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
When she planted a kiss on his cheek, she was astonished to see it redden. Squeezing her tightly, delighted by her affection, he’d released her reluctantly. ‘I’ll do my best, lass. Now, do you have a letter for him?’
Sorcha did and gave it to the sergeant, who’d tucked it beneath his plaid, bowed and left.
Though he’d only been gone a short time, she missed him terribly. The town wasn’t the same without the sergeant and his men, even though a few of Aidan’s soldiers still remained, awaiting the arrival of the new troops. Truth was, the town wasn’t the same without Aidan.
Keeping her head down as the wind grew worse and the salty water stung her eyes, Sorcha thought of all that happened since he left. Believing Janet’s death and the arrest of the men responsible would mark the end of their torment, she’d been wrong.
Furious that, once again, Edinburgh had undermined his authority, Patrick Cowper renewed his efforts to rouse the fears of those in the parish still worried about the so-called witches being free. If he couldn’t punish the women himself, then he’d make sure the townsfolk did it for him, only this time, within the bounds of the law.
As a consequence, Beatrix especially, but Nicolas as well, were having a miserable time. To an extent, Isobel was protected by her father. Sorcha, by the families of the fishermen contracted to her boat, while both she and Nettie were shielded by Janet’s relatives and friends, who never forgot what they did that night or the letter Sorcha had written to Edinburgh. If only the protection she had could be extended to Beatrix and Nicolas. But people were afraid. Neighbours still turned on neighbours and the reverend did nothing to stop it. On the contrary, he encouraged it.
Shopkeepers refused Beatrix and Mr Brown service. The windows to Beatrix’s house were broken. It wasn’t rational or fair that Beatrix became the object of folk’s anger, but nothing about this was.
When Beatrix was told that if she was ever discovered alone, she’d be treated the way Janet was, she could stand it no longer. With her husband’s blessing, she wasted no time, and before the bailies had even left to go to the city, had appealed to Edinburgh to demand the Pittenweem council provide her with protection so she might go about her daily business.
When the reverend found out, he ordered her brought to the Tolbooth — the place where Janet’s murderers were confined — so they might discuss the matter further. Warned of his intention to seize her once more, with Nettie’s help, Beatrix disappeared.