The Witching Pool: A Justice Belstrang Mystery (Justice Belstrang Mysteries Book 2) by John Pilkington (love letters to the dead .TXT) 📗

‘Did you try to see what it was?’ I asked. ‘The water’s not deep - a man could wade across.’

‘Do you jest, Master Justice?’ Mason shook his head quickly. ‘We did no such thing, but turned tail and ran! This is a grim place – do you not feel it? Why, it’s been said…’ He broke off, which naturally aroused my interest further.

‘What’s been said, Master Edward?’ I enquired. ‘Come, I’ve given you hospitality and brought you home. Will you not return the favour by satisfying an old man’s curiosity?’

He hesitated, then: ‘I’m loth to speak of it, sir – I mean, after what’s happened. But some say this was a place where witches held their Sabbaths - midnight revels, with their familiars and such.’ The man almost shuddered. ‘Can we not leave now? It will grow dark soon, and my wife will wonder what’s become of me.’

His unease was such, I could only indicate my assent. I recalled now that I might have had heard such tales myself - and hence I could not resist posing a question which occurred.

‘Your mother, Agnes… did she ever come here?’

At that, the other was aghast. ‘In God’s name, Master Justice, do you too believe she’s a witch?’ He cried. ‘That she could do the wickedness she’s accused of – you of all people? If that’s so, why do you-’

But when I held up a hand, he stopped himself.

‘I’m very much in doubt of it,’ I said. ‘But you must expect such questions to be asked of your mother, when she comes to trial. I merely wish to gather facts.’

I sighed, and could not help experiencing a shiver; then, the air was growing cool. ‘But I agree that we’ve tarried here long enough,’ I continued. ‘Shall we retrace our steps?’

Mason showed his relief and turned away – whereupon a noise from somewhere across the pool made us both stop in our tracks. It was a rustling, as of branches being disturbed. I swung round, peering into the trees, but could see nothing – until a sound rang out that startled even me.

It was laughter: a short, barking laugh, eerie enough yet unmistakably human. Swiftly I looked round at Mason, expecting him to be terrified – but instead, the man had relaxed.

‘That’s Berritt,’ he said. And when I raised my brows: ‘Old Ned Berritt… been a part of these woods since I was a boy. Does a bit of rat-catching, fishes for eels in the river, and not averse to poaching. Likely he’s been watching us, ever since we got here.’

He gestured towards the path. ‘Now will you come to my house sir, and take a mug of ale before you ride home?’

***

A short while later I was seated by the fire in Mason’s small cottage nursing a mug of farm-brewed ale, somewhat embarrassed by the reproach the man was receiving from his young wife. Isabel Mason was small and plump, her face somewhat ruddy, its hue heightened by indignation. To that she had already given some vent, standing over her husband who sat in an old oaken settle opposite me.

‘You said you’d walk into Worcester, see Mother Agnes and get yourself home soon after noon,’ Mistress Mason chided. ‘Yet now I hear you never even saw her - so how do we know what condition she’s in? Instead you went a-bothering Master Belstrang, to no purpose I can see…’ She stopped herself, took a breath and faced me.

‘I ask pardon, Master Justice, for I mean no slight to you. I’ve heard how you’ve been kind to folk, like you’ve been good to Edward today. Only the matter is…’ She glanced at her husband. ‘The matter is, sir, I’ve been at my wit’s end since Agnes was taken, and that’s the plain truth. Scarce an hour goes by when I don’t expect more bad news – even that we could lose our home! He knows it as well as I do.’

She indicated Edward, who sat so dejectedly, had matters been different I might have felt inclined to laugh. But this family’s case being so grave, I chose the moment to speak.

‘I know that Giles Cobbett is your landlord, Mistress,’ I said. ‘But do you not hold a secure lease on this land? I speak now as a man of the law. If the lease is for a fixed term then it would be difficult for him to evict you for any reason, so long as the rent is paid. On the other hand, if it’s a Tenancy at Will, he has the right.’

I turned to Mason and asked him if he was the copyholder.

‘My father held the lease, sir,’ came the reply. ‘On his death it passed to my mother, by his will. But if she’s convicted for murder, I fear Sir Giles will have grounds… might it be so?’

I pondered the matter. ‘If there’s anything in the lease a lawyer might seize upon, then I suppose it might,’ I allowed, which caused both of them to draw breath. And though I had no wish to alarm them further, I thought it best to continue.

‘In truth, However, there are other factors you should consider,’ I told them. ‘For one, in the sad event that Agnes is convicted, I believe it would be most difficult for you to remain here. People’s feelings would be so hardened against you, I hesitate to think what might occur-’

‘You mean folk would come at us?’ Mistress Mason broke in. ‘With pitchforks and torches? God in heaven, Master, tell us it isn’t so! I’ve two children asleep up in the loft, and moreover-’

She stopped herself again - and in a moment I understood. I looked at Mason and found his eyes upon me.

‘Moreover, there’s another child