“Greetings,anwyll. We’ve missed you.”
Elinor’s eyes widened and her lips parted in a huge smile. “Bronwen.”
“You’ve remembered my name then,” the elf grinned. “I worried that being in that dirty, smoky, horrid city would have turned your brain around and made you forget all about us.”
“Ohnooo. How could it? Nothing in this world could make me forget you and your friends.” She reached out to the small hands and felt the familiar tingle as human flesh touched softelfin skin. “I’ve missed you. How are you? Is all well with your people?”
“All is well,anwyll. Even better now that you are home again.” Bronwen sat next to Elinor and leaned against her. “I would like to hear about your adventures, the things you saw, the places you visited. There must have been some moments you enjoyed, since that city is built for your people.” She gave a tiny snort. “We certainly wouldn’t like all the dirt and noise.”
“Well,” Elinor pursed her lips in thought. “You’re quite right about the dirt. And the noise too. But one gets used to it after a few days, and then you realise that you’re not hearing it so much.” She shrugged. “It’s easier to ignore, I suppose. It didn’t hurt that my brother and his wife have a very nice house in a quieter part of town. At night, when the balls are in full swing, the music can be quite lovely, and of course the dancing is fun.”
“So you enjoyed some of it?”
“Yes, I did. The walks in the park, for instance, and a visit to an estate near town where some friends of our family were hosting an outdoor party.” She chuckled. “A very brave thing to do, given the unreliability of the weather.”
Bronwen giggled. “Oh yes, I couldn’t agree more.” She nudged Elinor. “But you’re not telling me about the people you met. The gentlemen…”
“Ah.”
“Oh dear. I know that look.”
Elinor sighed. “Yes, you probably do. Well, not to put too fine a point on it, the gentlemen seemed to be surveying the ladies much as they would a horse they’re intending to purchase.” She wrinkled her nose. “It’s quite awful, if you must know. And what’s worse is that every Mama tries to present her daughter as extremely eligible, so the competition to be noticedat all at any Society event is extreme. And horrid,” she added as an afterthought.
“Even with the lovely music and pretty gowns?” Bronwen’s eyes were wide as she digested everything Elinor was saying.
“Even then.”
“So you didn’t really enjoy yourself?”
A shake of the head was the immediate response. “Some are made for the city,” Elinor said quietly. “I am most definitely not amongst their number.”
“And that’s why you’re home now? Earlier, I think, than we anticipated?”
“In a way, yes.”
Silent for a moment, Bronwen’s pointed ears twitched a little. “I feel there may be more,anwyll.”
Elinor sighed. “I should have known I cannot hide anything from an elf.” She swallowed. “Well then, here’s the honest and terrible truth.” She turned to look at the little face watching her intently.
“I have been sent home in utter disgrace, Bronwen. Absolute and utter disgrace.”
“Ohcachiad!”
“Indeed.” Elinor stood and brushed off her skirts. “Let’s walk and I’ll tell you about it.”
Chapter Two
Not far from where Lady Elinor Molliney was confessing all to her unusual friend, someone else was working, and working very hard.
The lands of Tylwyth Teg Abbey bordered the Molliney estate, but were not in as decent a condition as their owner would have liked. Thus, this sunny morning, Sir Caleb Howell, Baronet, was peeled down to his shirt and breeches, and doing his best to clear away some of the debris that had accumulated over the past couple of years.
He needed to find a marker, which was, according to his estate manager, a large grey stone. This particular one would confirm the position of the corner of Howell property, and he’d been told that it was very close to the waterway known asNant Isaf. He’d learned that those words denoted a stream in the woods or something, which was not surprising, since he was in the woods and he could actually hear water, so there was indeed a stream.
Ergo, theNant Isafwas near. In fact, he could just make out the sort of burbling sound one associated with running water, so he toiled on, ripping out ferns, fighting with rhododendrons, and cursing under his breath at other stubborn green things that refused to move or let go of the earth beneath.
One might wonder, of course, what an obviously well-bred, not to mention titled, gentleman was doing spending his morning toiling harder than a farm worker.
Caleb paused, wiped sweat from his brow, and pondered that exact question while leaning on his scythe.
