Page 31 of The King's Man
May put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her.
‘Well I reckon you had as good a reason as any for throwing brickbats at Cromwell,’ she said. ‘Have you told ’em why you did it?’
Thamsine shook her head. ‘I can’t,’ she said. ‘I would rather hang than go back to that man.’
‘Are they going to hang you?’ Nan asked.
‘I don’t know. I had a meeting with an awful man called John Thurloe. I think whatever happens to me will be his decision.’ She sighed and changed the subject. ‘Is there any news of Kit Lovell and the others?’
Nan shook her head. ‘Nah. I feel quite sorry for poor old Noll Cromwell. Everyone seems to be trying to do him in. I tell you having half your patrons hauled away by the poll heads is not good for business. Jem’s threatening death if he finds who squealed on ’em.’
‘Where’s your brother’s loyalties?’ Thamsine asked.
Nan was silent for a moment. ‘D’ya mean was it Jem what squealed on yer all? You can put that thought away. Jem is dead loyal to the King. Always has been, always will be. Mind you, another week like this and my betting is they’ll find some way to shut him down. He don’t need Cromwell’s soldiers tramping around arresting his customers. Now you need to eat that pie before it goes stone cold.’
Thamsine sat down on the stool and attacked the pie with relish. A week of the cold, gelatinous gruel the turnkey dished up was enough to have reduced her to a state of semi-starvation again. Nan wandered around the cell, perusing it as if it were a possible apartment to purchase.
May sat on the cot. ‘One blanket? Cold enough in ’ere to freeze your tits off. If we can get in again, we’ll bring yer another blanket.’
‘So how’d you come to know Kit Lovell?’ Nan asked. ‘I never believed the “old friend of me brother” story you both span.’
Thamsine looked up from the pie. ‘The truth is he pulled me out of the crowd that day I threw the brickbat.’
‘You never knew ’im before?’
Thamsine shook her head.
The sisters exchanged glances.
‘We thought you was sweet on him or summat,’ May said
Thamsine forced a laugh. ‘Me? Sweet on Kit Lovell? What about you?’
To her surprise, Nan flushed. ‘Hard not to be a little sweet on him, I admit it, but he’s well set with that widow up in Holborn!’ She shrugged. ‘Anyway, he’s not for the likes of May or I.’
There was the sound of heavy footsteps in the corridor outside. The turnkey appeared in the doorway like an avenging angel.
‘Time’s up. Out!’ He jerked a thumb at Nan.
Thamsine rose to her feet and embraced both the girls.
‘Thank you for coming. You’re better friends than I deserve.’
Nan patted her shoulder and broke the embrace.
‘That’s enough of that. Don’t need you getting all sentimental on me. I just does me bit, that’s all.’
At the door, she stopped. ‘It’ll all be right in the end, Thamsine. You see if it isn’t and if they lets you out, there’s a place for you at the Ship.’
Thamsine forced a smile. ‘I wish I had your optimism, Nan.’
Nan shook her head. ‘You be sure to guard that purse well. Turnkeys like this bastard are just as likely to sneak in while you are asleep and steal it.’ She gave the turnkey a foul look.
The door closed heavily behind the girls and an overwhelming sense of loneliness washed over Thamsine. She carefully packed away the provender that Nan had brought and counted the coins. Not enough to sustain her for more than a few more days. She sighed and lay down on the cot with her arms behind her head, forcing her mind to return to the lute melody.
***
‘Colonel Barkstead says, seeing as it’s a fine day, you can take a turn on the walls,’ the turnkey said, holding the door open for Thamsine.
