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“Then why don’t you stop her?”

“My family made a pact to stay out of her business ages ago, and there are some monsters that even I wouldn’t dare to mess with.”A dimple near her mouth craters. “Besides, we can’t stop people from going to her of their own free will.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Stepping out of the carriage, Darcy hands the reins off to a man outside the shop, telling him we’ll be back in two hours tops.

We take a sandy trail that slopes into a hill. My legs are about ready to give out when we reach a flat moor.

The land appears burnished beneath the setting sun, the purple heather fading to a coppery brown within the fiery red-and-ochre carpet of bilberry. I try to concentrate on the beauty of it all and how much I used to dream of seeing this world above me, instead of what I’ve lost.

“Let me show you something.” She points out the small ponds obscured by the shrubs, glittering like golden mirrors. “These are fairy pools. They say you should put your face in one if you want to enhance your beauty. I tried it once when I was a girl,” she admits, dropping her bag. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

“Your secret is safe with me.” I laugh. “But it looks like it worked.”

She grimaces.

I don’t understand. She never used to mind my compliments. She is objectively pretty.

“And you’re too beautiful to need such a silly trick,” she says, the corners of her mouth lifting. The words sound rehearsed, like she’s used them before.

I wonder how many women she’s brought to this place. How many were here while she was saying I love you more than anything to my face?

“You’re too sweet.”

“I do try.” She bows and turns away, shedding her coat and blouse as she runs toward the ledge.

My heart pounds, remembering my first night on land and my dreadful fall from the window.

“Slow down,” I shout. “Be careful!”

She leaps from the ledge, and I think I’m going to be sick as I drag myself over to look. A shelf juts out from the side of the bluff, wrapping around its curve. Tawny grass sways around several shimmering pools, all trickling into one another.

Darcy rises from the largest one directly beneath me.

“Got you,” she says, tossing her hair back.

I try to slow my heart rate. “You scared me. Don’t do that again.”

“I thought you’d enjoy a little fun and excitement.” She swims to the side of the pool, draping an arm over the ledge. “Are you too scared to jump in?”

“No.” I’d rather eat overcooked fish than feel my stomach fly up to my throat, though. “I simply don’t wish to freeze to death.”

“You won’t. Look.” She extends a finger toward the water spraying from a leak in the side of the bluff. It rushes into the pool, forming currents that ripple outward, flowing into the smaller natural basins. “The water comes from a heated spring. Take your gown off and join me.”

My teeth clack together as I shrug off my coat, unlace my corset, and slip off my shoes and stockings. A biting wind pushes my chemise against my skin.

I don’t like this.

“What are you waiting for?” She takes a mouthful of water and spits it out, her cheeks flushed from the heat. “It’s much warmer down here.”

I close my eyes and step off, my arms flailing. I hit the warm water and go under, my legs writhing in an attempt to stop me from sinking.

“Stop panicking. Don’t inhale.” Zephyr’s voice bubbles up. “Relax your legs and use your arms to swim to the surface.”

I calm myself enough to remember my legs don’t work like a fin and make small kicking movements as I scull my hands, taking a deep breath once I reach the cold air.

“It took you awhile to bob back up. You had me worried there for a second,” Darcy says. “I only brought you here because I know you’re a strong swimmer.”