Sorcha, Nettie and Sergeant Thatcher watched with open mouths as Janet disappeared up the wynd. Sorcha’s heart sang then, as she looked at the shocked and furious faces around her, she registered what Janet’s audacious survival meant to those trying to kill her.

There was a beat before the attackers streamed after Janet with cries of outrage tinged with dreadful anticipation.

‘The witch has escaped! Get her! Kill her!’

Not even Sergeant Thatcher’s threats or the primed weapons of the soldiers gave them pause.

‘You’ve got to help, sergeant,’ gasped Sorcha, clutching the man’s sleeve. ‘They’ll tear her apart given half a chance.’

‘Aye. They will at that.’ Sergeant Thatcher barked orders at his men. Knowing he was defying strict instructions by interfering, risking punishment for himself and his men or worse, Sorcha couldn’t have been more grateful.

The soldiers dashed back across the sand, leaping onto the road and running towards the centre of town.

‘I’ve told them to try and cut them off,’ explained the sergeant as his men veered in a different direction to Janet’s pursuers. Mr Adam, Mr Brown, Mr Lawson and some brave others trailed after them. The sergeant looked towards where the rope still swung from the mast. ‘I ken we’re not supposed to meddle in Weem business. Arresting an escaped woman’s one thing, but this, this continued barbarism can’t be ignored.’

There were a series of shrill screams accompanied by yells.

‘Nae. It cannot,’ agreed Nettie.

‘Not by anyone,’ said Sorcha. ‘And that includes us.’ Taking a deep breath, she faced her friends. ‘Go to the Tolbooth and see if Janet’s there. Either way, convince Camron to let you in.’

‘Let us in?’ asked Nicolas.

‘Aye,’ said Sorcha. ‘If they can’t find Janet, the mob will look for someone else to satisfy their thirst for blood, for vengeance. And that means you.’ She eyed each of them in turn, trying to convey how serious she was. ‘You’ll be safer in the Tolbooth than anywhere else.’

‘What about you, lass?’ asked Beatrix, confused by the exchange.

‘I’m not in any danger. McGregor retracted my name, remember?’ As she uttered the words, she thought of Peter Morton.

‘If you think for a moment I’m not coming with you, hen —’ began Nettie with a look and a tone Sorcha recognised.

She curled grateful fingers around Nettie’s. ‘Nettie and I will try and find Janet then join you. At least until this —’ she lifted her chin towards the town, ‘dies down.’