‘Why is this man still in chains, Mr Cross?’ she demanded.
I smiled to myself. I had misjudged her – it was my chains she disapproved of, not my tattered clothes.
‘He hasn’t paid the fee,’ Cross growled, fists clenching impatiently at his side. Then he leered at me. ‘He can’t afford it.’
I felt my face grow hot. It was shaming to be unmasked as a man without six pennies to his name. I had the sudden urge to explain my story – to make her understand that I came from a good family, the eldest son of a respected gentleman. (The disgraced and disinherited eldest son, admittedly, but there was no need to trouble her with such trifling details.) ‘I can assure you, madam, I’m expecting the money at any moment-’ I began, then stopped in surprise. There were tears shimmering in her eyes.
‘I have heard those words before,’ she said, her voice tinged with grief. She took three pennies from her purse and handed them to Cross, who pocketed them at once. The low, cheating bastard had tried to rob me of double the fee.
I thanked Mrs Roberts profusely, promising to return the money as soon as I had it.
She waved a black-gloved hand. ‘I have heard that many times as well,’ she said, wearily. She gestured to Cross to unchain me. He muttered something under his breath but did as he was told, shoving the key into the lock then pulling hard at the chains that ran about my chest. Whoever Mrs Roberts was, she was used to being obeyed. She nodded with a satisfied air as the iron links slid to the floor. ‘What is your name, sir?’
I stepped neatly from the pile of chains and bowed again. ‘Thomas Hawkins, madam. At your service.’
A sparkle of amusement lit her grey eyes. ‘And what service might that be, I wonder? Do you mean to pummel another turnkey for me?’
‘If he punches me again I’ll hang him up here until he chokes,’ Cross snarled, slinging the chains over a hook on the ceiling. He pointed to his cut lip. ‘The governor will hear of this.’
‘Indeed?’ Mrs Roberts raised an eyebrow. ‘And what will you tell him, I wonder? That his head turnkey was bettered by a chained, unarmed prisoner? Well, well. I’m sure Mr Acton will find that most… diverting.’
Cross scowled and unlocked the manacles, pulling them off so sharply he scraped my wrists. He glowered at me as he left, as if to say, we are not done yet. I stared back as evenly as I could, cursing my hot temper. I had not even stepped out into the yard and I’d already made an enemy of the head turnkey – and doubtless every guard who served under him.
