Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
RUE
Ididn’t think I had ever been as relieved to see anyone as I was when Jem arrived on the cart.
‘I don’t know what I’d have done if I’d had to travel all the way back home with that man,’ I admitted as soon as he was seated next to me and clicking for Tally, our old horse, to break into a trot.
I thought of Theo and his obvious discomfort while we were in the Witchfinder’s office, but had no sympathy for him.
He had chosen this course in life and must live with the consequences.
‘I’m only sorry I couldn’t follow on sooner,’ Jem said apologetically. ‘Tally was out in the field and decided that today would be a good day not to let me catch her.’
I pictured Jem’s frustration and smiled. ‘You did catch her, though, and came for me.’
‘Yes, but not before that young Le Cerf chap took you to his father.’
I shuddered at the memory, hating to think of Jem, always so caring towards me, being made to feel guilty. I nudged him with my shoulder. ‘Stop it. If you hadn’t come when you did, I would be travelling with him now.’
Jem tensed. ‘You don’t like him?’
Surprised by such a strange question, I moved away from him slightly so that I could look him in the eye. ‘What do you mean by that?’
Jem slowed Tally to a walk. ‘It’s just that I know we haven’t referred to the festival or you dancing with him—’
‘Don’t,’ I snapped, not wanting to recall my feelings about Theo before I had discovered his identity, or my shame at my responding to him when he kissed me.
‘Rue, I know you’ve been through a lot today and this probably isn’t the time for me to bring this up, but I didn’t miss how happy you seemed dancing with him.’
Mortified to be reminded, I groaned. ‘Stop it, Jem,’ I said less angrily. He was right and we both knew it. ‘I feel guilty enough already and don’t need you to be cross with me about that day.’
‘I’m not. I suppose I’m just…’ His voice trailed off.
I knew what he hadn’t finished saying: that he was jealous of me having fun with Theo.
I hated to admit it now, but Theo had sparked something in me that I hadn’t ever experienced before.
I banished the thought from my mind. That was in the past. He was nothing to me now other than the man sent to investigate me and potentially bring more grief to my family’s door.
As the cart bumped over the stony road, I calmed slightly and began to feel a little more resilient.
My mother might not have been able to save herself, and my father might not have had the strength to stay and raise me, but I did have people who loved me and supported me.
I needed to be strong for those who needed me and dig deep into my soul to find the courage to fight this Witchfinder and his obedient son.
Both of them would have a bigger battle on their hands if they thought I would allow myself to be condemned like my mother.
I also had no intention of standing by while my family were punished for my perceived crimes.
I didn’t know how, just yet, but I was still determined to avenge my mother’s death, especially now my own life was in danger, and likewise my grandmother’s and my aunt’s. Elias and Theo Le Cerf were going to pay for coming after the women of Thistlebury Manor.
I smiled at the resurgence of my determination. I could do this and, by all my ancestors and the magick that ran through me, I would use whatever powers I possessed to make it happen. They were not going to beat my family this time.
We had barely turned into the drive when I saw Pierre pointing back at the house. He was with the young son of one of the temporary workers who came to help harvest the hay each year. The boy immediately ran back to the house, presumably to alert my grandmother and Aunt Sorrel of my release.
For the first time I was unable to hold back my tears. I wiped my eyes on my sleeve, attempting to pull myself together before they saw me.
‘It’s good to cry,’ Jem said sweetly. ‘You’ve had a nasty fright, Rue. No one expects you to be strong all the time.’
So I allowed my tears to flow, wanting to release as much emotion as possible before trying to be strong in front of my aunt and grandmother. I didn’t want them to see how frightened I had been; it would only upset them.
‘Rue, are you unharmed?’ Pierre asked as he climbed onto the cart, sat behind me and put a hand on my shoulder. ‘What did they do to you?’
I heard the fury in his voice. ‘Nothing,’ I managed to say after a few seconds. ‘They just spoke to me.’
‘Is that all?’
I nodded. I wasn’t sure what he thought he could do about it if anything else had happened. Poor Pierre, this must feel to him like history repeating itself. I felt so guilty to be the one to perturb him.
‘I have a message from the Witchfinder for everyone,’ I said. ‘I will share it with you all when we’re together in the house.’
‘As long as you’re well.’
Jem took us back to the house, stopping the cart in front of the back door, where my grandmother and aunt were waiting next to the young lad who had raced ahead to alert them of my arrival.
Pierre jumped off the cart and lifted me down, thoughtfully waiting to be sure my legs held me up before letting go of my waist. I was grateful that he knew me well enough to understand how fear might have affected my legs.
‘You’re home,’ Grandmama cried, her eyes bloodshot. She held her arms open. I hurried into them, welcoming her comforting embrace and happy to experience the feeling again.
‘Bring her inside,’ Aunt Sorrel instructed. ‘We’ll sit at the table. I’ve made camomile tea for us all. I think we need it. Then you can tell us everything.’
I breathed in the familiar calming scent of steeped camomile flowers and suspected my aunt had chosen this particular herbal tea for its property of bringing good fortune. We were going to need it. The reminder that we had our witchcraft to help us bolstered me somewhat.
I sipped my drink, thinking how best to relay the Witchfinder’s threatening message.
After I had delivered it, Pierre, Jem, my grandmother and Aunt Sorrel sat in silence as they each came to terms with what she had said.
I waited as long as I could stand the silence before speaking.
‘Obviously we need to come up with a plan. As none of us can leave this place, we’ll need to be meticulous when we hide anything that could incriminate us.
’ It was a relief to be able to open up in front of Pierre and Jem.
Both knew Jem’s mother had been a member of our coven, and even though they had no idea how we cast our spells, they had helped us find ingredients in the past when we needed them.
I thought of the strange mould infestation in my room. ‘I don’t believe it would be a good idea to place anything upstairs either.’
‘Hmm,’ Aunt Sorrel said, nodding thoughtfully.
Pierre rested a hand on Jem’s right shoulder. ‘I hope it goes without saying,’ he said to us three women, ‘that me and Jem here will do whatever it takes to protect you ladies.’
My grandmother smiled. ‘We know you will. And I speak for the three of us when I say how much we value your loyalty to us and to the estate.’
I heard a definite hitch in my grandmother’s voice.
How difficult this must be for her! After losing her daughter, then her son-in-law running off and leaving me behind for her to look after, she had worked tirelessly to keep the estate from dissolution.
The place might be in a dreadful state but, thanks to her efforts, at least we still had a roof over our heads and food to eat.
Overcome with weariness, I put my head in my hands and closed my eyes.
‘Rue, take yourself up to your room for a rest,’ my aunt said. I opened my mouth to insist I was fine, but she shook her head and pointed to the door. ‘We can speak later. You should go and have a lie down. Don’t you agree, Mother?’
My grandmother nodded. ‘Your aunt is right, Rue. You’ve had an exhausting day and need to keep your strength up if you’re to help us find a way to come through this latest attack from that man. One of us will fetch you in a couple of hours if you’re not already back down here.’
Knowing that neither would listen to any argument from me, I stood up. ‘Thanks again for coming to collect me, Jem. I really am grateful.’
‘It was no trouble at all.’
I smiled at him and left the room. I was dubious about venturing into my strangely inhabited bedroom but needed to come to terms with what had happened and to think about what it might lead to next.