My limbs ached from the hard wooden pew where I sat between Mary and Jack as Rector Curbain raged above us in the pulpit, sprays of spittle flying from his mouth.

'And indeed the Devil was there that night, planted in the womb of Hester Davies to make you all pay for your Sinful ways! Restrain yourselves and pray that the good Lord sees fit to forgive you and shield your miserable souls from the temptation of Satan. Fall to your knees and pray to dear God that in His unbounded wisdom He will look down upon thee and have mercy on your miserable souls!' his face red from lack of breathe, Rector Curbain slammed shut the leather bound bible and returned his scrutinizing gaze to the congregation.

The church service dawned to a close, the villagers filed out of the church silently.

Governor Linders and his twin daughters moved past us, looking at the ground and not meeting anyone's eyes. Elijah Davies and his wife Hester were absent from the Sunday service, news of the birth having spread fast through our village of two hundred. Emily Clark, the aging wife of young Victor Clark, the Towns Magistrate was said to have taken to her bed due to illness was also not present as I did not see her standing with the other women when we left the church. Victor Clark arrived in the Village as a poor man seeking to start a career in law. Emily Clark, the spinster daughter of the towns old Magistrate Gabriel Linders was twenty eight years his senior when they married after only having known each other for a few months. Their union aroused suspicion among the town's people whose firm belief was that this marriage consisted merely of Victor Clark securing an influential position for himself as the new town magistrate when Gabriel Linders drowned the following winter.

'Do you think we should call in on Mrs Clark?' I asked Mary, considering that we might as well seeing as we would have to walk past their house on our way home.

Mary smiled, 'An excellent idea, Elizabeth. I daresay it did well for her health that she was fortunate to miss Rector Curbain's sermon.'

I thought of what fate befell the child, though I was certain I already knew the answer. 'Nothing good can come of this, Mary. Rector Curbain has worked himself into a worrisome frenzy.'

She nodded, 'Elizabeth, you must watch your tongue. Last night when you said those words I feared for your life. Promise me you'll be careful from now on.' She insisted.

'It was only something my mother used to say to ease the birth, white magic if you will call it anything. I meant well.'

'I know you did,' she said, 'When I was a girl living back in the old country, the village wise woman was accused of witchcraft when the babe she helped deliver was born with a disfiguring birthmark on its face. It was back in the times when the Witch hunt craze turned into an epidemic. She was trialed by the infamous Mathew Hopkins himself until she finally went mad and 'confessed' to everything. They burnt her and it is said her screams are still heard today echoing in the wind that blows through the valley.'

I shivered. It was too unpleasant a thing to be thinking of on such a fine early spring morning as this. I closed my eyes and breathed in the freshness of the fields around me waking up from their long winter sleep. The blue bells and butter cups in the meadow nodding at us in the wind. The cottage of the Clarks was a large stately building built near the town hall, three stories tall with an adjoining stable and washhouse. Mary rapped the heavy iron door knocker and we stood waiting to be let in. Several minutes passed and we knocked again.

'I suspect that she's still abed then.' Said Mary as we walked back along the road, me stopping to pick blue bells and braid them into a wreath. Mary did like wise with the buttercups. 'The bluebells will look lovely against your auburn locks, Elizabeth.'

I finished entwining the last few cerulean blooms and arranged the wreath on my head, 'How do I look?'

'Beautiful! The bluebells really set out your cobalt eyes, just you wait and all the lads will come running.' She teased.

I scowled for I hated being jested about the fact that I did not yet have a beau, 'I can assure you that is not one of my intentions! I have no wish to marry the first farmer's son that takes an interest in me and decides to take me for a wife. Besides, unlike the rest of the girls in the village, I have no cousin to take interest in me.'

Mary laughed, her grey eyes dancing, 'One day a man will come that will sweep you off your feet, Carmen,' she said, speaking my real name for the first time in a while, 'And then you will learn what it is like to love and be loved.'

Being the Sabbath, there was no work to be completed in preparing herbs and poultices, so in the afternoon I was free to do as I pleased. Swinging a wicker basket on my arm and calling Remus to my side, I took my leave intending to spend the day looking for berries and mushrooms in the woods. I knew these woods like the back of my hand and with Remus at my heel I had nothing to fear. Children's stories of goblins and fairies never having the effect on me, for if there indeed were such things as fairies in the forest, they would take care not to be seen. I decided to take the birch path that would lead me to the lake where early blue berries grew in abundance and the water hens made their nests.

Twigs and branches crackled in the distance indicating someone was approaching. Remus's ears stood up and he stopped to sniff the air as the sound drew nearer. Though the Native tribes had long ago abandoned this land raped off them by the town founders, it was instinct that lead me to crouch behind a gnarled oak. Victor Clark emerged from the foliage, closely followed by Eliza Linder. Eliza stopped to shake the leaves from her raven locks and brushed the dirt off her gown, the hem of which was soaked with mud and grime. Victor laughed and moved closer to remove a wayward twig that had become imbedded in her hair. Eliza blushed and let him move closer, taking a quick look around to make sure they were alone.

'No need to worry, Pet,' he murmured, 'its safe.' He lifted her face to his and started to kiss her softly.

Not knowing what to do, I looked away feeling embarrassed to have witnessed a display of affection the Puritan leaders of our village would have shunned. Victor Clark, town magistrate and married man with Governor Linders daughter! The scandal there would be if anyone was to find out. I turned back to look at them, seeing that Victor had deepened the kiss and was beginning to pull up Eliza's skirt.

'Mmm, Victor, stop it,' she said softly, pulling away slightly, 'Someone might see us!'

'Who? You fret too much, Eliza.' he said, still clutching Eliza's skirts.

'If we stay here too long, my father will realize I've gone. This very moment Agnes is pretending to be me by sitting with him and mending his clothes while he reads from the Bible. If he discovers it is really her, I'll be punished!'

Victor sniggered, 'How would he know? No one can tell you apart!'

Eliza took offense and her face darkened, 'What do you mean, you…'

Realizing he'd said the wrong thing, 'Because both of you are such striking beauties you falter the hearts of every man in the village.' He quickly assured her.

Eliza giggled and took his arm, 'Let's be gone then, darling.'

I waited for them to recede into the trees before we emerged from our hiding place. I could not grasp what I had bared witness to. Yet it was not a hard apprehension to understand, for it was true that Eliza Linders was a stunning beauty and would one day marry well, but seeing her with Victor Clark was something I found hard to conceive.

A/N: Thank you most kindly for reading and I hope it is to your liking. Reviews are lovely, and though there is still sometime until Ichabod arrives, he will be in the next chapter…which I'll update if interest via reviews/messages has been expressed. Until then, best wishes,

xXxSugar