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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

Talk wandered to what was going on within their own families, then they dared to wonder what the new year would bring. Nettie declared if Sorcha’s unexpected return was anything to go by, the year 1704 would be a good one. But only a first-footer would reveal the truth.

An old custom, and not confined to Pittenweem, it was believed the first person to step over the threshold of a household after midnight on Hogmanay was an omen of the year to come.

If nothing else, discussing first-footers was a signal for the women to return to their families. They wanted to be home to witness who stumbled through their doorways after the clock struck twelve. With hugs, kisses and promises to meet down by the harbour early on the morrow, Beatrix and Nicolas left.

Finally, Sorcha and Nettie were alone.

‘You sure you don’t want to see the new year in with Thom?’ asked Sorcha, secretly hoping her friend remained. ‘I’ll understand if you do. Now I’m back, there’s no need for you to stay.’

‘What would I want to see him for?’ Nettie gave a careless flick of her wrist. ‘I can see him any day. You, I’m not so sure about.’ She smiled warmly to take the sting out of her words. ‘That is, if you don’t mind having me here.’

Sorcha smiled. ‘Mind? I would have insisted if I didn’t think it was wrong to usurp your husband.’

Nettie laughed and then her eyes took on a dreamy, faraway look. ‘Thom understands. Once he heard you’d returned, he went over to Anster to celebrate with Rebecca and her lad, Jimmy.’ She gave a slow, secret smile. ‘Anyhow, I want to know why you’ve come back so soon. Far as I recall, you were to stay away till May.’

‘Aye, well, that’s true. But things change.’

Nettie drew her chair closer. ‘That they do. But why did you change your mind? Not that I’m complaining. I couldn’t be happier. But I ken something bad has happened to bring you home early, and at this time of year. So, tell me, lass. What ails you?’

Four

FOUR

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Ye wee lummer!

(Comment on a woman’s wild and immoral behaviour.)

It was a relief to finally tell someone she trusted why she’d come home. Nettie listened intently, her drink nestled in her palm as if it were a baby bird, her eyes locked on Sorcha as she spoke.