Page 33 of The King's Man
‘Don’t thank me, Mistress Granville. There are conditions attached.’
‘Anything.’ Anything would be better than another day, another hour in the Tower of London.
‘You must repay the damage to the coach.’
Panic arose like a gorge in her throat as the walls closed in on her once more.
‘I have no money. I have nothing.’
‘I am aware of your circumstances, Mistress Granville.’ He pressed his fingers together. ‘The debt can be repaid through means other than money.’
She paled, her mind turning over the possibilities, none of them good. ‘What do you mean?’
Thurloe regarded her with hooded eyes. ‘I mean, Mistress Granville, that you are now indebted to the Commonwealth and that debt may be called in at any time.’ He paused, his lips twitching in a smile. Thamsine sensed that he took some pleasure from her paling face. ‘However,’ he continued, ‘I think I may have a solution to this dilemma. A means by which the debt can be repaid that I am sure you will find acceptable.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
Thurloe pressed his fingertips together. ‘I believe you have some talent with music, Mistress Granville.’
‘Some,’ conceded Thamsine. ‘Although lately it has been confined to singing bawdy songs in an inn.’
‘Do you play the lute?’
She nodded. ‘And the virginals.’
‘Excellent.’ Thurloe smiled. ‘In fact, it couldn’t be better.’
Thamsine shifted in her chair. Thurloe’s smile was unsettling.
‘You will be happy to know I have some useful employment for you.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Doing what you do best. Teaching music, Mistress Granville. Would that present a problem?’
Thamsine shook her head in amazement at this extraordinary turn in her fortunes. She had expected a pronouncement of death, not the offer of freedom and useful employment.
‘Who?’ She could barely aspirate the word.
‘The French Ambassador, Baron Bordeaux, has a pretty English mistress, Mary Skippon. He is anxious for Mistress Skippon to improve her accomplishments and has been looking for a suitable music teacher. He will pay handsomely, I do not doubt.’
Thamsine frowned. ‘And you wish me to teach this woman music?’
‘Singing, lute and virginals. Three mornings a week.’
‘And my remuneration will go to the repair of the coach?’
‘Oh no. What you do with your coin is your concern. I imagine food and lodging would be something of a priority.’ Thurloe leaned forward. ‘No, all I ask of you, Mistress Granville, is to keep your ears and eyes open. You speak French?’
Thamsine nodded.
‘You speak it well?’
‘Very well.’
‘Then you are to act as if you don’t. If they believe you do not understand what is being said, things may be said in your presence that would normally be kept behind closed doors.’
Thamsine’s eyes widened as the implications of what he was saying dawned on her. ‘You want me to be a spy for you?’
