“He’ll be back soon. You will see,” said the colonel.
She buried her face in her handkerchief. Between sobs, she managed to choke out, “He is my little brother. That man has already taken our parents, Darcy, and Anne. I cannot bear it if he takes Jasper, too.”
The tears that were now never far from Elizabeth's eyes threatened to escape. She stood up jerkily and walked out into the main area of the bower, where Titania was listening to a dryad playing the harp. How could the dryads and sprites seem so carefree in face of this looming disaster? But sorcerers in the mortal world would have little effect on their lives. Unless they cared about Aelfric, no one they loved was at risk.
Eversleigh spoke from beside her. “When I visited my solicitor, I added a codicil to my will. If I do not survive this, you will receive a lifetime allowance, enough that you need not worry about having a roof over your head or food to eat.”
Elizabeth turned to him in surprise. “That is generous of you, but quite unnecessary. I do have family who will support me.” At least for the time being, and if they could do so safely. Just two days ago she thought to be the mistress of Pemberley, and now she might have no home at all.
“I did it for my own peace of mind. I can face the prospect of death with a little less cowardice if I know the people I care about will betaken care of.”
“I would very much prefer that you do not die.” Her breath caught on the words.
“Ah, but only a fool would deny that it is a real possibility, not least because I might, like Anne de Bourgh, find myself in the situation where the cost of saving my life is too high.”
There was no answer to that. “What of finding Sir Lewis’s body? Do you think that can work?”
“Finding his body? Yes. Killing him? No. Sir Lewis is not a fool. He will have his body well-guarded. We could not reach Darcy through his wards. Would he defend his own life less?”
Elizabeth bit her lip. “What about a gun? Can the wards stop a bullet? Or protect from a fire?”
“His wards are beyond my understanding. And we may never find out where he is. Jasper Fitzwilliam should have been back by now.”
Across the bower, Titania gasped. “I will return shortly.” She swept out of the bower.
“What was that?” Eversleigh asked.
Elizabeth shrugged. “I do not know.”
But Titania was already returning. “Prince Evlan, Libbet, come with me.”
Elizabeth exchanged a puzzled glance with Eversleigh as they followed Titania out of the bower. The Faerie Queen led them off the usual path into a stand of trees.
Oberon stood in the middle of it.
Eversleigh stiffened. “Honored father.”
“Where is Aelfric?” Oberon bit out the words.
“He has been taken prisoner in the mortal world by dark magicians, three of them. He is trapped in an iron structure at a place called Rosings Park.”
“What has been done to recover him?”
Eversleigh said, “My mortal friends and I attempted a rescue last night, but we failed. I still hope to defeat the dark magicians, who also hold two mortals of your acquaintance, Lord Matlock and Diarcey. Fighting so many dark magicians at once may be beyond our powers, but we will not stop trying while they hold Aelfric prisoner.”
“Show me,” commanded Oberon.
Eversleigh stepped forward and bowed his head. Oberon laid his palm on Eversleigh’s forehead. The two stood like statues for a long moment. Removing his hand, Oberon vanished without a word, leaving them in silence.
“What is he going to do?” asked Elizabeth hesitantly.
“Who can say?” Titania turned away as she spoke and returned to her bower. The conversation was clearly over.
“If I had to guess,” said Eversleigh slowly, “I suspect he plans to offer himself in exchange for Aelfric. He would do anything to free him.”
“But then he will be a prisoner.”
“He might be able to trick his way out of it. Debenham is no match for Oberon’s cunning, even in his decline. But Oberon no longer cares what happens to him. His life is already over.” Eversleigh looked grim. “This was a major violation of Sidhe rules. After they retire in their decline, they never see or speak to another Sidhe.”
