Page 117 of Exile's Return
‘Nonsense,’ Thamsine said. ‘We have much to celebrate. A lost brother returned, a new sister found…a King returned, or about to be returned. Stand up, Agnes, and let us try this dress on and see what needs to be done.’
‘It is too good for me…’ Agnes began.
Thamsine laughed. ‘You should have seen what I wore to my wedding. Pretty enough but I am sure it had belonged to a courtesan of the first order. Now, up on that footstool.’
‘But…’ Agnes began to protest, but with three other women all talking at the same time as they pinched, pleated, and pinned the gold fabric around her, she could do nothing but stand meekly and let them have their way.
Margaret Lovell swept into the room accompanied by Kate Thornton.
‘Quite lovely, my dear,’ Margaret said. ‘I forgive my son for springing yet another surprise on me. I’m not sure at my age I should be subject to such torture, but I have interrogated my stepson thoroughly, and as he is incapable of hiding anything from me he has appraised me of your circumstances and character, young lady. Come here.’
Tripping over the excess fabric in the petticoats of the gown, Agnes tottered toward her future mother-in-law. The older woman clasped her forearms, forcing her to meet her eyes. ‘Agnes Fletcher, if half of what Kit tells me is true, you are a remarkable young woman who risked her life for two defenceless children. I will be proud to have you as my daughter.’
Agnes glanced around the circle of women, seeing only love and acceptance, and found her eyes beginning to fill. She had been without the love of a mother, sister, or family for so long and yet here were these women, strangers to her but determined to accept her unconditionally for herself and not for what she could do for them. She dashed at the tears.
‘Stupid,’ she said. ‘Stupid … ’
‘Not at all,’ Kate Thornton said. ‘Entirely human.’
Margaret folded Agnes in her arms, and the tears Agnes wept into the woman’s bony shoulder were tears of happiness and belonging.
Chapter 52
The two men stood in the street, looking up at the faded and chipped sign of The Ship Inn.
Kit sighed deeply. ‘I never thought I would see it again.’
Daniel glanced at his brother. In the last few days, Kit had related much of the story of the ill-fated plots of 1654 and the terrifying events that had brought Thamsine into his life. It was clear that the inhabitants of The Ship Inn held a very special place in Kit’s heart, and on arrival at the Blue Boar both men had set out on foot to the Old Bayly.
Kit pushed open the door, which creaked on its hinges. At this hour of the day there were few patrons, and a boy engaged in scrubbing one of the battered tables straightened. ‘What can I do for you, sirs —’ He broke off. ‘Cap’n! You came back. I thought you’d forgotten me.’
Daniel smiled at young Matt. ‘I promised I would, but look at you. I hardly recognize you.’
In truth, the boy seemed to have grown a foot in the time since Daniel had left him, and no longer had the lean, hungry look of a street urchin. He looked clean, well fed and quite presentable.
‘I’ll get Nan.’ The boy scampered into the rooms beyond the taproom, returning with not only Nan but her brother, Jem Marsh.
Nan shrieked at the sight of Kit and threw herself into his arms, a reaction that seemed so completely out of character that Daniel gave his brother a quizzical glance.
‘Kit Lovell.’ Jem Marsh, grinning broadly, pumped his hand. ‘Ye look well, and you, young Daniel. What brings you back to London?’
‘I had made the boy a promise and I came to keep it. If you still want to come with me, you can, Matt.’
Matt moved to stand between Nan and Jem. ‘If it’s all the same to you, Cap’n,’ he said, ‘I’d rather stay here. Nan and Jem need me.’
Jem placed a fatherly hand on the boy’s shoulder. ‘He’s a good lad, this one,’ he said. ‘Hard worker but willin’ to learn.’
‘I’ve been goin’ to the dame school and learnin’ to read and write,’ Matt said and lowered his eyes. ‘And I have a name now.’
‘Matthew Marsh,’ Nan said. ‘Didn’t seem proper, the boy not belongin’ somewhere. Had him baptized and everything. Now, how’s about a drink for old times?’
Kit and Daniel rolled back to the Blue Boar several hours later to find a sober and mildly annoyed Jonathan waiting for them in the private parlour. Two other men rose from their seats and Daniel sobered immediately, recognizing one as Giles Longley.
Kit launched himself at Giles, flinging his arms around him. ‘Longley,’ he slurred. ‘We are together again. The guardians of the Crown.’
‘Quite,’ Giles remarked, disengaging himself. ‘Good to see you, Lovell…Lovells, both. May I present John Mordaunt?’
Kit straightened. ‘Ah yes, I remember you now. Spotty youth.’
