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Back The Darkest Shore
Chapters (76)
  1. Cover
  2. About the Author
  3. Also by Karen Brooks
  4. Title Page
  5. Dedication
  6. EXPLANATORY NOTE
  7. PART ONE
  8. One
  9. Two
  10. Three
  11. Four
  12. Five
  13. Six
  14. Seven
  15. Eight
  16. Nine
  17. Ten
  18. Eleven
  19. Twelve
  20. Thirteen
  21. Fourteen
  22. Fifteen
  23. Sixteen
  24. Seventeen
  25. Eighteen
  26. Nineteen
  27. Twenty
  28. Twenty-One
  29. Twenty-Two
  30. Twenty-Three
  31. Twenty-Four
  32. Twenty-Five
  33. Twenty-Six
  34. Twenty-Seven
  35. Twenty-Eight
  36. PART TWO
  37. Twenty-Nine
  38. Thirty
  39. Thirty-One
  40. Thirty-Two
  41. Thirty-Three
  42. Thirty-Four
  43. Thirty-Five
  44. PART THREE
  45. Thirty-Six
  46. Thirty-Seven
  47. Thirty-Eight
  48. Thirty-Nine
  49. Forty
  50. Forty-One
  51. Forty-Two
  52. Forty-Three
  53. Forty-Four
  54. Forty-Five
  55. Forty-Six
  56. Forty-Seven
  57. Forty-Eight
  58. Forty-Nine
  59. Fifty
  60. Fifty-One
  61. Fifty-Two
  62. PART FOUR
  63. Fifty-Three
  64. Fifty-Four
  65. Fifty-Five
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Fifty-Seven
  68. Fifty-Eight
  69. Fifty-Nine
  70. Sixty
  71. Sixty-One
  72. Epilogue: Autumn 1706
  73. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  74. GLOSSARY
  75. LIST OF CHARACTERS
  76. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Curse the captain. He knew the contents of the letter and had deliberately misled him, made him believe Edinburgh had capitulated to his demands. Ignoring his warnings, he’d clearly told them about Thomas Brown. Either that, or he’d written another damn letter. He’d heard how the captain, styling himself as a ‘Gentleman of Fife’ had penned numerous letters to the Privy Council. Clearly, some had borne fruit.

Fury swept him. Fury and a desire to crush the man. He’d warned him what would happen, who would pay should he interfere… again.

Once more Patrick was forced to compose himself before he returned to the desk, only this time the emotion he stifled was quite different.

He sat down, topped up his drink and drained it in two gulps. Through slightly bleary eyes, he regarded the officer.

‘You managed to convince them to hold the trial in Edinburgh.’

The captain didn’t respond.

‘Why is it that bailies Bell and Cleiland didn’t inform me of this when they returned?’ On the contrary, they too had allowed him to think that they’d won.

‘The decision hadn’t been made then. The men you mention were…’ Captain Ross paused, ‘keen to get back, I believe, so didn’t wait around to hear the outcome of your request.’

Patrick slumped into his chair, folding his arms and frowning. His mind was working swiftly, trying to find ways this decision could work in Pittenweem’s favour. Goddamn the captain. Goddamn Bell and Cleiland. This was not only going to cost the town money they could ill afford — though the incomers’ coin would offset that to a degree — worse, it could cost his reputation. A reputation he’d worked so hard to shore up. Just as he was winning more and more of the townsfolk to his side.

He picked up the letter and read it again, flicking through the pages, aware of the captain watching him with those dark Spanish eyes. Eyes that drank in the light. He wished the captain would go away so he could think. Nae. Truth be told, he wished he could have him thrown in the Tolbooth. Wouldn’t be hard. He consorted with witches, didn’t he? At the least, he defended them. Imagine what the Queen would say if Patrick did that? Imagine what kind of ransom would be paid to have an officer of Her Majesty’s army released…

That was it. Patrick sat up. That was the solution — well, one — to his problem. A way of ensuring that the captain understood he meant what he said. He put the letter down, smoothing out the creases he’d inadvertently made when he crumpled it in his fist, and fashioned a smile.