Three Round Towers Read Free Page B

all I could see was relief in his piggy eyes. My anger at his callousness gave me the courage to go on.
    â€˜You must have her buried,’ I said. ‘A good, decent funeral and you must give me some money so that I can leave here and never have to tell the Reverend Skillen what I know.’ He nodded, thankful, no doubt, to be given a way out of the mess. I was surprised that he didn’t argue, perhaps there was a grain of humanity in him after all.
    â€˜The child?’ he looked back at me from the door.
    â€˜A girl,’ I said. ‘She needs feeding.’ He nodded and went out of the barn shutting the door behind him.
    I left Coad Farm on the master’s wagon. He drove me himself so that no one else need be involved in this sorry tale. The cart carried our few belongings, goat’s milk for the child and in my purse I had all my savings and the few pounds left to me after my parents died.
    I asked to be dropped off in Lewes where I would find Becca’s father and tell him there had been a terrible accident. I would not mention the babe. Then, I would travel downriver to seek lodgings for myself before I tried to find my mother’s family. Overnight I became a young widow with a child. I had plenty of time to create a new history for us.

Chapter Four

    I wanted to call the babe after her mother but as I jolted along in the cart I thought it better not to draw attention to us both, particularly if someone raised questions on the manner of Becca’s death. My name was common so I had no fears there but Esther and Rebecca together would link us to Hamsey and the half dozen families who would remember us.
    All the jolting had lulled the little one into a peaceful dose. There were traces of milk round her rosebud mouth so I was sure that she had been nursed before being placed into the rush-cradle. Even so, she would need feeding very soon and all I had was some cold goat’s milk. I could see the master looking at me and the child out of the corner of his eye and as we approached the town walls just below the church and castle, he spoke.
    â€˜You mun keep quiet ’bout all this. I could be had up by the Justice for what I done, tho’ I shall say that she led me on with her wicked ways.’
    â€˜You’re a devil and your whole family are wicked through and through but I will keep your secret, as long as you give me enough money to set us up. My papa told me about men like you having to pay bastardy bonds – well, give me the same amount and I won’t be telling on you. I heard talk of one such – he had to pay fifty guineas – and that is what I want.’ I swallowed hard as the bile rose in my throat, amazed at my daring.
    He grunted and nodded to the purse which lay between us, ‘Don’t ye ever come back this way again,’ he threatened, ‘or I will see you put in the market gaolas having murdered young Becca in order to steal her babe.’ He spat the words at me defiantly, spittle collecting at the corners of his mouth before hawking over the side of the cart.
    I tried not to show my fear but my stomach rolled in panic as I wondered if he could do such a thing and people believe him. He pulled the horse up under some great trees and I scrambled out clutching the babe and purse in one hand as I yanked our box of belongings with the other. Tears of relief washed over me as he clicked his tongue to the docile old horse, never once looking at his child or me. He was good with his animals but not, it would seem, his own kind.
    I sat on my box and hid the purse inside my clothing before gathering the baby into my chest and tying my shawl tightly round her and my back. I now had two hands free to carry my belongings comfortably. I moved purposefully up the hill towards the gallows mound, stopping some lads to ask the way to Becca’s stepmother’s home. As I approached their small cottage I saw her father coming towards me. He looked up