At the sight of Jane’s shocked face, Elizabeth said, “I wish all of you could have been there. It all occurred so quickly, and the wedding itself was so unusual, that it is hard to believe it actually happened. Lady Matlock announced it would be happening, and ten minutes later I was standing before the curate! It was during all the madness after the Great Spell. Someday, when we have a great deal of time, I will tell you the entire story.”
“Was Aelfric there?” Of course, Mrs. Bennet’s thoughts had gone immediately to him.
“As my only male relative present, he gave me away. We had a remarkably understanding curate. We had intended to have a second ceremony in the usual manner in the Longbourn church, but, well...” She turned to her mother and whispered in her ear. “Two days later, Titania told me I was already with child.” The idea of having another wedding when she would be three months along had no appeal.
“Already? Oh, oh, oh! Oh, my dear! Is it true? I am so pleased! I shall be a grandmother! And Titania herself told you? Such an honor! Oh, my!”
So much for keeping that a secret from her sisters until theordinary time! “Titania said so, and I have no reason to doubt her, but it will be months before I show the usual signs.” She had just started feeling a little queasy in the mornings.
Jane was the first to congratulate her and kissed her cheek warmly. Elizabeth took advantage of her closeness to whisper, “You must come to visit me in London. I have so much to tell you!”
Mary asked abruptly, “Is it true that Miss de Bourgh is opening a school at Rosings for women with magic?”
“That is her plan.”
Her sister’s knuckles whitened. “I would like to go there, if I may.”
Mrs. Bennet’s expression brightened. “A delightful idea, Mary! Just what I would do if I were your age.”
Elizabeth said, “I can see no reason why you should not. I will ask Miss de Bourgh about it if you would like. I will likely be spending a good bit of time at Rosings myself as Mr. Darcy’s younger sister is there.” Georgiana had a long road ahead of her. Her undeveloped magic, suddenly augmented with Sidhe magic and elemental magic, seemed to be blossoming into new, unknown magical powers.
“Thank you.” Mary ducked her head, looking as uncomfortable with maternal approval as Elizabeth felt.
A change of subject was clearly overdue. “Jane, I am longing to hear all about your wedding plans. The Gardiners knew nothing but the date.”
Before Jane could even respond, Mrs. Bennet jumped in. “Is it true what your aunt wrote to me, that you took two of her children to Faerie?”
Elizabeth laughed. “I did borrow them for a day to soothe Titania. She has missed having mortal children to fuss over, and she needed the distraction after all that had happened. She was most taken with young Maddy and wants her to return. My uncle favors it, since hehas been taken with the notion of selling fay jewelry to mortals.” She glanced down at her wrist cuffs.
“Those are lovely cuffs. I always wished for some of my own, but they never gave them to mortals in my day.” Mrs. Bennet looked more closely at the cuffs and her eyes widened. “Are those diamonds?”
“Paste,” said Elizabeth firmly. If she had to wear them every day, she had no intention of allowing anyone to believe she was flaunting that sort of wealth.
“Still, they are beautiful,” said Mrs. Bennet with a sigh.
“Cathael, the new king of Faerie, gave them to me on the occasion of my wedding, and I must wear them every day to avoid insulting him. A few ladies in London have ordered similar ones. I hope they will become fashionable, since it is difficult to explain them to people with no knowledge of Faerie. At least they fit over long gloves.”
The safe chatter continued until the tea tray arrived, with Darcy and Mr. Bennet just behind it. Elizabeth was relieved to see a small smile on Darcy’s face.
It was comforting to have Darcy beside her again, but her father’s unusually grim visage made her stomach churn. What right had he to be angry? Her mother might have forgiven him, but Elizabeth was not ready to do so.
Mrs. Bennet gestured to the chair nearest her. “Mr. Bennet, do join us. I am about to pour the tea.”
“I thank you for the invitation, but whether I stay or not depends upon Lizzy’s wishes,” said Mr. Bennet.
That was unexpected, not to mention treacherous. What could she say? That she wished him far away, and even more wished he would be the man she once thought he was? After so much time in Faerie, polite lies no longer sprang quickly to her lips.
Mrs. Bennet said reproachfully, “Lizzy, you may disagree with his choices, but he is still your father. You owe him respect and courtesy.”
Fury choked her. How could her mother say that, after everything they had all suffered? She should not have come here today. But she managed to say, “I hope you will join us.”
Darcy murmured, “Elizabeth, the tea.”
The tea? He was concerned about tea? Then she realized the teapot was trembling as the water within it churned wildly. Quickly she chased her anger away as Darcy had taught her, focusing only on the moment and calming herself with slow breaths and happier memories. This was nothing more than a social call where they would share polite niceties.
The teapot stopped trembling just in time. Mrs. Bennet picked it up and began to pour.
ELIZABETH WAVED FAREWELLto the Bennets until they were out of sight, and sank back into the seat. “I do not suppose we could travel by faerie ring instead and send the coach back to London empty.”
