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Ashley shot to his feet. “We shall be ambassadors between your world and ours. We will come and go at will. But we will be the only ones who can, unless the Trusted Few approve of any additions to your world. We will ensure that no one of our world is apprised of your secrets, and by working together, we can preserve your anonymity and freedom.” He took a deep breath and smiled. “We can work together.”
Sophia’s grandfather reached for the duke’s hand. Ashley shook it in a firm grip. Then Sophia’s grandfather got up and clasped Ramsdale in his arms. “I will leave it to the rest of you to work out the details.” He called for some servants to take him back home. By the looks of him, he wasn’t to be long of this world.
“Thank you, sir,” Ashley said. Ramsdale bowed low before him. “Please know that I will care for your family as my own.”
Sophia’s grandfather beckoned the servants to stop. “I have watched you for years. You are a brilliant example of love, faith, and devotion. Teach that to my grandchildren and ensure that future fae do not suffer the same fate as my daughter. With this task, I entrust you. And my name is Lucius Gramerly. Be certain they remember me and this day.”
“I promise. Good day, sir,” Ramsdale said with a nod.
The servants carried the old man from the room, but he left with a light heart and a smile on his face.
“Let’s decide how this will work, shall we, gentlemen?” Ramsdale said, as he pulled up a chair and began to scratch a list on a piece of parchment.
***
Sophia clutched her grandfather’s hand in her own and willed him to grow stronger. If she could accomplish that by sheer will alone, she would. But it was not to be.
Her mother paced across the room, nibbling her fingernail as she muttered, “What on earth is taking them so long?”
Her grandfather didn’t wake. Sophia feared he wouldn’t. He was much too weak.
Suddenly, the door opened and Lord Ramsdale entered. Her mother looked anxiously at her father and waited for him to smile. “It looks as though we’ll be staying in the land of the fae for a time.”
Her jaw fell open. “How can that be?”
He nodded to the man in the bed. “Your father had a change of heart. He put all this in motion. He needed to lighten his heart and bring you back into the fold. And I get to come with you.”
“What about the children?” she asked.
“They will come, too, if I can talk Marcus into taking over our affairs for a time. I need to talk to him and see if he’s all right with it. He is my heir, after all.”
“Your oldest son will be all right with that?” Sophia asked.
“Marcus is my oldest son. Allen will have to live with it.” Ramsdale looked a bit worried about the prospects. But Sophia supposed it couldn’t be avoided. “The other five will live with us here in the land of the fae, at least long enough to learn about the world you come from.” He tugged at his wife’s elbow. “Let’s take a walk. I have much to tell you.” She looked over at the bed, where her father lay so still.
“Go,” Sophia encouraged. “I’ll call you if he worsens.”
Sophia’s mother followed her husband into the corridor and closed the door behind them.
Sophia fell into Ashley’s arms. He wrapped her tightly and stroked her hair.
“He’s a wily old codger,” Ashley finally said with a chuckle. “You have no idea how much it took for the man to pull this off. He planned for years, weighing his options, deciding the best way to proceed.”
“What happened?” Sophia asked.
“Your father has replaced him as one of the Trusted Few,” Ashley said. He shook his head in disbelief.
Ashley reached out to push her mouth closed. “I know,” he crooned. “I didn’t think it would work either. But we made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”
She stepped back to look into his face. “What sort of offer?”
“They want to know more about our world. So they can protect their interests. So, I have promised to build a library and fill it with literature of the past, present, and future. I am also to be their liaison between the worlds. Kind of like a voice outside the fae. I’ll represent them in Parliament, without anyone knowing it’s in their interest, of course.”
“Can you do that?”
“I can,” he said with a shrug. “I won’t compromise my principles for them. But I’ll represent what is good and right if they need it. I can’t see it happening often.”
She laid her head upon his chest and took a deep breath, feeling lighter than she had in a very long time. She took a deep breath. “I never expected it to all work out.”
