The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance

by Trisha Telep

  Aine rushed to his side. “We must get you away,” she said.

  “Not without my sword,” Conn gasped. His entire side throbbed and blood gushed from the wound in his thigh

  “They will come,” she said. “Make haste.”

  He knew not of what she spoke. Yet the urgency in her voice caused a shiver to run down his spine. Aine helped him up and he threw an arm over her shoulder for support. They staggered the few steps to Balor’s body. Conn watched as she hurriedly snatched a chain from about the monster’s neck then stood back. Conn grasped his sword and struggled to pull it free.

  “Come.” Her face relayed her fear as her eyes searched the darkness behind him. Conn sheathed his bloody sword. She wrapped her arm around his side and once more they staggered away, leaving a trail of blood behind them.

  Conn felt a shiver run down his spine that had nothing to do with the wound in his hip as he dropped to the ground beside the fire. Aine’s hands were frantic as she tore his chainse into strips. “We must be away,” she said.

  Conn grabbed her hand as she attempted to staunch the blood of his wound. “What comes? What else is there that I must fight?”

  “You cannot fight against these warriors,” she said. She jerked her head and stared out at the beach where Balor’s body lay. Conn kept his hand on his sword as his eyes searched the beach for a threat. Aine was terrified of something else. By her actions he knew she was much more frightened of this unknown quantity than she had been of Balor. The fog swirled once more over the water and came their way, closing in on them with menace. What came with it?

  “We do not have much time.” She went back to her work, her hands quick yet shaking as she padded the wound and wrapped a strip about his thigh. She helped Conn to his feet once more and grabbed Niul’s reins.

  He heard it then: the sounds of many feet marching against the sand; the steady drip, drip of water; Aine’s gasp as she quickly slipped the chain she’d taken from Balor’s body over her neck and held the stone linked to it in her hand.

  “What is your desire?” She turned her quicksilver eyes upon him and he saw her fear.

  Conn squinted his eyes shut and shook his head at her question. Her voice seemed so very far away. He’d lost a lot of blood. It was hard for him to stand. When he opened his eyes he saw hands, reaching towards them with flesh falling from grasping, bony fingers. He shook his head once more. Aine stepped to him, stood before him, and looked into his eyes.

  “What is your desire?”

  There was one thing he wanted more than anything. It was the thing that brought him to this shore on this night. “I desire peace.”

  Aine smiled at him. “Then you shall have it.” She wrapped her hand around the stone and said three words that were foreign to his ears. A bright light burst forth from her hand and blinded him. He felt himself falling.

  There is peace in death . . .

  Aine smiled as the portal opened and welcomed her to her home world. Niul danced a bit as she urged him forth, but her hands on the reins were sure even though the burden in her arms was heavy. Conn let out a sigh against her face as they passed through the gate. He was unconscious from his wound, and from the passage. She could not wait to see the laughter on his face when he awakened to find himself in the land of the Fae, where he would find peace.

  The Feast of Beauty

  Helen Scott Taylor

  County Cork, Ireland

  One

  Surprisingly, wrap-around sunglasses looked rather good with a top hat, but Kate wasn’t so sure about bare feet and board shorts with a tailcoat. The combination made the man look only half-dressed. But he was so mouth-wateringly gorgeous she decided the fewer clothes he wore the better.

  He stood on the front steps of Knock House and raised his arms to attract attention. The gesture was unnecessary. Every woman in the vicinity was already staring at him, along with most of the men.

  “Welcome to my domain, my friends. I’m Esras Mac Lir, descendant of the sea god Lir, and Fairy King of County Cork and the Celtic Sea.”

  Incredulous silence fell over the crowd, broken only by the birds twittering in the roses covering the front of the Georgian mansion, and the distant rumble of waves breaking against the rocky headland on which the house stood.

  “I’m delighted to welcome London’s Barthurst Productions into my domain. They’re going to film an episode of their award-winning travel show Claudia’s Magic Carpet at my Midsummer Feast of Beauty. I can assure you that tomorrow’s feast will be a magical experience for everyone.”

  Peter Hurst, the producer and Kate’s boss, leaned closer to Kate and whispered, “You sure this guy isn’t a retired rock star? He’s got that touch of megalomania that usually goes with too much money and a lifetime of sex, booze and drugs.”

  “As far as I know he’s just a wealthy eccentric with an interest in Irish mythology. He sounded fairly normal on the phone when I set up the shoot,” she replied. Although she’d have booked him to film at the Feast of Beauty no matter how weird he’d sounded. She had her own reasons for wanting to visit this part of Ireland.

  “If the Barthurst TV people would like to come forward, my right-hand man Faelan will show you to your rooms.” Esras then doffed his dove-grey top hat and bowed with an elegant sweep of his arm. He sported just-got-out-of-bed hair, as though a woman had been clutching it in the throes of passion. The spiky strands were light brown, but as he moved, his hair gleamed with unusual silver highlights.

  Peter started forwards while Kate hung back, checking her clipboard for the long list of jobs that she as production assistant had to complete before the shoot the following morning. She had at least two hours of typing to do, what with Claudia’s script changes and the shot cards. And it was vital she found time this evening to go down to the little village of Knocknapog half a mile away.

  Her grandmother had been born in the village and had lived there until she’d married and moved to England. Kate cradled the teardrop pearl pendant her grandmother had left her, rubbing her thumb over the smooth pink surface. Grandma’s last wish had been that Kate should bring the pearl back here. The trouble was, Kate had no idea what she was supposed to do with it now she had arrived.

  Two

  By the time Kate got round to going to find her room, the only other member of the production company who hadn’t been settled was the star, Claudia Ravelle. She’d arrived late in a luxury limousine, which hadn’t been budgeted for.

  Kate mounted the front steps of Knock House a few yards behind Claudia. The clicking of Claudia’s stiletto heels came to an abrupt halt. “Wow ,” she murmured under her breath. Kate stopped and glanced around, silently echoing the sentiment. She didn’t know which way to look first. The floor was an intricate mosaic of tiny blue, green, turquoise and white tiles in a pattern of froth-tipped waves. The walls glowed with a detailed mural of some fantastical palace beneath the sea. White horses pulled a gold coach bearing a smiling crowned man, while multi-coloured fish and sea creatures frolicked around him.

  Claudia gave a moan of appreciation. Kate tore her eyes from the artwork to follow the other woman’s gaze. The object of Claudia’s desire leaned against a wall wearing board shorts, his long golden hair trailing over muscular shoulders.

  “Is that Esras?” Claudia whispered.

  “Him? No. That’s Faelan, I think.” Kate could hardly believe she had missed such a gorgeous man earlier. She must have been too focused on Esras to notice anyone else.

  As they approached Faelan, he stepped forwards. “May I show you to your rooms, ladies?”

  Claudia paused in front of the guy and ran a long hot-pink fingernail across his chest. “I’d like to meet Esras first, big boy,” she simpered. Kate winced with embarrassment.

  With a nod, Faelan opened a door for them. “King Esras is in here.”

  “Maybe I’ll see you later, Faelan,” Claudia said in a breathy voice.

  Although Kate had a lot of work to do, her curiosity got th
e better of her, and she followed Claudia into the room. The seascape painted on the ceiling was impressive, but it was the huge gold throne set with mother-of-pearl and sparkling green gems that made her mouth drop open – and the man sitting in it.

  Gone were the top hat, sunglasses and jacket. Esras now wore only the board shorts and a loose green shirt with half the buttons undone, revealing tantalizing flashes of his smooth sculpted chest. Now she was closer, she could see that his skin was sun-kissed gold and his eyes an impossible glittering green. He was lean and muscular with a sheen of silver-gold hair dusting his forearms and legs. Rainbows danced along a string of flat mother-of-pearl beads around his neck.

  Esras rose and came to meet them. His gaze passed straight over Claudia to settle on Kate. “You must be—”

  “Claudia Ravelle,” Claudia said, stepping in front of Kate. “I present the travel show.” She swept back her hair seductively. “You might remember me from the hit series Murder Me with Magic.”

  “Of course. Delighted,” Esras said with a brief frown that came and went so fast Kate wondered if she’d imagined it. He bowed then signalled to Faelan. “I’m sure you must be tired, Claudia. Faelan will show you to your room.”

  Claudia smiled a bemused smile. She slipped her arm through Faelan’s and was swept out of the door without realizing she’d been summarily dismissed.

  The clicking of Claudia’s heels and her occasional throaty laugh faded into the distance. Esras angled his head. For long moments, he stared at Kate with those incredible green eyes as though he could see right into her mind and into her soul.

  Her hand wrapped around her grandma’s pearl and it seemed to pulse inside her fist. It was almost as if the pearl had come to life.

  “You’re Kate Sullivan, aren’t you? We spoke on the phone.” A slow smile spread across his face like the sun rising on a new world. She blinked. For a moment, it looked as though flickering rainbows danced around him.

  “How did you recognize me before you heard my voice?” she asked.

  His smile widened and he flicked up his eyebrows in a wouldn’t-you-like-to-know expression. “Let me show you to your room.” He went to the door and held out a hand to her. After an awkward pause, she slipped her fingers into his because it seemed rude not to.

  She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, disoriented by the surroundings, wondering at the significance of his holding her hand. He obviously had an unconventional attitude to intimacy. Was it possible he expected to jump straight into bed with her? Heat blossomed low in Kate’s belly and her skin felt too tight. She cleared her throat. “What about my bag?”

  “That’s already been taken to your room.” He gave her an amused smile. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to eat you, Kate.”

  “Oh.” She bit her lip.

  He tightened his grip on her hand and tugged her up the grand staircase in the centre of the entrance hall.

  When they reached the top of the stairs, Esras led her along a wide corridor, threw open a door, then released her hand and stood back for her to enter.

  The huge bedroom had a pearly sheen to the white walls, while the bedding, upholstery and carpet were all marine shades of green and blue. A king-size bed with a white and gold headboard dominated the space, the rest of the furniture continuing the white and gold theme. She was pleased the room contained a desk that she could turn into a workstation. She preferred not to share the production team’s mobile office. It always became a pigsty within hours of arriving on location.

  As promised, her battered suitcase and bag sat on the bed.

  “Bathroom’s over there.” Esras pointed at a door on the far side of the room.

  She rested her hand on her laptop bag. “Thank you. This is . . . luxurious.” Kate gazed around knowing she would have little time to enjoy the comfort. She waited for Esras to leave so she could get on with her work.

  When he didn’t move, she glanced back at him. His gaze was fixed on her pearl pendant, a curious expression on his face. “What brought you home, Kate?”

  She stared at him, taken aback for a moment. “Home? Did you know my grandma? Do you know something about the pendant?”

  His knowing gaze returned to her face. “Don’t you?”

  She shook her head slowly. “I didn’t know my grandmother was born in Knocknapog until six months ago when she died and left me her pendant.” She cupped the gleaming pink teardrop in her palm. “I thought it was just jewellery. But there’s something strange about the pearl. I feel . . . antsy when I take it off, but it doesn’t feel quite right to be wearing it either.”

  “That’s because the pearl wasn’t made for you. You should have your own, Kate.” He opened the door and held his hand out to her again. “Come with me and I’ll show you what it is.”

  She hesitated a moment, but she’d come here for just this reason, to find out more about the pearl. He led her back down the stairs, then along an inner hallway to an older part of the house. He stopped outside a low wooden door and snapped back the three bolts securing it. An unearthly glow seeped into the darkened hall as he pulled the door wide. She followed him down a narrow winding stairway, the only light a luminous glow from the shells embedded in the walls.

  After a little while, he paused and turned. “Do you need a rest? It’s quite a drop, two hundred steps.”

  At her headshake, he moved on. The rushing of water sounded in the distance. As they descended farther, the noise grew louder and a cool breeze carried the scent of the sea up the stairwell.

  “I’ve always loved the sea,” Kate said, almost to herself.

  Esras turned and flashed her a smile. “Of course. You’re one of Lir’s people.”

  Even as a little frisson of excitement passed through her, she shook her head. Esras had introduced himself as a descendant of the sea god Lir. Now he was trying to involve her in his delusion. But if she thought that, why did she instinctively trust him?

  They emerged into an underground cavern lit only by the same luminous glow as the steps. The sea hissed in and out of an opening in the rocks. They had descended from the top of the cliff, where the manor house stood, to sea level and must now be inside a cave under the cliff.

  She followed him along a tunnel leading deeper into the rock and they came out in a small grotto. Above the murmur of the sea, she heard a swishing, sucking sound. They stopped at a circular opening in the rock floor. Water swirled inside the hole, flickers of light and dark dancing in its depths. “The Whirlpool of Lir,” Esras whispered.

  The pearl resting on Kate’s chest lifted towards the well, tugging at the chain around her neck. “Ahh!” She grasped it and hung on as it tried to jump from her hand.

  “Don’t be frightened.” He put an arm around her waist, pulling her against his side. Her skin hummed with his nearness and she leaned into him, enjoying the thrill of touching him even while her heart pounded with uncertainty.

  “Give me Lir’s favour.” Esras held out a hand.

  “My grandmother’s pearl? What are you going to do with it?”

  “Trust me.” He leaned closer and stroked the back of his fingers across her cheek. She breathed in the scents of salt, sea and fresh air from his skin, combined with a musky masculine fragrance. She stared at him, mesmerized, and her worries drifted away.

  She unfastened the chain from her neck and placed it in his palm. He then removed the pearl from the chain. Before she realized what he was going to do, he dropped the pearl into the swirling waters.

  “No!” Kate put a hand over her mouth, staring into the water. She turned her shocked gaze on Esras. “What have you done? Grandma left that to me.”

  “She wanted you to bring her pearl back here,” he said gently.

  “I know, but—”

  “She wanted Lir’s favour returned to him.”

  Kate stared into the water, tears pricking her eyes. The one memento she’d had of her grandmother was lost forever.

  “Kate.” Esras stroked some hair that h
ad escaped from her ponytail back behind her ear. “She wanted you to have your own favour from Lir . . . from me.”

  Esras crouched and scooped a handful of the surging water into his palm. Instead of leaking between his fingers, the water formed a ball. He shaped it, scraping away blobs of water as though they were jelly. When only a small tear-shaped piece of water remained, he stroked it, chanting under his breath. Rainbows danced around him, glowed on the mother-of-pearl at his neck, glittered in the heart of the water droplet in his palm.

  Eventually, the colours faded and the cavern was once again lit only by the luminous glow from the walls. Esras held up a pink-tinged pearl teardrop and then threaded it back on her chain. “This one will feel right because I made the favour for you. Wear it by your heart and you will never be far from me – or the sea.”

  Kate let him refasten the chain around her neck and rubbed her fingers across the pearl. Tingles danced up her hand, spread across her skin, setting her nerves on fire until she longed to feel the soothing cool stroke of the sea over her body.

  “How did you make this from water?” she asked.

  “Pearls are always shaped by the sea, Kate.”

  She stared down at the pearl, her mind churning with conflicting emotions. She prided herself on being practical and down-to-earth. The things Esras said and did clashed with everything she believed, yet she couldn’t deny what she’d seen with her own eyes – could she?

  His fingertips slid beneath her chin and lifted her face so she couldn’t avoid meeting the bottomless green of his eyes.

  “I’m your King, Kate. You belong with me.”

  Three

  Kate spent a terrible night tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The image of Esras with rainbows dancing around him plagued her mind. By morning, she had convinced herself that the rainbow light had simply been reflections from his mother-of-pearl necklace and his making the pearl had been a trick. He obviously hadn’t thrown her grandmother’s pearl in the water at all. He’d hidden it. Then by sleight of hand, he’d made her believe he’d created another one.