Ever After (Unfinished Fairy Tales #3)(13)

When I enter the sitting room, for a split second I think Kat has returned. The woman with her back to me looks so similar to Kat, with her hair done up and wearing one of her favorite gown—a lush pine green silk that accentuates the brightness of her copper hair. At that moment, my resolve to divorce Katriona Bradshaw wavers. Since it is next to impossible to divorce her, perhaps I could let her stay, let her continue this pretense that she is my Kat. If she doesn’t speak, doesn’t turn around...I could let myself believe that Kat never left.

She turns, and my dream is shattered. True, she has Kat’s eyes, nose, and lips, but the smugness on her face is so...unlike Kat that I know instantly that she is Katriona Bradshaw. Fool I am, to allow myself believe she could replace even a fraction of my Kat.

There is a sparkling necklace around her neck. It is a curious design of silver lilies entwined together, so wonderfully exquisite that I can’t take my eyes off it. I do not remember purchasing this for Kat. And knowing Kat, she would never buy such an extravagant piece of jewelry for herself either. Too many times I’ve heard her complain she has enough clothes and ornaments, though I’ve yet to hear her claim she has enough books.

“Where did you get that?” I say without preamble.

She blushes and fingers a lily nestled in the hollow of her throat. “A gift, Edward. From a friend.”

I raise an eyebrow. Is it too much to dare to hope she has an admirer already? If she is attached to someone else, I could have the perfect means to divorce her. “Indeed?”

Katriona Bradshaw titters. “Do not worry, dear husband. It is not from an admirer, if that’s what you’re thinking. It was sent by a lady. Apparently, Kat had done a good deed to that woman, and she sent this necklace as a token of gratitude.”

A lady? The most likely person who would give Kat such a costly gift would be my mother. But it isn’t Katriona’s birthday and if my mother gave her such gift, she would certainly mention the queen, rather than using ‘a lady.’ “Who is it? It seems extraordinary that someone would send such an expensive gift.”

“I wasn’t deceiving you.” Katriona Bradshaw enters the bedroom, and emerges with a letter and a small hand mirror. “She sent me this letter. Anyway, it is time to be going to dinner. Your parents are waiting, and we should not disappoint them with a late arrival.”

She sounds more and more like Bianca, but I pay no attention for her. I must see what the letter says.

“Dear Katriona, You probably are worried about my disappearance, but let me reassure you that all is well with me. As a matter of fact, I am now reunited with Lysander. If you hadn’t saved me back at Mansfield House, I might not have lived to see my husband again. I am sending you a necklace as a gift, and also this mirror. If you have any difficulty, do not hesitate to contact me. I remain faithfully in your debt, Margaret Gregory.”

Margaret Gregory. I search through my memory for this person, until I remember a story that Kat had told me. A couple of fairies had helped her obtain a ball gown and carriage when she attended the ball in which I proposed to her. One of the fairies was Lady Gregory’s daughter. And then I remember another thing. Kat had once visited Lady Gregory, but found the latter suffering from a heart attack, and she rushed her to the hospital in time. But later, Lord Mansfield had visited us in my office, telling us that his aunt had mysteriously vanished. Apparently, by some miracle, the old lady had gone back to the fairies.

“Edward?” Katriona Bradshaw looks at me, her eyebrows raised in confusion. If it were Kat, she would have waved her fingers in front of my face, her expression playful and exasperated. “We must go down to dinner.”

“Fine.” The hand mirror is plainly wrought, compared to the necklace, and when I tuck it in my pocket, she doesn’t raise objection.



* * *



Later that night, I sit in an armchair with the letter and hand mirror on the table. I never believed in fairies, but having seeing Krev and Morag with my own eyes, I admit that supernatural beings exist.

Lady Gregory wrote that she could help if Kat had any difficulty. As impossible as it may seem, perhaps the fairies could help getting Kat back? The idea is incredible, impossible—how could their powers extend to another world? They are not the goblins. But I am convinced that I should at least try it. But how do I summon the fairies?

I look at the mirror. “Lady Gregory? Can you hear me?”

No response. I wonder if there is a password that Kat had used before.

“Lysander? This is the prince of Athelia. I am Kat’s husband.”

Still no response. What’s the name of Lady Gregory’s daughter? Since her name is Margaret, then it might be possible that she named her daughter—

“Meg,” I say tentatively. “If you can hear me, can you try…”

The mirror starts to glow. Startled, I push my chair back and retreat to the wall. And then the most amazing thing happens. A small girl, with adorable cheeks and silvery-golden hair, climbs out of the mirror. She stares at me and lets out a squeal. “You are not Kat! Who are you? Oh, don’t tell me, I know who you are. You’re the prince of Athelia.” Two rosy spots appear on her cheeks and she looks down on the floor, apparently bashful. I suppose fairies are also capable of blushing.

“I’m sorry to summon you like this,” I begin tentatively. “In the letter, Lady Gregory—your mother? She mentioned that if Kat had any problems, she could seek help.”