Page 107 of Exile's Return

‘She’s dead.’

‘No … no … no! She can’t be dead.’

Agnes searched for a pulse but found none. She lowered her head, letting the hot tears fall on her hands. ‘This is all my fault.’

Daniel rose to his feet, still holding the body of the woman, and carried her over to the stone bench. He laid her on it, folding her hands across her chest. Agnes stood beside him, the impotent tears rolling down her cheeks.

In the dark, Daniel found her hand, his fingers curling around hers.

‘Do you know any prayers, Agnes?’

She swallowed and recited the only prayer that came to her mind, the familiar words of the Lord’s Prayer providing a simple solace.

Daniel released her fingers and crossed to the door. He banged on it.

‘A woman has died,’ he said. ‘If you have a Christian heart, you will see her dealt with the respect she deserves.’

A hard voice came back. ‘Orders are no one is to open this door until morning. She ain’t goin’ nowhere and neither are you.’

‘Soulless bastards,’ Daniel shouted back.

‘Come and sit down,’ Kit said. ‘It’s perishing cold over here by myself.’

Agnes sat down beside Kit and took his hand, chafing the crooked fingers between her palms.

Kit drew his breath in with a hiss. ‘Gently!’

‘How did you break your fingers?’ she asked.

‘Someone trod on them,’ Kit said, ‘a little harder than he needed to.’

Daniel’s boots echoed on the cold, stone floor and she moved over, letting him slide down between her and Kit. He spread his cloak across the three of them but it made little difference in the coldest part of the night.

Agnes nestled in closer to Daniel and he slipped his arm around her, drawing her into the warmth of his body.

‘You should try and sleep,’ he said.

‘I’m too cold,’ she said, snuggling closer against his solid, reassuring chest. ‘It’s all gone wrong, hasn’t it?’

He heaved a sigh. ‘It certainly hasn’t gone according to plan. But Agnes, believe me when I say none of it’s your fault — just an unfortunate trail of events.’

‘Do you think he really will hang us?’

‘Ashby is dangerous and unpredictable,’ Kit said.

‘And greedy,’ Agnes said. ‘I thought if I came here it would all be resolved but I just made it worse. Henry…’ She choked on the mere mention of his name. ‘He needs me.’

Daniel raised his hand and brushed the hair away from her face as if she were a fretful child in need of reassurance.

‘Of course, he needs you,’ he said, resting his head on hers. ‘You’re his mother. I don’t know how you have pretended otherwise for so long.’

‘His mother?’ Kit put in.

No point in denying it.

‘Yes. It’s a complicated story.’

Kit groaned. ‘Agnes…never mind. I am damnably tired. If I am to die in a few hours, I might try and get some sleep.’