Free The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston

your work, and no person here will think badly of you for it. Be that as it may, I might yet attempt a second meeting with the reluctant Mister Masters…’
    ‘Bess?’ William’s voice made Bess start. She had not noticed him come to stand next to her. She frowned, annoyed that she would not now be able to follow the reverend’s conversation further.
    ‘Ah, William. Good morning,’ she said, not bothering to disguise her irritation.
    William smiled warmly. ‘I had hoped to see you here,’ he said.
    ‘A safe hope, after all, my coming here every Sabbath.’
    ‘Yes. I suppose so.’ William fidgeted, tugging at his short cape, which had become tight around his neck instead of sitting neatly on his shoulders. He continued to smile at her. ‘Might we walk awhile?’ he asked.
    ‘There are many people here doing just that.’ Bess began to stride on. ‘It is not for me to say that they might or might not.’
    William scurried along beside her, apparently immune to her sharpness. Bess was on the point of saying something else withering when she caught sight of her parents watching her. She slowed her pace immediately so that William was in step with her and treated him to a bright smile.
    ‘So, William, tell me. All are well at Batchcombe Hall?’
    ‘Very well, thank you.’
    ‘And your father?’ Bess disliked the man, but William no longer had a mother living for her to inquire after.
    ‘Quite, yes. Taken away often with matters of government, of course.’
    Bess nodded, ‘Leaving you to run the estate?’
    ‘Well, there is my brother Hamilton. He being the eldest…’
    They drew level with the Widows Digby and Smith. Bess enjoyed the scandalized expressions they wore. She couldn’t decide whom they despised more: Bess herself for having ideas above her station or William for having notions beneath his. The world they had known had been turned on its head in recent years, and nothing could be relied upon to stay as it was. It was a situation not helped by people choosing to step away from the position on this earth the good Lord had seen fit to give them. Bess inclined her head toward the ladies with an innocent smile. Widow Smith pursed her lips so hard they lost what little color they had. Bess waited until they were out of earshot before continuing her conversation with William.
    ‘But it was you I saw about your father’s business the other day,’ she said, ‘on the edge of Batchcombe Woods?’
    ‘Oh, quite possibly. You saw me? What could have so occupied my thoughts that I was unaware of your presence?’ William looked genuinely appalled at the idea.
    ‘You were conversing with Gideon Masters.’ Bess did her utmost to keep her voice level but saying the evil man’s name out loud disturbed her.
    ‘Oh, yes. We were discussing over which trees his rights extended. It seems the demand for charcoal is ever increasing. I believe the man would have the entire woodland stumps if he could.’
    Bess looked at William. It was the first time she had ever heard him speak so plainly of anyone.
    ‘You do not like Gideon Masters?’
    ‘I did not say so.’
    ‘You don’t disagree, though?’
    ‘What would you have me do, argue with you or…?’
    ‘Or have the courage to speak the truth?’ Bess finished his sentence for him and waited.
    William stopped walking and stood squarely facing her. His face was altered by his determined expression. So much so that he looked considerably older, the man replacing the boy.
    ‘If you will press me, no, I do not find anything to like in Gideon Masters. He has a way about him, a manner, a … disposition that leaves me unsettled.’
    ‘Upon my word, his manner.’
    ‘Mock me if you must, Bess. You asked for the truth. There is something bad in that man. Something I would rather not be in the company of, and I advise you to stay away from him.’
    Bess felt her temper getting the better of her. She was in fact pleased to hear that William was wary of Gideon, that