Elinor sat on the swing and stared out over the ocean. She had brought a book of poetry with her, but it remained closed on her lap. Her thoughts were lost in the past, thinking of all the times she used to sit here with her dad. Sometimes they would talk for hours; other times they would just be silent and listen to the ocean. Both were nice.
Elinor had planted many trees on the property over the years, like the mockernut hickory, hackberry, and flowering dogwoods that grew around the porch now. As a dryad, nothing warmed her soul more than to talk about their progress. And as a satyr, her dad would wax poetical and make up the most magical stories about them. She was going to miss that a lot.
It still felt strange, him not being here. Maybe she’d never get used to him not being around anymore. But then maybe she wasn’t supposed to. It felt like he was with her even now, swinging beside her, watching the world around them.
She could hear Marianne at her piano in the dining room. It was a melancholy tune, played well and with a depth of expression that touched the heart. Marianne had such a gift. And the tune suited everyone’s mood today, because Fanny and John were due any moment.
The music stopped, and a moment later Marianne stood in the doorway. Elinor and her sister were very similar in appearance, though Marianne’s hair was a touch lighter, with natural, copper curls tumbling down her black sweater. Elinor’s hair also had a touch of red, though a shade or two darker. Their hair changed color with the seasons, with a touch of green in the summer, deep reds and browns in autumn and winter. Dryad girls, in tune with nature.
They both had their mother’s green eyes, though Marianne’s were wide and bright and Elinor’s were calm and intelligent, so she had been told. Marianne was perhaps an inch or two shorter. Beside these differences, they were clearly sisters. Margaret, their youngest sister, took more after their father and was considerably darker in eyes and hair. She had their dad’s sense of mischief too. She was going to be a real terror when she grew up.
“Are they here?” Elinor asked, bringing her swing to a stop.
“Just pulled up,” Marianne replied. “Should I roll out the red carpet?”
“Try and be nice to her, Marianne. This is her house now, after all.”
“I will, but only because you asked me to. But it’s not fair. Uncle Joe should have left this house to us, not just to John. We were Pop’s kids too. It’s 2020 for Gaia’s sake, not the 1800s when he was born. Women are actually allowed to own property these days.”
“We’ve talked about this,” Elinor said, climbing out of the swing. “Uncle Joe wasn’t really our uncle, he was John’s mother’s brother, so he wasn’t truly related to us at all. And under satyr law, properties can’t be left to half-blood children, related or otherwise. It has to follow the satyr-line, and since John’s mom was also a satyr, he’s full-blood.”
Marianne snorted her disapproval. “Well, why didn’t Joe kick us out before?”
“Well, I suppose he was fond of Dad and let us all stay there. I’m sorry, Marianne, I really am, but it was never meant to be forever. The property is legally John’s, and he’s free to do whatever he likes with it.”
“Yeah, well, it still sucks. Come on. Let’s go say hello to phlegm face before she starts counting the china.”
“Marianne!”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it past her. Would you?”
Elinor didn’t answer, but she did follow Marianne back through the house to the main entrance.
Fanny was out on the gravel drive, talking to their mother. John was round the back of the new Merc, pulling a bunch of bags from the trunk.
“The moving van won’t be here before tomorrow,” Fanny said. “I wanted a night of peace and quiet before all the madness begins. I can’t stand all the disruption. I half-thought about John and I going on a cruise and letting them sort it all out while we were away, but I wanted to be sure they put our stuff where I want it to go, and not just anywhere, you know? Oh hello, Elinor, Marianne. Here we are at last! I bet you thought we’d never make it.”
Marianne opened her mouth to say something—no doubt some droll witticism—but Elinor nudged her arm, stopping her.
“How was traffic?” Elinor asked.
“Pretty quiet. Oh, I wanted to let you know, we’ve invited a few friends over for Saturday. John and I have waited a long time for this, and now that we’re here, we thought we’d throw a little housewarming party. Just a few intimate friends, you know, nothing too dramatic. We might do something bigger once we’re properly settled in.”
Fanny looked around, inspecting the house and garden, and Elinor could almost feel her glee. She took a step back and exchanged glances with Marianne, who looked fit to burst. If she didn’t speak now, Marianne probably would.
“Um, anyone we know?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Fanny said. She watched as John labored under the weight of their cases as he headed for the house. They all followed behind him.
“Do you want help with that?” Marianne asked.
“If you wouldn’t mind grabbing that smaller one,” John said.
Marianne bent down to pick up a small, purple sports bag. She strained to lift it and ended up jerking it off the ground with both hands. Her expression conveyed her surprise at how heavy it was, and she shot John a nasty look.
“Heck, what have you got in here?” Marianne asked.
Fanny glanced over. “Oh, my weights are in that one. Try not to drop them. I plan to work out right up until my due date.” She patted her tummy. “Anyway, as I was saying, it’s just a few friends. And my brother Edward said he’d probably be able to make it, though he wasn’t a hundred percent sure when I asked. I do hope he does. I so desperately want him to see the amazing views. Do you think Margaret would mind giving up her room while he’s here? I think her views are the nicest in the house, and I’d love Edward to see Norland at its best.”
Without waiting for a reply, Fanny dashed inside the house. Elinor took the heavy bag from Marianne and nodded to the couple of bags left on the gravel. Marianne picked these up and sighed with relief. They followed Fanny and John inside.
Elinor was seething. She wanted to strangle Fanny until her eyeballs popped out and rolled away. It must have showed in her expression, because Marianne glanced at her a few times. “Not. One. Word,” she warned. Wisely, Marianne said nothing.
Elinor snapped her laptop shut. “Dammit to heck! None of the properties in this stupid town are suitable. They’re either too darned expensive, too urban, too remote, or too apartmenty. You were with me, Marianne, weren’t you? I told her we’re all dryads, didn’t I? I swear to Gaia the stupid woman didn’t listen to me at all. Oh, what are we going to do?”
“I can try and get a real job?” Marianne suggested.
“Your online storefront is my lifeline,” Elinor countered. “I need your web skills to sell my saplings. We both know I’m rubbish at that sort of thing.”
“I know, but maybe something in addition on the side, part-timey. They’re hiring at the supermarket. I can stack tins. Or whatever it is they do in a supermarket.”
“Yeah, maybe. Once we know exactly where we’ll be staying, that might be an idea. Rentals are just so steep.”
Their mother sat in a chair by the window. In fact, the whole family often crammed into Mary’s room now in their bid to escape Fanny and her décorateurs. Especially today. It was the day of Fanny’s housewarming party.
“I could try and get a job,” Mary said. “There must be something I could do.”
Elinor put her arm around her mother and squeezed her gently. The fact was their mother had never worked a day in her life. It was ridiculous she had to think of starting now. But Elinor said nothing. There was every possibility her mother might have to get a job soon, ridiculous or not. If only her tree business was doing better.
There was a knock at the door. They all knew who it was, and no one answered. Regardless, the door opened, and Fanny stuck her head around it.
“Well, here you all are,” Fanny said. “I thought you might be––you dryad girls are always squirreled away some place or other, minding your nuts. Come, come on down, all of you. My brother Edward has arrived, and I so want you to meet him.”
Never quick to respond to Fanny, curiosity got the better of them all. Elinor glanced at Marianne, then both glanced at their mother. Mary shrugged and stood up, so the two sisters rose also, ready to follow. Even Margaret slid out from under the bed. She spent a lot of time hiding under there these days, keeping out of Fanny’s way. They’d had a silly argument about Margaret’s room, and Elinor still wasn’t sure who had won.
“Wipe the dust off you,” Mary said. “You’re not fit to be seen.”
Margaret grinned, proud of her ninja stealth. Elinor helped brush her down and tried not to sneeze as the dust went up her nose.
One by one, everyone followed Fanny downstairs. Elinor could hear John talking to someone in the kitchen. She noticed the second man, who must be Fanny’s brother Edward, had a deep, soothing voice, which surprised her since most half-goblins were squeakier than the average human or satyr males. Fanny’s shrill voice sometimes made her eye twitch.
“Ah, there you all are,” John said jovially. “I was about to send out a search party. Come and meet Edward, Fanny’s older brother.”
Edward Ferrars was a lot taller than Elinor had imagined he would be, and his style was more casual than his sister’s. He wore nice-fitting jeans, a checkered shirt, and a navy sweater with casual brown loafers finishing things off. His mop of hair had a slight goblin-green hue to it, and his slanted eyes were another giveaway, but apart from those two things she would never have guessed at his goblin heritage. His skin lacked the green tint that Fanny’s had, and there was nothing calculating or shrewd about his demeanor. She liked him instantly, even before he turned his gentle eyes on her and warmed her heart with his smile.
“You can’t be Fanny’s brother, you’re not green enough,” Margaret blurted, like the thirteen-year-old she was.
“Margaret!” Elinor said. “That’s just plain rude!”
Instead of looking peeved, as his sister surely would have done, Edward merely grinned. “I know, and it’s dreadful. Fanny keeps threatening to disown me, but there’s nothing I can do. My ears are a little bit pointy, if it makes you feel any better.” He pulled his hair back and tugged at the tips of his ears. To Elinor, they looked more elfin than goblin. Margaret grinned, her expression making it clear he had passed the teenager test.
Edward held out his hand to their mother, then shook everyone’s hand in turn. Elinor noticed his shake was agreeably firm and his palms were soft. Her dad had once told her you could tell a lot from a man’s handshake. He’d been right about that, she thought.
“Nice to meet you,” Edward said. “You must be Elinor, which makes you Marianne, and this one has to be Margaret!”
“I am. I’m the youngest.”
“And the silliest,” Marianne said. “It was very nice to meet you, Edward, but if you’ll excuse me, there are some things I need to take care of before tonight.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” he said.
Marianne grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and left the kitchen. Elinor watched her go, wondering what was on her sister’s mind.
“Did you have far to travel?” Elinor asked. “Fanny never said.”
“Oh, well I was staying with some friends in New York. Fanny said I could crash here at Norland for a bit. After that, duty calls and I’ll be spending a few weeks with our Mother. Oh!” He turned and smiled at their mother. “Assuming that’s okay with you? I wouldn’t want to intrude. This is your home, after all.”
Mary smiled her approval and nodded. “Actually, this is Fanny’s house now. But thank you for thinking of me.”
Fanny, who never liked being excluded from any conversation, muscled into the center of the circle and took up her brother’s hand in her own. She placed it on her belly. “Do you feel that, Edward? We’ll soon have a new little Henry Dashwood running about the place. You’re going to be an uncle! Isn’t it exciting?”
“I’m pleased to see you looking so well,” Edward said, carefully retrieving his hand. “Are you sure you’re up to having a party tonight? You look positively fit to pop.”
“Oh Edward, you silly, of course. Anyway, there will just be a few of us. My gobby girlfriends will be here naturally, plus my darling sisters-in-law.” She indicated Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret with an almost dismissive sweep of her hand. “It’ll be so much fun.”
“So no other men?” Edward sighed. He stared at John, but his brother-in-law looked away, pretending not to notice. “Oh Fanny.”
“Oh, stop complaining, you’ll be just fine. I’ve invited Bethany Morton, you know.” Fanny winked as if this were something of significance, but Edward merely rolled his eyes.
“For the love of Gaia, Fanny, I wish you wouldn’t do that.”
Fanny shared a fake conspiratorial look with Elinor. “Tsk, really, Edward. You know how much Momsie adores her. If it were up to her, she’d have you two married off already. And her family has so much money. You’d be set up for life.”
“Thank you for deciding my future for me,” Edward said flatly. “Anyway, is there someplace I can go and get changed? I’ve been traveling a few hours and I’m all sweaty.”
Elinor laughed at his frankness.
“I’ll take you up,” Fanny said, already on her way out of the kitchen. “I was going to put you in Margaret’s room, but the girl made such a fuss.” Everyone stared at Margaret, who, for the present, looked inscrutable. “John, could you come with us? You know I can’t carry anything heavy in my condition, and most of Edward’s stuff is still in the back of his car.”
Margaret grinned, and even their mother didn’t try to hide her smirk. Fifty points to House Dashwood, Elinor thought.
Edward smiled, noticing the exchange. “Excuse me. I’ll see you all later.” Elinor hoped he wouldn’t tell Fanny. But he seemed genuinely amused by it all, rather than angry. Perhaps he knew better than anyone what his sister was like.
He picked up a small bag Elinor hadn’t noticed before from under the table and followed Fanny and John out of the room. They watched in silence as he left, and Elinor found herself wondering why her heart was beating a little faster and why this whole party thing suddenly seemed a lot more appealing.
“Are you all right, my dear?” her mother asked. “You’re looking a little flushed.”
I was just wondering if goblins are good kissers, Elinor thought but did not dare say the words aloud. But it was an engaging thought. “I’m good, Mom, don’t worry. I was just thinking about those rentals.”
“Ah yes,” Mary nodded solemnly.
But when her mother turned to look away, Elinor allowed herself a saucy grin.