Page 76 of The King's Man
His voice compelled her to move. At every step, she felt nausea rising in her stomach. Roger took her by the shoulder and steered her into the parlour.
‘Curtsey,’ he hissed in her ear.
She complied, forcing her stiff, wooden legs to bend.
‘Thamsine.’ Ambrose smiled and took a step towards her. She recoiled.
‘I have nothing to say to you, Ambrose.’
‘Now, Thamsine, that is not what you told me,’ Roger wheedled.
Ambrose took her hand, enclosing it firmly within his own. ‘Thamsine, I wish for nothing more than we should be the friends we once were.’
She tried to withdraw her hand but he held it secure, his grip tightening.
‘You betrayed any vestige of friendship a long time ago, Ambrose. Let go of my hand.’
He looked pained, almost sorrowful, and the grip tightened, causing her to wince. ‘Thamsine, what happened between us was a terrible misunderstanding.’
‘There’s been no misunderstanding, Ambrose. You tried to force yourself on me. I have no illusions about you. You see only my fortune and you will stop at nothing to obtain it.’ The words tumbled out, impervious to her resolutions to play along as the meek, penitential bride.
His eyes flashed for a moment and then, with what appeared to be masterly control, he smiled. ‘Thamsine, how wrong you are. I have always loved you.’
‘Loved me?’ she spat. ‘The only true feeling you have ever entertained for me is one of greed – for my body and my estate.’
He raised her hand to his lips, his eyes glittering. ‘Please, Thamsine. I’ve changed. I want to settle with you by my side. We could be happy, you and I.’
She gave a strangled cry and wrested her hand from his grip, turning sharply on her heel to face her sister and brother-in-law.
‘Roger, Jane. You are my witnesses. Please do not allow this travesty to happen,’ she appealed helplessly.
Roger remained standing at the door and Jane, a helpless spectator, turned her eyes to her husband, willing him to act.
Ambrose’s eyes narrowed. ‘You have no choice. We will be married, and we can do it on terms of truce or we can do it as enemies. It is entirely in your hands.’
Thamsine leaned on the table as she sought to control her thoughts. For her own sake, she needed to make peace. It would be the only way she could survive. Perhaps once they were wed, the relationship could be renegotiated.
She swallowed. ‘Ambrose, I’m tired.’ She looked up at him. ‘I can’t go on fighting you. I don’t have the strength.’
Ambrose smiled. ‘Ah, Thamsine, I knew you would see reason. Roger is in agreement. We will be married as soon as it can be arranged.’
A wave of nausea engulfed her and she doubled over, fighting back the urge to vomit. Ambrose moved behind her and took her by the shoulders, forcing her down onto a chair. She felt his hands, hot and heavy through the cloth of her dress, the strong fingers tightening, grinding her bones. She gritted her teeth against the pain.
‘There is one more thing you owe me, Thamsine Granville,’ he hissed into her ear.
‘I owe you nothing!’
‘You tried to kill me. I want to hear you apologise.’
‘I should have killed you,’ she said.
His fingers tightened.
‘This is wrong!’ Jane stepped forward. ‘No court in the land will force her to marry against her will. Roger – ’ she turned to her husband ‘– stop this madness.’
‘If you have any wisdom, wife, you will not interfere,’ Knott replied
Ambrose released Thamsine and took a step toward Jane. Jane’s eyes widened as he loomed over her slight figure.
