Page 74 of The Snow Witch

Ollie cast a glance at her. ‘John Kincaid.’

‘Who? The bastard Witch Finder?’ Violet felt anger bubble up inside her.

‘Yup.’ Ollie shrank into himself and stared into his glass. ‘He was strangled and his throat was cut. Connected to all of this as well? You think?’

Violet swore under her breath. ‘No idea. But quite possibly.’

‘I was zoning out,’ admitted Jake. ‘Imagining hanging around the pub, watching for someone, climbing out of the room, like it was me there. I guess – Meg’s dagger could have done that. And I kind of understand Emory going for a Witch Finder. I mean, I would if it was you, Vi.’

She smiled at him. She knew it was the truth. ‘Perhaps you fell into his mind; you remembered things he’d done.’ She transferred her attention to Ollie. ‘And we know Charles decided to use you – what a family you’ve come from.’

Ollie shook his head. ‘I don’t know how I’m still here. Genuinely. That family… I mean, I can understand Emory getting revenge for Meggie. But I seem to look more like Charles?’

‘It was through Ellen,’ said Violet suddenly. ‘Meg’s – well, I won’t say friend because Ellen was just as guilty of getting Meg killed as Charles was – but it’s her. Her son was Charles’ son. His illegitimate son. I bet he’s the one. I, well, I heard Ellen tell Meg nobody could know, and the bairn wasn’t Tam’s. I think the baby was a Milburn!’

Ollie nodded. ‘Tam. That’s a nickname for Thomas yes?’ He laughed shortly. ‘My middle name is Thomas. A family name. And my grandfather – he was always called Tam. Yes. You’ll be right, I guess. It was all just a family legend – nobody had ever traced it all back properly; it was just passed down the generations. I took it into my head to come and try and find out. I was going to follow it up properly at the archives, the libraries – all that kind of thing. It just seemed easier starting with the house.’

‘I bet you wish you’d never bothered,’ said Jake.

‘Too damn right.’

‘Well, even if you had gone to the libraries and archives, I don’t think you’d have found your answers there,’ said Violet. ‘I can’t imagine it being recorded anywhere that Charles got Ellen pregnant. I only know because of – well – that conversation…’ Violet felt her cheeks flush. ‘Let’s just leave it at that.’

Violet raised her glass of orange, hoping the men would take the hint and not ask much more. She wasn’t quite ready to go into the whole thing yet. Everyone was safe, and that was all that mattered.

Ollie and Jake took the hint. The three of them clinked glasses. ‘To Meggie and Emory,’ said Violet. ‘I hope you’re happy now.’

And thank you, Meg, she added mentally. I really could not have done any of this without you.

Violet knew she wasn’t imagining the sense of warmth and protection that surrounded her. She grazed her hand gently against her stomach, which was definitely firmer than it had been before. If souls did have some sort of freedom to choose who they visited, she really hoped that she was carrying part of Meggie’s soul as well. That would be a wonderful legacy for her.

Perhaps Coventina had blessed them both after all.

56

NOW

The next morning, Violet, waiting for the nausea to claim her again, was delighted to discover that it never came. Which meant that as well as waking up curled in the circle of Jake’s arms and being able to enjoy that without dashing to the bathroom, she could actually stomach the fried breakfast today.

They said goodbye to Ollie, Violet hugging him and making him promise to let them know when he was safely home.

‘You can come down and visit me,’ Ollie said with a grin. He looked happier today, more relaxed. ‘No way am I coming anywhere near this area again. But well, I’m glad I met you.’

‘Glad I met you too,’ said Violet. ‘It helped me make sense of a lot of things.’

‘I’m also delighted that you don’t really want to kill me,’ said Jake, shaking Ollie’s hand. ‘And yeah, not sure I want to come here again any time soon.’

Violet rolled her eyes heavenwards and shook her head. ‘It’s still beautiful,’ she said. ‘This place is incredible.’

The men looked at her as if she’d gone mad, so she just shrugged. Mad was a concept, and she had come rather close to believing she was that particular concept over the last few days. But she knew she wasn’t. And whatever had happened was real in the moments it had happened, no matter how bizarre it sounded when spoken out loud.

They watched Ollie drive away, and Jake spoke. ‘Have you decided what you want to do with Meg’s dagger yet? I don’t really want to take it home with us, so if you think it needs to go back to her cottage, we’ll take it there now.’

Violet shook her head. ‘No. I’m not taking it back there. I think it needs to go back to Coventina. I don’t know for sure, but it certainly seemed to be more – I don’t know, is “powerful” the right word? – when we were there. I honestly think the goddess needs to decide what to do with it. And realistically, I don’t think it should be left anywhere for people to find. So, I think we need to go back to the Well, Jake.’

* * *

Violet was pleased she’d made that decision. They collected the dagger from the van, where they had left it overnight by unspoken agreement – neither of them wanted to be close to it, really – and made their way down to Coventina’s Well.