Chapters (76)
- Cover
- About the Author
- Also by Karen Brooks
- Title Page
- Dedication
- EXPLANATORY NOTE
- PART ONE
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- PART TWO
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- PART THREE
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- PART FOUR
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Epilogue: Autumn 1706
- AUTHOR’S NOTE
- GLOSSARY
- LIST OF CHARACTERS
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
They watched as she was led down to St Fillan’s Cave, the crowd at the top of the wynd jeering and shouting.
‘Why are they taking her back?’ Sorcha asked Nettie. ‘What’s there to consider?’
Leaning heavily on her, Nettie grinned in admiration. ‘What I understand, lass, is that Janet, the gennick auld bitch, recanted everything she ever confessed to the reverend. Better still, she told the men from Edinburgh she only said what she did the first time because the reverend beat confessions out of all of us. She warned them not to count anything that was said or signed before or now. That they were as false as the reverend’s claims to be a holy man.’
Sorcha’s mouth dropped open. ‘She said that?’
‘Aye. You can imagine Cowper’s reaction. He told the Edinburgh gents Janet was “a woman of very bad fame” and a liar. That’s why, when the lairds suggested Janet be kept in custody while they investigated her claims further but he was to release us, he didn’t complain. A bird in the hand and all. He has his witch — for now — and while he has Janet, he still has a hold over us.’
‘But surely they didn’t mean for him to keep her in St Fillan’s Cave?’ Sorcha watched as the guards fumbled with the locks to the entrance.
‘They’re not here any more to see where he holds her, are they? The cave or the Tolbooth, he’s obeying their instructions — keeping her under lock and key.’
Sorcha nodded slowly. ‘While he has Janet, he can use her to ensure our co-operation — make sure we don’t make things worse for him.’
‘And no doubt try to make Janet retract what she said.’
They stared at each other in grim contemplation, then, arm in arm, continued towards Beatrix’s house.
As they passed St Fillan’s Cave, Nettie shook her head. ‘If there’s one thing Cowper won’t tolerate, it’s being made to look a fool again — not by anyone.’
‘Especially not a woman,’ said Sorcha.
They walked in silence a while.
‘He won’t hurt Janet further, though, will he? He wouldn’t dare, would he?’ asked Sorcha as they turned onto the shore road. Waves rolled up on the sand before retreating. Rows of kelp had been dumped on the beach, forming a miniature breakwater. Fishwives roamed among the slippery cordons, lifting smaller pieces into their creels. Some were kneeling over by the rocks, prying mussels away. Maybe now they could join them again.