Anne merely looked into Aelfric’s eyes, seemingly mesmerized, and nodded.
The young Sidhe held her gaze for perhaps half a minute before removing his hand and tossing something in the fire. A rope, or could it be a snake? Where had that come from?
“There; it is done. Now you must have a long sleep to let your body recover.” Aelfric guided her to the fainting couch and supported her as she sat down.
Her eyelids were already drooping. She made no resistance to lying back on the couch. Richard darted over and placed a pillow beneath her head.
Aelfric said softly, “Sleep now. Sleep and heal.”
Anne’s eyes closed, and her chest began to rise and fall evenly.
Richard laid his hand on Anne’s neck and almost instantly snatched it away. “She is burning up with magic. He must have removed the spell.” He chuckled. “Father’s unbreakable spell. He will be furious.”
Aelfric, his sudden gentleness vanished as quickly as it had come, glared at Eversleigh. “Why did you not help her? She was in pain!”
“I tried,” said Eversleigh mildly. “I was unable to break the spell. Why do you say she was in pain?”
“You could not tell?” Aelfric’s shock was obvious.
“Apparently not. How did you know?”
But it must be true, for the pinched look Anne had borne for as long as Darcy could remember had vanished. She looked much younger now.
“Can you not smell the pain?”
Eversleigh shook his head. “That is beyond my abilities.”
“Elizabeth knew.” Darcy was suddenly sure of it.
“Naturally Libbet would know,” Aelfric said disdainfully.
Darcy asked, “How long will she sleep?”
Aelfric studied her. “For a mortal, I cannot say. A fay would sleep half a day.”
When she awakened, she would have all that magic burning in her. What if she tried to kill someone again? Could Darcy and Richard contain her? Would she listen to them?
Mrs. Jenkinson, Anne’s companion, peeked into the room. “Oh! Miss de Bourgh! You ought to have called me when she fainted.” She took a vinaigrette from around her neck and opened it under Anne’s nose.
Darcy moved her hand away. “She is not fainting, merely asleep. You could assist by bringing a blanket to cover her.”
She looked as if she wished to argue, but Darcy had been giving the orders at Rosings since Lady Catherine’s illness. With a frightened glance at Anne, she scuttled off.
“That is going to be a problem,” said Richard. “We cannot leave Anne to awaken without a guide in magic, but Mrs. Jenkinson will not permit a man to remain by her all night. We need Frederica and Miss Elizabeth.”
Eversleigh straightened his cuffs. “Under the circumstances, I believe they would agree to return. But – no, there is still the question of tonight, so there is no choice. I will fetch them.” He looked troubled.
“What were you about to say?”
Eversleigh grimaced. “That I could not go to Faerie until tomorrow. Traveling through the rings is not without cost for mortals. Using them is always tiring, and it is hard to think clearly afterwards, but using them to travel between worlds more than twice in one day causes increasing confusion. I will not be able to use the rings for a week or two afterwards, but this cannot wait until tomorrow.”
Part III – Dark Magic
Chapter 8
“Anne is stirring.” Frederica’s voice was quiet, but it carried through the silent room.
Darcy closed his book without marking the page. He had not been able to keep his attention on it anyway, not with everything that had been happening.
