Frankie ejected an impromptu laugh. ‘You really have to ask?’
Martha turned to look at her now, wiping hair from her face and smearing further black streaks across her cheek. Her stare was intense. ‘It was you or him, Thea. He would have killed you that night or another, quickly or slowly. He would have isolated you and controlled you – he said as much himself in the walled garden. I could not leave you with him if he was to send me away.’ Her passion was so intense that despite Thea’s shock, she longed to take Martha in her arms.
‘I’ve seen plenty,’ said Frankie, ‘the bad ones. ‘They are out for control and will do anything to get it. Rich or poor it makes no difference. Just here.’ She nodded at the house. ‘There’s a pretence of politeness. But it’s all just a wrapping around thesame rotten core when they’re like that. People are all the same on the inside. They choose to be kind, or choose to hurt those around them. That’s what he chose. We both agreed we would never forgive ourselves if anything happened to you.’
Thea considered hugging Frankie but thought better of it. She blinked again. ‘You were in cahoots on this even though you hated one another?’
‘This was more important,’ said Martha. ‘And it turned out she’s alright really.’ Martha and Frankie shared a smile. Thea raised an eyebrow.
‘And then you lied to the constable?’
‘Not at all,’ said Frankie. ‘I admitted it, and so did Lady Foxmore to get me off the hook. But then the rest of them stepped forward and the constable just assumed it was laudanum we had given him too.’
Thea’s heart was racing. She knew they were right – she wouldn’t have lasted long under George’s control and isolated from her support, one way or another. But was it really that clear cut? Was it her life, or his? She felt Martha’s hand on her waist.
‘He would have done it, Thea. I saw the look in his eyes as he pushed you towards that fire. It was only a matter of time.’
‘Mrs Jenkins was going to do him in with a shotgun,’ said Frankie. ‘After he didn’t drink enough of the laudanum, she and Mrs P tried to give him.’
Thea looked between them. ‘They meant it too?’
Martha and Frankie looked at one another and shrugged. ‘How will we ever know?’
Chapter 36
January 1766
Thud.
‘Her Grace, The Duchess of Hartford and Martha Smilgrove, Countess of Foxmore,’ announced the master of ceremonies.
Thea nodded to him as they passed into the great hall of St James’s Palace and descended the steps to the floor. If possible, it was done up more than usual for the queen’s birthday. There were swags of gold and velvet on the walls, a lavish array of candles illuminating the space, plentiful drinks on offer and hundreds of people milling around in an excited buzz. The royal thrones and canopy had been trimmed in foliage and exuberant floral displays littered the room. Thea checked each one, thankful to find noProteas. She would have heard, she was sure, but her nerves made her doubt.
‘Don’t look now, at least we’ll get it over with,’ said Martha through a perfectly poised smile as they approached the foot of the steps.
Thea looked up. ‘Mr Knatchbull,’ she said, trying to sound pleased. Then she caught herself. ‘Or, of course, I should say, Sir Neville.’ She tried to sound as respectful as possible.
‘Indeed,’ said Neville. ‘What I have done to deserve such an honourable title I shall never know.’ But he puffed himself up like a randy pigeon in that way Thea had noted men did, when they were disproportionately proud of themselves.
‘And neither shall we,’ said Martha, but with a smile and an affable manner that meant he would struggle to be formally offended. Thea bit back a guffaw and saw Cecily, standing quietly next to her husband, do the same.
Before she could greet Cecily formally, Knatchbull went on. ‘I hope that the king and queen will be quite delighted with the gift I have brought for them today. And you,’ he paused to waggle a finger in the direction of Thea, a gesture which she found she particularly disliked, ‘May well be a little green with envy, don’t you think so Lady Knatchbull?’ He tugged on Cecily’s arm that was clamped in his.
Cecily smiled dutifully. ‘I do believe you may be diverted, Your Grace.’
Thea ignored the sinking feeling that had come with Neville’s words whilst she greeted Cecily. ‘How wonderful to see you,’ she said. ‘How are you?’
‘Exceptionally well,’ said Cecily, and now Thea looked at her she looked more relaxed than she had seen in a while. Then she turned to her husband. ‘Would you like to tell them, or shall I, Sir Neville?’
Thea schooled her expression at the address and Neville ruffled his feathers again. Quite literally, as Thea now noticed that his turquoise and sequined court suit was also trimmed with feathers from some poor tropical bird that was no more. Whatever it was, it had been yellow.
‘Why don’t I allow you to, this time my love?’ he crooned, and Thea felt Martha’s foot on hers, sharing the embarrassment at his insincerity.
Cecily only went on in the stoic way Thea had come to expect from her.
‘We are with child,’ said Cecily. ‘A small Knatchbull will be joining us in the summer.’
Thea felt Martha jolt a little beside her and took a second to recover her politeness.
