The Gallows Bride Read Online Free PDF

at the small black piece of cloth that was
held out to her when her manacles had been taken off. She carefully
did as she was instructed and tied her hair up, before having her
wrists tied behind her back.
    A fine
tremor of horror settled over her, and she knew she was beyond
weeping; beyond feeling anything other than a sense of loss so
deep, she knew her only chance of finding peace was through death.
If she remained alive now, she would be forever changed.
    Silently
she sent a prayer heavenwards that Dominic and his brothers had
been true to their word and taken Peter far away. She wouldn’t look
for him in the crowd. She couldn’t.
    With the
formalities over, they were ushered into a long, dark corridor that
was very similar to the one that led to the condemned cell, but
with a door at the opposite end that led outside to the front of
the gaol.
    At first
Jemima was at the front of the queue and was quickly held back by
the gaoler who had been watching her. Fear had locked in her throat
and she was unable to voice the questions she wanted to ask as she
turned to him, her eyes full of questions he refused to answer. She
stood back and waited as the men shuffled one by one before her and
then it dawned on her why she was being kept until last. Obviously
the sight of a woman being hanged held far more importance than she
had realised, and they wanted to make the crowds wait for the
spectacle.
    On legs
that trembled violently with fear, Jemima waited at the end of the
queue. Somewhere in front of her, one of the men began to weep and
plead for his life. They all jumped as the door at the end suddenly
opened, and the small space was suddenly filled with a cacophony of
shouts and screams of the crowd.
    The
first man was dragged unceremoniously outside, his vociferous
protests ignored as the door was slammed closed behind him,
encasing the corridor in darkness once more.
    Jemima
closed her eyes and tried not to listen, but with silence inside
the gaol, it was impossible to block out the raucous calls, crude
suggestions and cries of horror. The loud slamming of wood,
followed by the cheers of the crowd, were impossible to
ignore.
    Tears
gathered in her eyes and for a moment she had to lean against the
wall, or else fall to the floor in a wailing heap.
    “ Are you all right?” The gentle question came from the
ever-watchful gaoler. Jemima stared at him blankly, unable to
answer.
    Alright? Alright? She would never be alright again. Silently she shook her head and returned her gaze
to the floor. It seemed to take an age before the door opened again
and the corridor was flooded with daylight once more.
    How long
she stood in the corridor, waiting for her turn to be put to death,
she couldn’t be sure, but she was certain she had aged a thousand
years before there was just her and the man before her left in the
confined space. The crowd outside were baying louder than ever. The
slamming of the gallows floor echoed menacingly time and again as
the Crown meted out its justice. Cries and screams were accompanied
by suggestions and shouts of denial from family members who had
come to the hangings to hang on to their loved ones’ legs, and ease
their suffering.
    “ Pull the other leg,” was shouted over and over, until Jemima
couldn’t stand it any longer and began to weep openly.
    Suddenly
the door opened, and the man before her was dragged out into the
morning sunshine. The heavy thud of the wooden planks only a few
feet from her face made her cry out in horror. Her stomach flipped
as she began to shake. She was so intent on keeping herself under
control that she missed the silent motion of the gaoler toward the
shadows.
    “ Move up,” he ordered, nudging her toward the door.
    Slowly
Jemima did as she was told. She had learned on her arrival at the
gaol that if she didn’t follow orders, she would be dragged through
them anyway. It was far less painful simply to obey.
    She was
about to turn back to the gaoler and ask for some