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her eyes.
    He gave her hand a squeeze and sighed in relief. “The vicar will make sure that is completed, I have no doubt,” he said quietly.
    “Let’s get this over with then, shall we?” Wally muttered.
    He placed a hand in the small of Hetty’s back, and propelled her firmly toward the door.
    Simon followed silently. When one of the jailers moved to stop him, he glared at them. “She is my sister. They are going to need witnesses.”
    The jailer reluctantly stepped back and allowed the small party to go inside to meet the vicar.
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Two days later, Hetty jostled her way through the crowd in an attempt to get near to the front. People were jammed into the narrow cobbled streets, jostling to get a good view of the gallows. She knew that many of them had travelled from miles away to see the spectacle that was due to take place within the hour.
    It was disgusting really. She had no hesitation in elbowing and pushing her way through them, because she hated each one for taking pleasure out of something that was so macabre.
    She closed her eyes and willed herself to stay calm. For the millionth time in the last two days, her fingers ran over the narrow gold band that now encircled her finger. She was married - to Charlie. The ring she now wore had been his. He had worn it on his little finger, and had used it when they had been married in Gembleby’s office because there had been nothing else available. It was too big for her narrow finger really but she refused to remove it. Just having it against her skin made her feel a little closer to him.
    In a desperate attempt to get her mind off what she was there for, she turned her thoughts to the day when she had committed her life to Charlie’s. The kiss he had given her when the vicar had announced to the small group of people that they were now man and wife, had seared her right down to her soul. She had still been trembling when Wally had led her out of the jail, and driven her home.
    She was married. To one of the men who were about to be hung this morning.
    The sheer frustration of being denied a future with her new husband almost overwhelmed her. She wanted to rant and rave at Meldrew for his callous disregard for human life but, of course, she couldn’t.
    She sucked in a deep breath, and squared her shoulders defiantly.
    Lives depended on her now. She couldn’t afford to let fear stand in her way.
    Thankfully, the backs of several large people blocked her view of the scaffold and, at first she had to content herself with looking at the ground beneath her feet. However, when a raucous cheer went up, she instinctively glanced up and her eyes landed on the huge wooden structure, in spite of her best efforts not to do so.
    The world began to swim alarmingly as she looked at the five macabre nooses swinging silently in the breeze, visible over everyone’s heads.
    Not for the first time since she had left the house just before dawn, she sent a silent prayer heavenward, and asked for the fortitude to get through this morning. She had to remain strong, for Charlie and Simon’s sake.
    Her thoughts reluctantly turned to the reason why she was there. Charlie’s handsome image loomed before her like a beacon of strength in a world full of horror and fear. She clung on to it while she tried to gather her wits about her. He had risked everything to keep her safe; and had even married her to ensure she was protected in the event that Meldrew hung him. It was humbling to think that someone like Charlie would go to such lengths just for her and, now that he was her husband, it was down to her to do what she could to help him in his last desperate hour.
    “Keep calm, Hetty,” she whispered quietly. “Keep calm.”
    “Eh?” an elderly man in front of her grunted as he peered over his shoulder.
    Hetty threw him a blank look and didn’t bother to answer him. She hadn’t thought that anyone would be able to hear her over the noise of the exuberant crowd. A