Page 121 of The King's Man
‘A woman I knew a long time ago taught me a few things. This line is your lifeline. It tells me that you’re going to live a long life.’
‘That’s reassuring.’
‘Now this line is your love line.’
‘And what does that tell you?’
‘That you are going to meet an impossibly handsome, yet penniless rogue, who is not going to let you out of his sight for the rest of your life.’
‘Oh dear,’ Thamsine said. ‘That sounds rather grim. I hope his name is not Ambrose Morton.’
‘Ouch! I can’t laugh.’ Kit winced. ‘Penniless aristocratic rogue, then!’
Thamsine smiled. ‘Palm reading is a rather inexact science,’ she said. ‘What will happen to this penniless, aristocratic rogue?’
‘He will fall in love with a beautiful, talented woman.’
Kit slipped his hand behind her neck, drawing her face towards his.
‘Ah, but does the rogue truly love me?’ Thamsine whispered.
‘Oh yes, he truly does. The question is, do you love him enough to want to spend the rest of your life with him?’
Thamsine paused and frowned as if deep in thought. ‘The rest of my life? You did say it would be a long life … ’
‘I did.’
‘Well, I suppose I could.’
‘Good.’ Their lips touched and the spark of desire leapt into flames.
‘You must be feeling better,’ Thamsine whispered.
His lips drifted to her ear. ‘Much better,’ he replied. ‘Perhaps, if you promise to be gentle with me … ’
A knock on the door caused them both to start. Thamsine barely had time to jump to her feet before the door opened.
‘Oh dear, am I interrupting?’ Thurloe stood in the doorway, carefully removing his gloves.
Thamsine straightened her skirts. She gave Thurloe the benefit of a shaky curtsey.
He inclined his head. ‘Mistress Lovell. Good evening.’
‘Why are you here?’
‘I’ve come to see your husband.’ Thurloe looked Kit up and down. ‘I trust you are on the road to recovery, Lovell?’
‘I’m mending,’ Kit replied.
Thurloe walked over to the window and stood looking out over the street, his hands behind his back.
‘I have a problem,’ he said. ‘Or rather, you have a problem. I’m afraid your friends have been most forthcoming about your involvement in the plot. You’ve been named several times as one of the main conspirators, and I have troops scouring London with a warrant for your arrest. You’ll be flattered to know that there’s quite a reward for information leading to your detention.’ He turned to face them. ‘London is not a particularly healthy place for you to be right now, Lovell.’
‘What are you going to do?’ Kit inquired, lightly drumming the fingers of his left hand on the table.
‘If they find you, there will be nothing I can do about it, but … ’ Thurloe reached into his jacket and produced a paper, which he flung down on the table, ‘ … I’m mindful of our agreement.’
Kit picked it up and turned it over.
