Page 83 of The King's Man
‘Is that what’s bothering you? You can forget your little music teacher. I told you I haven’t seen her in over a week. If she’s gone then good riddance.’ Lucy’s mouth took on a downward cast.
Kit frowned. There was something in the tone of Lucy’s voice he disliked. He had asked her a couple of times about Thamsine, and both times she had dismissed his question with a wave of her hand and a comment about Thamsine failing to turn up at the appointed hour.
‘I am afraid, Mouse, my principal concern at present is the earning of some coins,’ he said coldly, ignoring her petulance.
Lucy rolled over again. ‘I can give you money.’
Kit smiled. ‘Thank you but no. I prefer to earn my own way, where and when I can.’
Lucy sighed. ‘How long will you be gone?’
He shrugged. ‘However long it takes.’
Lucy sat up in bed, the covers slipping away from her. For once Kit regarded her naked body and felt nothing.
‘Be home tonight.’ The sharp and querulous tone smacked of an order.
Kit raised an eyebrow. ‘I will return when I am ready, Mouse.’
As he turned towards the door, a bolster hit him in the back. He straightened but did not turn to look at her. With deliberate care he closed the door behind him.
Domestic life had begun to pall.
As he walked the familiar streets to the Ship, he went through the matters in hand. He had a rebellion to organise. Lord Gerard was following close behind and would be back in London by now. The plot would be gathering momentum and he still did not have the names of the Sealed Knot.
Then there was the irritating matter of the missing Thamsine Granville. Damn the woman! He had enough to worry about without fretting about her whereabouts.
‘Cap’n Lovell.’ May wrapped herself around him as he stepped into the warm, familiar taproom.
Kit took off his coat and shook his wet hair. As soon as he sat down, May perched herself on his lap and ran her fingers through his hair while Nan fetched him a pot of ale.
Nan set the ale down. ‘You look tired,’ she commented.
‘Travelling,’ Kit took a welcome draught of the ale.
‘So where have you been?’ May asked.
‘France.’
‘Did you bring me back anything special?’ May asked.
Kit shook his head. ‘No! No presents for anyone. It was business.’
Nan pulled a face. ‘Shame on you!’
Kit looked at both girls, his face serious. ‘Does either of you know where Thamsine Granville is?’
The twins looked at each other, then at him. ‘We thought you might know,’ Nan said.
‘What do you mean?’
‘She went out last Friday and ain’t been home since. Not a word, not to collect her things, nothing. We asked around but no one’s seen neither hide nor hair of her.’
‘Where did she go?’
Nan looked at her sister. ‘That new person she started going to just before you went away.’
‘Mistress Talbot?’
