Page 110 of The King's Man
‘But your hand … ’ Thamsine demurred.
‘I am better with a crippled hand than no hand at all,’ Kit said. He closed his eyes and grimaced. ‘As for Morton, it was his mistake not to kill me when he had a chance.’
Thamsine looked away. ‘Oh Kit, I’m so sorry. It is all my fault that you and May were hurt.’
His left hand sought hers and he gave it a reassuring squeeze. ‘Thamsine, don’t blame yourself. Morton is a vicious swine. We couldn’t leave you to his tender mercies.’ He closed his eyes and took a breath. ‘Oh God, that hurts!’ After a moment he opened his eyes again. ‘May? Is she all right?’
‘As well as can be expected.’
‘I know what he did to her,’ Kit said. ‘I’m sorry, Tham.’
‘What have you to be sorry for? This is my doing!’ Thamsine’s voice choked as the tears she had been fighting back threatened to overwhelm her. ‘Kit, both May and I owe you our lives.’
He flinched again as he tried to shift his weight and Thamsine bit her lip at her own helplessness. He glanced at the windowwhere a fitful early morning light filtered through the grimy glass.
‘What time is it, Tham?’
She looked at the window. ‘About eight in the morning.’
‘Eight? Oh, dear God. Where are my clothes?’ With difficulty, he propped himself up on his left elbow.
‘Downstairs, being cleaned. They were covered in blood. What are you doing? You’re not going anywhere, Kit!’
He looked at her with desperation written on his face.
‘I have to. Help me sit up.’
Thamsine rose to her feet. ‘No! Kit, you’re half dead. You’ve been unconscious for hours.’
He glared at her.
She crossed her arms and tightened her lips. ‘All right then, go ahead. You try and get up and if you can take two steps without falling down then I will find some clothes for you to wear.’
He scowled at her and she watched on as he tried to raise himself into a sitting position using his good arm. The effort had him gasping for breath with the pain, and as soon as he tried to move his right hand, she knew he was defeated. He fell back and laid his left arm across his eyes.
‘This couldn’t have happened at a worse time.’
‘If you insist on trying to fight it, you will be dead before week’s end,’ Thamsine said grimly. ‘You’ve been hurt before, Kit, you know it’s going to take time and rest.’
He grimaced. ‘I know, Thamsine. You don’t have to tell me.’ He looked at her. ‘You’re going to have to do it for me.’
Her eyes widened. ‘Do what?’
‘You know the business I am involved in. God willing it will come to conclusion in the next day or so, but I need you to deliver a message to Thurloe.’
She paled. ‘No, Kit. Not John Thurloe. I can’t face that man again, particularly as I failed him so dismally.’
‘You didn’t fail him, Thamsine. You were forcibly removed. Thurloe knows that. I’ve told him everything. I even asked him to investigate Morton’s treatment of you. He should know about May, too. God knows I would like to see Morton hang.’ He lifted his arm and his eyes were steely. ‘You’re still in Thurloe’s debt. Help me now and he will clear your name. I promise.’
She looked at him for what seemed an eternity. ‘I will do it on one condition.’
‘No conditions, Thamsine.’
‘I am only asking you to tell me what it is that John Thurloe holds over you.’ She bent and kissed his bruised cheek. ‘I am your wife, or had you forgotten? Your concerns are my concerns. You have to tell me everything, Kit. No more secrets.’
He managed a weak smile. ‘I’m a pretty inadequate excuse for a husband right now. Very well, you have my word. I’ll tell you everything, but only when this is over and we can go to France and leave this whole sorry mess behind us.’
She knelt beside the bed and lifted his uninjured hand to her lips.
