A Lady And Her Magic by Tammy Falkner Page B

very different goals and lived by different covenants. Gift faeries weren’t bound by the same Unpardonable Errors; theirs were not nearly as stringent, nor were the consequences as harsh if one erred.
    “You hate us because we’re beautiful,” she said instead. “That’s the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth. Admit it.”
    “You mission faeries should be swimming with the fish,” he grumbled as he moved toward the cracked window. Only the really, really bad faeries were turned into fish to live out their days.
    Sophia cast one long look toward Lady Anne. She wanted to stay and see if she could learn anything about the little girl by looking through her personal belongings. But that might have to wait until the next day, because the girl’s nurse could already be heard moving about the adjoining chamber.
    Sophia flitted back to the window and slipped beneath it. She really needed to lay off the sweets so she could fit more easily in small spaces. The webbed clothing could only do so much.
    The gift faerie shot her a dirty look. “See you around,” he said as he put his wings in motion.
    “Not if I see you first,” Sophia called back.
    Sophia made her way back to her own window, surprised to find Margaret wide awake and waiting for her. Margaret helped her out of her webbed dress and into her nightrail. Then she turned down the bed and moved toward the door to go to the servants’ quarters.
    “Will you wake me bright and early? I’d like to get an early start and wander about a while tomorrow before anyone else wakes.”
    Margaret huffed. “Certainly, miss. You can keep me up until all hours of the night and then expect me to rise from my warm bed to wake you at the crack of dawn. Certainly. Not a problem.”
    “Margaret,” Sophia sighed.
    Margaret held up a hand to stop her. “I know, I know. Your mission rests upon it.” She moved toward the door. “I believe you’d tell me your mission rested upon it if you wanted a cup of chocolate, too, for what it’s worth.”
    “Good night, Margaret,” Sophia said to her retreating back. The house faerie was still muttering as she went out the door.
    Sophia slid beneath the counterpane and had just laid her head upon her pillow when she heard the sound. She bolted upright. What was that noise?

Seven
    Ashley cleaned up the mess he’d made with the cards and then waited for Simmons, his valet, who would arrive to make certain the duke didn’t need anything before retiring. The man was as predictable as the clock striking the hour. Ashley rubbed at his eyes. Sleep was often elusive for him, and he felt remorseful for keeping his servants up so late to take care of his needs. But, try as he might, the ones who had been with him the longest seemed to take great pride in being available despite his odd schedule.
    Just as he’d expected, there was a scratch at the door. “Enter,” he called absently.
    His valet of twelve years entered the room and nodded politely. “I trust you had a good evening, Your Grace.”
    He’d had worse. “I suppose,” Ashley said as he rose and moved toward the wardrobe.
    “Allow me, Your Grace,” Andrew said as he stepped in Ashley’s path and reached for his night robe.
    “Go to bed, Simmons,” Ashley growled as he stumbled over a footstool. Simmons stuck one foot out and slid the stool out of the duke’s path with a hard shove. “Thank you,” Ashley muttered.
    “Would you care for a tonic, Your Grace?” He said it with such dignity. What he should have said was, “Would you care for a drink that might make you feel a little better when you wake up, despite the fact that you’re foxed out of your skull?”
    “That special concoction you make will do nicely in the morning,” Ashley muttered as he tugged his shirt from his waistband. He’d discarded his neckcloth and waistcoat hours before. But Simmons knew Ashley slept naked. So, he simply laid the duke’s robe across the bed and bustled about the