Eversleigh strode back towards them. “I hope that will be satisfactory,” he said to Darcy.
Darcy raised an eyebrow. “Is there a reason you wish the fay to attend our wedding?”
Eversleigh grinned. “Not as such, but you showed great honor for fay traditions last night. They wish to show you the same respect by honoring your mortal tradition.”
Lady Matlock appeared behind him. “If that is the case, we should do this properly. Richard, you will stand up with Darcy. Elizabeth, do you wish for Lord Eversleigh or Aelfric to give you away?”
“Why would anyone want to give Libbet away?” asked Aelfric. “You cannot give people away.”
“It is a symbolic part of the ceremony,” said Lady Matlock. “It would usually be performed by Elizabeth’s father, but in his absence, one of her male relatives would take on the role.”
“Then I should do it,” said Aelfric firmly.
Elizabeth said tactfully, “Mr. Cox, may I present my half-brother, Prince Aelfric of the Sidhe? Could he perform that role even though he is not a Christian?”
Mr. Cox had gone rather pale. “I suppose it would not be a problem as long as he is respectful of our Christian tradition.”
Lady Matlock nodded. “Who would you like to stand up withyou?”
Elizabeth peered across the lawn. “Is Bluebird here? She is my oldest friend.”
Eversleigh cleared his throat. “Shurinn.”
Elizabeth turned to him with a look of mock dismay. “Oh, dear. Lord Eversleigh has already made up my mind for me. Who shall it be?”
He colored. “Titania performed your blood right ceremony. It might be seen as insulting to exclude her now.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Very well, but you must ask her,shurinn. And quickly, since we know the fay do not like to be kept waiting.”
“Titania?” Mr. Cox’s voice quavered. “As in Shakespeare?”
“The very one,” said Elizabeth with a smile.
As Eversleigh hurried back to the fay, Lady Matlock said, “If it is to be done quickly, let us all take our places, in as simple a manner as possible. Elizabeth, will you explain Aelfric’s role to him?”
Within a few minutes, her ladyship had arranged it all to her liking and allowed the service to begin. Mr. Cox’s voice only cracked once as he began to read the ceremony. Aelfric handled his duties with dignified aplomb, even when a white raven flew in and landed on Elizabeth’s shoulder as they were walking down the aisle.
AFTERWARDS, WHEN DARCYand Elizabeth had walked up the aisle as man and wife, Darcy said hesitantly, “About the ring. I will get you another that will fit properly. I was so concerned about getting the license that I forgot completely about a ring.”
Elizabeth held up her hand to admire the ring. “I am very happy with this one, and it fits perfectly.”
“It cannot possibly fit you. Your fingers are much smaller than mine.”
She extended her hand so he could see it did indeed fit. “Is it perhaps of fay manufacture?”
“Yes. How could I forget? Eversleigh gave it to me.”
Cathael was the first of the fay to reach them. “Among our people, it is customary to give a gift on coming of age. Since that was not possible for you, I hope you will permit me to do so on this occasion.” He took Elizabeth’s hands and clasped his silver filigree cuffs around each of her wrists. They immediately shrank to fit.
“That is most generous of you. They are exquisite and will always remind me of the first time we met in your silver filigree hall.” Elizabeth sounded oddly shaken.
“This is for you, Diarcey.” Cathael handed him a silver dagger whose hilt was studded with rubies.
Darcy took it, since he had no idea what else to do. What did one say when given a gift worth a king’s ransom? “It will be my great honor to wear such a royal gift.” He tested the edge with his fingertip, having discovered during the blood binding that Sidhe knives were far sharper than any blade made of silver could possibly be.
“It is of dwarf manufacture. It will never lose its edge, and as long as you carry it, the elements will not trouble you and no harm shall befall you.”
He could feel the magic tingling through it. An emperor’s ransom, then. “It is a greater treasure than I deserve and almost as precious as the reward of peace between our people.”
