Page 122 of The King's Man
‘It’s an order to the Governor of Barbados to release one Daniel Lovell, with a full pardon for his youthful indiscretions,’ Thurloe said.
Kit looked up at Thurloe.
‘I have made enquiries after your brother and when last I heard, admittedly some months ago, your brother had been well treated and was in good health. He has the advantage of youth and education to set him apart from his fellow captives.’ Thurloe answered the unspoken question.
Kit looked at the paper in his hand. ‘I hope that’s true, Thurloe.’
Thurloe shrugged. ‘You can see for yourself. There’s a boat sailing from Gravesend to Barbados tomorrow evening. Be on it, Lovell, or I can’t help you anymore. You are looking rather pale. The sea voyage will do your health good.’ He turned to Thamsine with a smile. ‘And of course, your lovely wife will be accompanying you.’ The smile faded. ‘In short, I want the pair of you out of England. The sooner I am rid of the both of you, the sounder I will sleep in my bed.’
Kit looked up sharply. ‘For how long?’
Thurloe shrugged. ‘Until this business is over.’
‘It will never be over, Thurloe. There will be other plots, and then there is the Sealed Knot … ’ Kit shook his head. ‘What will become of the others, Thurloe?’
Thurloe’s lips tightened. ‘Without prejudicing an otherwise fair trial, I think I can confidently predict that there will be deaths. There has to be. An example must be set if we are to deter any more of these foolish idealists.’
‘Who?’ Thamsine asked.
‘Lord Gerard, for one. Vowells. Maybe one or two others.’
Kit grimaced and looked away. ‘Gerard was a friend of my father’s,’ he murmured.
Thurloe regarded him for a moment. ‘Don’t blame yourself, Lovell. If it hadn’t been you, it would have been someone else. Lord Gerard was playing a fool’s game. You will see in time that it was the right decision.’ Thurloe shook his head. ‘I get no pleasure from sending good men to the noose, Lovell. But to answer your question, I will not stop you from returning to England when the time is right.But …’ His voice dropped and his eyes narrowed. ‘ … it will be on the clear understanding that you renounce all ties with Charles Stuart, am I clear?’
Kit nodded. ‘Quite clear. Before you go, Thurloe, what of Ambrose Morton?’
‘Ah yes, Colonel Morton. I’m sorry, but there will be no action taken against Colonel Morton.’
Thamsine and Kit stared at him.
‘Insofar as the charges you have levelled against him for the kidnap and assault on Mistress Granville, – my pardon,’ Thurloe inclined his head in Thamsine’s direction ‘ – Mistress Lovell, while I’ve no doubt there is truth to the story and Morton should be punished, it has been decided the scandal attaching to a trial, particularly as the chief witness will be out of the country,’ – he gave Thamsine a meaningful look – ’would outweigh the benefit of our work of the last few months. As for the other allegation … ’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘The girl is a known doxy, and the charge will never stick.’
‘So, Morton is free to roam the country at will?’ Kit said.
‘It would seem so, although I do hear that he has been rather unwell. Must be something contagious. Captain Lovell.’ Thurloe picked up his hat and gloves. ‘I am pleased we’ve had this talk. I wish you both a good voyage and a long and happy life together.’
The door closed behind him. For what seemed a long moment, Kit and Thamsine stared at each other.
‘I’m sorry, Tham,’ Kit said.
She shrugged. ‘I expected it. He’s not going to risk the scandal of a trial that involves you and me. It’s in our interests to keep our anonymity, but it’s May I feel for. How dare he call her a doxy!’
‘That’s what Morton called her too.’ Kit shrugged unhappily. ‘There’s no justice for the poor.’
He picked up the paper Thurloe had left and turned it over, tracing the seal on the back of it.
‘Barbados,’ Thamsine said. ‘It’s the other side of the world. I thought France … ’
‘France can wait, Thamsine. This is more important.’
She nodded, her fingers closing over his. ‘Barbados, and then, maybe, Virginia?’ she ventured. ‘A new beginning?’
Kit nodded. ‘A new beginning. Maybe we should try our hands at farming coffee? Come here, Mistress Lovell.’
She crossed to him and sat down beside him. He slid a hand around the back of her neck and their lips met, as they allowed time and their worries to slip away for a few short hours.
Chapter 40
