Elizabeth looked down at the water that rose to her ankles. It did not spread across the level ground to Anne and Frederica. There was no denying it was unnatural. Her feet were soaking wet. “Perhaps it is something Mr. Darcy did.”
“But he is still in Faerie with his sister.”
And she was at the revel in front of the Prince Regent with water clinging to her feet and ankles. She could not simply walk around that way! What had Mr. Darcy said about dealing with water, that he told it what to do? It was worth a try. Feeling utterly foolish, she looked down at her personal puddle and said, “Leave me and sink into the ground.”
The water obeyed.
“I feel very strange,” she said.
Bluebird materialized beside her. “You should have listened to Titania, Libbet. This was too much for you.”
“But I did it before. I am certain I will be fine if I can only sit down for a few minutes.”
Frederica looked at her worriedly. “Unfortunately, that is the one thing you cannot do.” She tipped her head in the direction of the PrinceRegent.
Bluebird’s steadying arm came around her. “I will support you.”
Elizabeth allowed herself to lean against Bluebird. At least her part of the evening was done.
ONLY A FEW GUESTS WEREstill lingering when the servants brought out a new table of food especially for the fay guests. The dryads, sprites and elves descended on it with a frightening alacrity, while Titania’s swains fought for the privilege of bringing her a plate.
Frederica said to Elizabeth, “Just look at my mother and Lady Jersey. They are going to be perfectly insufferable about what a success this evening has been.”
“They deserve it. I thought it would be an utter failure at first, but once the Prince Regent showed his approval, everything changed. I had not thought it possible that it would turn out so well.”
Frederica stifled a yawn, looking as tired as Elizabeth felt. “I am glad it is almost over. It is more enjoyable attending an event like this when one is not part of the entertainment.”
“I will have to take your word for it since I have never attended anything like this. But I must speak to your father before we leave. He will want to know what happened earlier, and it does not seem likely that either Darcy or Eversleigh will be in a position to tell him.”
“I suppose so. He should be in the Italian Garden. Mama sent him there when she decided the crush was becoming too much for him.”
“He looked like he was enjoying himself immensely,” said Elizabeth. But Lady Matlock did have reason to worry about her husband’s health, so perhaps it had been wise.
Aelfric set down his plate of food, a true sacrifice for one of the fay. “I will accompany you. I do not like you walking about alone whenthere has been dark magic afoot.”
Elizabeth considered telling him it was unnecessary, but she was too tired to quarrel. “Very well.”
Without the colorful lanterns, the Italian Garden was darker than the park where the revel was held, but the full moon made it light enough to see. Lord Matlock sat on a bench overlooking the parterre, a single lantern at his feet.
“Did my wife send you to check on me?” he asked. “I assure you my heart is ticking away just as it is supposed to, and there is no cause to worry.”
“I am glad of it, though I did not come here at Lady Matlock’s behest, but to tell you of certain discoveries we made just before the revel.” Elizabeth drew a deep breath. “It appears George Wickham, formerly a member of the Collegium, has taken up sorcery, and he convinced Aelfric to make the wells go dry. Aelfric is prepared to tell everyone that he, not Darcy, was responsible for the dry wells. Wickham cast a spell on Darcy’s sister, too, but Aelfric has removed it. Lord Eversleigh was injured by the spell, and he is recovering after being healed by Titania.” Good heavens, she sounded incoherent.
Aelfric frowned fiercely. “Wickham was responsible for the girl’s snake?”
“That is what Eversleigh – Evlan – told me.” She had forgotten Aelfric had not been present to hear that part.
Lord Matlock had grown still. “I think you had better tell me this story from the beginning.”
After she finished relating all that had occurred, Lord Matlock mopped his forehead with his handkerchief. “I had hoped we were past our sorcery problems when my sister was sent away,” he said with unusual quietness. “Richard had the right of it.”
“I wish that had been an end to it, too.” What else could she say?
Aelfric said calmly, “You need not worry about Wickham. I willkill him.”
If he was expecting an argument from Elizabeth, he would be in for a disappointment.
Before Lord Matlock could comment, four men approached them from the direction of the house. The leader carried a lantern and was in a Rosings footman’s livery.
