Page 32 of The King's Man
Since the twins’ visit, the walls of her cell had closed in around her, and the chance to walk on the walls and stretch her legs and her lungs was one she seized with alacrity.
Thamsine wrapped her cloak tighter around her as the cold wind blew in a gust off the river and turned her face to it, taking a deep, thankful breath. From her narrow walkway, she could see down into the inner and outer courtyards of the Tower.
In the outer courtyards, children played while women stood and gossiped, babies or baskets of washing on their hips. Watching them gave her a feeling of normality. No one paid any heed to the prisoner on the wall above them.
A cheerful whistling diverted her attention to the inner courtyard. A prisoner, accompanied by a solitary guard, came through the gate. Despite being hampered by the wrist and leg irons, he still managed a familiar swagger.
‘Lovell!’ She had yelled his name before she knew what she was saying.
He stopped whistling and looked up.
‘Thamsine Granville, as I live and breathe! “Ill met by moonlight, proud Titania”.’ He managed a clumsy bow, cut short as his escort hauled at his chains.
Kit lowered his head to speak to the man. The soldier shrugged and stepped back. Kit walked over to the wall and looked up at Thamsine. She crouched, looking down into his dirty, bruised, unshaven face.
Despite the ten yards of wall that lay between them, he grinned and spread his hands as wide as the manacles would let him.
‘Here we are, Thamsine. Still alive. Are they treating you well?’
She shrugged. ‘I suppose as well as could be expected in the circumstances.’ She managed a small smile. ‘But Nan Marsh has looked after me.’
‘Nan?’ Kit’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
‘Yes, she and May brought me a basket of food and some clean clothes.’
‘I told you she had a big heart.’
‘And I take back my comment about the widest legs. What about you?’
Kit shook his head and shrugged. ‘They’ll play with us for a while. Maybe put a couple on trial but who knows … ?’ He shrugged. ‘I have learned to have no expectations.’
The soldier put his hand on Kit’s shoulders. ‘Time’s up! Don’t want you getting too friendly, unless you’re willin’ to pay for the privilege. No? Then say your farewells.’
Kit stayed put, his eyes resting on Thamsine’s face.
‘Take care, Thamsine.’
He smiled at her as the soldier’s grip tightened and he turned Kit, propelling him in the direction of one of the round towers.
‘Kit?’ she called after him.
He stopped and turned back.
She spoke in French, not wishing the guard to understand her. ‘What will become of us?’
His eyes held hers, his face unreadable, and he replied in French, ‘Take each day as it comes, Thamsine, and if you believe in God, pray for us both.’
The soldier gave him a shove and Kit stumbled, hampered by the chains. He exchanged some sharp words with his escort that Thamsine could not quite make out. She watched until he had been swallowed up by the dark mouth of the Tower, then sank onto the damp stones with her back to the wall, hugging her knees to her chest. She lowered her head and for the first time in her weeks of incarceration, she wept.
‘Dry your tears, Mistress Granville.’ The hard voice of Barkstead made her look up. He stood looking down at her, his hands on his hips. ‘Master Thurloe wishes to speak with you.’
The room overlooking the Thames was just as she remembered it and would remember it until her dying day. This time John Thurloe was alone and she was not manacled. She dropped a respectful curtsey, which he acknowledged with an inclination of his head.
‘Imprisonment has taught you some manners, Mistress Granville. Take a seat.’ He gestured at the same oak chair she had sat in last time. As she settled herself, he sat back in his chair and considered her. ‘You will be relieved to know that the Lord Protector has reviewed your case and has decided that no further action is to be taken against you. You will be released at the conclusion of this interview.’
Thamsine raised her eyes and looked up at the Secretary of State. She could feel the relief flooding her body.
‘Oh thank you!’
