Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
RUE
Iwatched Pierre dig up my aunt’s grimoire from the bank at the side of our top field and listened as he suggested Jem accompany me to Appoline’s home.
He bent to pick up something the size of my aunt’s book, wrapped in oilcloth, ‘I shall be here to protect your aunt and grandmother should those Witchfinder’s men return.’
His reasoning made sense. He brushed soil from the oilcloth, unwrapped the book and handed it to me for my aunt.
I walked with him to find Jem, who yet again seemed to be avoiding making eye contact with me.
Was he the man I should be wary of? I hoped not.
He was my oldest friend and the thought of him being disloyal wasn’t something I could cope with easily.
I saw Pierre observe Jem’s reaction to me.
He stood and rested his fists on his hips.
‘I don’t know what’s happened between the pair of you youngsters, but now is not the time for quarrels and silliness.
Jem, you’re to go straight to Mistress de la Mare’s home and wait while Rue goes inside and collects packages for her grandmother.
Carry them back with her and be as quick as you can. Understand?’
Jem cast his eyes downward. ‘Yes, Father.’ He looked at me. ‘Sorry, Rue.’
Relieved and hoping that whatever had been bothering him might now have passed, I smiled. ‘I’m sorry too,’ I said, although I wasn’t sure what I had done to annoy him. ‘It’s been a difficult time for all of us.’
Pierre clapped his hands. ‘Good. I’m glad that’s settled. Once Rue has delivered something to her aunt, the pair of you should get going as soon as possible.’
As soon as I’d given Aunt Sorrel her spell book, I ran outside to join Jem.
We walked at a quick pace across the fields towards the village.
Neither of us spoke for the first fifteen minutes and I realised the awkwardness around us remained and that earlier he had only wanted to reassure his father.
I was going to have to be the first to speak.
I knew how infuriatingly stubborn Jem could be at times.
Even though I had no idea what had caused this tension between us, I decided to begin with an apology of sorts.
He was walking too fast for me and at times I had to run to keep up with his large strides.
‘Jem,’ I said, grabbing his elbow to slow him down.
He immediately slowed, grumbling to himself as I caught my breath to be able to say what I wanted to.
He must have mistaken my silence because he turned to look at me as we walked. ‘Well, Rue? What is so important that you slow our progress to the village?’
I wanted to push him, hard, as I had when he annoyed me as a child, but didn’t want to antagonise him further and make the rest of our journey even more unpleasant. Instead, I took a deep breath and spoke.
‘I wanted to apologise for whatever it is you feel I’ve done to offend you.’
‘Hah,’ he laughed sarcastically. ‘One of your false apologies when you consider me to be in the wrong?’
What had got into him? He was never this angry with me. I tried again. I needed to ensure we carried out his father’s instructions and returned home with all the ingredients in good time for the gathering.
‘I’ve upset you somehow. I don’t know what I’ve done, but you are my friend and I don’t like it when we fight. Maybe if you told me what this is about, I could make amends.’
He didn’t look at me for a few strides then stopped and turned so abruptly I almost tripped over his foot. ‘Why are you being like this?’
‘Like what?’ We were wasting time and needed to get going.
‘Jem, I’ve no idea what I’m supposed to have done.
We do not have the time to stand still while we discuss this.
Please, keep walking.’ When he didn’t immediately do so, I added, ‘Or your father will be furious with us both for not doing as he instructed.’
The reminder worked and Jem immediately walked on. I wasn’t sure whether he would answer my question and hoped he was mulling over his answer before sharing it with me.
‘It’s that Theo Le Cerf,’ he said eventually.
I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, I gritted my teeth and controlled my temper while I tried to think what Theo could have to do with Jem’s ill humour. Then it occurred to me.
‘Are you jealous of him?’ I asked.
He stopped and whirled around, his face red with fury as he grabbed me by my upper arms and pushed his face almost into mine. ‘Don’t you dare accuse me of being jealous of that man.’
Stunned by his uncharacteristic behaviour, I knew I needed to give Jem a shock he wouldn’t forget. I closed my eyes and once again used my powers to hurt a man.
He yelped and immediately let go of me. ‘What was that?’ he asked, his eyes wide as he stared at his hands, turning them back and forth.’
‘Don’t worry, you won’t have any visible marks.’
‘But what was that?’ He stared at me, mouth agape. ‘It was like a red-hot blade piercing the tips of my fingers.’
I was not in the mood to explain, too angry with him for behaving in such an aggressive manner. ‘And don’t you ever dare put your hands on me like that again.’
He blinked several times, surprised by his own behaviour. All trace of his temper vanished and his face crumpled. ‘Rue, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Please, I didn’t hurt you, did I?’
His fingers had gripped me tightly enough to leave pressure marks, but right now I was more concerned that he should learn a valuable lesson.
‘I don’t care what you think I have or haven’t done, or what you think of the Witchfinder’s assistant. Whatever irks you, it does not give you the right to lay your hands on me. Is that understood?’
His gaze lowered and he clasped his hands together in front of him. ‘I do. Please forgive me. I do not know what came over me.’
‘I have a feeling your pride was hurt,’ I said, trying to sound gentle. ‘I did not mean to hurt you, Jem, but that does not excuse what you did.’
His shoulders drooped and for a moment I thought he would cry. ‘Rue, I promise I will never let that happen again.’
We were wasting valuable time. I began walking. ‘Good. Now, let’s get a move on.’
But I still needed answers from him. ‘Do you want to tell me what it was about Theo Le Cerf that upset you so much?’
I heard him sigh. ‘Only that he is everything I am not.’
‘I don’t understand.’ I didn’t.
He gave a bitter laugh. ‘He rides around on his black stallion looking important and full of himself.’
‘That doesn’t make him someone you should envy, Jem.’
I sensed him looking at me but kept moving.
‘Tell me, what do I have, Rue?’
‘You have a father who loves you, and the love and respect of everyone who knows you.’
He was silent for a moment. ‘I have nothing of my own, though. No impressive title, no magnificent steed, no importance at all.’ He groaned. ‘No smart clothes,’ he added as an afterthought.
My toe connected with a stone, and I almost lost my footing. ‘Ouch,’ I grumbled, righting myself. I wanted him to feel better about himself. ‘Material things aren’t as important as perception, Jem.’
‘What does that mean?’
I felt the perspiration run down my back from the exertion of crossing the fields.
‘Everyone loves your father and hates his. You have friends, he has none. People are always pleased to see you and enjoy your company, while they are wary of him. I’d much rather all that than have Theo Le Cerf’s life. ’
He looked at me and knew me well enough to see I was speaking the truth.
‘I’ve never thought about it that way before,’ he said half to himself.
‘I didn’t think you had.’ I saw the smoke from Mistress de la Mare’s chimney and began to run towards the cottage. ‘Now we’ve reached an understanding, I think we should do what we’re here for before your father sends out a search party.’
He laughed and ran to catch up with me, passing me easily in a few strides.