to see he was losing ground. ‘All that aside, girl, you’re endangering Jem’s life, and perhaps even the war itself. I’ve been seeing his name in the papers. The papers, for God’s sake! Mysterious man appears from nowhere, causes scandal with heiress; after everything I’ve done to keep him safe, the lives sacrificed, you will not simply hand a man with knowledge of the future to the Ministre de bloody Marine!’
Jem frowned and glanced at Kite, who shook his head a little.
Agatha fixed him with a look so narrow it came to a needle point. ‘What lives sacrificed?’
‘Navy business, and above your head,’ he snapped. His hand had tightened around his cane. Kite stiffened.
‘I rather think you’re making it my business.’
The cane twitched. ‘Agatha—’
‘That’s enough,’ Kite said.
Lawrence looked at him as if he’d never seen him before. Trying to convince himself that, really, twenty-five years without a broken nose was a lot more than most men could expect, Kite put himself in front of Agatha and Jem.
‘Sir. Look at what you’re doing with your hands.’
Lawrence looked. He had shifted his grip on the cane, ready to strike out with it.
‘Go away, stay at your club, and calm down,’ Kite said, a lot more steadily than he felt. ‘I’m sure it will all keep until the morning.’
Lawrence stared at him for a long time. Then his eyes went to Agatha. ‘I will have you put in an asylum, madam, if you don’t come to your senses. I apologise, Mr Castlereagh, none of this is your fault, but I urge you to consider your own safety, and the reputation of the lady. Good night.’
He stumped out. The front door clicked.
Agatha put her hands against her kidneys. ‘Right, I think we’d all better find a way to ensure he can’t do any of us any more violence. First concern is you, Miz; he can make life bloody unpleasant for you if he sends you to the Caribbean, so—’
‘No, it’s you,’ Kite said, urgent. ‘He’s your closest relative, he really can send you to an asylum.’
‘I’ll have to marry Wiltshire, then,’ she said, as if it was nothing, as if she’d given up decades ago on getting anything from marriage but a tolerable house and not too many interruptions to life. ‘He’s timid.’
‘Agatha – he’s sixty-four,’ Kite said softly.
‘I’m not prime stock either,’ she said, and he realised she was punishing herself for having let it get out of hand. She had clenched her fists so hard her knuckles were marble.
‘Don’t talk about yourself like that.’
‘Marry me,’ Jem said. It was a shock, not just because of what he’d said, but because he had been so silent before that Kite had forgotten he was there. ‘I’m not sixty-four, and I’ve no interest in sending anyone to an asylum.’
They both looked up at him. ‘What?’ said Agatha.
‘If that wouldn’t go down in your career like a lead balloon,’ he added carefully. He hesitated. ‘It would help us all. You and I can protect Missouri from Lawrence. Your being in the papers so much – that gives you the power to say whatever you like, loud and fast. Much more than Lawrence. And I have information. If the Admiralty isn’t decent to us all, I don’t divulge anything. Missouri protects you; if I turn out to be a bad husband then I’ve got nothing over him, so he can punch me in the face in perfect conscience. And you being yourself protects me. It legitimises any stories I tell about myself; they must be true if Agatha Lawrence says they are. It’s … a good balance. And needless to say I have no intention of being a demanding husband. Or even in your house, if you don’t want me here. I’ll sign any contract that ensures you retain sole power over your own assets, then there are no money worries.’
Her shoulders jolted and Kite thought she was laughing, and then, horribly, he realised she was starting to cry. He had never seen her cry. It felt indecent to watch. He stepped right away from them, towards the fire, though he wasn’t cold. Lawrence’s tiger curled up against his ankle. He knelt down to stroke her, to have some occupation.
‘Are you in earnest?’ Agatha was asking.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Why would you do that?’
‘Well, I know it must sound premature to you,’ Jem said, ‘and I’ve only been here five minutes, but it has been an important five minutes, for me. I love you, both of you. What you’ve done