The Net

Christopher Southworth was on his feet. There was a commotion in the courtyard outside the window. Alice looked out. She could see Harry Hargreaves talking angrily to her groom. His men had caught someone.

Christopher was pulling on his boots and fastening his dagger. She gave him a key. ‘My study is locked. Stay out of sight until I come for you.’

Alice tied up her hair, put on a dressing gown, took up a candle.

As she was about to go, Christopher caught her arm. ‘You said that time was 1582. That was thirty years ago, Alice. How old are you?’

She said nothing. She opened the door and went downstairs. Her servants were in the hall. There was Constable Hargreaves and James Device.

‘James! Have they caught you for poaching on my land?’

‘He escaped armed guard at Malkin Tower,’ said Hargreaves.

‘I dreamed I was a hare and as a hare I ran away.’

‘And what are you doing here, Jem?’ said Alice.

Jem looked at Alice and said nothing. Hargreaves punched him in the stomach. He doubled up, winded. ‘Looking for a place to hide.’

‘And so you came to the Rough Lee?’ said Hargreaves.

‘Mistress Nutter will protect me.’

‘And why would she protect the likes of you, you ditch-scum?’

Alice said, ‘Constable Hargreaves, it is late at night. I am not responsible for your drunken guards who let this man escape, nor for his decision to come here. I have barns and stables where he thought he might hide, and I am patron in charity to the Demdike. That is all. Now leave.’

‘He came to you . . .’ repeated Hargreaves. ‘He might have gone anywhere to hide, but he came to you.’ He punched Jem again.

Jem turned to Alice, hunted as the hare he dreamed himself to be. ‘Help me,’ he said.

‘I cannot help you, Jem,’ said Alice.

‘Take him away,’ said Constable Hargreaves. ‘Lock his legs this time.’

Gradually the noises of the men were silenced into the dark and the last of the flares disappeared into the hill. Alice went back inside and sent the servants to bed. Then she went to her study and brought out Christopher Southworth. He had heard it all. He took Alice by her shoulders.

‘Alice – they were hunting me and found him. I like none of this. The net is tightening and you do not feel it. Jem Device or some other of his demented kin will accuse you of witchcraft when they discover that you will not help them. You want to protect the Demdike but they will not protect you.’

‘I have not told you the rest of my story.’