Page 119 of The King's Man
Jane put her hand on her sister’s cheek. ‘You have my word,’ she said. ‘Now, where is the patient?’
‘Upstairs. I’ll show you.’
Kit sat hunched at the table, a jug of wine to one side and a book laid out before him. He looked up as the women entered, and closed the book. Jane set her basket down and picked up the book.
‘An interesting choice of reading, Captain Lovell,’ she said.
Kit retrieved his battered and much-worn copy of Francis Bacon’sEssaysand set it back on the table, the fingers of his uninjured hand tracing the worn leather spine.
‘Old Bacon here has been a long-time companion of mine. I would hate to lose him,’ he said.
‘Which is your favourite essay?’ Jane asked.
‘Of Nature and Men,’ Kit replied. ‘You read Bacon?’
Jane smiled. ‘I have done. Now, I had a message you were dying,’ she said.
‘I’m bruised and battered but not quite at death’s door,’ Kit replied.
Jane placed a hand on Kit’s forehead. ‘No, I don’t think you’re dying.’
‘You’re so much better at this than your sister. Did you know she faints at the sight of blood?’ Kit commented.
Jane glanced at her sister. ‘Do you?’
Thamsine shrugged. ‘Apparently.’
‘So, this is Morton’s work?’ Jane gently raised the bandaged hand. ‘What did he do?’
‘He trod on my fingers,’ Kit said.
‘It all took a further battering the day before yesterday,’ Thamsine put in. ‘The bonesetter says his hand should be amputated but I thought maybe you … ’ She trailed off as Jane cast her a grave look.
‘Thamsine, I’m a housewife. What do you think I can do that a bonesetter cannot?’
Thamsine felt her small hope beginning to fade.
Jane sighed. ‘Well, I suppose I can at least see what harm has been done. Now,’ she said, addressing Kit, ‘I am going to look at your hand. This will hurt.’
She began to unwind the bandages, stopping when Kit tensed to let him catch his breath.
‘If it’s any small consolation, I hear Ambrose Morton is no better,’ Jane said as she worked.
‘Where is he?’ Thamsine asked.
Jane’s lips tightened. ‘With that doxy, Lucy Talbot. A pistol ball in the shoulder and a broken ankle, I believe.’
‘What about your husband?’ Kit asked in a tight voice.
‘Roger has gone to Kent on business. I don’t expect him back for a couple of days, which is why I was able to come to you.’ Jane drew a quick breath and shook her head. ‘Oh dear, this is not good!’
Thamsine flinched as the bandages came away to reveal the blackened, swollen, mangled mess.
Jane looked up at her. ‘What have you done for him?’
Thamsine outlined the rudimentary treatment suggested by Nan and the bonesetter.
Jane gently felt the broken bones. ‘You’re no fool, Captain Lovell. I am sure you can see for yourself that the bonesetter is right. If this is left, it will fester and you must know what that will mean.’
