Free Blood and Clay by Dulcinea Norton-Smith Page B

Good I think. I don ’ t really talk to her. ”

 
    “ You don ’ t? ”

 
    “ No. Why would I? Too busy working; Mr Nutter works me hard.
Got to earn my wages. ”
    Gabe
was still looking at me, brow wrinkled.

 
    “ I thought you were courting. ”

 
    “ Ha! ” Gabe fell backwards and lay on the grass laughing until
tears sprung from his eyes.
    I
glared at him, feeling stupid and confused.

 
    “ There only one lass for me Lizzie and it isn ’ t Jane Nutter. She ’ s very pretty an all but she don ’ t half know it. Get a spot o ’ dirt on her and she goes running to
her Mam in a tizz. ”

 
    “ Well I hope your other girl ‘ isn ’ t so prissy then Gabe; not with you
bein ’ so perfect and everything. ”

 
    I
spat the words out, confusion making me mean. I thought Jane was the only girl
he could be courting but I realised now that I hardly ever saw him. There could
be a whole bunch of girls he saw in the village. I really did know nothing
about him. I stood up quickly and stomped away, heading for home.

 
    “ Lizzie, Lizzie come back. I didn ’ t mean to laugh ”

 
    I
couldn ’ t turn around, my eyes were blurred with tears that I didn ’ t want Gabe to see. Tears I couldn ’ t even understand.

Chapter Twelve

 
    The
scent of sweet clover, wild garlic and morning dew filled the air and wood
pigeons cooed, unseen but ever present in the trees of the forest of Pendle. I
could hear my feet crunching on the stones of the road and the rhythmic
scrunch, scrunch made me calm. I neared Beggar ’ s Bend and smiled as I felt the warm,
smooth shilling in my pocket, the last of the money given to me by Roger Nowell
months earlier. I ’ d spent it slowly over the months and now, with fruit, veg
and meat more abundant in the woods, I was able to spend the last of it on
thread, pins and fabric to make a summer shift dress for Nettie as a birthday
surprise.  

 
    Following
Roger ’ s visit to Malkin Tower I ’ d felt unsure about what to do with
the money. At first the knowledge that Roger must have known who I was all
along had made me feel foolish and guilty for the lies which he must have known
as such. The uncertainty about what he was going to do to my family had further
made me avoid thinking about the money. I considered giving the money back but
he ’ d already set off on his horse by the time I had decided to
go and get the money from the clearing and I didn ’ t know where he lived. I reached the
bend just in time to see Alistair McCarren approach from the opposite
direction. His old pony plodded slowly along as it pulled a cart on which he
perched. Behind him were swathes of fabric. There was nothing delicate or fancy
but there was an abundance of hard wearing cloth. They were mostly in basic
blocks of earth and neutral colours but some with more fanciful prints. It was
these in which I was interested. As I reached the bend I was happy to see that
Alistair had stopped for a while to sip on a small flask of water and let his
horse graze on the grass. The sun glinted of his silver white hair and he
sprinkled some of the water from his flask into his hand before holding it out
for his horse to drink.

 
    “ Hello Mr McCarren. ”                 

 
    “ Hmm. Hello. Alizon isn ’ t it? The Device girl ”

 
    “ Yes Sir ”

 
    “ Here alone? ” Alistair looked behind me and scanned the trees with the
familiar edginess that I often saw when people wondered if my Gran was around.
When I nodded Alistair McCarren visibly relaxed.

 
    “ Aye. Not that I got a problem with your family you
understand. No, I don ’ t have a problem with no-one round these parts. That
chattering Chattox woman gives me the creeps mind. Not friendly with your
family is she? ”

 
    “ No Sir. ”

 
    “ What are you doing on a fine day like today then girl? ”

 
    “ I ’ ve come to buy fabric and pins. I ’ m going to make our Jennet a dress. ”