“That I cannot tell you, but it seems to affect only your oldest memories.”
“My father,” she whispered bitterly.
“Unlikely,” Darcy said. “I know of no human mage who has the power to change memories. That would be far more difficult than a binding spell. Could it have been a fay?”
The lord lifted his chin. “There are those among us who have that ability. It is a tricky business, mortal memory.”
If only Darcy could see Elizabeth’s face! But she must be devastated, given her fear of binding spells altering her mind. The least he could do was to take the conversational burden from her. “What is the next step for us, then?”
The lady said, “I would like to introduce the young lady to our queen. She has no love for either this war or Oberon’s son, and she has greatly missed having mortal visitors. She might benefit from hearing a mortal perspective on the war.”
“Might I accompany her on this visit to provide her with a mortal companion in Faerie?” He did not like the idea of Elizabeth alone in Faerie, especially after the lord had called her beautiful.
The lady’s silvery laugh sent a shiver down his spine. “My dear boy, if I were to take a handsome mortal man into Titania’s presence, any hope of serious discussion would be at an end. Our queen is fond of handsome mortals.”
Elizabeth asked hesitantly, “Might I take a female companion?”
“If she has fay blood, or, as you mortals call it, magic, and if she comes as a friend to Faerie, I would have no objection. Do you have someone in mind?”
“Mr. Darcy’s cousin. She is visiting here.”
“Bring her to the faerie ring early tomorrow morning. I will sense your presence there.”
The lord looked searchingly at Darcy. “Tell your friend that Cathael appreciates his assurances.”
“I shall, honored lord.”
Pepper stood, stretched, arched her back and made a trilling sound.
Sounding amused, Lady Aislinn said, “As if I could stop you, phouka.” And with that, both Sidhe disappeared, along with the basket.
“CATHAEL? NOT WHOM Iwould have expected, but I suppose it makes sense. He is young enough, only a century or two, to take risks like involving mortals in his struggle to stop the war. He is not particularly influential among the Sidhe. Aislinn is less of a surprise. She gets on well with everyone and dislikes conflict,” said Eversleigh. “It is a good sign that they offered you their names.”
“I wish you would tell us something of the etiquette of the Faerie court,” complained Frederica, who had been practically bursting with excitement since learning she would accompany Elizabeth to Faerie.
Eversleigh said, “It is better if I do not instruct you on what to expect. That way you will seem to be innocent outsiders.”
“What if we inadvertently offend the queen?” Frederica asked.
“She is not the sort of lady to take offense at an honest mistake, I assure you.”
The next morning it became clear that Frederica would have nodifficulty passing as an innocent outsider. From her gasp when Lady Aislinn appeared in the faerie ring to her wide-eyed examination of their surroundings in Faerie, she could not be mistaken for anything but a new visitor.
But it seemed altogether too familiar and comfortable to Elizabeth. This part of Faerie was more park-like than the countryside she had been in with Darcy, and this time she was not frightened, exhausted and half-starved after being lost in the glamour trap. It felt natural to have sprites dashing by on their way to some destination. Even the flowery scent of the air was familiar.
They trailed behind Lady Aislinn, passing through a tunnel of saplings covered with flowering vines until they reached a spacious bower. The branches of living trees wound sinuously to form a loose latticework roof from which viburnum blossoms hung and scented the air with their rich fragrance. The floor was soft, springy moss. At the far end sat a dark-haired Sidhe lady surrounded by dryads and sprites.
Heedless of the breach of manners, Elizabeth caught at Lady Aislinn’s sleeve. “I have been here before,” she said quietly. “When I was young. I know her.” More of those thrice-cursed tampered memories she could not quite catch, like a squirrel who ran out of sight whenever she came close to it.
“The queen? That is unexpected. But she has seen you, so we must proceed.” Lady Aislinn propelled her forward until they neared Titania. The Faerie queen was smaller than she seemed in Elizabeth’s vague memory, but every bit as hauntingly beautiful.
Lady Aislinn made a deep curtsy. “Great lady, my most respectful greetings, and may the moon’s blessings shower on you eternally.”
Titania’s eyes slowly turned to focus on her visitors. “Greetings to you, Lady Aislinn. Whom have you brought me today?”
“These are two young mortals who stumbled into Faerie. I thought you might find them amusing. This one speaks some of ourlanguage, although she does not know where she learned it. Perhaps her memory is lost in the mists of Faerie.”
“Mortals? How delightful! I have so missed having mortals among us.” The queen beckoned them towards the bank of flowers where she reclined. “Come forward.”
