he’s probably forgot. What did I ever do to deserve such an idiot?’
‘He has his uses,’ muttered Violet. ‘If he were normal like Jay, he’d be up at the Hall now. Terrible custom that, taking our young ‘uns away from us. Jay should be living here with his family, not up there.’
She spat into the fire and rocked harder on her chair.
‘Aye, sister, but our Jay comes back most days to see us, don’t he? Likes his pipe too much to stay away long,’ cackled Vetchling. ‘That boy does love a good smoke. Don’t know what we’d do without him popping in to see us. He’s a fine young man, just like his father were.’
‘Aye, just like our own Jackdaw.’
‘I saw that busy-body Maizie yesterday,’ said Starling. ‘Did I tell you?’
‘Aye, daughter, you did. That one’s got ideas above her station. Who does she think she is?’
‘She knows well who she is,’ muttered Violet grimly. ‘She’s the mother of that upstart whelp. ‘Tis why she thinks she can come poking her nose into our doings.’ She spat again, more violently. ‘She’ll get her come-uppance, that one, and pay for her high and mighty ways. She’ll fall along with the rest of ‘em.’
‘Aye, sister, she’ll fall, and that bastard of hers with his black locks. Blond is the magus, not black – any fool knows that. He’ll fall alongside his whore of a mother, and that Outsider runt of a wife too. They’ll all suffer, right enough, and we’ll be sitting pretty.’
The three cackled in unholy unison and sparks shot up the chimney.
A while later, Starling heaved herself out of her chair and waddled over to the range. She poked at the bubbling contents of a large iron pot and the aroma of rabbit stew filled the cottage. The two crones smacked their lips. Starling began to ladle portions into chipped bowls and Vetchling rose creakily to get the spoons and bread. Soon all three were tucking into their dinner, still rocking gently by the fire, sucking and champing at the very tender stew that never came to an end but was added to daily. The bread, collected from the bakery by Magpie earlier in the day, was dipped into the rich gravy until it disintegrated. Starling helped herself to several portions of stew and generous amounts of bread, but the crones had smaller appetites. At last they sat back replete, and all belched loudly before reaching for their pipes.
‘She wanted to know why the boy weren’t at school,’ said Starling, resuming the earlier conversation as if there’d been no break. ‘I told her he was poorly with a head-cold. She said he must see that bitch-doctor if he were ill and he must be back at school tomorrow.’
‘Interfering busy-body,’ muttered Violet. ‘Sniffing in our doings. Why should she tell us what to do? Who is she anyway?’
‘Nobody, sister, nobody. She got no right to interfere with us. We’ll do as we like with that boy. ‘Tain’t up to her.’
‘I’ll have to send him back to school tomorrow,’ said Starling. ‘We don’t want that doctor poking about examining him, do we? Maizie gave me a right old talking to about the boy – don’t know what’s suddenly got her all of a-fuss about him! Ain’t none o’ her business and I told her so. She didn’t like that, but then she said I got to take him to the bath house too afore he goes back to school.’
‘Pah!’ cried Violet. ‘The worst thing to do to a body if it’s got a cold. He don’t need a bath anyway. ‘Tis unnatural, all this bathing.’
‘I know, Aunt, but I’ll have to take him. She’ll just make trouble if I don’t.’
Just then they heard the sound of rickety wheels on the lane; Magpie had arrived back with the tanks on the cart full of fresh water. He dragged the heavy cart up to the back door and positioned it so the taps were to hand. Then he came in and stood in the doorway sniffing hopefully. The three turned to regard him, Starling smiling.
‘Can you smell the dinner, boy?’
He nodded and looked towards the corner where his empty bowl lay on the floor.
‘Are you hungry?’
He nodded eagerly.
‘Do you want some dinner then? Nice rabbit stew?’
He nodded again, his eyes more alive than they’d been that day.
‘Ah, but what did you do this morning, Magpie?’
He looked puzzled, then began to mimic the action of wood chopping.