“Of course, I meant to tell you, Caleb,” Elinor interjected. “Freedom and Home. What the Tylwyth Teg needed so desperately.”
“Indeed, Elinor. That is true. A reminder to those who could understand it, that we were still here and waiting for the right hand to open our doors once more.” He smiled at her. “Your family has always had those characteristics, my dear. But it’s taken until now for one person to rise above the rest and find the answer to our problems. A fortunate circumstance indeed.”
She shook her head. “I still can’t quite believe what I’m seeing and hearing.”
Before she could say more, the door to the library opened, admitted two people, then shut again quite rapidly.
Elinor’s world spun and she closed her eyes, convinced she was about to faint.
Aelwyn laughed aloud. “My dear friend. It has been far too long.”
She opened her eyes again and simply stared in shock as Aelwyn crossed the room and held out his arms to her father.
“Good God,you? I neverimagined…”
The man and the elf hugged, a warm and affectionate move that stunned both Elinor and Caleb.
“How did you know?” Aelwyn asked, releasing Lord Molliney.
“I felt it. So strongly. The call hit my bones like a huge hammer, and also…” he glanced at Elinor, “I felt something, a strange sensation I’d never felt before. Elinor…” He walked to the couch. “Youdid it, didn’t you? You restored Tylwyth Teg.”
“Papa,” she croaked. “I don’t…I can’t…”
“Neither can I, dear.” Lady Molliney crumpled into a chair and stared at her daughter. “This is all beyond imagining. The story your father told me in the carriage on the way? Can you imagine my astonishment? Mystical creatures living near us? The story of Tylwyth Teg? I couldn’t believe it then, and I’m still not convinced now…” She glanced at Aelwyn. “But there are things that are rather hard to dismiss as Banbury tales, under the circumstances.”
“I assure you, my Lady, I am no Banbury tale.” Aelwyn bowed, took her hand and placed a lingering kiss on it, smiling all the while.
“Oh…well, when you put it like that…” Lady Molliney’s cheeks flushed with a delicate pink hue, and her lips curved into a soft smile.
“Mama.” Elinor’s voice was hesitant. “I take it that you never knew of Papa’s…um…special gift?”
At that, her mother’s eyes twinkled. “Darling, your Papa has many special gifts.” She shot a teasing glance at her husband, who cleared his throat and looked at the ceiling. “But no, he never told me of this one.”
“So you understand why I couldn’t tell you of mine?”
“Of course.” Lady Molliney gave her daughter a sweet, loving smile. “We raised you and your brothers to be honest, loving, and honourable, Elinor. You have exceeded our wildest dreams, dear.” She shot a pointed look at Caleb. “In every way.”
“Well, this is delightful,” said Caleb, his voice somewhat edgy. “But I’m not sure where we go from here.” He turned to Aelwyn. “Is there anything I should be doing to make your job easier, er…sir?”
“We will be just fine, lad. And no, you’ve both done everything that was needed. As we speak, my people are returning, and now that our homes are open at last, Tylwyth Teg will once again be held by its rightful owners.”
“That’s good to know, Aelwyn,” smiled Lord Molliney, putting his hand on the elf’s shoulder. “I told you a long time ago it would all come right in the end, didn’t I?”
“You did indeed, Anthony. You did indeed.”
Caleb sighed and stood. “I think I need some air.” He held out his hand to Elinor. “Walk outside with me? It’s not dark yet…”
She stood and glanced at her parents. “Mama? Papa?”
They shared a quick look, then nodded. “Don’t be too long though,” said her mother. “We’ll stay for a little while, then wecan ride home together.” Her gaze shifted to Caleb. “Not too long.”
The message was clear, and he dipped his head briefly in acknowledgement, then grabbed Elinor’s hand and dragged her from the library. Within moments he was through the front door and hurrying them both into the shadowed garden.
“God, Elinor,” he breathed, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. “What the hell did we do?”
She smiled and leant against him. “We did the right thing, Caleb. We didn’t know we were doing it, but we did.”
He put his arms around her, loving her warmth and the way their bodies fit together so smoothly. Then something caught his eye, and he turned them both a little.
