’s power buttressing her own, supporting her ceiling and walls, tweaking a detail here and there. The flowery scent of Faerie air wafted past her. The entire illusion strengthened and became more solid as Prinny and his retinue walked through it. Somehow, with Aelfric’s help, Elizabeth was able to hold her part of the illusion for the interminable minutes until Anne said, “It is done.”
Gratefully Elizabeth let the illusion dissolve into mist. What was wrong with her? When they had practiced building the illusion, it had been challenging and draining, but she had been able to maintain it.
“Libbet,” said Frederica in an odd voice, “why are you standing in a puddle of water?”
