Page 2 of Lady Elinor’s Elf

Lady Elinor Molliney turned her face skyward and closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh scent of the forest that surrounded her.

The dappled sunlight warmed the path beneath her feet, birdsong provided a delightful symphony for her ears, and she could hear nothing else that might disturb this much-needed peace.

She needed peace more than anything else at this moment. The chance to walk alone, to enjoy her own thoughts and ideas, to simply be without the need to concern herself about what she considered ridiculous things.

For example, she had no maid or footman accompanying her.

That shocking fact would have been denounced as foolhardy and damaging to her reputation. Only loose women walked unattended, apparently.

Elinor snorted. Should she drop her handkerchief, she was quite capable of picking it up herself. But that ability mattered naught when compared to the horror of seeing a gentlewoman of rank bend down and retrieve her belongings from the ground where she’d dropped them.

She cautiously picked her way over some large roots and headed for one of her favourite spots, a glade occupied by a massive horse chestnut tree that spread its shade over a sizeable area.

Grass and ferns had thrived, but the larger shrubs had preferred their sunshine rather than the dappled shadows, so a natural sort of enclosure had been created, only to be discovered quite a few years later by an inquisitive child.

It had been a magic spot for Elinor from the moment she’d stumbled upon it; a place where she could sit and dream, watch the occasional rabbit or two, and stare up into the skies through the splayed leaves of the tree.

Her family didn’t know about it, and now she offered up a prayer of thanks to the Gods of nature for helping her keep her secret safe. She couldn’t imagine her brothers’ reaction to it, nor did she want to find out.

She probably would have forgiven them since they had no idea how difficult it was to be a girl, and then a young woman.

They could ride, go where they wanted, fight, shoot whatever they fancied, and explore all the freedoms encouraged by their family and Society.

A young man must be utterly up to the nines.

A young woman, on the other hand? Elinor snorted. They were barely permitted to be twos.

However, since both her brothers were happily married now, and settled in their own homes, she no longer had any need to worry about being discovered while enjoying her time alone.

Summer was about to explode; the ferns were green, the wild dog roses already scented the air, and, not far away from where Elinor sat, an elder tree showed off its creamy white bouquets of flowers.

There were more elder trees near the fields on the other side of Molliney Park, planted there not for their beauty so much, but for their reputation; it was said by many countryfolk that elders could stop the milk from souring.

Was that true? Elinor pondered the question logically and arrived at the conclusion that it probably wasn’t. But then again, the elder had a reputation for its association with all things magic, and since that reputation had its roots many centuries ago, she wasn’t about to argue the point.

Not that there was anyone to argue it with.

She took a deep breath, savouring the fragrance of the living forest around her. This was where she was at home. This was where she was comfortable and free to be herself.

This, she admitted, was heaven on earth, and she’d turned her back on the ballrooms and mansions of London without a second glance.

Of course, there was always a caveat.

Idly, Elinor picked up a fallen chestnut, knowing that within its spiky shell lurked a seed that would, if properly cared for, produce another chestnut tree. She tossed it away to join the others littering the ground, hoping that perhaps a squirrel or two might be curious enough to investigate it.

But the forest was quiet today, with only the song of the birds and the whispering accompaniment of the trees for solace.

Leaning back against the trunk, Elinor closed her eyes and listened to the natural symphony, feeling the last of her tension drain away into the moss beneath her.

She might have dozed a little, perhaps a few moments, no more than that.

But the touch of something on her shoulder made her jump and turn to find out what it was.

It wasn’t a what , it was a who .

“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.”

“Oh nooo . 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 soft elfin 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 noticed at 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.”

“Oh cachiad! ”

“Indeed.” Elinor stood and brushed off her skirts. “Let’s walk and I’ll tell you about it.”