Page 48 of The King's Man
Thamsine looked up and gave a wry smile. ‘The girl has no ear for music. Hence … ’ She waved a hand at her simple composition.
Kit turned it towards him and frowned in concentration.
‘A pretty piece,’ he commented. ‘Your work?’
She nodded. ‘You read music?’
He shrugged. ‘I had a well-rounded gentleman’s education. Can’t sing a note to save my life, but I can find a tune on a guitar or the lute. My brother had a marvellous voice when he was younger … ’ He broke off abruptly. ‘Anyway, among my many talents, music sadly is not one I have had much time to pursue in recent years.’
‘I suppose not.’ Thamsine smiled. ‘And you, Lovell? You’re free to roam the streets of London again?’
‘They had no evidence to hold us, so we were released a few days ago. Dutton and Whitely are still languishing in the confines of the Tower.’
A few days ago?Thamsine felt a knot of disappointment settle in her stomach. He had been free and not sought her out until now?
He looked around the quiet taproom. ‘Why did you come back here?’
She shrugged. ‘I feel safe here and I had nowhere else to go. What about you?’
He hesitated a moment before answering. ‘My mistress has, as always, proved remarkably good about taking me back in.’
‘I see.’
A heavy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as she imagined Lovell with another woman.
‘You don’t seem the domestic type, Lovell.’
‘My arrangement with Lucy is just temporary. Lucy’s not the domestic type either, Thamsine. She’s a wealthy widow who likes her independence.’
‘Lucky woman,’ Thamsine replied with feeling.
‘Not always so lucky. She did have to endure ten years of marriage to a man thirty years her senior.’
Thamsine shrugged. ‘At least your Lucy is now free. For those of us who are forced into marriage against our wills, it is a frightening prospect.’
His eyes narrowed and the sharp, evaluating look he gave her surprised her.
‘Is that what you are running from?’
She hesitated, her usual denial on her lips, but his unexpected honesty with her invited a return of confidence.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I am running from a marriage that is far from my choice or desire, and which would be contracted for no other reason than the benefit of the man involved.’
‘And your father sanctioned it?’
She gave a hollow laugh. ‘My father thought he was looking after my best interests. Before he died he not only contracted the marriage but made the man my guardian until such a marriage took place.’
‘Is that why you ran?’
She met his eyes.Time for the truth.‘I ran because I thought I had killed the man.’
Kit’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You killed a man? Mistress Granville!’
She shook her head. ‘No, he is alive and well and stalking the streets of London looking for me. I know because I saw him in the crowd that day I met you. That’s why I threw the brick. I needed a distraction.’
‘Ah.’ Kit sat back and regarded her for a long moment. ‘You must have been desperate to go to such lengths. Is there no one you can turn to?’
She shook her head. ‘My one hope proved to be as duplicitous as my suitor. Now, can we talk of more pleasant topics?’
