Authors: Dena Garson
Katie wasn’t sure how long she sat in the cooling water.
Seamus wasn’t going to just reappear so soon and wishing wasn’t going to make
it happen.
She got out of the tub and grabbed a towel off the warming
rack. As she dried off she thought about what she could do to help Seamus.
Etain held the key to breaking the curse. She was sure of it. But it was
doubtful she could just walk up and ask Etain for the answer.
As Katie stood in front of her closet debating what to put
on, it occurred to her that it was a little too early for bed. She glanced at
the bedside table and spotted one of the castle brochures. She had read
something about the castle having a library. There were supposed to be current
books available for guests to check out and a section on the castle’s history.
Perhaps she could find some information about Etain.
She pulled a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt out of the
closet.
Anything she could learn about Etain would help at this
point.
Sitting at a large table with of a bunch of dusty, old
books, Katie wondered what she had been thinking.
Most of the books were so old she was afraid to handle them.
But the librarian said she was welcome to read them. She just couldn’t leave
the library with them.
Completely understandable.
So far she hadn’t been able to find anything more than a
passing reference to Etain and the fact that she had been the first wife of
Lord Thomas Chichester. There was more information on the second wife.
Apparently that marriage turned out better and resulted in heirs for the lord.
It was amazing Etain didn’t have a dozen children after
sleeping with that many men. Then again, even back then women could do things
to keep from getting pregnant.
Katie wondered if Etain ever caught some nasty itch or virus
while she was hopping from bed to bed. Good thing Seamus never touched her.
Katie shivered in revulsion.
“Ah, there it is,” a voice said from just behind Katie’s
right side. “I’d wondered where the family tome had gone. Was always a favorite
of mine.”
Without looking up from the page she was scanning so she
didn’t lose her place, Katie waved to the pile to her right. “I’m through with
those, if what you’re looking for is in there.”
When she didn’t hear a response and no one took a book from
the pile she’d indicated, she looked up and over her shoulder.
A thin, elderly man wearing an outfit that looked like
something from an Elizabethan play hovered just to her right. His eyes were
wide behind his ancient spectacles. His semitransparent form was her last clue
that she was seeing a ghost.
“My dear, were you speaking to me?” the man asked.
She glanced around the room to make sure no one else heard
their interaction. It appeared they were alone. She took a deep breath, knowing
she had already given herself away by speaking to him.
“I’m afraid so,” she said with a tentative smile.
“How is this possible?” he asked as he stepped closer. “I
didn’t bring forth my form.”
“I, uh,” Katie hesitated and glanced around again to make
sure they really were alone. “I can sometimes see ghosts.”
“And hear them too, no doubt.”
She nodded as she chewed on her lip.
“Well, that’s wonderful, my dear,” he said as he sat on the
chair at the end of the table.
“It is?”
“Certainly! It’s not every day that we have a medium visit
us. And it does get rather dull with only a handful of spirits to talk to.”
“I’m not a medium.”
“But you said you speak to the dead.”
“Well, yes, but I’m not a medium. I have just always been
able to see ghosts.”
“Ah. Born with it, were you?”
“Afraid so,” she said dully.
“Oh where are my manners? Please forgive me, my dear. My
name is Alastar.” He made a half-bow from his seat. “I’ve been the library
guardian for more generations than I can count.”
Katie smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Alastar. My name is
Katherine.”
“You’re from the Americas, are you not?”
“Yes.”
“On holiday?”
“Of sorts. I’m here to fulfill a request of my late mother.”
His ancient eyes seemed to look right into her soul. “And
whatever is a lovely young woman like yourself doing buried beneath these,” he
waved to the pile of books scattered across the table, “crumbling texts instead
of out enjoying the nightlife or whatever it is that young people do for fun
these days?”
She smiled. “I’m looking for a bit of castle history for a
friend.”
“Tullamore history? I know more about it than anyone, living
or dead. What can I help you find?”
He probably
could
find it faster than she could ever
hope to.
“Do you know anything about a former lady of the castle from
the 1700s, named Etain?”
Alastar drew back in surprise. “I do, but what surprises me
is that
you
know of her.”
“Why?”
“There is very little recorded about her time here. Her
husband had all family records altered so that only a brief mention of her
marriage and death were left. The lord, her husband, was quite embarrassed by
the ordeal.”
“The ordeal?” Katie asked.
“The murder and all of the stories that came with it.”
“Ah.”
“So you’ve heard of it.”
“I head that she was involved in the disappearance and
possible murder of a man who worked here.”
“That’s right.” He leaned forward, shifting his weight onto
his elbow, and looked at her intently. “But where did you hear of this?”
“From someone who used to do work around the castle,” Katie
said, trying to keep a blank expression on her face.
He studied her face. “Hmmm. The stories circulating at the
time said Etain had an affair with one of the workers. At some point the man
tried to break if off with Etain and she, being the jilted lover, killed him.”
“That’s what the stories said?”
“It is,” Alastar said.
“And what do you believe happened?”
“You’ll remember that I’ve been at Tullamore for centuries.
I was here before Etain’s time.”
“So you witnessed it, then?” Hope sprang to life in Katie’s
heart.
“Not directly.”
Hope deflated.
“But I did listen to the charges brought before the lord
regarding the man’s disappearance as well as the testimony of those involved.
And I heard a great deal of the servants talk.”
“So how did he die?”
“Supposedly she poisoned him.”
“And what of his body? Where was he buried?”
“That is the oddest part.” Alastar dropped his voice to a
conspiratorial whisper. “The body was never found.”
“Not ever?” Katie found herself whispering back.
He shook his head. “Popular rumor said she poisoned him out
in the woods and left his body for the wolves.”
Katie shivered in revulsion.
“My apologies, my dear. It is a gruesome business.”
“You said that was popular rumor. What did the evidence say
she did?”
“Some of the kitchenmaids testified seeing Lady Etain in the
kitchens the day before the man’s disappearance, with her maid, cooking
something. Needless to say, Lady Etain never darkened the door of the kitchens
much less prepared any kind of food so her presence caused quite a stir, and it
was well remembered.”
“Did they say what she cooked?”
“One of the maids said that Lady Etain had requested a
number of unusual herbs be brought to her from the gardens. One or two of those
herbs were not grown in the castle gardens and had to be purchased from town.”
“I don’t suppose a transcript of the testimony was recorded,
was it?”
“Actually it was.”
Katie perked up. “Where?”
“The lords have always kept journals whenever verdicts had
to be rendered. Particularly if those verdicts involved criminal activity and
punishment.”
“Any way I could see the one about Etain?”
“I’m afraid not. There was a fire in the late 1700s. A great
many of those documents were destroyed.”
Katie’s heart sank once again. “Can you think of anything
else that might give me clues into what happened to the man Etain supposedly
killed?”
Alastar cocked his head. “Her journals might tell you
something.”
“Her journals?” It was almost too much to hope for.
“Then again, she was quite mad. I’ve never read them, so
they could be full of nonsense.”
“Where are they? And would they let me read them?”
“They are considered part of the family books and therefore
kept in the family wing. Oddly enough, her journals were not discovered until
some time after her death. They believe Lady Etain’s maid hid the books,
knowing his lordship would have destroyed them.”
“So, can I see them?”
“You would have to ask Áine. She controls who is allowed to
see the family pieces.”
“Ah. I see. Well, it’s worth a chance, right?”
“Depends on what you’re hoping to accomplish,” he said
quietly.
“I hope to be able to give a man back his life.”
“That’s a noble quest.”
“Can you think of anything else that might help?”
“Only Etain herself.”
“So her spirit does linger?” Katie asked reluctantly.
He nodded. “And is probably more mad in death than she ever
was in life.”
“Wonderful,” Katie mumbled. “Do you think I could ask her a
few questions?”
“You could, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The slightest thing
sends her into a frenzy. She has frightened more than one guest. Áine has
banished Etain to the battlements for the safety of both guests and staff.
There is no telling what she might do if you approached her.”
“I see,” Katie said. “I suppose that’s out then.”
“For your own safety, you shouldn’t.”
She nodded. “I appreciate your help, Alastar. Very much.”
“You are more than welcome, my dear. If there is anything
else I can do, you can usually find me here.” He gestured to the rows of books
and tables about the room.
“I will,” she said as she stood and gathered the books on
the table. “Let me return these to the desk the librarian told me to use.”
“Would you do me a quick favor before you go, my dear?”
“If I can.”
“There is a book I’ve been wanting to read for some time,
but no one ever leaves it out. I can manage to turn the pages, but getting the
book off the shelf and in a comfortable place requires more energy than this
old soul can spare some days. Would you mind retrieving it for me and leaving
it open on the table?”
“I’d be happy to. Which book did you want?”
“
Pride and Prejudice
.”
Katie smiled approvingly. “That is one book no one should be
denied the pleasure of reading.”
The next morning, Katie came out of the bathroom to find
Seamus lounging on the bed. It was ridiculous how happy she was to see him.
“What would you like to see or do today?” he asked as she
made her way across the room.
His eyes scanned her from her head down her bare legs to her
toes and back up again, making Katie flush, despite the fact that she had a
t-shirt and panties on. She stopped at the end of the bed.
“Would you take me to the wisewoman’s place? I’d like to
meet her.”
His eyes skipped down to her thighs then back to her face again.
“Very well.”
“You don’t want to know why?”
“Is there a reason you wish to share?”
Katie sighed then sat on the end of the bed and pulled her
feet under her. “There’s something you should know.”
“If you’re needing to tell me something serious, you should
put on a pair of trousers. Otherwise I’m not going to hear everything you have
to say.”
“Huh?”
Seamus leaned closer. “You’re half naked. I know what you
look like completely naked. I haven’t have sex in over three hundred years. You
can’t expect me to pay more attention to what you’re saying than to your
exposed body.”
She rolled her eyes. “All right.” She clambered off the bed.
“Hang on a sec.” From the closet she grabbed a pair of clean jeans then stepped
into them and pulled them up over her hips. When she turned around, she found
Seamus watching her intently.
The appreciation in his gaze made her stomach flutter.
Somehow she managed to zip and button the jeans then calmly
took a seat at the foot of the bed once again.
“Better?” she asked, unable to stop the grin flitting around
her lips.
“Depends on how you’re looking at it,” Seamus mumbled.
“Okay. So I thought I should tell you something before we
go.”
Seamus remained silent and waited for her to continue.
“I may be related to your local wisewoman,” Katie blurted,
unsure what Seamus might think or how he’d react. Oddly what bothered her more
was how much his reaction concerned her.
He showed no reaction for a moment, making Katie even more
nervous.
“That would explain the resemblance,” he finally said.
“What resemblance?”
“When we met, you reminded me of someone, but I didn’t know
who. Now that you’ve said it I see the resemblance.”
Katie sat up straighter. “You do?”
Seamus pointed to his own face, making a circling motion
around his eye. “It’s your eyes, I think.”
“Really?” she asked, her voice breaking. “So, it might
really be possible?”
He shrugged. “Riona will be able to tell you.”
“Well, let’s go then.” She jumped up and headed to the
armoire to finish getting dressed. Butterflies replaced the frisson of heat in
her stomach. “Is it very far to her house?”
“The cottage sits on the far side of Tullamore land, so it
will be a bit of stroll.”
“That’s okay, I don’t mind the walk.”
“It’s not the walk that you have to worry about.”
Katie stopped digging for socks. “What do I need to worry
about?”
“During the day, probably nothing.”
“What about at night?”
“There are unusual creatures to be found in the night,” he
said cryptically.
“Uh huh. So I need to make sure I’m not out walking at
night.”
“That would be best.”
Katie grabbed her raincoat then pulled on her boots. Her
room key and cell phone went into her pockets.
“Okay, I’m ready,” she said breathlessly.
“Do you want to ask if someone will drive you to the
cottage?” Seamus asked as he glided to the entrance.
“No. As long as it’s not raining, I’d rather walk.” She
pulled the suite door closed behind them. “It won’t be a problem to get back
before dark, will it?”
“Wouldn’t that depend on how much the two of you talk?”
Katie chuckled. “I suppose that’s true.”
They descended the steps and strolled through the lobby in
silence. Seamus must have finally understood her need to not draw attention to
herself and her gift. As soon as they were out of the hotel and Katie saw no
one else about, she asked, “What do you know of the Mac au Bhaird family?”
“Very little.”
“You said you knew the local wisewoman a long time ago,
right? The one who tried to help you find out what Etain did to you.”
“Heloise.”
“I assume she was from the same family line?”
“That was my understanding.”
“Did she tell you anything of her family?”
“Only when she had to. Remember, these women, while revered
by some, were feared by those who did not understand them. They have lived
quiet, solitary lives, largely keeping to themselves. Most of what I know of
them came from my ma or from listening to talk around Tullamore.”
Katie certainly understood the women’s reluctance to
disclose any gifts they might have. Particularly back when they could have
easily been persecuted for being “different”.
“Áine sometimes calls upon Riona for assistance with issues
around the castle. I think Riona also supplies one of the gift shops with soaps
and perfumes and other stuff women like.”
As they talked, Katie realized they were following a path
that appeared to run around the formal gardens and skirted the edge of a small
forest. She tried to remember what she had seen in the hotel brochure about the
layout of the estate. There were cliffs overlooking the beach on the other side
of the forested area.
Something about the forest made her think of the Little Red
Riding Hood fairy tale. She wondered if the wolf was lurking in the shadows,
waiting to follow her to grandma’s house.
“Nothing is going to jump out of there and grab you,” Seamus
said. “Not during the day anyway.”
He must have noticed her repeated glances at the woods.
“I don’t know why but I get the strangest feeling I’m being
watched.” She quickly added, “And I don’t mean by you or in a good way either.
I mean the creepy, I’m-not-sure-it’s-safe way.”
Seamus looked into the dark and eerily quiet woods. “As long
as you remain on the trail you’ll be fine. I can go take a look if it would
make you feel better.”
“No, that’s okay. If you think it’s safe, I’d rather keep
moving.” It was sweet of him to offer. “Thank you though.”
In order to focus on something else she asked, “Tullamore
has ghosts and obviously they have a local witch. More than once you’ve alluded
to other things around the estate. What else can I expect to see in the next
couple of weeks? Trolls? Little fairies flitting about?”
“I wouldn’t talk about the wee ones.” He lowered his voice.
“You never know who might be listening.”
Katie turned and looked at Seamus in disbelief. Was he
implying there
might
be fairies? Surely he was just teasing. “But no
trolls,” she asked with a hint of sarcasm.
“I haven’t heard of any moving into the area. Áine would
pitch a fit if one did. They’re hell on the landscaping.”
Katie stopped walking and stared at Seamus. “You must be
joking.”
He paused and looked back at her. “About trolls being
destructive? No, actually, I’m not.”
“You’re saying trolls are real.”
“Certainly.”
“You’ve seen one?”
“Once, before I was cursed.” He motioned her to keep
walking. As soon as she caught up to him, he continued. “When I was returning
to Kilmorny, after getting supplies in Stonebriar, I came upon one. He ran a
mill and rented rooms to passing travelers. At first glance, you would think
him simply a short, ugly man.
“After dinner, I offered to help him move a few bags of
grain. As we finished restacking the bags, he tripped over something and his
hat fell off. Before he could put it back on, I noticed his ears. They were
tall and pointed.”
“That doesn’t make him a troll,” Katie said with a frown.
“He also had a tail. It slipped out before he could right
himself.”
“A tail?”
He nodded.
Unsure what to believe, she asked, “What did you do?”
“I turned away and pretended I hadn’t seen anything.” At her
questioning expression he added, “I didn’t want to lose a warm, clean and
inexpensive place to stay. But I didn’t forget.”
“I’m sure you didn’t.”
“It wasn’t until some time later that I learned the mill
owner had been a troll.”
“Wow. You’re serious.”
“Of course.”
Katie fell silent as she absorbed the story. She barely
noticed the path they followed and didn’t realize the dark forest was now
behind them.
Finally Seamus spoke up. “Riona’s cottage is just over that
hill.” He stopped where the path made a sharp turn to the right and pointed
across the meadow that lay before them. “We’ll have to find our own way from
here.”
“I thought you said it was safe as long as we stayed on the
path. Why are we stepping off?”
“As we passed the forest, that’s true. This continues on to
Kilmorny, but the way we’re going, once we cross through the wards we’ll be on
protected land.”
“Protected? Protected by whom?”
“By the women who have aided and protected this land and the
people on it for hundreds of years.”
“Riona?”
He nodded. “And those who came before her.”
Seamus stepped off the path then turned and waited for her.
Katie hesitated long enough to debate her choices. She
shrugged inwardly. In for a penny, in for a pound. As soon as her foot sank
into the grass she heard a buzzing in her ears and all the hair on her arms stood
on end. The feeling only lasted a few seconds but troubled her.
“Why do I feel like I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole?” she
asked when she reached Seamus.
He looked at the ground around her feet. “The rabbit hole?”
“
Alice in Wonderland
?”
Seamus’ expression remained unchanged.
“It’s a book.” She waved away the thought. “Never mind. So
where are we going?”
“This way.”
Katie followed Seamus through the meadow and over one small
hill. It was an easy hike despite the damp grass they were marching through.
Clouds kept the temperature down, so even after walking what felt like more
than a mile, she wasn’t sweating.
Finally she saw a small house in the distance. “Is that it?”
Katie asked.
“That’s the cottage.”
As they got closer Katie noticed smoke coming from the
chimney. A warm fire and a cup of coffee sounded really good.
“Do you think she will be able to tell me more about my
mother’s family?”
“There is only one way to find out.”
A woman came out of the cottage. She watched them for a
moment then walked to the gate of the short fence that surrounded the area in
front.
“Is that Riona?” Katie asked.
“It is.”
Katie’s heart beat heavily in her chest.
“Worry not, Little Katie. She will like you.”
“I’m not worried.”
“You are. I can tell.”
Katie looked at Seamus questioningly.
“As soon as you saw Riona, your hands curled and you started
fidgeting with the ring on your thumb.”
She opened her mouth to deny what he said but realized it
was pointless and settled for a noncommittal grunt.
“I’m willing to bet your heart is beating faster too.” He
looked at her with a mischievous leer. “It’s too bad I can’t stick my hand
under your shirt to find out.”
Katie’s eyes widened and she stumbled over something.
“Ooooh, you are a devil, aren’t you?” she asked when she
regained her footing.
“Not at all.”
“Harrumph.”
“It took your mind off meeting Riona, didn’t it?”
Katie tried to hold back the smile that played about her
lips. “Maybe.”
“I bet it did,” he teased.
“Even if it did, I wouldn’t admit it to you.”
They bantered back and forth until they reached the yard.
“Good morning,” the woman called out in greeting.
“Good morning. Are you Riona?”
“Some know me by that name.”
Katie pasted a smile on her face and approached the gate.
Riona was of similar build to herself. Average height, perhaps an inch taller
than Katie. Her hair was darker than Katie’s with coppery strands. Even though
Riona tied it at the back of her neck, Katie could tell it was long and
somewhat wavy, like hers.
Katie extended her hand. “My name is Katie Ward, I’m a guest
at Tullamore.”
Riona hesitated before placing her hand in Katie’s.
“I heard about you and wanted to meet you.”
When their hands touched, Riona’s eyes widened in surprise.
She mumbled something in a language Katie didn’t understand.
“I’m sorry, but what did you say?” Katie asked.
“You are family. How can this be?” Riona asked as she
clasped her other hand over their joined ones.
“Do you know someone by the name of Deirdre Aideen Ward, er,
I mean Mac au Bhaird?”
Once again Riona’s eyes widened in surprise but then
narrowed. “I haven’t heard that name in many years. Who is she to you?”
Katie sensed Seamus move closer then noticed Riona’s eyes
flickered in his direction. She took a deep breath. “She was my mother.”
Riona’s voice dropped. “Was?”
“She died about three years ago.”
“I am very sorry to hear that.” Riona released Katie’s hand.
She unlatched the gate then stepped back, opening it as she moved. “You are
welcome in my home, cousin.” Her eyes moved to Seamus. “Your spirit guide as
well.”