It had been a week since Jeanne had landed in Jamestown, and in that tiresome seven days, she had found herself surrounded by new friends and those she could not trust. In that week, she saw many maids married to their husbands. The now-deceased Henry Sharrow had raped Alice, Verity almost drowned in swamp water, and the three of them were set upon by wolves. And, of course, ended a plot by Farlow and Redwick to steal lands from the local men to give to the cruel Massinger. That had been her crowning achievement.
Farlow had been avoiding her since, other than the small greetings and goodbyes in public to keep up good appearances, they had not had any form of conversation, nor had she visited his home to indulge in wine and small talk, something she had missed partaking with the man.
Her uncle, Governor Yeardley, had tasked Recorder Castell with investigating accounts and ledgers regarding the Virginia Companies' dealings. After all, if Farlow and Redwick had attempted shading dealings once, who would say they hadn't done it in the past? Jeanne had warned her uncle against the idea, knowing that such actions would put Samuel Castell, his new wife Jocelyn, and their loyal housemaid Mercy in possible danger, something Jeanne didn't want to see happen to any of them. Castell was faithful and obedient to her uncle, despite owing his position as a recorder to the Virginia Company.
Jeanne sighed as he mind still raced with such thoughts many days later, to the point she had hardly touched her breakfast, which had been made from a simple oat porridge and half a loaf of crusty bread. Both Temperance and George Yeardley had noticed their niece's queerness but decided not to question it, as Jeanne had been arguing with her uncle about specific topics just the night prior.
Temperance sighed, pulling Jeanne from her thoughts as the older woman collected her and her husband's dishes. Jeanne quickly stuffed a few spoonfuls into her petite mouth as she watched her uncle return to his bedchambers to continue getting dressed into his finery for that morning assembly. She wasn't sure what topics would be brought forth, but regardless all would attend, and like her family, she would be dressed in a new gown her aunt had made for her. It looked too much like her aunt's own gowns for her liking, but it had been made in a deep green colour, which Temperance had always enjoyed seeing on her niece. Jeanne would have to acquire clothes similar to that of Alice and Verity if she was going outside the walls of Jamestown.
"Jeanne." George had called from his bed-chamber, no doubt needing aid from his young niece with his finery. Jeanne stood up, giving her aunt a quick nod in thanks as she gave her somewhat empty bowl to the ageing woman, ignoring the scowl on the woman's face.
When Jeanne reached her uncle, she noticed he was having issues with his cape. It was always his cape with this man. She laughed at the thought of a man of his age and being knighted too, being unable to dress himself to his station, but a man like Farlow could. "I think you need to practice more."
"Or stop wearing it all together." He stated flatly as his niece began to aid him with the flimsy piece of fabric.
"And face the public without the proper fashion of your status?" Jeanne quibbled, earning a smile from her uncle. She stood back and smiled brightly once she had positioned it correctly, enjoying her work. "There, now you look like a Lord."
George Yeardley leaned down and placed a small peck on his niece's cheek. "What would I do without you?"
"Rely solely on your wife." Jeanne pointed out. They both laughed. In truth, Yeardley did not know how his life would be without his niece by his side. She was always there to lend an ear, advise, and aid him with the complicated fashions from home. While he had his wife, Temperance and Jeanne were completely different people, but he loved them both equally.
Jeanne and her guardians had reached the town hall before the assembly bell could be rung, so she wasn't prepared for the shock and anger she felt as Verity had been pulled into the hall by two burly men, men that she knew were loyal to Marshall Redwick. It gave the young woman fear in her stomach, unsure of what the older man could plan for her Irish friend. As Jeanne tried to step towards Verity, she felt her aunt pull her back, a grip like a vice. Jeanne understood why. If she was to do anything during the assembly, even trying to save a friend, it could be seen as undermining her uncle and the Virginia Company, which would only make it harder for her uncle to govern Jamestown. Jeanne allowed Temperance to pull her beside the older woman, their arms locked tight, almost as if her aunt was trying to comfort her.
"James Reed." The Governor called out from behind the sturdy table, eyes scanning over the crowd as the town blacksmith stepped forward, parchment in hand.
"I have a partition to put before the Marshall if possible," James spoke softly, eyes wondering over the four men seated before him. "Henry Sharrow bought himself a maid for marrying. Since Henry will no longer wed her, I am willing to take her debt."
Silas Sharrow stepped forwards from where he stood beside Alice, the young brunette looking startled by James' request. "Marshall, I wish to marry Mistress Kett," Silas spoke loudly, ensuring his voice was heard.
Jeanne watched the mixed emotion roam over her friend's face as the men spoke of the woman as a barrel of tobacco to be bartered and sold. Alice was a person, not an object. And even when Alice tried to speak out her desires, Redwick merely cast her aside, deeming the words of a woman as worthless in the Jamestown assembly. Jeanne knew which way the council would decide, for the Virginia Company ruled them, and the Company demanded debts to be paid, and where Silas could not pay the debt, James could.
"Next matter." Marshall Redwick bellowed, gazing at the young Irish woman held by two of his goons. "Verity Rutter." Verity was shoved forward with little care for her well-being, slowly stumbling before the council. "You scolded your husband," Redwick leaned back in his chair, his tone sounding almost gleeful. "Demeaned him with foul tongue."
Verity scoffed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Sir, to say that a man loved the tit is to dishonour him, then I fear I must slander every man of this world."
The hall erupted in laughter from the men, each enjoying the woman's jab at the Marshall, while the council sat quietly at her words. Jeanne found herself smiling at her friend and almost stifled a laugh when her aunt commented under her breath about Verity's foulness.
The laughter was cut short when Marshall Redwick jumped up, his chair slamming back into the wooden stage below him, causing the women to flinch, all eyes locking on the ageing man. As if the goons knew so, or maybe had been instructed two earlier, they grabbed Verity, dragging her outside while Redwick and the rest of the town followed. Jeanne had pulled herself from her aunt's grasp, only to be stopped by Farlow. He gave the girl a look, warning her. But the warmth was behind it, almost concern for Jeanne's safety with the Marshall's heightened anger. Jeanne softened into his grasp but continued to watch as her friend was forced into the stocks outside the town hall, the very store Rutter had been nailed to only a week ago.
"Any woman who sees fit to mock her betters will receive this same fate." Redwick marched over the pigsty beside the stocks, reaching down to retrieve a slop bucket. "You have been brought here as the property of your husbands." He yelled into the crowd, returning to Verity, bucket raised to his right shoulder. "And you will behave accordingly!" He bellowed, tossing the bucket over the poor woman's head. Her meagre attempt to dodge the slop was unsuccessful.
The citizens of Jamestown watched on in silence. No one dared make a sound, not of praise or of disgust. Only Jocelyne was brave enough to step forward, offering the Marshall his presumed lost glove. Jeanne felt Farlow's hand tighten on her arm as they studied the young blonde. Why would she hand the man his gloves, especially after what they had all witnessed? Farlow dropped his grip on the lass as he stalked after his companion, leaving Jeanne to her thoughts, which raced with many desires and words. While she knew she couldn't break her friend out of the stocks, she was scared to try and convince her uncle otherwise, taking Farlow's warning stare to heart. She needed to act more discreetly with future actions towards the Virginia Company, knowing she had already crossed them too many times.
Jeanne had awoken quite early the following day. After spending the night with Alice, Rutter and Silas, supporting and keeping Verity company in the stocks until the Marshall finally sent his goons to release her, Jeanne wasn't too keen on the wake-up call. Without caring for the dignity of her night clothes, Jeanne entered the parlour, where both Farlow and Doctor Priestley stood conversing with her uncle, who was also dressed in his nightclothes. The three men all stared at her, each showing their own personal thoughts about her appearance on their faces.
"I live here." Jeanne snapped. "And you all woke me."
"Apologies." Farlow bowed, ensure not to stare at her while in front of the Governor. "I'm afraid we were sharing some bad news with your uncle. Marshall Redwick has fallen ill."
"Seems like God punished him for his actions with a certain Irish lass yesterday." Jeanne smirked, beginning to start preparing breakfast for the household. "Will you two be staying for breakfast?"
"Jeanne." Yeardley snapped, glaring at his niece, for he was more than happy to return it. "While you may not approve of his actions, God asks that a woman serve her husband."
"God also asked that you do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Jeanne bit back, earning a smile from the young doctor, who was lucky that his facial expression went unnoticed. "Redwick acted poorly unto a fellow human. Make sense that God would punish him for his pride and wickedness."
"Seems your niece is brave and smart," Priestley commented, a smile evident on his face, before changing the subject. "While I am unsure what caused such an illness, the Reverend believes Verity put a curse upon him, calling her a witch."
Jeanne scoffed. "If she were a witch, I'm sure she would have struck him down the moment he put her into the stocks, not once released."
Yeardley cast his eyes downwards in thought, unsure of what to make of this, and while he was not yet clear on the cause, be it a curse or illness, his Marshall was ill and needed to get better. "Doctor Priestley, do what you must to ensure the Marshall is returned to full health. That's all I will say on this matter for now." Yeardley returned to his chambers, not bothering the men with a single goodbye.
They both turned to Jeanne, who stood there with a kettle. "Still staying for breakfast?"
Farlow rolled his eyes as he left, Priestley following behind with a smile.
It didn't take long for the news of Redwick's condition to reach the ears of the town's citizens, each with their theories behind the man's sudden ill health, but the most common was of the Irish witch that held residence in the town's tavern. And only did they intensify once Verity had been pulled into the church to face interrogation from the Reverend, with Verity denying all claims. While it known amongst the Irish to be superstitious, Verity had indulged her friends that she was not and even found it comically that the English colonised town was behaving in such a way and that she could now scare almost any man or woman with a glance.
"Verity," Jeanne began to scold her as they sat on the steps of the tavern. "You're having too much enjoyment encouraging this."
"She's right!" Alice lectured.
The three women watched Rutter as he had failed to gain customers all afternoon since the news of Verity's interrogation spread. Verity ignored her intended preaching to any man who passed by them. "And why should I stop? What shall that tiny man of a Reverend do?"
Alice rose. "Because you could get hurt."
Verity scoffed at that, assuming that the feeble man wouldn't touch her, but there was no telling what others in the town would do if they did believe Verity to be a witch. They could chase her from Jamestown, leaving her to survive in the wilds of this new country, or even see Verity put to death at their own hands for any curse she might have placed upon them.
Before Jeanne could speak her thoughts and concerns, Doctor Priestley had bolted past them. His medical supplies are held tightly under one arm. Jeanne rose beside Alice as all three women watched him go. Alice commented that he wasn't running to the Marshal's residents or returning to his own but entirely elsewhere. Jeanne followed after him. If there was a chance someone else was ill, it could mean a step towards understanding what sickness had taken Redwick and also an opportunity to clear Verity of all wrongdoing, and Jeanne wasn't going to pass it up.
She had followed Priestley to the Castell residence, where Samuel had been waiting for him. Samuel had merely told the doctor to hurry, Jeanne following suit. Samuel nodded back, knowing Jeanne's interest in the situation. Inside, Priestley and Jeanne found Samuel's maid, Mercy, struggling with consciousness.
Priestley worked in silence, investigating Mercy's sudden sickness in a quickness that only a professional could achieve, while Jeanne could only stand by Samuel. The recorder was calm, but his eyes revealed his fear and concern for his servant. Jeanne was unsure where Jocelyn was but felt the lady should be here to see her maid.
"Has she been feeling ill at all before now?" Jeanne asked Samuel. He struggled to answer yet clarified that the girl had been fine until she collapsed while sweeping moments earlier.
Doctor Priestley sighed, rising from his station beside his patient. "She has the same illness as Marshal Redwick."
"Are you sure?" Samuel questioned.
Priestley nodded. "I'm sure. Which means this is no curse nor the work of a witch."
"Verity would have no reason to harm her." Jeanne interjected.
Priestley agreed with her words. "This is an illness that could spread. We need to warn the Governor."
"It will cause a panic!" Samuel barked, going to comfort his maid.
"We're already at the start of one!" Jeanne yelled back. "People think we have a witch and are getting ready to act against her. You two see to Mercy. I will take this news to my uncle and pray that he gives you everything you need to find the cause rather than help that zealot of a Reverend." Jeanne left them with goodbyes, returning to her uncle's home to report Mercy's sickness.
When she reached there, the Reverend spoke with her aunt and uncle. A man had suddenly dropped dead, a man that Verity had mocked earlier that day for being afraid of her. Philip Poole.
The following day spoke ill for Verity, as the Reverend had spoken to the Governor and his wife the night prior about having the Irish lass executed for witchcraft. Still, Governor Yeardley would only agree to such ends if Verity were found guilty by the town; this forced Jeanne to seek out Recorder Castell and Doctor Priestley, imploring them to aid her with an investigation into what could be causing the illness. Priestly was focused on caring for those who had taken ill, with Mercy and Redwick being the original patients, with another three men who had fallen ill during the night. However, this allowed him to identify what could be causing it. Recorder Castell had found himself investigating the men who had been the first to settle Jamestown, those who had been there to live through past sicknesses. He spoke with the Sharrow brothers, who informed Castell that this illness had visited the town a few years prior.
Jeanne had stuck to Verity all day, watching as the Reverend and men loyal to him had burst into the tavern, forcing a search into Rutter's brewing supplies and personal items. They had been looking for items and signs of witchcraft. Jeanne and Rutter had both yelled at the Reverend, adamant that there were no witches in the tavern or Jamestown.
It had been a struggle for everyone involved. The tension within the town was only getting worse, and the Governor had allowed the Reverend to assemble an execution pyre, as no proof had yet been brought forward to explain the illness or Verity's innocents.
"Jeanne!" Jocelyn had approached the Scot outside the tavern, pulling her off to avoid prying ears and eyes. "Alice sought me out, and I even spoke to your uncle on Verity's behalf. He refuses to listen to reason, and I'm afraid."
Jeanne studied her for a moment. "Alice sought you out, and now you preach for someone you don't know?" Jeanne noticed her eyes dart from contact for a moment. "Jocelyne, what did you do?"
"Nothing!" Jocelyne cried. "I may have almost used Belladonna on the Marshal-"
"The glove! You tried to poison him!" Jeanne cut her off.
Jocelyn shushed her. "I didn't. I just wanted him to stop treating us women poorly, and I feel responsible for what happened. But I plan to save Verity, and Doctor Priestley may have found a cure."
Jeanne encouraged the blonde woman to explain. Priestley had given young Mercy a soup to drink, a medicine used by the natives, and it seemed to work, almost curing her overnight. The only issue would be getting Redwick, with all his 'savage' hating ways, to drink it. And that left the plan to save Verity.
Jeanne's uncle had stated that only God could prove Verity's innocents, and Jocelyne pointed out that the Reverend could be used as a tool. Jeanne found herself loving the idea of forcing the Reverend to embarrass himself in front of all of Jamestown just to clear her friend's name.
That Sunday, while the town had gathered at the town hall to attend Mass, the plan had been set in motion, with even Marshall Redwick present and looking cured. The Reverend had used that Mass to hold an inquest against Verity, accusing her of being a witch in front of the townspeople and demanding she disrobes so that a witch's mark could be discovered. Still, as he spoke, Jocelyn stood up, bringing the Irish maiden to the front of the hall.
"Reverend, as a holy man, can you not bless anything in this world? Even say, a piece of bread?" Jocelyn spoke calmingly, ignoring the stares as she continued leading Verity forward.
The Reverend darted his eyes at the redheaded woman, unsure of what games Jocelyn was playing. "God gives me the power to bless, and the bread would become holy with his blessing."
"And is it not true that if someone unholy were to eat a piece of blessed bread, they would choke?" Jocelyn smiled.
"Yes," Reverend stated, a hint of anger in his voice. He glanced at the townsfolk, each looking at the scene before them curiously.
Jocelyn reached into the small bag hanging at her hips and pulled out a small piece of bread, offering it to the Reverend to bless. He did so hesitantly. Jeanne watched from between her aunt and uncle, doing her best to conceal her smile, knowing what would happen. Once the Reverend was done, Jocelyn placed the bread into his hands and called Verity before him so that the Reverend might give Verity the blessed bread to test her wickedness.
Verity kneeled before him, her mouth agape and tongue out, awaiting the man to feed her. The Reverend stopped over her, casting one more glance over those gathered before them, his eyes stopping on the Governor, giving him a threatening look to continue. With one near-audible gulp, the Reverend placed the bread into Verity's mouth and watched as she swallowed it without issue.
"Our dear Lord wouldn't allow an innocent woman to stand accused, so neither shall we," Jocelyn spoke to the town, a soft smile on her face.
Verity stood, staring down the Reverend as she did so. She turned to face the town, smiling at them all, having had her innocents proven, and left with Rutter. Everyone followed them out as the Reverend stood alone, but the doorway faulted Jeanne. She turned back to the Reverend, stalking up close to his face.
"If you ever spread your lies about any of the women in this town, you will know a true curse." Jeanne bit, her eyes never leaving his as she saw their fear. She finally turned to leave, witnessing as Doctor Priestley and Recorder Castell showed the Governor the real cause of the illness. The town is well. It was positioned too close to the latrines, defiling the waters and poisoned. Governor Yeardley agreed to make a ruling that the outhouses would be torn down and rebuilt outside the town walls.
When the town dispersed from around the well, Jeanne watched those who still loitered around, noticing the Farlow and Redwick, standing over the well, had their eyes trained on Jocelyn as the blonde spoke with the Yeardleys. Once finished, Jocelyn skipped over to Alice, no doubt sharing the news that her travel debt was paid and she could wed Silas as she desired. Jeanne turned her focus back to the well, where the two men were now discussing a private matter, eyes still not leaving Jocelyn. Jeanne knew that they were planning something again, and Jocelyn's actions at church had made her a prime target.