In this scene from River Witch, Hester meets Catherine at St Ceyna’s well, where they form a bond which will be tested by time and trouble.
The hot end-of-summer weather drains Catherine’s energy to the point she can do nothing except languish on the sofa, feet shoeless on the ottoman, her back against a tapestried cushion. Her aunt brings her hot drinks of the best Indian leaf tea, saying if such drinks cool the natives of the searing Indian sub-continent they will assuredly cool Catherine. Mrs Bryce brings her elderflower cordial.
‘Do you think that high and mighty Courtney-Brown would give us a chip or two of ice from his ice-house?’ Mrs Bryce rolls her eyes at the impossibility of it.
Catherine laughs. ‘It would melt long before it arrived here.’ She takes the long glass. ‘Besides, with this water straight from the well, the drink is perfectly refreshing.’
‘Water from the other well is what you need, Miss Catherine.’
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