Chapter 19

The relief felt by the women of the Folly was almost tangible. Binky had been close to tears and gulped now while trying to smile at the same time. Flora went to the head of the table to give her a hug.

‘I'm so glad I've found another relative. Two aunts, no less. So, yes it's all a shock but strangely, not as much as it should have been. I feel quite content with it all. A little bit apart perhaps, like it's happening to someone else and not me.'

Happy tears sprung to Binky's eyes.

‘Oh, I'm so relieved. I thought you were going to hate me forever for a minute.

Flora laughed and then said,

‘Perhaps the conversation about my father could be had at another time. I feel like I've had enough revelations just recently to last me a lifetime.'

‘Of course' said Binky, grasping at the chance of not having to explain all about her brother just yet. ‘You must come round to Peverel Hall for afternoon tea when you're ready then maybe I can try and explain.'

‘I will' Flora replied, then she turned to Peggy.

‘ And you, Peggy. You've been like another close relative to me ever since I arrived here. Can I claim you as another aunt even if we're not related by blood?'

Peggy coloured up. It was the first time Flora had seen her looking embarrassed but her eyes twinkled and she looked extremely pleased.

‘I think I'd like that' she said, ‘ I can't take Sybil's place but I can deputise for her.'

‘ Fantastic' said Flora ‘three aunts.'

Then her face broke into a wicked grin.

‘You really will be the three witches from Macbeth now. I can call you the Wyrd Aunts.'

‘Don't push it' said Peggy as Binky laughed and Jen waved her arms in the air in a depiction of an evil witch over a cauldron.

‘You're the fourth' Jen reminded Flora ‘as Sybil was. Are you comfortable with that?'

‘Ah. Now we come to the second letter' replied Flora as they all took their places around the table again.

‘I don't think there will be any revelations this time' Peggy said glancing at a cowed Binky because I think Sybil will have covered most of it, but is there anything you need to know?'

‘Again, I am sure there will be many, many things I need to ask as time goes on but as for now… I have thought about it ever since I found out about my ancestry.'

‘Do you think of yourself as a witch?' Peggy encouraged her, ‘What does being a witch mean to you?'

There was a long pause then Flora stood up.

‘Just give me five minutes for a little fresh air and to gather my thoughts.'

They all nodded in recognition of this and Flora stepped out onto the terrace and then onto the grass beside the Folly, needing to be amongst the trees that hid it from the Hall. Their leaves blew in the strong wind, sounding like it was another language of their own.

What did it mean to her? How could she answer this when she hadn't made sense of it fully, in the time since she'd found it out? Would she consider herself a witch or a healer or were they both the same? Were her healing powers achieved through the herbs and flowers she used? Or was there something more as well?

Flora leant against the tree for support - emotional rather than physical - and felt her head was reeling, spinning, - one thought chasing another in never-ending circles. Perhaps it had been too much to take in all at once. The move to Farstone, the business start-up, one revelatory letter, then another, Cal and the Faestone legend and the possibility that she had found it….

She closed her eyes and slid down the trunk, trying to clear her mind as she sat there. She thought of sitting against her mum's rowan tree and tried to picture her. She hadn't seen any photographs of her yet, they weren't a family for recording things on camera but she realised from others reactions how much she must look like her. She would use that to conjure her up in her mind.

‘Hello Mum' she whispered ‘It's Flora. I'm sorry I never knew you but I feel that you're with me. You're in my blood and now in my thoughts. I love you, Mum.' She gave a little sniffle, drew her arm across her eyes then concentrated again. ‘Can you guide me? I don't want to let you or the others down but although I'm happy enough with what we are, I'm also confused. Can you help me, mum? Make it clearer?'

Keeping her eyes closed, she opened her mind.

*

All three of the Wyrd Aunts turned around with concern on their faces as Flora opened the Folly door. She took her place at the table, gave them a reassuring smile and started to speak.

‘Just hear me out, please. You asked if I thought of myself as a witch and what it meant to me if I did. I have had time, during the evenings – and often in the middle of the night – to try and come to a conclusion. I have found that I am still confused but – less so just at this moment – so here goes.

‘Before I came here, my healing was done through the power of the herbs I used and now the wildflowers I use from the meadow. I still believe that this sort of healing comes primarily from Nature, which has a remedy for everything. This was my training as a herbalist and a healer. Although perhaps, through me, like Sybil, the care and intention used in preparing these remedies might work slightly more than is usual. I do get very good results. Nevertheless, it is something that everyone can do and everyone should make use of. If they feel that extra quality that aids healing, then that is all to the good.'

She looked around the table as they nodded waiting for the ‘but'.

‘However, I do acknowledge that I have some sort of affinity with animals. I have always known it but recent events at Cal's farmhouse have shown me that there is more behind it than I first thought. For instance, that is not something that can be learnt. It is something that is felt inside and not everyone has it - or at least knows how to use it.

‘To show how important this recent revelation has been to me. I have decided to give advice on – and try and heal or calm - not only humans but animals too. Being here has taught me that this gift means something. It means I should use it for the good of other living things.'

She stopped and looked at Jen. There was another ‘however' coming.

‘However, I have learned since I've been here that maybe, just maybe, I have this gift with humans too. Perhaps even more so although I have yet to see if it is only with those closest to me.'

Jen's eyes shone. Peggy risked an interruption.

‘Psychic abilities or empathetic energies!'

‘Whatever you want to call them, I cannot now deny they exist.' Flora exchanged a glance with Jen. ‘I felt something a little while ago and I didn't quite understand how much it meant - but I knew it would make someone very happy I could feel the hope emanating from this person and I knew everything was going to be all right.

‘I seem to read thoughts and feelings to a certain extent, but only through empathy as you mentioned and not a conjuring trick. As I said before, I believe these feelings are there in most of us, yet seldom used to their full extent. I believe it is part of our nature and it seems that certain people of this village know how to use this gift almost unconsciously. It seems inherent in some of us. Perhaps long ago, many more people over the Earth had this gift but it has been lost to most of us.

‘So that is what I believe and if that makes me, or anyone like me, a witch - or a wicce, an empath or just slightly crazy, then so be it. I'm happy to accept it as a plain fact and also as part of the birthright I have inherited.

‘I do wonder if others may not have exactly the same feelings as me or any of you. Do we each have our own qualities or our own specialisms? Are we just women with highly developed senses?

Peggy answered.

‘We do all seem to have our own particular field which seems to dwell within us. And yes, we feel more, understand the nature of things more, and understand nature itself more. Nature is part of who we are. The most important part.'

‘I agree' Flora said enthusiastically. ‘It's why my heart leapt when I saw the wildflower meadow. Not only did I feel it connected me to Sybil and - unknown to me - to all my ancestors, but also, I was glad that I could use it to help people. Like Sybil did - and like Hilde did all that time ago.

‘Being how I am is why I found my mother's rowan tree without knowing it was there. It's why I suddenly know exactly how I feel after being among the trees behind this Folly. Nature has a way of telling us all we need to know.'

‘You got all that from walking among trees?' Binky burst out, amazed at the rhetoric that had come from Flora.

‘From the trees and I think my mum Matty had a hand in it too. I asked for her guidance.' Flora looked a little embarrassed.

‘I could hear her voice in what you had to say. It's what she believed too.' Peggy said.

Jen got up and hugged Flora then remained standing.

‘You two are probably aware that Steve and I have been fruitlessly trying for a baby for the last 10 years.'

‘We are aware.' replied Binky. ‘We join together with the power of thought to try and make it happen every year, remember?'

‘To no avail because as Flora realised when she came to visit me, there was a mental block that had to be removed before I could accept I was worthy of a baby. She removed that block. So now I feel that I deserve all the happiness that a baby would bring. Which is as well. Because you also felt something else, didn't you?'

Flora smiled at her.

‘Not only did she remove the block so that I could enjoy the gift of a baby. She knew that it would happen soon, as though she could feel my body change in readiness. I went to the doctor's a few days ago, I'm six weeks pregnant.'

There were exclamations of joy, then tears and a group hug. The older women knew just how Jennet had longed for a baby and had attributed much of her spikiness to the failure to conceive.

‘I credit Flora with the fact that there is now a young Cayley on the way' smiled Jen with an ecstatic expression on her face.

‘I think Steve might have had something to do with it too' laughed Flora as Jen blushed.

‘Right' said Flora, giving Jen an extra hug, ‘I have to go now, I'm helping Cal to look for this legendary Faestone again.'

Peggy muttered something to herself, watching Flora go out and then stop mid-exit.

‘I've just realised. This means I will have a little niece or nephew.'

‘It will be a cousin, I think' ruminated Peggy.

‘I don't care. They will still be able to call me Aunt Flora' she smiled happily.

As Flora stepped onto the terrace. Peggy called after her.

‘You seem to be getting on well with Calum Hythe?'

‘We get on well, he seems okay' she said before marching off but Peggy had noticed the blush on her cheek.