Page 31 of Witchbane

How I was to do that, I had no idea.

Relieved to be outside again, I lifted my face to the sun and closed my eyes. Now the Witchfinder was aware of me, all he needed to do to prove me and the women around me guilty was to find our grimoires or other witchcraft paraphernalia. I shuddered. That, and searching our bodies for a witch’s mark or checking that we didn’t keep familiars. Not that most of the women in my coven had those. There were other tests that Witchfinders used and most of them I didn’t like to think about, since they were pointless and cruel.

I sighed. I had a fight on my hands, one way or another, if I wasn’t to end up being tried and found guilty like my mother, or if I was going to somehow protect my aunt and grandmother. Especially now that Theo had seen my sigil. I hoped he believed what I had told him but, given time to think about it further, he might realise I had lied to him. I just hoped I had the strength to see this battle through to a satisfying conclusion, because the alternative was too horrible to contemplate.

Chapter Fifteen

THEO

‘Why did you insist she be brought to you today, Father? Was it to frighten her?’

I could barely contain my fury that my father had ordered me to bring Rue before him as soon as possible. Though I knew him well enough to guard my temper and not to give away my true feelings for Rue.

Rue. I couldn’t imagine for one second that the woman I had now met several times was a witch. If someone had a vendetta against her, then it was possible that they had told my father that I had danced with her at the festival and then asked around for information about her.

Were my actions the cause of his summoning Rue to be brought before him? If they were, I couldn’t understand why he might have taken against her. Then I remembered who her mother was. My mood dipped further.

‘You are well aware that a claim has been made against Mistress Underwood. Do you expect me not to investigate her? Accusing someone of sorcery is an extremely serious act.’

It was true. The thought sickened me. ‘But you don’t believe this person, do you?’ I asked hopefully. ‘Not after meeting Mistress Underwood?’

My father raised an eyebrow. ‘Theo, regardless of my instincts, I need to prove there is weight behind this accusation, which is why you must return her to her home and pass on my instructions to her family and estate workers.’

‘Was it only the maid at the farm who accused her?’

My father studied my face for a few seconds then narrowed his eyes. ‘That is not for you to know.’ His eyes pierced mine. ‘You are still only an assistant, don’t forget. I am yet to decide how fully committed you are to your role.’ His expression softened. ‘We both know that carrying out this work is not for the faint-hearted, Theo. For now, you are to continue your investigation into this woman and her family.’

I was under no illusion about how important this mission was for my father. I wished I understood why, after almost a decade, he was now concerning himself with Lady Thistlebury’s daughter.

‘You are to find something to implicate her and prove this accusation true. Do you understand?’

‘Falsify evidence?’ The words were out of my mouth before I had a chance to think. Did he truly expect me to carry out this order?

My father’s eyes darkened. ‘Are you determined to upset me, Theophilus?’

His tone sent chills through me. He was using my full name, which he rarely did now. This case seemed different from others I had seen him conduct. More ominous, more calculated. I stared at him. Any admiration I still held for his work was diminishing by the second.

Did he truly believe Rue capable of witchcraft, or was this matter a personal vendetta for him?

‘There is something I must tell you about Mistress Underwood,’ I said, eager to put her in the best light possible.

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Go on then, I’m eager to hear what you have discovered.’

‘I don’t believe her to be a witch.’

He laughed. ‘Theo, you had better have more to give me than just a statement.’ His eyebrows rose. He was clearly amused at my comment. ‘She is a beautiful young woman and I can understand your reluctance to think ill of her.’

Anger washed over me. ‘I have reasons for believing this, Father, and they have nothing to do with her appearance.’

He sat back in his chair. ‘Tell me.’

‘She saved my life,’ I said hoping to shock him and change his opinion of her.

His eyes widened and I saw with satisfaction that I had done as intended. ‘How?’

I explained about my accident in Crack Ankle Lane. ‘You see? She is too good to be a witch.’

My father stared at me. I spotted disappointment, and then a colder determination in his eyes. ‘You say she went to the cottage at the top of the lane for some concoction to stem the bleeding?’