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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

As she approached her cottage, Nettie beside her, the gloaming unusually bright as it oft was after a storm, the air still fresh and clean, there was the remnant of a rainbow glimmering above the Isle of May. She saw her street, her town, with new eyes. Returning the friendly waves and coy greetings that issued from each shop, business and home on the High Street, she was astounded to note that, whereas Thomas’s and Janet’s deaths had brought such sorrow and suspicion in their wakes, the reverend’s seemed to have drawn a line, or at the very least, written the last in a sorry story. A story that everyone seemed keen to rewrite. Maybe now they could close the book.

Mr Brown and Mr Adam insisted on accompanying the women home, along with two of the soldiers. As they ambled towards the kirk, passing the Tolbooth, Sorcha tried not to think of the reverend’s cold lifeless body lying in St Fillan’s Cave, the place where he’d once kept Beatrix and Janet. What would Beatrix have to say about that, a reversal of fortune that meant she could now come home for good? Would she want to, considering all the reverend and council had put her through? Would folk allow her and Mr Brown to live in peace? Would they allow Nicolas and the rest of the women?

Glancing at Beatrix’s husband, she wondered if he was thinking the same thing. She refused to look at the Tolbooth, but couldn’t help considering how long it would be before she could pass the building and not be reminded of what had happened to her and her friends inside it. Or if any of her friends would be able to, for that matter. Would time heal them or would it take a miracle?

As they entered Marygate, her footsteps slowed. The cuts on the soles of her feet were very tender. She waved to Moira Fraser and Crabby, standing on their stoop. The golden hound barked with joy when he saw her and raced from his mistress’s side to bump his wet nose into her thigh. She winced and laughed and ruffled his coat. ‘Good evening to you, Crabby, Mrs Fraser.’

‘And to you, brave lass,’ cried Moira, whistling to Crabby who, after enjoying a bit more attention, bounded away, tail wagging. Other neighbours waved from their stoops or windows. Sorcha couldn’t remember being so popular.

As they reached her cottage, she was surprised to see smoke rising out of the chimney and light glowing behind the windows.

Just as she reached the door, it swung open. Standing on the threshold was the man who’d occupied her thoughts and dreams from the moment she met him.

The world stilled.