Ink and Steel

He glanced over his shoulder as Tom and his man came a few steps closer. The coachman kept a tight rein on the stamping bays, but he turned to look, and Kit knew there was a loaded pistol in a box behind his seat. The way was deserted on either side, except for the figure who had dodged the carriage some distance away and hurrying forward with running footsteps and Chapman and Audrey, who would be out of casual earshot by now. A cross street lay a few steps away: Kit could turn, fly, and be gone before Tom glimpsed his face

An excellent plan.

“What is thy name, villain?”

If I had ever been able to walk from that voice.

“Not a villain.” Kit took two short steps forward, to the edge of the lanternlight, and tugged his hood back with his thumbs. The gesture revealed his sword, and showed his hands well away from it, and Tom’s grip on his own hilt slackened. And then Walsingham’s jaw dropped, and the knuckles grew white again.

“Rather a gentleman, Tom.” By his expression, the footman didn’t know Kit. One small mercy. Tom’s jaw worked, but no sound emerged. Kit couldn’t spare a glance for the figure now running toward them. “Tom, you must know. Frazier lied to you. I never did what he said.”

“How do you know what he said?” Kit jerked his chin at the candlelit windows of the palace. Tom’s face grew so pale Kit could see by lantern light. And Will Shakespeare drew up ten feet away, wobbling with the force of his stop, his arms widespread for balance as if he had suddenly realized he was about to run between two armed men.

“Master Walsingham,” he said softly. Tom shot him a level, almost mocking look. Kit knew it, and breathed a little easier. “The playmaker Shakespeare. I take it you knew about this?”

“Will nodded.” Tom took his hand off his sword and turned to the footman. “Jenkins, see that Master Chapman and my wife understand that I will be delayed. Perhaps as much as an hour.”

“Sir.”

Audible relief filled the man’s voice as he took himself away from matters he did not understand and vanished in pursuit of his mistress.

“Now,” Tom said. “Into the carriage, for lack of a tavern. Pity, for I am very much in need of a drink, but I can’t stand talking in the street with a player and a dead man.”

Kit tried not to notice how Tom’s eyes lingered on his face. He turned his head to hide the scarred side, but could not stop a shiver when Tom took his elbow and almost lifted him into the coach. Will slipped on the step, but Tom steadied him too, and Will shrugged and smiled his apology. Kit flinched at the misstep. He prodded the ache in his chest, and knew.

Murchaud was right. I can’t stay here.They took their seats and Tom rapped on the coach roof. Wheels rattled on the cobblestones, the carriage swaying on its straps.

“Where are we going?” Will asked. “There and back again,” Tom answered. “Twice, if we need more time.”

Kit laughed. “You haven’t changed.”

“You have. Ingrim told me the Queen ordered your death. Through Burghley. Poley showed him a writ, and had him burn it.”

“Would Ingrim know a forgery?” Kit rubbed his eyepatch.

Tom shrugged, leaning forward to speak over the creak and clatter of thecoach.

“He should. There’s testimony, too.”

“Do you believe it?”

“When Her Majesty more or less forbade anyone to examine your death, and pardoned your killers, what else could I do? Tell me you re no agent of Spain, or the Romans. Or James of Scotland. Tell me where you’ve been. The Continent? It has been kind to thee. Thou hast not aged a day. Tell me thou art loyal, in thine own voice, Kit, and I’ll believe it.”

“I was loyal to the Queen, and the Queen gave me my life,” he answered. “And then she returned to me mine oath. And now I am a free man. Beholden to another. But faithful in my dealings with England, I vow.”

Tom glanced at Will, who had withdrawn into a corner. He watched without speaking, making himself small.

“And how does Master Shakespeare come into the ciphering?”

“I followed Kit,” he said, folding his arms over each other as if he were cold. Kit felt him shiver, where their shoulders brushed. “He trailed Chapman from the Mermaid.”

A searing glance told Kit that he would have some explaining to do for his carelessness.

“I had stepped outside to catch George and remind him of somewhat,” and Tom smiled, and Kit knew he was deciding to let his actual question go unanswered.

Kit cleared his throat. “Tom, I can trust you?”

“As a brother,” he said, and squeezed Kit’s leg above the knee. Kit watched his face, and saw no flicker of deception.

“Very well,” Kit said. “This will take longer than a coach ride. How much has Sir Francis told you?”

In the half-light of the swinging lanterns, Tom’s face grew grim.

“Not enough, apparently.”

Kit nodded. “He’s dying, Tom. For certain. And Burghley too.” He lowered his voice. “And Her Majesty grows tired.”

“Her Majesty has reason.”