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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

‘Thank you for seeing me home, captain. And thank you for your kind offer. If ever I need to share another burden, I won’t forget it.’ What he didn’t know was she’d no intention of telling him anything more. He was an incomer and, as her da always said, fisherfolk stuck together — through good times and bad. Only, she couldn’t recall the last time things were good.

‘Be sure you don’t,’ said the captain.

She wished she could think of something else to say, a reason not to go inside. While she didn’t want to share her fears for Beatrix, she was enjoying his company and would keep him there. But there was no reason. With a small curtsey, she went to the door.

‘Mrs McIntyre,’ said the captain.

Sorcha turned. ‘Aye?’ He was right behind her.

‘I can say something to Mrs Laing if you wish — tell her what’s happened.’ He jerked his chin towards the dim light.

‘Mrs Laing?’ Dear God, why did he raise Beatrix’s name? She hadn’t mentioned her, had she? If the captain knew she’d placed the bucket and coal outside the smithy, then so must half the village. ‘Why would you wish to tell Mrs Laing anything?’ She hoped her dread wasn’t apparent in the question.

Captain Ross stood so near, she could smell him. A hint of whisky, sweat and a musky odour that made her think of bathing in the ocean, drying before firelight and hazy summer days.

He lowered his face towards hers and for one mad moment, she thought he might kiss her. Her heart beat frantically against her ribs. Her cheeks burned. ‘Because,’ his breath was hot against her ear, ‘I saw her talking to the Morton lad only yesterday and she didn’t seem very happy.’ He drew his face away slowly and gazed at her intently. ‘I wasn’t the only one. I thought it might be good for her to know what’s happened, lest people read something they should not into their conversation.’

‘I see.’ Sorcha’s mind whirled. The sooner Beatrix found out what had occurred, how Peter reacted to her charm, the better. It might be too late by morning. God knows what the reverend might do. Might make others do. And, if Sorcha was seen talking to Beatrix, what conclusions would then be drawn? Before she could change her mind, she gripped his hand. ‘Aye,’ she said. ‘Aye. It would be grand if you could tell her. Now, if that’s possible.’

‘Consider it done,’ said the captain.

‘But please,’ said Sorcha, her grip tightening, ‘don’t let anyone see you.’

‘If I don’t want them to, they won’t.’ He made no effort to leave.