Magpie, page 29
‘I wouldn’t have missed all this for the world.’ Nathan bent nearer. ‘I have everything I’ve ever wanted right here.’ He held her close and kissed her, whispering, ‘And let’s go to the US for our honeymoon.’
Beth’s heart stopped. ‘Is that a proposal, Dr Smith?’
‘It might be, Ms Loveday.’
‘Then I might just accept.’ She kept the tone light, but he knew her true meaning in her kiss. Their bodies knew each other well now.
The past year had been crazy. The shop was going from strength to strength; Beth had employed a manager and assistant and begun her medical herbalism course. Even though she was only studying the introductory module, it had proved far more gruelling and science based than she’d anticipated but she was relishing using her brain again.
Last week Casey had led a cleansing ritual where Beth, Florence and Bill from the museum had blessed the witch’s bottle and the Celtic knife handle and returned them to their hiding place in the inglenook chimney. Tenpenny House, lighter since Beth and Nathan had uncovered Prudie and Susanna’s story, now felt immensely calm and serene. Beth was no longer afraid of being there. She’d never discover exactly why the spell bottle and the handle had been hidden, but it felt right to have them back in the place they belonged.
And Beth and Nathan had worked together on this passion project, the end product of which was now in front of them. The town council had been reluctant at first, suggesting it was a time in history they wanted to gloss over, but Beth had rallied support from the Clappers Lane Small Business Association and, most importantly, Bill with her contacts at South Western University in nearby Exeter. Together they’d all forced it through.
The plaque had been erected on the museum wall next to its front door and was being unveiled by the mayor. Months of hard work had gone into this. A small crowd had gathered, Bill did a speech, a moving one about injustice and wrongful persecution of innocent women. It was followed by one from the mayor, resplendent in ceremonial garb, her chain of office glinting in the low autumn sun. And then the plaque was revealed.
Beth gasped as she read the words. Nathan’s arm came round her shoulders, warm and strong, and she felt his kiss, tender on her hair.
In memory of Abigail Wray, Prudence Tenpenny and all other innocent women of Flete unjustly accused of the crime of witchcraft. In hope of an end of persecution and intolerance. May their souls find peace.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Just like Beth, the more I researched how women were treated during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the angrier I became. Then, when I discovered the story of the Bideford Witches, inspiration struck. The research was fascinating but often harrowing. There is a lot of information about the Bideford Witches and it’s a fascinating story. John Callow’s The Last Witches of England is a detailed account, and Frank J Gent’s YouTube videos are well worth a watch. If you get the chance, see Scratchworks Theatre Company’s Hags which is a funny, thought-provoking and moving version of the women’s story. For women’s health I am indebted to the excellent and very readable Maids, Wives, Widows by Sara Read. There is no Flete in east Devon but if you know the area you may guess which little seaside town I based it on! I’m also guilty of moving the date of the Exeter Assizes. I had so much help with this book. Thank you to Greg Poulos for providing all things American, Eleanor Small for info on horse and cart journeys, and thanks to Wendy Jones for information on a GP’s life. Huge thanks must also go to the lovely Kate Ryder for equestrian details, to Julia Roebuck for supplying techie detail and to Jane Bheemah who told me Heavitree means Hanging Tree and which got the writing juices well and truly going. I also owe an enormous debt of gratitude to medical herbal practitioner Su Bristow who gave me so much information on complementary medicine. All mistakes are mine alone. A big thank you to lovely Team Bloodhound who are fabulous to work with. And finally, thank you dear readers. Come find me for a chat on social media. Despite Beth’s experiences I’m still on Facebook and X!
www.facebook.com/georgiahillauthor
@georgiawrites
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Georgia Hill, Magpie
