Chapter 49 #2
‘Yes.’
‘Then I promise.’
That settled, I took her hand – but then I heard someone calling her name. Rue gasped and, pushing past me, ran to her aunt.
They hugged. Sorrel took Rue’s face in her cut hands, insisting she was unharmed, despite their bloodiness and her swollen, bruised eye.
‘I just want to go home.’
Her wrists were bloodied too, and her clothing torn in places, but I was relieved to see she didn’t seem in any worse state than when I left her. I went to join them.
Sorrel gave me a knowing smile before looking down at our hands and lifting them to study the matching linen cloths binding them. ‘I must admit, I’m rather confused.’
Did I dare believe my hopes had come to fruition? ‘Are you telling me my father’s obsession of you has been erased?’
She gave a weary sigh. ‘It does seem that way. He told the guards to release me not two minutes ago.’
‘And the other women?’ Rue asked.
Her aunt’s smile slipped. ‘I do not know. I believe they are still in cells.’ She hugged Rue closer. ‘I am relieved you are no longer in danger, dearest Rue.’
Rue glanced at me. ‘I’m not?’
‘Has the accusation against her been retracted?’ I asked hopefully.
Sorrel shrugged. ‘I hope it will be. Why would he let me go and still want Rue? With the two of us free we can work together to do whatever is necessary to help secure the other women’s release.’
‘That might not be necessary,’ I said, happy to share my thoughts. ‘If I am correct, then there is a chance the others will soon follow you out of this place.’
My father’s forgetting his resentment of Sorrel Norman solved so much, I thought, relief washing over me.
At least now he could continue his work as Witchfinder and my mother’s lifestyle would be protected, though I would need to stay nearby until I was certain his brutal behaviour towards her had waned along with his loathing of Rue’s aunt.
Hearing the rumbling of wooden wheels on the road, I looked over to see Pierre and Rue’s grandmother arriving, followed closely by Lord Thistlebury on his horse. I wondered how he had heard what had happened. Someone from the estate must have let him know.
Ophelia Tredwell’s hands covered her mouth in delight when she saw her daughter standing outside and free.
Pierre stopped the cart and, taking a cloak from Mistress Tredwell’s lap, ran over to Sorrel and placed it gently around her shoulders. ‘I’m to take you back to the manor,’ he said quietly, before giving me a grateful smile. ‘We’re very thankful for all you’ve done, sir.’
I was embarrassed that it had taken me so long. ‘I am happy to have been helpful to the family.’
‘You are always welcome at our home,’ Sorrel said. ‘But I’m sure Rue has already told you that.’
She hadn’t, but I was glad to think her family felt that way.
‘Mistress Norman, we should take you home now.’
She nodded. ‘Yes, Pierre, I’d like that.’
I took Rue’s hand. ‘You should go with them,’ I said, still not entirely sure about my father and whether a spell could obliterate all the venom I had witnessed earlier.
‘There’s something I need to do, but I’ll come to the manor afterwards and see you then.
There’s a matter I wish to discuss with you. ’
‘What is it?’
Amused, I smiled at her. ‘I’ll tell you later.’
She tilted her head to one side. ‘Theo, we both know you need to tell me now. At least the essence of what you’re thinking.’
I stared into her eyes. ‘When I’ve seen for myself that my father no longer wishes to hurt your aunt through you, I’m going to resign from my role as his assistant.’
She opened her mouth in shock. ‘You are?’
‘I can no longer do a job that goes against my beliefs. Thanks to you and your family, I now understand enough to know he is wrong to persecute you. I might not be able to alter his views, despite his apparent change of heart towards your aunt, but that doesn’t mean I must follow his orders any longer. ’
‘What will you do instead?’
I shrugged. ‘I have no idea.’
‘May I interrupt?’ Lord Thistlebury asked, bringing his horse to stand next to us. ‘I couldn’t help overhearing.’
I looked at Rue to gauge her reaction. ‘Thank you for coming, Papa.’
He beamed at her. ‘I intend to be far more involved with this family in the future. I have a lot of making up to do.’ He cocked his head to one side. ‘Which leads me to my suggestion for Theo here.’
‘I’m sorry, I don’t understand,’ I said, confused.
His Lordship pushed his hat higher on his forehead. ‘I’ve been trying to think of a way to show my gratitude for all that you’ve done to help me reconcile with my family.’
I smiled. ‘There is no need for thanks, Your Lordship. Seeing you all friends again is thanks enough.’
The older man smiled at Rue. ‘If he doesn’t listen to me, I’m expecting you to persuade him.’
‘About what?’ I asked, bemused. I wished I could have another moment alone with Rue before going to speak to my father.
Lord Thistlebury sat up a little straighter in his saddle, obviously preparing to make an announcement.
‘I am in need of a new private secretary. We have a couple of vacant cottages on the estate I’m willing to renovate.
I would be extremely happy to offer you a position and accommodation – at least until you decide to look elsewhere. ’
A job and a home, and both where I could see Rue every day. I thought of my mother and hesitated.
‘Is something wrong?’ Lord Thistlebury asked.
‘I am grateful for your kind offer, Lord Thistlebury. I am ambitious to set up my own business at some point, but I do need to be close to my family home so that I can check on my mother’s welfare.
’ I saw His Lordship’s concern and Rue’s, so I gave them my reasons.
‘She gave up a lot by sending me away to live with family. I must shortly explain to my father that I no longer wish to continue the family tradition by becoming Witchfinder. This is something my mother too might take time to accept.’
‘You don’t have to take me up on this if you don’t wish to,’ Lord Thistlebury said.
‘No, you don’t,’ Rue agreed, looking up at me, her turquoise eyes radiating love that made my heart melt.
I wished we could leave everything behind right now.
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘On the contrary, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and will be delighted to accept both the role and accommodation. I just wanted you to know that it might only be temporary.’ I looked at Rue. ‘If that’s something you are happy to agree to?’
She sighed, clasped my hand and held it against her. ‘I don’t care where we live, as long as we’re together.’
Lord Thistlebury clapped his hands and looked from me to Rue. ‘Then it’s decided.’
We watched his horse take him to speak to Ophelia and Sorrel.
Rue kissed me quickly. ‘I’m so happy you’ve accepted his offer.’
‘As am I.’ I gazed into her beautiful eyes. ‘I can’t believe I’ll be free to love you, now that my role won’t come between us.’
She beamed at me and, wrapping her arms around my waist, looked up at me expectantly. ‘Are you talking about us being married?’
‘I would like that.’ A hint of uncertainty dulled my excitement.
She let go of me and raised her hand. ‘I have one small thing to do. Can you wait here for a moment?’
I laughed, willing to agree to anything she asked of me. ‘You know I will.’
She ran off, returning less than a minute later holding a small pouch tied at the top with a red ribbon.
‘Is that what I think it is?’
She inclined her head and smiled. ‘If you mean, is it the one you picked up when searching my bedroom, then yes. I want you to have it.’ She took my hand and laid it on my palm. ‘Be careful not to smudge it, though.’
I wasn’t sure what she meant and studied it, intrigued.
Her reaction to my picking it up that time had been angry, and I sensed it meant a great deal to her to give it to me now.
There was something different about it. Inside the thin gold circle, a mark was painted. So that’s what mustn’t be smudged.
‘Can you see what it is?’ she asked quietly as I stared at it.
I recalled the sigil she had marked on her inner wrist that time, but this was different. ‘This one isn’t about your mother, is it?’
She gave me a shy smile. ‘No, this is a protective pouch for my betrothed.’ Her cheeks reddened. ‘When I made it, I never imagined you would be that man.’
‘I feel like the luckiest of men to receive it.’
She pressed a hand to her heart. ‘It’s filled with herbs that I’ve harvested and dried myself: rosemary for protection, mugwort for safety, and I’ve added a rose quartz to represent our love.’ She sighed. ‘I did that just now. As well as add the sigil.’
I raised my palm a little to inspect the mark more closely and picked out the ornate T lying over an R, the two coming together to resemble a heart.
‘It’s perfect,’ I said, slipping my free arm around her and drawing her to me. ‘Is this your way of telling me you are happy to marry me?’
She reached up and pulled my head down to whisper in my ear. ‘As long as you are willing to accept your wife being a witch, because that is a part of me and something I will never be able to ignore.’
I placed my hand on my chest where she had once stung me. ‘I know better than to fight a witch.’ I slipped my hand behind her head and kissed her.
‘Then it’s settled,’ she said, and kissed me back.