Epilogue
Lucine had said goodbye to Matthew Hall for the final time as he was laid to rest in the small plot of land at the edge of his smallholding, placing a bunch of pretty blue forget-me-nots that were Dora’s favourite on top of his grave.
Matthew had kept his word, they had married and she had given birth to the most beautiful baby girl with a head full of the blackest curls and a bright red face.
Lenora and Seraphina had delivered the child, and Lenora had stated that the child came out with her fist raised as if ready to fight the world, and this had made Lucine so happy.
There had been no sightings of John Hadden despite her wishing upon the stars almost every night for some sign that he was still here.
Had he been courting her to have his wicked way and then left her like he most likely did with the other women he met?
She had been so sure he had spoken the truth about losing his wife and his sister taking care of his child.
The only good thing that had come out of her brief love affair with him was Isadora.
She was watching her playing in the garden with the crow that never left her side.
Wherever Isadora went so did the crow, which was sweet, but she had to be cautious for the villagers would say it was a familiar and if the child had a familiar then she also could be a witch.
So foolish were those Puritans. Matthew had taken good care of the both of them and Isadora’s first word had been Dada, which had made Matthew so happy Lucine had thought that her own heart would burst with joy for him.
He was a good man. He kept his promise and took care of them both as he said he would, making sure they wanted for nothing and welcoming her sisters as if they were his own.
She was sad at his passing but thankful that he had lived this long.
She had thought that his heart would stop the day she burdened him with her tale of woe.
Instead, it was as if her story had given it strength to carry on for her and the child.
They had spent happy years together and it had been a blessing.
When he died it had been in Lucine’s arms, and he had not been alone as he had feared, and she had cried many tears for the good friend she had just lost. She knew she was more fortunate than most women and never forgot that, helping any woman who came to her when they were in trouble.
Now she had Matthew’s homestead and a child to take care of, but what she really wanted was to be home with her sisters.
They were missing out on so much of Isadora, so she made her decision to pack up their things and get a cart to take them back to where they belonged.
The money from the sale of Matthew’s homestead would take care of them for the foreseeable future.
Isadora would be safer too from prying eyes.
Lucine’s home had no neighbours to pry on them, so if the crow was still hanging around when they moved the fear of her child being labelled a witch would pass.
Though caution would always be needed. The Putnams were jealous of everything and every person.
Thankful for the respect they had for Matthew, she had managed to live a life of happiness with him as her husband.
Now he was gone and things would be different.
Corwin was already sniffing around. He had been to visit twice since his death, and she would rather visit with the devil himself than George Corwin for she did not trust him one inch.
As the cart reached the smallholding, she heard Seraphina screech with delight as she ran towards it.
Reaching out for Isadora, she took the child away with her, leaving Lenora to help her down with her few belongings.
Wrapped in fine linen and inside a locked chest only she had the key for that was on a piece of leather around her neck was the book of spells that John had given to her and the book of unwritten stories that one day she might find a use for.
Matthew had been so concerned about her fear of it being discovered he had commissioned a woodworker in Salem town to make her the beautiful box.
He had never discussed the books with her, had asked no questions and told her he understood how precious they were to her.
All he asked was that she did not ever show them to the Putnams or talk about it with anyone other than her sisters.
She had agreed wholeheartedly for Lucine knew if any of the villagers were to find out they existed that would be the end for her.
She was no fool and she had told John that when he had given it to her.
She climbed down off the cart and carried the box inside herself.
Taking it to the dresser in the kitchen, she opened the bottom drawer and pushed it inside.
Sephy was watching her as she bounced Isadora on her knee, and she shook her head but did not speak.
All three of them knew the contents of the box was a dangerous thing to have in their possession, but Lucine could not bear to part with it for that and Isadora were all she had to remind her of him.
When Lenora carried in the last of her things, Lucine went outside to pay the driver.
She gave him a little extra for his service, and he grinned at her with a toothless smile.
‘Let me know if you ever need my cart again, Widow Hall. I am so sorry for your loss. Matthew was a good man, a kind man.’
She nodded. ‘Thank thee, I will.’
She turned to walk back inside and realised that she would be forever known as Widow Hall not Lucine English and she hated that.
She was her own woman and despite her happy marriage to Matthew her name was her own.
She did not want to forever be called Widow Hall.
She would never marry again unless her beloved John Hadden came back for her.
She had cried so many tears over him and now she cried tears for Matthew.
He had saved her life, and she would never be able to repay his kindness, though she had tried to be a good wife.
She had taken care of him the best that she could, and she hoped that it had helped him in those final years.
Now she had to take care of Isadora the best that she could, keep her safe.
She wondered if the crow had followed them here.
She had not noticed it on the cart, but she had been too busy taking care of her child to look out for an errant crow.
In a way she hoped it had for Isadora would be bereft to lose the only father she knew and her crow friend at the same time.
What of John’s firstborn daughter, would she and Dora ever meet?
She hoped with all her heart that this would happen one day because her own sisters were her entire world and it was only right that John’s daughters should share the same special bond as they did.