story, including the truth of his weaving talent, a gift from the fairies.
Nearly seven years had passed since then, without incident. Her grandfather was a storyteller at heart, and she loved him, but she did have some doubts about his tales. Of course she believed that fairies existed—few who had grown up in that glen could fail to believe, given the traditions, legends, and strange occurrences that had permeated the area for generations. But she had never felt afraid of the fairies, despite Donal’s warning.
She took his arm. “You worry too much about me, Grandda.”
“Because you do not worry enough.”
“I do believe in the fairy ilk,” she said. “But I wish I could tell truth from fancy, with some of these tales.”
“In your heart,” he said, “you know what is true.”
“Grandfather,” she said. “With the seven years coming to an end next month, will you go back to the fairies again?”
“I gave my word. But I will come back, unlike you, if they take you.”
“Since I’ve made no agreement with them myself, I’ve nothing to fear.”
“Be wary,” he said. “And never look back if you see them. Remember it.”
She sighed. Though all her life she had accepted the Sight and the fairies, as she grew older, she wanted a little proof, too. “Grandda, what became of the special blue stone that you said was a key for entering the fairy realm?”
“It stays in its rightful place, hidden in the rocky hill above Struan House.”
“With the gardens enlarged at Struan House in the last few years, I wonder if it is still there. Now the stone wall runs up the hill behind the house.”
“The stone should still be safely hidden there, but you are right,” he said. “I should make sure of it. I will do so when I return.”
“If Lord Struan is set to visit the house for a few days, you will want to find out before then. The housekeeper at Struan knows us, and will let us in to look for something we lost there. I will stop there when I go to Margaret’s to fetch the yarns.”
“I’ll attend to it. The fairies go riding through there. You should keep away.”
Elspeth frowned. As they walked, she decided to go to Struan’s garden herself and look. If she set the stone in the rock as Donal had done, and nothing changed—or if she saw the fairy realm—she would know if all her grandfather said was truthful, and shewould know that she must indeed take care. Besides, Donal deserved to possess that very special stone. Once the new viscount was in charge at Struan, her grandfather might have no good chance to find the stone.
What then, if the magic, and Donal’s bargain, were indeed real?
Chapter 4
T hese spritely creatures often inhabit the lush wooded groves of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, and are to be found in caves and hillsides…. Fairies prefer to reside in hills, mountains, caves, and near natural wells and springs….
What a load of nonsense, James thought. Nonetheless, he dipped his pen in fresh ink and dutifully took notes on creamy paper stock, copying parts of the passage.
A knock sounded at the study door, and James looked up, grateful for an interruption, for he had worked all afternoon. When he called permission, Mrs. MacKimmie peered inside, then entered the study. “My lord, I beg your pardon, but Mary the downstairs maid has just quit your ser vice.”
“Another one?” He set down the pen. “Was it the banshee again? That was what sent the other girl screaming from here last week.” The thing, or the door hinge, had shrieked through the whole of the night when he had first come here.
“Not this time, sir. It’s the haunts and fairies. Shesays she canna stay in a household plagued by strange things. She wants to return to Edinburgh today.”
He frowned. “That’s all the housemaids gone in two weeks.”
“Aye, sir.” She stood with hands folded, and then James noticed that she wore a long tweed coat and a bonnet, as if she were ready to leave
Nearly seven years had passed since then, without incident. Her grandfather was a storyteller at heart, and she loved him, but she did have some doubts about his tales. Of course she believed that fairies existed—few who had grown up in that glen could fail to believe, given the traditions, legends, and strange occurrences that had permeated the area for generations. But she had never felt afraid of the fairies, despite Donal’s warning.
She took his arm. “You worry too much about me, Grandda.”
“Because you do not worry enough.”
“I do believe in the fairy ilk,” she said. “But I wish I could tell truth from fancy, with some of these tales.”
“In your heart,” he said, “you know what is true.”
“Grandfather,” she said. “With the seven years coming to an end next month, will you go back to the fairies again?”
“I gave my word. But I will come back, unlike you, if they take you.”
“Since I’ve made no agreement with them myself, I’ve nothing to fear.”
“Be wary,” he said. “And never look back if you see them. Remember it.”
She sighed. Though all her life she had accepted the Sight and the fairies, as she grew older, she wanted a little proof, too. “Grandda, what became of the special blue stone that you said was a key for entering the fairy realm?”
“It stays in its rightful place, hidden in the rocky hill above Struan House.”
“With the gardens enlarged at Struan House in the last few years, I wonder if it is still there. Now the stone wall runs up the hill behind the house.”
“The stone should still be safely hidden there, but you are right,” he said. “I should make sure of it. I will do so when I return.”
“If Lord Struan is set to visit the house for a few days, you will want to find out before then. The housekeeper at Struan knows us, and will let us in to look for something we lost there. I will stop there when I go to Margaret’s to fetch the yarns.”
“I’ll attend to it. The fairies go riding through there. You should keep away.”
Elspeth frowned. As they walked, she decided to go to Struan’s garden herself and look. If she set the stone in the rock as Donal had done, and nothing changed—or if she saw the fairy realm—she would know if all her grandfather said was truthful, and shewould know that she must indeed take care. Besides, Donal deserved to possess that very special stone. Once the new viscount was in charge at Struan, her grandfather might have no good chance to find the stone.
What then, if the magic, and Donal’s bargain, were indeed real?
Chapter 4
T hese spritely creatures often inhabit the lush wooded groves of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands, and are to be found in caves and hillsides…. Fairies prefer to reside in hills, mountains, caves, and near natural wells and springs….
What a load of nonsense, James thought. Nonetheless, he dipped his pen in fresh ink and dutifully took notes on creamy paper stock, copying parts of the passage.
A knock sounded at the study door, and James looked up, grateful for an interruption, for he had worked all afternoon. When he called permission, Mrs. MacKimmie peered inside, then entered the study. “My lord, I beg your pardon, but Mary the downstairs maid has just quit your ser vice.”
“Another one?” He set down the pen. “Was it the banshee again? That was what sent the other girl screaming from here last week.” The thing, or the door hinge, had shrieked through the whole of the night when he had first come here.
“Not this time, sir. It’s the haunts and fairies. Shesays she canna stay in a household plagued by strange things. She wants to return to Edinburgh today.”
He frowned. “That’s all the housemaids gone in two weeks.”
“Aye, sir.” She stood with hands folded, and then James noticed that she wore a long tweed coat and a bonnet, as if she were ready to leave
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