I peered out of the window. Innocent snow fell gently. Everybody was inside unless they’d ventured to Ingersoll’s Inn across the road where they would buy hot chocolate and warm scones with clotted cream. But even they were quiet. Racoons, beavers and badgers were still in their long, long sleep. The song of no bird was heard. The only sound was the bickering between us two girls with the cat curled up at my feet. Even it was not purring. We were in bed, our heads on pillows.

‘Abigail, I am as miffed as you that Ann spread our secret among so many girls.’ I was even miffed when Abigail wanted to see Tituba and listen to her tales. One thing had led to another. She wanted to know more and more. And so, eventually, Tituba told us about spells to tye men to girls. I was not at all interested but I saw Abigail’s eyes sparkle and I knew why.

‘I know.’

‘You’ve sworn me to secrecy about that man you met in the town. I feel lonely now. You spend so much time with him.’

‘You have Tituba.’

‘But Tituba has changed. Even though I still long to be with her in the garden and in the kitchen, I can see that she is no longer mine.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Her mind is somewhere else, like yours, Abigail. Tituba now thinks of what next to say to the interested girls who hang onto her every word. She is planning which spells she will show them. I should have kept Tituba to myself.’

‘You can’t keep people forever.’

‘Don’t you want to keep Robert forever? Isn’t that why you want to go to the woods?’

‘Yes.’

‘But I am trying to warn you’.

‘Warn me about what? How can you warn me about anything?’

‘I can’t properly explain. It’s a feeling deep within me. No good will come from this.’

‘Are you just miffed that Tituba belongs to many others now and no longer belongs just for you?’

‘No, it’s not that at all. Believe me. Please.’

‘I don’t understand you. I want to go to the woods with Tituba, to find out which magic to use to tye a man. It’s important to me.’

‘I know it’s important to you, and why. Do you think that magic alone makes that happen, interferes with love and makes it last? I’m not so sure. And what are you thinking of? Meeting in the cold, snow and rain?’

‘We take rugs and build a great fire that keeps us warm. It’s all worth it. The other girls don’t seem to mind. We’ll never know if we don’t find out. You have no feeling for adventure.’

‘What you mean is that I don’t share your love interests at present. Besides, I thought that you and Robert were getting on very well.’

‘But I want him forever, and all he can give me. It’s not just important to me; it’s of dire importance to me.’

‘I’ll tell you for the last time, nothing good will come from this. There are too many girls. We will be found out.’

Abigail sulked. I knew she wanted to learn Tituba’s secrets for herself only. She tolerated me because I had introduced her to Tituba. But she used me for her own purposes. I was sorely displeased. Serve her right that Ann had told the other girls and now Tituba belonged to every girl who came to the woods. Let Abigail sulk.

I was not at all happy. It all went back to Robert, the young merchant Abigail had met in Salem Town. That’s why she wanted to learn Tituba’s spells so as to keep his affections. Now all she thought of was him. She talked all the time about him. I wanted to go back when it was just Tituba, Abigail and me.

Then she went riding one of my father’s horses. I had to tell father because I was afraid she might have an accident. My father suspected as much but was more interested in her appearing as a lady so went to the expense of buying her a side-saddle. It was the only time I saw Abigail throw her arms around my father’s neck. She was joyous. My father was taken aback. I can’t remember my father ever buying anything so expensive for me. I felt a twinge of jealousy, may God forgive me.