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Back The Darkest Shore Save as PDF
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

Contemplating the women’s refusal to be pushed around by the reverend or to bow under the weight of the parishioners’ judgement, Sorcha was torn between admiring their courage and being afraid lest it come back to torment them. Thus preoccupied she didn’t immediately focus on what the reverend was all but shouting from his pulpit. Accustomed to his booming tone, she was well able to cancel it out. Rather, it was the way first Mr Gregson and then Dr McLeod stiffened beside her then tried to move away, whereas earlier they were practically on her lap, that drew her attention.

‘Let not the wrath of God fall upon you, for He sends these monsters to earth to test us. He waits to see who will fall into temptation and become possessed, allowing demons to take their bodies, and who will resist, who will fight.’ The reverend slammed his fist on the lectern. The first few rows jumped. It would have been funny had his words not been laden with deadly portent.

Sorcha’s heart drummed in her ears. Her hands became knots in her lap.

Lowering his voice, Reverend Cowper gripped the sides of the pulpit and leaned forward. ‘Who can forget the agonies inflicted on one of God’s own by the devil’s very servants? Who can forget the suffering of Peter Morton?’

There was a wave of murmurs. A few turned to regard Peter where he sat, eyes downcast, in the middle of the kirk.

‘Think on this,’ continued Cowper. ‘The very same people who share this kirk with us, who walk the streets beside us, with whom we break bread and so much more, are responsible for what happened to the lad. It doesn’t matter what those far away in Edinburgh declare. The women are guilty from their own mouths, by their own signed admissions. I cannot forget that. Can you?’

There was a wave of loud chatter, some shaking of heads.

Sorcha’s heart sank. Nettie’s glance swept the room.

‘Nae. We can’t forget. Nor must we. The good Lord tells us, we must remain vigilant. We must look to each other, be wary of those who would do us harm even as they work to hide their nefarious intentions.’ Again, his eyes searched the crowd, only this time they lingered on Nicolas, on Beatrix. Sorcha began to slide down in her seat.