The Plantation Murders by Karen Thurecht

Author:Karen Thurecht
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd
Published: 2022-01-31T23:21:58+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Southern Coast Advertiser Wednesday 12 November 1884.

Some time ago, all the population of Brunn in the Austrian States were thrown into commotion by the appearance of the devil, in person. His satanic majesty was, as he is always represented, perfectly black, with two enormous horns, goat’s ears, a body covered with hair, horse’s legs and cloven feet, but he seemed decidedly out of spirits.

The old men and women of the place fell on their knees and prayed to the saints to protect them against the terrible Prince of Darkness, but the young men had the impiety to laugh and scoff at him.

That evening, a peasant woman was lying in after having been delivered of a child, the devil suddenly leapt through a window, clanking a chain, and demanding that she either give him the child to be carried to the regions below or make over to him 100 florins of silver. The poor woman, greatly terrified, at once produced the money, and the devil pocketed it, after which he went away. The next day the woman told the parish priest of the visit and added that she had collected the 100 florins penny by penny to pay the church for religious services.

‘Did you tell anyone you had the money?’ Said the Priest.

‘Only the midwife,’ said she.

‘Well, tell the midwife that the devil was mistaken in supposing you only had 100 florins, for that you have 50 florins more, and say you are glad he did not compel you to give them up. The devil will perhaps pay you another visit after that, but I will be there to exorcise him.’

The woman told the midwife what the priest had said. The next night the devil reappeared and demanded 50 florins, but at the same moment, the priest rushed forth and seized him by the neck and charged him with being a thief. The devil, it turned out, was the husband of the midwife.

Hamish

Hamish arrived at Cloverton after dark. He stepped from the trap to feel something soft under his boot. It yelped before he had a chance to put his weight on his leg. 'I’m sorry, mate,' he said, leaning down to scruff the terrier’s head. Red skipped about his legs as he strode up the front stairs. 'What’s been happening here, Red?'

The dog barked.

Charlotte met Hamish at the door. 'Thank you so much for coming immediately,' she said. 'I’ve been terrified, and we thought you may not be able to travel until tomorrow.' She turned to William, who had come to stand behind her. 'William, take Dr Hart’s driver to the servant’s quarters and have Ginny make up a bed for him.' Red scurried between them into the sitting room. He appeared to have made himself at home at Cloverton.

Daniels did as he was told without question.

Hamish followed Charlotte into Alice’s room to find her sound asleep. Pete Tennyson looked up in surprise from the armchair by the bed where he was settled with a rug over his knees.

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