Daughter of Satan by Jean Plaidy Read Free Book Online Page B

had excited her before her marriage.
    One day she came to the cottage when only Luce and the old woman – with Tamar sitting in her corner surrounded by her stones – were there.
    Betsy brought an air of well-being with her, and in her quick way Tamar was immediately aware of how poor the place was when Betsy sat in it with her coarse worsted garments, which, while not as becoming as those worn by the gentry, looked rich compared with the rags of the other three.
    Tamar, polishing her stones, was aware of everything. Outside the cottage, Annis waited. Annis was Betsy’s eldest daughter – a few months younger than Tamar. Tamar looked at the child through the open door of the cottage, and Annis put out her tongue. But Tamar was more interested in the grown-ups than in the child.
    Betsy was saying: ‘Come on, Luce. You could if you wanted to. You know how to do it. Where’s the good in pretending you don’t? I know too much. Don’t forget you told me about it. ‘Tain’t much I’m asking. I’ll pay thee well for it.’
    Luce kept her eyes down. ‘What is it you want, Betsy?’
    Betsy said in a solemn whisper: ‘Jim Haines. Have you seen him, Luce? Nigh on six feet. What a man! But, my dear life, he don’t see none but that young dairy maid. I do want his affections turned to me.’
    â€˜But, Betsy, you shouldn’t want such things.’
    â€˜Don’t ’ee talk nonsense. Luce Lackwell. Should I be like you . . . let Bill Lackwell beat you sick and then give you child after child as you can’t afford to feed?’
    â€˜â€™Sh!’ said Luce.
    But Betsy would not be silent. ‘Well, you did have a bit of glory once, didn’t ’ee? I bet
that
were a bit different from Bill Lackwell, weren’t it?’
    Betsy’s eyes slewed round to Tamar, who seemed to be absorbed in her stones.
    â€˜Wasn’t it, Luce? A bit different, eh?’
    â€˜Yes, it was then.’
    â€˜Must have been. My dear soul! I reckon it must have been just about better than anything.’
    Luce nodded.
    â€˜But it brought you to this. I reckon you’d have had Ned Swann but for
someone’s
taking a fancy to ’ee.’
    Luce said, ‘Don’t say such things. ’Tis like asking for a judgement.’
    â€˜You’m right. But where’s the good pretending you’ve never had naught to do with such things? Where’s the sense? You could give me a charm and bring Jim Haines straight to me arms.’
    â€˜No, Betsy. ’Twouldn’t be right.’
    â€˜Wouldn’t it then? I can tell ’ee Charlie has his larks.’
    â€˜Come out to the patch,’ said Luce. ‘I knows I shouldn’t. I know naught of such things. But I heard what the old woman told somebody t’other day.’
    Betsy glanced towards the old woman, who had sat impassive during this discussion.
    â€˜Her don’t hear,’ explained Luce. ‘Her’s very deaf. You have to go right up close and shout to make her hear.’
    They went out to the patch. Tamar stared after them while Annis looked into the cottage. She again put out her tongue at Tamar, who regarded her with solemn eyes.
    â€˜Come here,’ said Tamar.
    â€˜No, I won’t.’
    â€˜Then go away. I don’t care.’
    â€˜I won’t.’
    â€˜You’re afraid.’
    Annis had fair hair and grey eyes; she was quite pretty, but beside Tamar she looked insignificant.
    â€˜If you wasn’t afraid,’ said Tamar, ‘you’d come in.’
    Annis stepped gingerly into the cottage and cautiously approached the stones.
    â€˜What’s them?’
    â€˜Stones.’
    â€˜What for?’
    â€˜Nobody mustn’t come farther than here.’
    Annis knelt down and looked at the stones; then she looked at Tamar, who smiled suddenly and, picking up one of the stones, gave it to Annis.
    When the two women came back