“It was a fortunate day when you stumbled into my keep. Without it, we would be at war and sorcerers would roam your land.” He touched the coronet he wore. “It has led me on a most unexpected road.” He nodded to them and walked away.
Elizabeth looked at the cuffs on her wrist. “I shall stop feeling guilty about not bringing a dowry to our marriage.”
“Good. I do not care in the least about a dowry as long as I haveyou.”
“That is not what I meant.” She held one of her cuffs up so he could see the diamond set in it. It was the size of a wren’s egg. “These should be in the Crown Jewels.”
He smiled. “My question is how I can carry a magic jeweled dagger with my modern attire. We no longer wear dagger sheaths.”
Elizabeth glanced down at his waistcoat. With a mischievous look, she said, “Most gentlemen may not, but it seems you do now. Perhaps you will set a new fashion.”
Frowning, he followed her gaze and discovered that indeed there was a leather dagger sheath hanging down below his waistcoat. “How did that...oh, never mind. I will never become accustomed to Sidhe magic.” He gingerly tucked the dagger into the sheath.
A few elves, dryads, and Sidhe also came forward to present them with gifts. Many of them gave a gift from nature – a perfect seashell, a rounded stone, a variegated leaf, or a flower. Darcy managed to follow Elizabeth’s lead in admiring each of these as much as the occasional priceless gem or magical harp.
A scowling brownie stomped up to them and stopped in front of Elizabeth. “’Tis nae so bad, that.” She jerked her head towards the Great Spell.
“I met you at the Millers’ cottage, did I not?” asked Elizabeth.
“Aye.” With a ferocious frown, the brownie thrust something into Elizabeth’s hand before stomping away.
Elizabeth smiled. “From a brownie, that is the height of civility towards a mortal.”
“What did she give you?” asked Darcy.
Elizabeth opened her hand. “It looks like a seed. A magical seed.”
“What will it grow into?” said Darcy cautiously.
“I have not the least idea, but it will be interesting to find out.”
Eversleigh joined them with Frederica on his arm. He pointed toElizabeth’s wrist cuffs. “Did Cathael tell you the meaning of those?”
“No, and I do not feel any magic woven into them,” said Elizabeth.
Eversleigh smiled dryly. “No magic, but silver cuffs are the traditional gift a Sidhe gives his daughter when she comes of age, and she wears them all her life.”
“What do they give their sons?” asked Darcy.
“A silver dagger.” Eversleigh pulled one out of a hidden sheath under his coat. “Oberon gave me this.”
Darcy drew out the one Cathael had given him. “You will have to show me how to wear a dagger sheath properly. Does the gift have a particular meaning?”
“I would guess he is acknowledging a debt to you. It suggests you have the right to call on him for assistance in the future.”
“Interesting,” said Elizabeth, with a lilt of laughter. “I often find weddings a little dull. This one has been the exception.”
“I think it was absolutely perfect,” said Frederica.
Elizabeth gave her an arch look. “I agree. I think every bride should be given away by a Sidhe, attended by the Faerie Queen, and have a phouka on her shoulder.”
Frederica sighed. “Being married at St. George’s, Hanover Square is going to be so very dull in comparison.”
“Ah, yes, there is that.” Elizabeth took Frederica aside and lowered her voice. “May I say something extremely impertinent and improper?”
Frederica’s eyebrows rose. “Pray do.”
“You are aware the fay bring fertility to the mortal world. Today they have been very busy, especially during the wedding ceremony. We were surrounded by fertility magic. Every gift I was given was infused with it. Titania practically drenched me in it. I will be astonished if I do not conceive a child tonight. I can sense nearly as much fertility magic onyou. I know your mother plans to delay your wedding until the Season begins, and...well, I also know how difficult it is not to consummate blood right even for a day. If you are hoping to take precautions against conception until your wedding, I must warn you they are very unlikely to be effective. Very, very unlikely.”
