I smiled at them. “I was just explaining to Lizzie why I don’t care for single malts.”

They all got shocked looks.

“What do you drink?” Siobhan asked.

I tapped my mostly untouched glass of Jameson’s. “Only Irish whiskey, if you please. No water. No ice.”

“My god, man,” Andy said. “You need to be educated.”

“Oh, please don’t let them go off again,” Jilly said.

But it was too late. Lizzie and I smiled at each other, then I let the conversation wash over me.

“That was really nice what you did for Siobhan,” Jilly said when we finally got back to our room. “She was so dying to play.”

“I know. She must have thanked me a half-dozen times.”

“It’s what I like best about you, Geordie, me lad. Your generous nature.”

I smiled. “I think someone’s tipsy.”

She shook her head, then frowned and put her hands on her temples.

“No, someone’s quite drunk, thank you.”

“Then we’ll have to get you to bed.”

I helped her into the bathroom, waiting outside until she was done, and then walked her to her bed. She’d dropped all her clothes on the floor in front of the sink except for the T-shirt she was still wearing, but it was long enough to save her modesty. I felt sad seeing the scars on her legs because it brought everything back to mind again. How that damned hit-and-run driver had left her life in shambles. How she couldn’t paint, couldn’t dance, couldn’t be the mad, wild Jilly I’d known for more than half my life now. But you’d never hear a word of complaint from her.

“I’m really glad you came,” I told her as I tucked her into bed.

“Don’t you go all maudlin on me,” she said, “or I shall probably cry.”

I leaned down and kissed her brow.

“Goodnight, Jilly,” I said.

When she made no reply, I looked closer and smiled. She was already asleep.

I went into the bathroom and picked up her clothes, laying them down on her bag. Before I went to bed myself, I stood and looked out the window for a long time, wondering about Galfreya, what she was doing, if she missed me. I wasn’t sure I missed her. There was an empty feeling inside, but I thought it might be more from knowing she’d put some spell on me. Or maybe it was me missing what the two of us had never really had—missing the potential, rather than the reality.

That made me think of what she’d told Christiana, how danger would find me if I stayed away from the court. I wondered if it had anything to do with the growing animosity between the native spirits and the fairy tribes.

Well, there was nothing I could do about it except keep my eyes open.