Beware Faery Gifts

Beware Faery Gifts was first published as part of the Faery Magic anthology done with Jo Beverley, Barbara Samuel, and Karen Harbaugh and was the first of three anthologies we did together. The story was originally called Dangerous Gifts, but the same name became attached to the paranormal historical series that includes Silver Lady and Golden Lord. To prevent confusion, the title of this novella was changed to Beware Faery Gifts. Here's the description:

A shy mortal girl rashly accepts a faery lord's offer of beauty and charm. Then he comes to claim a terrible price…

Quiet young Leah lives a lonely life, her greatest pleasure being to play her Celtic harp in the woods. Her music attracts the attention of Ranulf, a faery lord who yearns to claim Leah and her music, so he offers her beauty, charm, and a season in London where she can find a grand husband. When the time comes to pay him back, he'll offer three choices, and surely one of them will be easy….

The faery lord's gifts gave Leah the promised beauty and charm and her godmother unexpectedly offers to sponsor a season in London, where she falls in love with Duncan, a handsome, magnetic hero of Waterloo. But a dazzling faery lady from India has also taken an interest in the affairs of the humans, and when it's time for Leah to pay her debt to the faery lord, she faces an impossible choice.

Reader Comments and Reviews:

"Wonderful!"

"…highly enjoyable and worthwhile reading!"

"I kept thinking of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream when I read this one though it was not the same story. Just the feeling, I guess. It was fun!"

"...if you are looking for a really romantic book to read and don't mind a bit of fantasy, this book is absolutely for you!!. And you will love it just as I do."

The original Faery Magic anthology was chosen by Library Journal romance reviewer Kristin Ramsdell as one of 1998's Notable Romance Books.

Young Leah Marlowe is quietly playing her Celtic harp in her father's woods when an elegant gentleman with chancy green eyes appears. He is Lord Ranulph of the Wood, and because he loves her music, he wants to give her a gift: beauty and a chance to visit London and find love.

Warily she said, “You will give me so much simply because you’ve enjoyed my music?”

He gave a world-weary shrug. “You would also have to make some small future payment when I come to claim it.”

She looked into his eyes, and suddenly believed that he was what he said, for there was something deeply alien in those green depths. Something ancient beyond words, even though his face was that of a man in the prime of his life.

“You want my soul,” she said flatly. “There are stories of faeries stealing human souls because they have none of their own.”

He laughed, as charming as the London gentleman he resembled. “You mustn’t believe all those old tales. I have no interest in stealing your soul.”

“Do you have a soul of your own?”

“I really don’t know,” he said thoughtfully. “The Folk live so long that the issue is not one I have considered. But I assure you that even if I lack a soul myself, I wouldn’t know how to take yours, much less what to do with it.”

Oddly, she believed him, even though this conversation was increasingly bizarre. “If not my soul, what would you want of me?”

He shrugged again. “I haven’t decided.”

Relieved to have a good reason to deny his gift, she said, “I can’t possibly agree to something when I don’t know the price to be paid.”

She started to move away, but he caught her gaze with his. “When the time comes, I will give you three choices. I shall not ask for your soul or your life—my oath upon it,” he said with cool deliberation. “Surely one of the choices offered will be something you shall not mind paying.”

She hesitated, knowing she should leave, but unable to deny the mesmerizing lure of his green eyes. Trying to sound firm, she said, “No.”

“You will be beautiful beyond words, Leah,” he said softly. “Men will offer you their love, their wealth, their devotion. Heroes will lay their glory at your feet. You will be the most envied woman in the land.”

To be loved, not alone. To be beautiful. She thought of that entrancing image in the mirror, and wanted to weep with longing.

Seeing that she was weakening, he said in a voice like honey, “I am not asking you to do evil, my dear girl. You have blessed me and my wood with your music. I simply want to give you a token of my gratitude. But according to the laws of my world, a faery cannot give a gift without some kind of an exchange. I say again, you will not have to forfeit your soul, or your life. You’ll have three choices, Leah. Surely one will be the merest trifle for you to pay.”

Treacherously, he raised the mirror again. The beautiful Leah was there, gowned in silk and lace instead of the drab, worn gown that the real Leah wore.

She looked into the eyes of her false image, trying to find evil or corruption. But she saw only herself, happy and beautiful. She ran her tongue over dry lips. To be lovely and loved….

With sudden reckless passion, she knew that she wanted love at any price. Even if she possessed it for only for a handful days, it would be better than the emptiness of her present existence.

She drew a ragged breath. “Very well, Lord Ranulph. I will accept your offer of beauty and love. In return you will give me three choices of repayment, and will not ask for my mortal life or immortal soul.”