Page 89 of The King's Man
‘Blackmail, Captain Lovell.’ Knott turned to his wife and clasped her hands in his. ‘I have told Jane all and she has forgiven me.’
Blackmail?What in God’s name had this inoffensive little man done to warrant blackmail?
Knott continued, ‘An indiscretion. Some letters, involving a lady of the town.’
‘Her name?’ Kit enquired.
Knott shook his head. ‘It is no concern of yours.’
‘Lucy Talbot,’ Jane Knott said.
Kit had already known the answer before Jane spoke.Lucy.It all came back to Lucy.
Knott turned to look at Kit, his eyes wide with fear. ‘Captain Lovell, you must understand my position. I hold a post with thegovernment. If word were to get out – the scandal would ruin me.’
Kit looked at the man with distaste and tried to picture him with Lucy. It gave him no pleasure to know he had ploughed a furrow already seeded by this pathetic model of manhood.
‘So, what has become of Thamsine?’
‘Morton,’ Knott said, ‘with the connivance of Mistress Talbot, apprehended her and brought her here. I hoped to be able to persuade her to the sense of the marriage without recourse for further violence, but … ’
‘You failed?’
‘She continued to refuse him. Obstinate girl!’ Knott said.
‘He threatened my children.’ Jane’s eyes glinted with tears and Knott covered his face with his hands.
Kit leaned forward. ‘Where is Thamsine now?’
Knott lowered his hands and he and his wife exchanged glances.
‘I don’t know,’ Knott said. ‘I really don’t know. He came for her three days ago and took her away.’
Jane’s face twisted. ‘You may be too late, but please, Captain Lovell, you are her only hope.’
‘Where has he taken her?’
Jane’s face dissolved. ‘He said he was taking her to Hell.’
Kit felt a cold hand claw at his guts.
‘He said within a few days she would be begging him for marriage. I am so scared for her.’ Jane swallowed and rose to her feet, her hands clasped in front of her. ‘As you love her, Captain, you will find her. Find her and keep her safe.’
Chapter 26
Kit put the spurs to the lazy horse and drove it hard back to the city, his mind reeling. Jane had saidAs you love her. Did he love her?
He had told a dozen, or more, women he loved them. They liked to hear it. The pretty words had pleased them and suited him, but what he had felt for those girls was nothing like the emotion that pulsed through his veins now.
If loving someone meant that life without them was unendurable, that thoughts of that person occupied every waking moment, then yes, he conceded, maybe he was in love with Thamsine Granville, and if that was the case he was the biggest fool in the country. How had he allowed himself to fall in love with a woman he knew nothing about?
Above all, he didn’t need the distraction of foolish emotions such as love at this point in his life.
He returned the horse and took some refreshment at the Ship while he tried to gather his thoughts. Damn it, where was she?He was quite sure Morton had meant it when he said he would take her to Hell but where was Hell? Somewhere in the City of London or … where?
He dismissed the thought of tackling Ambrose Morton without at least a dozen armed men at his back. Even if he knew where Morton was, he was no match for a man of Morton’s size, cunning, and formidable reputation as a swordsman. However, there was one other person who might know where Thamsine was being held, and who could be more easily managed. He risked overplaying his hand but the risk was worth it.
He borrowed a knife from Jem, slipping it into his sleeve, clapped his hat on his head, and strode to the house in Holborn Hill.
