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Epilogue

The Folly was decked out in style. Fairy lights hung from the ceiling and wrapped around the trees near the entrance. Chinese-style lanterns hung from branches and pointed the way from Peverel Hall along the tree-lined path, to arguably an even more important building than the Hall itself.

It had seen gatherings to urgently discuss village business – from recent times and back to the Witch Hunts. Anything of importance to do with the village since the building was built, had been discussed here. Indeed, an earlier Ralph Peverel had it built originally for that purpose.

Yet many, many years before this, the Wicce of Farstone, had gathered on this site. It was far in the depths of a large wood at that time. After giving their thanks to the Natural Deities, the wicce would discuss the issues that involved them at the time. They would also celebrate the turning of the year, the pivotal moments of the natural calendar. Today, their descendants were celebrating here again.

Jennet Cayley nee Gardwicke had given birth two weeks ago and mother, father and each baby were in attendance.

‘Twins!' said Binky in delight. ‘I can't believe it.'

‘I don't know why' Flora laughed. ‘You predicted it at the fete, Madam Morgana.'

‘Me? Oh, that would have been my unconscious mind' Binky said, knowingly.

‘Your mind is always unconscious' mumbled Peggy with a grin at Flora.

‘"Someone close to you will be twice blessed with love," you said' repeated Flora.

She also remembered her saying that two men would come to meet a lot to her – and that her new life would bring happiness and success. Right on all counts, Binky.

‘I'm sorry I kept it from you all after we had the last ultrasound, we wanted it to be a surprise but, it wasn't a surprise to you Flora, was it? After your Wildflower Witch launch party, you felt something. I know you did.'

‘You're right. I couldn't tell if it was male or female because it seemed to be both. Then I realised, it was both.'

Emma and John peeped up at her, gurgling happily. Emma was both Matty's middle name and the name of Sybil's mother. Jen had wanted to leave the name Matilda for Flora, she'd said - ‘just in case'.

‘John was your father's name, Steve?'

‘ It was' he replied immediately with a smile, glad to see friends and family gather around his twins, giving them protection, ‘but it is also a family name in Jen's family – your family too of course. So the continuation is there.'

Mary had come with Arnie and was now making a fuss of the twins. She and Arnie had recently announced their engagement and it seemed that babies were uppermost in her mind.

‘Did it hurt?' she asked Jen.

‘Hurt like hell' she answered.

There was a pause.

‘Nah, you're teasing me' Mary laughed- an innocent in a hard world.

‘I'm not really' said Jen honestly, ‘but I can tell you now, it is most definitely worth it.'

They both looked at the babies, dark fluffy hair framing their chubby little faces.

‘I love my niece and nephew' Flora said. ‘Okay, cousins...' she amended after glancing at Peggy's raised eyebrows.

Flora could see Ralph at the far end of the table. Cal, Steve and Arnie had joined him and they were in animated conversation about the estate. Her father looked up and caught her eye, giving her the tenderest smile before returning to the business in hand.

He had been true to his word and left his job in Africa as soon as a suitable substitute could be found. He had thrown himself into village life and the well-being of the village, hence the discussion about opening an unused barn in the courtyard area of Peverel Hall as the Farstone Witchcraft and Faerie Museum.

Binky the actress was very much looking forward to acting the part of a witch. If it took a long black cloak, a tall black hat and a stuffed cat to do it, then so be it. Even though she knew this had nothing to do with real witches, she would suffer for her art.

Cal walked towards Flora. She still got that thrill when she watched him. Physically, he was perfect. He wasn't far from that otherwise, she had to admit. Finn was incongruously jumping up and down outside with the small black cat that had adopted Flora recently, since the shop opening. Not Freya. This one was pure black and she had named it Rowan. She worried that Freya would have her nose put out of joint but the young cat seemed to sense that Rowan belonged with Flora and had very happily defected to live with Peggy. There seemed to be a mutual understanding between the old woman and the haughty little cat.

Fury, meanwhile, was stabled safely, securely, warmly and happily up at Gardener's Cottage. The move had been beneficial to all three of them. They had the same freedom but in more conducive surroundings and when they wanted to ‘let go', which all of them did at some point, including Cal, they only had to go across to the moors.

There was talk of Flora and him collaborating on the book but only on the historic Witches of Farstone. She didn't want anyone in living memory mentioned in it.

Flora spent a lot of her time up at Gardener's Cottage, days - and nights. Yet Gallipot Cottage was home. In an increasingly changing world for her, this arrangement between them didn't seem so strange after all. Perhaps in the future… well - who knows?

Peggy sat in her place at the head of the table. She raised her glass towards everyone as they raised theirs to her. She thought of how the old order had been dying out and how it had been rejuvenated with the arrival of Flora.

The little black cat with the white streak sat on the nearby chair and surveyed the proceedings with a superior eye. The old woman raised her glass to the cat, who blinked and purred.

‘All is as it should be' thought Peggy, with a contented smile.

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