“I don’t know,” the boy said, his voice hitching. “She was there one moment and then gone.”
“People don’t simply disappear. Where is she?”
King put a hand on Rory’s shoulder. “You’re scaring the boy.”
“He’s not the only one who’s bloody scared,” Rory said. He looked up to see Genevieve at the door.
“I saw Joshua running toward the school,” she said, breathless. “And Georgie found Violet and said Frances is missing.”
“Yes, my lady,” Joshua said, tears spilling down his cheeks now. “I can’t find her.”
“Were you playing hide-and-seek?” Genevieve asked, voice calm, but Rory could hear the way it trembled. “She’s very good at hiding.”
“No.” Joshua shook his head. “She was playing with her dolls in the public room. Georgie and I were there too. I was reading one of the books we brought to him. Like you said to do.” He looked at King, who nodded. “I was sitting right across from her. She was there when I started the book. The next time I looked, she was gone.” He swiped at his nose. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Did you look for her?” Genevieve asked.
Joshua nodded.
“Where did you look?” Rory asked.
“Everywhere. I even had the innkeeper and the maids search for her. She’s gone.”
Genevieve looked at Rory. “She can’t have gone far on her own. We’ll go back now, search the village—”
“Was anyone else in the public room with you?” King asked. “Besides the innkeeper and the serving maids coming in and out?”
“No.” Joshua shook his head. “Well, yes. There was a woman. She was in the far corner near the fire. But we were quiet and didn’t bother her.”
Rory’s stomach flipped. “What did she look like?”
Joshua shrugged. “Like an old woman.”
“What was she wearing?” Rory demanded.
Genevieve held up a hand. “Joshua, can you describe her? What color hair? What was she wearing?”
At the door, Violet and Katie appeared, Violet holding George’s hand.
Joshua nodded. “Long white hair. I didn’t see her face, not really, and I didn’t notice her clothing. She was dressed like someone we’d see at home,” he said, glancing at his sister.
“So not well dressed?” Genevieve asked. “Her clothing was old and mended?”
But Rory didn’t need to hear any more to know who she was. He’d met her weeks ago on that field in the early morning.
His gaze locked with Genevieve’s, and he said, “The witch’s sister took Frances.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“This is whereyou live?” Frances asked, surveying the rectangular stones wedged in the dirt. Her new friend, Elspeth, held Frances’s hand in her thin, bony one.
“I used to live here. Do ye see the shape of the house? That was the kitchen, and that the hearth.”
Frances could imagine it when Elspeth pointed out the rooms. “It was a very small house.”
“My sister and I dinnae need much. We lived here together.”
“Where is your sister now?” Frances asked, looking up at her.
