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Back The Darkest Shore
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

The arrests of the previous night had been on everyone’s tongues when Sorcha and Nettie walked down to the shore that morning. Some soldiers had been happy to share what they’d heard, as were the fishermen and their wives. Not much escaped those who lived in the Weem, especially with tensions still running high and folk minding what everyone was doing and saying. But the arrival of the lairds was fresh news.

‘Were they there long?’ asked Nettie.

Beatrix shook her head. ‘Not long at all, according to Mr Brown. A few hours and then they left.’ She waited until some of the other fishermen and folk from the nearby cottages drifted closer. Beatrix always did love an audience.

‘What did they have to say for themselves?’ asked Mr Porter, the cordwainer.

Beatrix’s eyes narrowed and she drew herself up. The lines on her face were so deep, they were like the skerries jutting into the Forth. ‘What Mr Brown heard is that they came to say they’re initiating legal proceedings against the burgh magistrates — against the bailies — and, you’re not going to believe this — against the reverend as well.’

There was a collective gasp. Sorcha felt Nettie’s hand seek her own.

Raising her voice so that it carried across the harbourfront, Beatrix continued, ‘They said the reason the bailies were being charged was for “Suffering such tumults and rabbles and other such outrages to be committed within their burgh”.’ Beatrix folded her arms beneath her breasts, a smug look upon her weathered face.

‘They used the word “outrages”?’ asked Sorcha in disbelief. Around her everyone broke into discussion.

‘Aye, lass, they did. Better than that, they’ve ordered the five men who’re currently in the Tolbooth be sent to Edinburgh for trial as soon as possible. Them, and any others who had a hand in Janet’s murder.’ Beatrix scanned the crowd. No one looked away. There was not one among them who’d participated.

Sorcha’s knees felt weak. She sat down fast on an upturned creel, pulling Nettie beside her. ‘Can this be true?’ she whispered. This was better than she hoped. Not only were the men who murdered Janet going to face justice, but the entire Pittenweem council, including the reverend, would be forced to account for their role in her death.

Nettie pinched her hard on the arm. Sorcha squealed. ‘Aye, hen, you’re not dreaming this time. It be true,’ said Nettie then hugged her tightly. ‘At last,’ she murmured. ‘At last.’

Nicolas and Therese swooped on Sorcha, engulfing her in a warm embrace.