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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

He would make sure that his next sermon roused the town to watchfulness but not anger. If the witches were to continue to live among them for the time being, then let it be on terms he set, terms that made the women’s lives as uncomfortable and wretched as any who sold their souls to Satan deserved to be. Just as long as there wasn’t a repeat of what happened to the Cornfoot woman.

A horse rode up the wynd, startling him, and he wondered for a moment if the captain had returned. As far as he was aware the lad was still in Bavaria. Dead, if his prayers had been answered.

Thinking of the captain turned his thoughts once more to Sorcha. He knew instinctively she was responsible for this mess they found themselves in, yet again having to justify their actions — or inaction — to Edinburgh. Being held to account made him appear foolish, ineffectual.

Finishing his drink, he wandered back to his desk and put his glass down. Well, Mrs McIntyre was going to be disappointed when her plan failed.

Och, what he wouldn’t give to see that disappointment writ all over her beautiful face.

Fifty-Five

FIFTY-FIVE

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Like snaw off a dyke.

(Disappearing suddenly.)

The touch was so light, it wouldn’t have woken Sorcha had she been deeply asleep. Rather, she was drifting in a nether world where dreams merged with reality. She was racing down a lane in pursuit of those dragging Janet. She could hear the woman’s screams, her moans as she struck a sharp stone or someone ran forward to kick her. No matter how fast Sorcha moved, she couldn’t gain on them. It was as if she was running on the spot. Twisting around to see what was holding her back, she saw Patrick Cowper clasping her skirt, laughing silently at her antics as she sought to free herself from him…

‘Sorcha, wake up, hen.’

Sitting up suddenly with a cry, Sorcha threw out her hands, narrowly avoiding hitting Nettie.

Nettie patted Sorcha’s cheek. ‘That was some dream you were having. Get up and come sit by the fire. I’ve something to tell you.’

Shaking off the effects of sleep and with it her dream, Sorcha scrambled from the bed, searching for a shawl to put about her shoulders. She could hear Nettie fiddling with the fire in the outer room. What was going on? Why had Nettie woken her in the middle of the night? Wasn’t she supposed to be in Anster with her daughter?

Sorcha pulled up a chair and sat down while Nettie threw more peat on the smouldering embers, found two quaichs and a bottle of whisky, poured a generous splash for each of them and settled herself opposite her friend.

‘Sorry I almost hit you,’ said Sorcha as they knocked their cups together, drained the spirit and then dispensed another. ‘I thought you weren’t due back until the morrow.’