Shadows

It was late. Christopher Southworth was watching the moon rise. The bird was with him. He wanted to send something to Alice to tell her that he would come. ‘You will go to her, won’t you?’ he said to the bird that sat perched and silent.

As the full moon shone into the chamber behind him, he heard laughter. He looked round and into the room. There was Alice seated at the table with Elizabeth Southern. They were about to carve a chicken. His heart leapt. He ran through the door. There was no one there.

He stood looking around, passed his hand over his face, took a drink. He went back outside.

The moment he was out of the room again he heard music. He looked back; Alice and Elizabeth were dancing together. This time he did not rush in, he watched them. The room was exactly as he knew it, but there were flowers, and everything seemed pretty and vital, not dusty and abandoned. Alice kissed Elizabeth. He felt himself dizzy with jealousy. They moved towards the bed. Alice touched Elizabeth’s neck.

He could not contain himself. He jumped into the room. It was empty.

He sat on the bed, his head in his hands.

It was then that he heard a step on the stair. ‘Let me in, quick!’

He recognised the girl’s voice. He opened the door. She slipped inside. ‘I come to warn you. There’s half a dozen men downstairs asking questions. I’d get gone if I was you. I’ll pretty them up, kiss them and the like. That’ll give you a few minutes.’

He nodded and squeezed her hand. She left. He put on his boots and jacket and slung his flasks of water and wine either side of his body. He stuffed the cheese and bread he had bought into his bag and put out the candle on the table. The moon was bright enough to light up everything.

He looked out of the front window of the room. Yes. There were men in the yard in front of the house talking to some of the women.

He went out onto the disused balcony. He could climb up on the roof. He fished in his pocket and took out a French coin. He held it in the palm of his hand and the bird took it. ‘Tell her I will come,’ he said.

Understanding him, the falcon flew up to the roof and, finding its north, opened its powerful wings and was gone.