Page 45 of The King’s Man (Guardians of the Crown #2)

K it’s fingers drummed the windowsill of John Thurloe’s room in the Palace of Whitehall. Below him, soldiers drilled in the courtyard and dark-suited men came and went with purposeful steps, but his mind was elsewhere.

He had left Thamsine still sleeping, her hair tousled and her lips slightly parted.

He had not quite come to grasp the extraordinary power of their relationship.

No liaison he had known with a woman had ever had this effect on him.

Thamsine was – Kit struggled for superlatives – wonderful, beyond comparison.

He longed with all his being to be back with her, in the private world of their own making.

In the past few days, curled up on the big, old bed, they had talked of their childhoods, hopes, dreams. He’d told her of his father’s death on the steps of Eveleigh Priory, but he still couldn’t bring himself to talk about Worcester … or Daniel.

And he still had to see to Thurloe’s business. There had been meetings in smoky taverns for which he had no heart. He had done what needed to be done and hurried home to be with Thamsine, intent on not wasting a single moment of their time together.

‘Lovell?’ Thurloe’s voice snapped. ‘Pay attention!’

He turned back to look at Thurloe. ‘Sorry. You were saying?’

‘I was saying that I intend to do nothing.’

Kit’s hand tightened. ‘Thurloe. This Frenchman is dangerous.’

Thurloe pressed his fingertips together. ‘If the Protector does not go to Hampton Court as is his custom, the finger of suspicion will point straight at you. However, if he were merely to change his mode of transport, it may look less suspicious. He will travel to Hampton Court by water, not road.’

Kit nodded. ‘That is a sensible precaution.’

Thurloe leaned forward. ‘I presume there is an alternative plan?’

It had been thrashed out at a long, fraught meeting the previous night.

‘Sunday – when he is leaving chapel.’

‘Audacious!’ Thurloe’s eyebrows rose.

‘I agree. It stands a reasonable chance of success, particularly if Ireton is with him. They intend to take him too.’

Thurloe steepled his fingers, as he did when in thought.

‘If I were thinking as your fellow conspirators, as a plan it probably stands a better chance of success than the original concept. It’s a public place; His Highness would be quite unprotected.

’ Thurloe frowned. ‘I’ll let word get around that the Lord Protector travels to Hampton Court by water.

In the meantime we must try and find the Frenchman. Do you know where he is?’

Kit shook his head. ‘No. I’ve tried following him, but he keeps himself well hidden and changes his lodgings every few days. I doubt even De Baas knows where he is. If I were to start asking too many questions I might arouse suspicions.’

Thurloe nodded. ‘So what is your role in all of this?’

‘I have to organise the final meeting.’

‘They’ll all be there?’

Kit nodded.

‘Good.’ Thurloe narrowed his eyes. ‘You make whatever arrangements need to be made. I’ll let matters go ahead for the moment and step in when I judge the time is right.

’ Thurloe looked up at Kit. ‘Make no mistake, Lovell, I’m quite serious.

I want as many of these misguided malcontents as possible, and I want the evidence to deal with them appropriately.

They must be made an example. I also want De Baas.

All you need to do is tell me where and when this meeting is to take place. ’

Kit’s head went up. ‘And you will move then?’

Thurloe nodded.

‘And me?’

‘In the confusion I’m confident you will make shift for yourself, Lovell.’

Kit made for the door and stopped at Thurloe’s voice. ‘And, Lovell … a little concentration, please. You seem distracted. Whoever she is, forget her!’

***

Kit stared at the shuttered windows of The Ship Inn and his heart stopped.

When he had left that morning, all had been as normal.

The inn never closed unless something was wrong, very wrong.

He knocked on the door and Jem opened it to him.

The big man’s face was uncharacteristically pale and strained.

‘Thamsine?’ Kit’s voice caught in his throat as he pushed past Jem.

‘I’m all right, Kit,’ Thamsine rose from a stool by the fire. ‘Morton’s been here, looking for me. He bided his time, waited until you and Jem were gone, then he struck.’

Kit took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. ‘Thank the Lord he didn’t find you.’

Thamsine broke from the embrace and placed her hands on his chest. ‘I was well hidden but … ’ She looked up at Jem and then at Nan, who sat hunched on a stool by the fire, her face hidden by a curtain of hair, ‘ … he took May.’

‘He said … ’ Nan looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. ‘He said he’s to be found at the house in High Holborn. You are to bring Thamsine with you and then May will be released.’

‘And if I don’t?’ Kit’s arm tightened around Thamsine’s shoulders.

‘If you don’t come by midnight, he said he’ll kill her.’ Nan’s voice bordered on hysterical.

‘He’s bluffing,’ Kit said without conviction.

Thamsine shook her head. ‘No, he doesn’t bluff.’

Three anxious faces turned on him, willing him to find a solution to the problem.

‘Jem, what time is it?’ he asked.

‘Must be gone eight,’ Jem said. ‘We’ve not much time.’

‘I’ll go with you,’ Nan said. ‘He’ll be looking out for a woman. With a cloak and mask, I can pass in the dark. I’ve some pattens half a foot high, that’ll give me height.’

Thamsine shook her head. ‘No. I must go. Perhaps he can be persuaded to see reason?’

‘Didn’t seem in the mood to be too reasonable this afternoon,’ Jem commented. ‘Do you have a plan, Captain?’

His former sergeant’s eyes were fixed on Kit with the absolute certainty of a soldier who trusts his commander implicitly. In the absence of a dozen men, Jem would have to do.

Kit looked at the two women. ‘Neither of you are going with me. I’m not negotiating with him.’ He looked at the three taut and anxious faces. ‘Just you, Jem. It’s only Morton and Lucy. Between us we should manage.’