“The squire is my father’s cousin, and one of the guards who came with the baron that day is the brother of my older brother’s wife. Ella’s brother is the village blacksmith. So, you see, we’ve already got ties to the ‘baron’s people.’ Doesn’t matter if those Black Coats come here or come to the village. We’ll stand together.”

“I’m glad to hear it, but you haven’t answered my question about the Fae,” Selena said.

Chad’s expression hardened. He was silent for a long time, watching Parker’s slow return to the barn. “They aren’t good neighbors. Oh, I know they all live in their grand Tir Alainn, but that’s no excuse for—” He blew out a breath. “If they want to go riding, there’s plenty of open land. There’s no reason to ride down a man’s crops, spoiling the harvest he needs to feed his family or sell at the market. They’ve no right to steal chickens from the tenant farms. They’ve plenty of coins in their pockets. They can buy a chicken in the market same as other folks. And they’ve no business seducing young girls and leaving them with babes in their bellies. I’m not saying it’s all the man’s fault, but if he sires a child, he should do right by that child.”

“The Fae aren’t the only ones who walk away from their children,” Selena said flatly.

He gave her a measuring look. “No, they’re not. And that’s not right, whether they’re human or Fae. But you asked about the Fae, so I’ve told you how it is.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “And to be fair, we don’t see much of them, and there were a handful of Ladies who rode up the other day to pay their respects. They gave Ella some gifts as thanks for letting them gather in the Old Place. Ella said they seemed…embarrassed…by the way the other Fae were acting.”

As Parker reached the barn door, a high, young voice behind them said, “Papa?”

Chad turned. “Yes, Hayley-girl?”

“Mama wants to know if you’re going to keep our guests in the barn all day. She says the food’s ready for the table, and Gran’s gone back to her cottage to fetch Grandpapa to come eat with us, and the Ladies might like to wash up a bit before we eat.”

Chad grinned. “She said all that, did she?”

“She said more, but she told me to fetch you.” Hayley looked disapprovingly at her brother. “And Parker has to wash his hands before he touches the bread. He’s dirty.”

“Am not,” Parker said.

“Are too.”

“We’ll all go in and wash up before we sit at your mother’s table,” Chad said firmly.