“He will have to kill me as well once he discovers I have seen your sister in fay attire,” said Eversleigh dryly. “But that can wait. Aelfric wantsto learn about Bakewell Blacks, and Darcy said you are an expert on the subject.”
Richard’s eyes lit up. “Bakewell Blacks? Why, they are unmatched as cavalry horses. Have you ever seen one? No? Mine is in the stables if you would like to meet one.”
“I would be most grateful for the opportunity!” said Aelfric.
Once Richard had led the enthusiastic Aelfric off to the stables, Eversleigh sank onto a sofa and folded his hands behind his head. “Something is not right,” he told the ceiling.
“Something to do with Elizabeth and Frederica?” Darcy asked.
“No, with Aelfric. He is avoiding telling me something. I may have to return to Faerie to find out what it is. At least I have managed to convince him that there are a few mortals who are not monsters. Thank you for your cooperation with that.”
“I did wonder why you wanted me to be with him.”
“He has a strong bias against mortals. His mother abandoned him, so he distrusts all mortals. It never concerned me before, but now Lord Cathael says Aelfric is supporting the war on mortals, so something must be done.”
Startled, Darcy said, “He is that prince? I assumed it was someone, well, older.”
“You have met the only two acknowledged princes of Faerie. There were others in the past, but they have long since died of old age. No doubt Oberon has other mortal sons, but none have found their way to Faerie, and the birth of a Sidhe is a great rarity these days.”
“Aelfric is his heir?” That sounded ominous. “How much longer will Oberon live?”
“Aelfric is not heir to the throne. He is acknowledged, but the throne does not pass from father to son. Titania will choose the new king when Oberon dies, but it will be an experienced Sidhe, not Aelfric. Oberon was young when William the Conqueror landed at Hastings, buthe is likely to live only a century or two more. Unless he is killed, of course. An iron bullet can kill even the Sidhe. That is why they do not ride among mortals anymore. Our worlds were closer before the days of firearms.”
“So the old tales of the Sidhe are true?”
“Many of them are. But this is why the idea of war against humans is so odd. Most Sidhe will not enter the mortal world because of the danger. How do you fight a war without soldiers?”
“I would think invisibility would be a great advantage.” The idea of fighting an invisible foe was terrifying. “But if true war is impossible, why do they want one?”
“That is indeed the question. I only wish I had an answer.”
“HERE, NOW I CAN SHOWyou,” Richard told Aelfric on their return. He took a chess set from the sideboard and began setting the pieces in random lines on the tea table. “Now, the white is our position, and the black are the French and Spanish. We were on the high ground here, and we had placed stakes at the bottom of the hill.”
Aelfric moved two of the black pieces. “Could they not have come up around you like this?”
Eversleigh murmured in Darcy’s ear, “Toy soldiers.”
“I heard that,” said Richard indignantly. “Aelfric had a question about cavalry charges.”
“What did you think of the horse?” asked Eversleigh.
“Colonel Fitzwilliam is going to introduce me to the man who bred his horse,” said Aelfric with enthusiasm. “If I can get two mares, I will be very pleased.”
Anne de Bourgh’s voice came from the doorway. “Pardon me. I did not realize you had company.”
“Just one of my friends who came by to speak to Fitzwilliam about horses,” said Eversleigh smoothly. “May I present... Mr. Alfred to you? Alfred, this is Miss de Bourgh of Rosings Park, cousin to both Darcy and Fitzwilliam.”
Aelfric’s Sidhe face had smoothed into human lines as he stood and bowed.
Anne held out her hand languidly. “Welcome to Rosings, Mr. Alfred. For a moment you looked somehow...” The familiar pained expression crossed her face. “Do you enjoy chess?”
Aelfric, clearly at a loss for the proper response, bowed over her hand, but he did not release it afterwards. Instead he gazed uncertainly into her eyes. “Are you well?”
Richard said with false heartiness, “Young Alfred has been enjoying a bit too much port. Pay no attention to him.”
Aelfric laid his hand on the side of her face. “What has been done to you?” he asked gently. “Shall I fix it?”
Darcy sidled closer, preparing to catch Anne in her inevitable swoon. “Miss de Bourgh’s health is delicate,” he said pointedly.
