The brownie snorted. “We serve t’ great lady, but there can be nae harmony while t’ High King tortures our people.”
“My dragon would agree with you,” Elizabeth said slowly. “You have answered my questions well.”
Now all she had to do was to convince the staff to accept the situation.
The staff were all gathered in the servants’ hall, murmuring to each other. At Elizabeth’s entrance, they stood and shuffled into rows. Oh, dear. She had hoped for more informality. But this was Pemberley, not Longbourn, and theystill hardly knew her.
“Good evening.” She moved to stand at the head of the room. “I thank you for coming. As you are no doubt aware, we have had an influx of lesser fae among us. I have spoken to one of them, and they have promised to do us no harm. But I am aware you may have other concerns about how this will affect you.”
She watched for a reaction, but it was just worried looks, so she continued. “There will be no changes in the staffing here, no reductions in position or salaries. For those of you whose workload has lessened, I have instructed Mrs. Reynolds to find new tasks for you. She will consult the rector to see if there is charity work which could use extra hands.”
She could see the visible signs of relief on the faces nearest her. “It will be an adjustment, but I am determined that none of you will suffer for the presence of the fae among us. Mrs. Reynolds will, as always, assign your particular duties, but if you have any general questions, I will do my best to answer.”
An older footman stepped forward, and she nodded to him.
He ducked his head. “These fae. The elderflower brought them, didn’t she?”
Baffled, Elizabeth studied him. His accent was not particularly thick, certainly not enough for her to misunderstand his words, but what on earth did he mean? None of the other servants seemed confused by his question. “Pardon me, did you ask about elderflowers?”
Mrs. Reynolds moved closer to her. “He means the dragon. It is a way to avoid using the word, because of the binding.”
Yet another local custom she needed to learn. But of course they must think it was Cerridwen’s fault. A dragon had appeared at Pemberley, and less than a fortnight later, the house was overrun with lesser fae. How could she explain this so they could understand – and not blame her for it? “Not directly. You have no doubt heard that Lady Anne Darcy was trapped in Faerie for many years. We recently discovered that one of the High Fae has been threatening her children. When Cerridwen learned of it, she placed a protection on Pemberley to keep him away. But many of the lesser fae also fear him, too, so they have come here for their safety.We did not expect that, but it is the price of keeping Mr. Darcy and Miss Darcy safe from the High Fae.”
Mrs. Reynolds frowned. “Mrs. Darcy, is there any risk to the staff from this High Fae?”
“Not now, since he can no longer enter Pemberley, and his interest is only in the Darcys. Beyond that, I cannot say, though I would not wish to be the one standing in his way. He is very powerful.” The staff might panic if they knew it was the High King himself.
The housekeeper nodded decisively. “So we are safer now, too.”
“Thanks to Cerridwen, yes. Are there any other questions?” Of course they must have questions, but apparently none they would voice to her. “Mrs. Reynolds will keep me apprised, of course, should any new problems arise.”
After she bade them good night, the servants turned to each other, putting their heads together to whisper as Elizabeth turned to climb the stairs, with Mrs. Reynolds following behind her.
Once they reached the great hall, she turned to the elderly housekeeper. “Will that satisfy them?”
“I hope so. I thank you, Mrs. Darcy, for keeping everyone on. It is generous of you.”
“Will any of them wish to leave anyway? A dragon is enough of a shock, and then to add in the fae – I could not blame them if they did,” she said wearily.
Mrs. Reynolds seemed to consider. “One or two, perhaps. More because of the fae than your dragon. They are quite proud of her, and that they are in service to a dragon companion. The only complaint I have heard on that front is annoyance that they cannot boast to their families about it.”
It was almost enough to make her smile. Almost, but not quite. “What was that about elderflowers?”
The housekeeper’s expression cleared. “It is a tradition here, that anyone who sees a dragon will then plant an elderflower by their doorway as a sign to their neighbors who are also under bindings, and to honor the dragons. Because elderflowers are sacred to dragons, of course.”
That was news to Elizabeth, but there were certainly many elderberry bushes in the village and the hedgerows – and around the Dragon Stones. No doubt this explained why elderberry preserves and elderberry wine had been appearing on her trays so frequently since Cerridwen had taken on her true form.
But for now she was simply exhausted. She had hardly slept last night, and the pain of Darcy’s absence seemed to sap the strength from her bones. “Pray keep me informed if there are any further problems, Mrs. Reynolds. I think I will retire early tonight, with a tray in my room, if that is not too much trouble.” She could not face making conversation with Georgiana over dinner.
“Not at all, madam,” the housekeeper said.
She should not complain, though, not when Darcy must be far more uncomfortable, somewhere in a coach partway to London or wherever it was they planned to take him to catch his ship. Somehow not knowing made it even worse. At least he was safe while he was still on English soil, but that would not last.
Finally she was in her bedroom, where she could throw herself on her bed and bury her face in the pillows. These next weeks and months, waiting to hear the worst, were going to be a nightmare.
Chapter 12
By the next morning,loneliness hung on Elizabeth’s shoulders like an iron weight. She had not realized how rich she had been in friends at Pemberley. A week ago she could have spoken to Darcy, Granny, Frederica, or Roderick about the matters on her mind. Now there was no mortal with whom she could discuss any of it – her land Talent, magery, or dragons.
