Stung, she said, “I have every intention of doing so, although not at your behest. I was already seeking a way to do so when I was interrupted by having to go to Faerie to tell Titania the truth about your foolish war. And then so much has happened that I have not had an opportunity to do even that much.”
He curled his lip. “Your truth being that mortals are ignorant of the groves.”
“More than that. We know people are falling ill and dying, and that it is because of the fay, but we do not know why they are hurting people. You, my lord, are fighting an enemy who barely knows your army is there, much less the reason for your war.”
He frowned. “I find that difficult to believe.”
“You ought to be able to tell I am not lying.”
He showed his teeth. “That particular skill only works in Faerie.”
“If I tell you again in Faerie, will you believe me then?”
“I will believe that you believe it. Are you always this argumentative?”
She gave him a patently false smile. “Only to those who deserve it. Look, there is Longbourn across the field. That is where you were born.”
He studied it, his expression shuttered.
How absurd this situation suddenly seemed! Not only was she magically at Longbourn without having traveled from Rosings, but she was here with a man who was clearly not human, one of a sort almost never seen in the mortal world. Her own sentiments on seeing Longbourn were decidedly mixed, the usual pleasure at viewing her home after time away mingled with the knowledge that so much of her life there had been based on falsehoods.
Better not to think too much of that, not when she had her father to face. She set off across the last field at a brisk pace, not looking to see if the prince followed her.
She stopped at the garden gate. “He will most likely be in his library, but if he is not alone, I prefer not to reveal myself to him.”
“As you wish.” He sounded less confident now.
“You are certain no one can see us?” Oh, how she wanted to run away! Anything but to face her father.
“Yes, but they could hear us, so we must be quiet.”
“We will be less likely to be heard if we go in through the back.” She squared her shoulders. It was time to finish this.
Fortunately there were no servants to notice the opening and closing of the door, and then it was just a matter of tiptoeing through the empty dining room to reach the library. She nodded to Aelfric and gestured to her body, and the cloak of illusion slipped away from her. Should she knock on the library door? No, someone might notice. She opened the door and stepped inside.
Her father looked up and his face lit with pleasure. “Lizzy! I did not hear you arrive. I am glad you are back. Is Jane with you?”
“Jane is still in London. This is a private visit just to speak to you.” In the familiar warmth of the library, the scene of so many happy memories, it was hard to maintain her anger with her father. “Or rather I brought someone who wishes to speak with you.”
“Who is it?” Mr. Bennet’s eyes widened as the prince dropped theillusion that hid him.
“Father, this is Prince Aelfric of the Sidhe.” A rude introduction, but it avoided the possibility of her father refusing to acknowledge him.
Mr. Bennet’s mouth settled into a straight line. “Fay folk are not welcome in my house, regardless of rank. I must ask you to leave.”
Prince Aelfric moved forward faster than any mortal could and stabbed his long forefinger on Mr. Bennet’s desk. “The last time you ejected me from this house, I was an infant, and I had no recourse. This time I will not leave until my questions have been answered.”
“You!” hissed Mr. Bennet. “Ask your questions, then, and be gone!”
The Prince raised his chin. “Who left me in the faerie ring?”
Mr. Bennet crossed his arms. “I did.”
“Did my mother know?”
Mr. Bennet’s eyes slid to Elizabeth. “No.”
“Did you tell her I was dead?”
