Page 60 of Witchbane

She stepped out from behind a large chair and sighed with relief. ‘It’s Rue, everyone,’ she said quietly.

I stood open-mouthed as the rest of the women slowly revealed their whereabouts in the dusty, untidy room. ‘I’m so sorry you’ve been kept up here for so long.’

‘Was that Lord Thistlebury’s voice I heard with the Witchfinder’s son?’ Loveday Le Tissier asked suspiciously.

I had no reason to lie. ‘It was. They’re still here, I’m afraid. I’ve come to lead you out of the house because I suspect they will not be leaving for some time yet.’ I frowned. ‘My father has a lot of explaining to do and I believe we haven’t heard much of it yet.’

Appoline groaned. ‘I remember only too well how your father could talk when he came to the village and spoke to people on feast days.’ She gave me a sympathetic smile. ‘I am glad for you that he has returned and you will have some answers after all this time.’

‘I’m sure we all are,’ Clarice said. ‘But we do have families who will be wondering where we are.’

At the reminder I nodded. ‘You do.’

We stilled as one of the floorboards creaked. I raised a finger to my lips and retraced my steps into the hall, gasping to come face to face with someone.

‘It’s only me,’ Jem said keeping his voice low. ‘My father spotted you looking out into the yard and suspected you might need help. He sent me up here.’

I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you.’

I went back inside to the women. ‘You all know Jem.’ There was a mumble of agreement. ‘He’s here to ensure you leave without being discovered.’

‘Why can’t you do that?’ Maisie Trehorel grumbled. I supposed she struggled to trust someone outside the coven, which didn’t surprise me. I wasn’t sure how happy I would be to have to follow someone outside our group.

‘Because I need to return to the withdrawing room with refreshments for my grandmother, aunt, father and the Witchfinder’s assistant.’

There was further grumbling, then Appoline raised a hand to silence them. ‘We understand, Rue.’

I smiled at her, grateful for her support. ‘As soon as it’s safe to meet here again, either I’ll come and let you know or we’ll send Jem if we feel I’m being watched. Again, I’m very sorry to have wasted your time.’

‘It couldn’t be helped,’ one of the women said, the others murmuring agreement and making me feel less guilty for inconveniencing them.

I thanked Jem and ran back down the stairs to the kitchen. I had just taken down three glasses for the drinks and poured the water from a jug into two of them, when I heard footsteps coming into the kitchen and turned to see Theo.

‘Yes?’ I asked, deciding that to go on the offensive was the best way to distract him in case he suspected me of doing something I shouldn’t have been doing.

‘My apologies. I only came to offer you help, should you need it.’

‘You wondered why I was taking so long, you mean?’ I said without thinking. I was annoyed by his arrival, nonplussed at seeing my father, and concerned that the spell we desperately needed had been delayed yet again. Today was too much for me – but I knew I needed to keep calm and hope Theo and my father would soon leave.

He gave me an apologetic half-smile. ‘I was concerned, I admit. Thanks to my naivety, the women of your house have had quite a shock today. I hope to leave with your father soon, to give you all time alone to gather yourselves.’

Realising he was giving me a perfect excuse, I picked a few sprigs of camomile from the tub on the windowsill and dropped them into the glass for my grandmother. I waved his concerns away and began to pour hot water onto them. They would steep for a short while.

‘I admit it has been a shock. I don’t know if I’m more taken aback by my father still being alive, or by the fact that he hadn’t forgotten us.’

His face crumpled slightly and revealed his distress at the outcome of his and my father’s arrival. ‘I truly am sorry for what I’ve done, Rue. I hope you believe that.’

Despite my feelings towards him, I admitted that I did. But I sensed he had more to reveal. Now I knew the rest of the coven were being looked after, I wanted to discover how he could have made the choices he did – while he was in the mood to tell us.

‘I hope you believe me when I tell you I only mean to help you.’

That didn’t make any sense. ‘And how do you expect to do that, when you’re the one tasked by your father to find evidence against me?’

He stared at me for a few seconds. I saw a range of emotions cross his face. Finally, he spoke.

‘Contrary to what you believe, I am determined to do all I can to prove your innocence. I have my own issues with my father, but please don’t forget he is just a man. He’s not infallible.’

I burst out laughing. ‘You wouldn’t say that if your own family had been through what mine have, thanks to his actions. Surely you cannot be that naive, Theo?’