Queen of Hearts

Worlds Apart

Florence's P.O.V

In my seven years away from Salem, I'd learnt to live without my parents and siblings. I had adjusted to the situation of living on a farm in an unknown town with nobody but my childhood friends and the two kind farmers who had taken us in. I had grown, married, had a child. I was happy enough living there as I knew I was safe. But now, lying restless in Grace's feather bed smelling so much like my dear sister, I realised how unprepared I actually was to leave. Something broke in me and I wanted to go home, to be where my family was, back in the town in which I was born and raised. Salem had shown me no mercy but my heart still cried for my own bed back in my parents' home with the familiar smells and sounds.

Rob. Where was he? Was he in the Tower, or in Heaven? I clutched the pillow tightly and buried my face in it as sobs escaped my throat. I didn't want Grace to hear me; I wanted to cry in peace. My poor sister didn't need to be fussing over me any more especially since she'd let a convicted felon into her home and said convicted felon barely ate half the meal she'd served for dinner. I had no appetite knowing my husband was in danger and my daughter was probably wondering where we were. Although I was home everyone seemed distant. The townspeople were not the ones I had known seven years ago. Even closer to them, they seemed so very far. 
My arms clutched the pillow tighter, aching for my daughter. I hoped Anita was singing her nursery rhymes and taking her on evening walks like I did. Like I would as soon as we got home.

The door creaked and I felt the bed sink. Grace's hand squeezed my shoulder.
"We all need something watching over us," I mumbled into the pillow. "Be it the falcon, the clouds or the cross...but I have nothing, nobody. Christianity will not accept me. Mother and Father would rather see me dead than alive."
"That isn't true," Grace said quietly. "I've already told you Mother feels deep regret-"
"Feels?!" I shouted, bolting up to face my sister. "If she really felt bad then why isn't she here helping my husband out of prison?! Why didn't she stick up for me at the trial? MY DAUGHTER IS ALONE AND ALL THIS TIME WHILE MOTHER IS FEELING SORRY FOR HERSELF, SHE COULD HAVE RIDDEN TO THE FARM AND TAKEN CARE OF MY DAUGHTER!" 
Grace's eyes widened but I wasn't finished yet.
"Although, I would never let Mother even set eyes on Joan. She is too pure and precious to be looked upon by the most evil of souls."
Grace sighed. "I understand," she whispered. She wiped my hair and tears off my face and pulled me into a tight embrace. I was all cried out for tonight. 
"JJ is going to get Rob out of prison," she said. "Have faith, dear sister. You did not die when you should have, so God must not have intended for your life to end just yet. He will guide you through this."
My faith in God had diminished since the trial but I held on to Grace's words. She was so rational and one of only two people in this town whom I could trust.
"And you aren't alone," she continued. "If I was correct about God not yet wanting you dead, then He is indeed still watching over you. And the girl whose name you gave your daughter."
Of course. Joan, my prison companion, said she would always be with me on that last visit. Was she still here?

Somebody rapped at Grace's front door. I leapt out of bed and bolted into the bathroom, locking the door. 
"It's only JJ," she called. I washed my face with beautifully cold water to calm my nerves. I got dressed in simple clothing-I was not going to sleep tonight.

"So?" I said when I saw JJ.
"Get your stuff. Rob's out and you're both going to England," JJ explained. "We'll ride to your town and get Joan, then we'll go to the docks and you will board a ship to England."

I closed my eyes and clenched my fists to prevent myself from screaming at my brother. "And how," I said through clenched teeth, "do you expect me, a convicted felon, to get on a fucking ship to the other side of the world?!"
I opened my eyes and glared at him. It was then that he pulled out a blonde horsehair wig from his bag.

I looked so different with blonde hair, but I liked it. I looked like Grace, only she had more meat covering her facial features and I could pass for a very tall stick. I could wear makeup, make myself look even less like myself. Grace produced some clothing fillers which I would wear under my clothes to make me look bigger. Once I was dressed and had makeup caked on my face, I no longer looked like Florence Ackroyd. My new name was Rose White, JJ said, as it was easy to remember. 
"You look perfect!" Grace gushed as she admired her handiwork on my face. She truly was the queen of makeup.
"Right, we'd better hurry," JJ said. "We need to get the horses and meet Rob."
I could have cried with joy. My husband was safe, and all thanks to my brother. I embraced my siblings, aware that this was most likely the last time I would ever see them. None of them could afford a journey to England. Which brought me to my next question...
"How are we affording this?"
"My best friend-you remember Kenneth?" JJ paused while Grace and I nodded. "He knows all about this. He hates James and doesn't believe in witchcraft, so I thought he'd be the perfect person to confide in. Anyway, he owns the docks, so you, Rob and Joan have a free one-way ticket to London where you'll stay in a flat for a month rent-free. After that month, Rob will have to find a job..."
I planted a huge kiss on JJ's cheek. "Thank you," I said. "You've saved our lives. I owe you everything."
Without another word, I let JJ lead me out of the house. Grace stood at the front door, watching us walk away. There was no time for tearful goodbyes, so I didn't look back.

JJ and I dodged through the dark alleyways of Salem. It was too early and dark for anyone to be up but we were taking no chances. We reached a large rundown shack with no windows on the outskirts of the town. Inside were four horses, two of JJ's friends and my husband. We didn't speak. Our lips locked as soon as my feet passed the threshold. 
"A'ight lovebirds," one of JJ's friends said, grinning. "Y'all can finish that when yer safe. Pick yer horse and get the hell outta here."
I smiled at him as Rob helped me onto a horse. JJ handed money to the two men as Rob mounted his own horse. "Me and Patrick will come with you to the next town, pick up your daughter and then we'll take you to the docks. After that, you're on your own."
"We'll be okay," Rob said cheerfully. The man who'd laughed at Rob and I kissing-Patrick- hopped on a horse, JJ following suit. The other man opened the door, peered outside, and gave the signal that it was safe to go. Patrick left first, then me, then Rob, then JJ. We were off.

James Nesbitt's P.O.V

 "I'm telling you," I said, "The heretic is alive! I saw her!"
"She died seven years ago you cloud-headed idiot," the Captain of the Witch Hunters said gruffly. I banged my fists on the round wooden table and the men sitting around it jumped.
"I saw her," I repeated in a low voice. "She has been hiding in her sister's house for the last couple of days. I've been spying on them, just to make sure it really is them. She has a child, for God's sake! Another witch!"
The guards exchanged looks of concern. 
"Go to the Melrose Docks. You will see a woman with a blonde horsehair wig carrying a toddler accompanied by her husband. That's Florence in disguise. I've seen it! They're going to the other town first to get her daughter and then they'll be boarding a ship to England. If I'm wrong, I'll gladly go to prison. But I promise with my hand on the bible that I am speaking God's honest truth."

The Captain shuffled and sighed, stroking his grey beard. "Alright," he said. "We never did see a body and her closest friends mysteriously disappeared after she supposedly died. Men!" he barked. "Gather your horses. We will meet the witch at the docks and bring her, her husband and the child to the Tower. Then we shall have a triple execution."
"Wait," I cut in. "The child?!"
"Like you said, another witch! I am not going to let this child of a heretic roam free regardless of her age! Gather your horses. Sir James, you too."

I repressed my concern about Florence's child-the Captain was right. The child cannot be allowed to breed more witches. I followed the soldiers, tucking my gun into my pocket.