Page 104 of The King's Man
‘Good.’ Thurloe narrowed his eyes. ‘You make whatever arrangements need to be made. I’ll let matters go ahead for the moment and step in when I judge the time is right.’ Thurloe looked up at Kit. ‘Make no mistake, Lovell, I’m quite serious. I want as many of these misguided malcontents as possible, and I want the evidence to deal with them appropriately. They must be made an example. I also want De Baas. All you need to do is tell me where and when this meeting is to take place.’
Kit’s head went up. ‘And you will move then?’
Thurloe nodded.
‘And me?’
‘In the confusion I’m confident you will make shift for yourself, Lovell.’
Kit made for the door and stopped at Thurloe’s voice. ‘And, Lovell … a little concentration, please. You seem distracted. Whoever she is, forget her!’
***
Kit stared at the shuttered windows of The Ship Inn and his heart stopped. When he had left that morning, all had been as normal. The inn never closed unless something was wrong, very wrong. He knocked on the door and Jem opened it to him. The big man’s face was uncharacteristically pale and strained.
‘Thamsine?’ Kit’s voice caught in his throat as he pushed past Jem.
‘I’m all right, Kit,’ Thamsine rose from a stool by the fire. ‘Morton’s been here, looking for me. He bided his time, waited until you and Jem were gone, then he struck.’
Kit took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. ‘Thank the Lord he didn’t find you.’
Thamsine broke from the embrace and placed her hands on his chest. ‘I was well hidden but … ’ She looked up at Jem and then at Nan, who sat hunched on a stool by the fire, her face hidden by a curtain of hair, ‘ … he took May.’
‘He said … ’ Nan looked up, her eyes red-rimmed. ‘He said he’s to be found at the house in High Holborn. You are to bring Thamsine with you and then May will be released.’
‘And if I don’t?’ Kit’s arm tightened around Thamsine’s shoulders.
‘If you don’t come by midnight, he said he’ll kill her.’ Nan’s voice bordered on hysterical.
‘He’s bluffing,’ Kit said without conviction.
Thamsine shook her head. ‘No, he doesn’t bluff.’
Three anxious faces turned on him, willing him to find a solution to the problem.
‘Jem, what time is it?’ he asked.
‘Must be gone eight,’ Jem said. ‘We’ve not much time.’
‘I’ll go with you,’ Nan said. ‘He’ll be looking out for a woman. With a cloak and mask, I can pass in the dark. I’ve some pattens half a foot high, that’ll give me height.’
Thamsine shook her head. ‘No. I must go. Perhaps he can be persuaded to see reason?’
‘Didn’t seem in the mood to be too reasonable this afternoon,’ Jem commented. ‘Do you have a plan, Captain?’
His former sergeant’s eyes were fixed on Kit with the absolute certainty of a soldier who trusts his commander implicitly. In the absence of a dozen men, Jem would have to do.
Kit looked at the two women. ‘Neither of you are going with me. I’m not negotiating with him.’ He looked at the three taut and anxious faces. ‘Just you, Jem. It’s only Morton and Lucy. Between us we should manage.’
Chapter 33
Kit and Jem stood outside the house in High Holborn, looking up at the shuttered windows and solid oak door.
‘How’re we going to get in?’ Jem asked doubtfully. ‘It’s shut up well and proper.’
‘Through the garden at the back. The kitchen won’t be quite as impenetrable.’
A lane ran down the side of the house, and the men scaled the rough stone wall without too much difficulty. Keeping to the shadows, they crept up to the kitchen that stood out from the main part of the house to lessen the risk of fire.
