Read The Scarlet Thief for Free Online

of us.’
    Molly edged carefully round Jack and led him through the door at the end of the hall into the kitchen at the back of the house. The room was warm to the point of being stuffy, with a small fire in the grate adding its heat to that emanating from the cast-iron range that dominated the room. Two mismatched wooden chairs sat in front of the fireplace, one for each of the women in the household and Molly pointed to the largest one for Jack to sit on.
    ‘You’ll be wanting tea, I expect.’
    ‘About time you offered. I’ve been here ages.’ He thought he caught a flash of anger in her eyes so he resolved to be more serious. ‘Thank you.’
    Molly used a cloth to pull the large iron kettle on to the range and busied herself wiping clean two tin mugs she pulled from the narrow dresser in the corner. Jack watched her move around the kitchen, enjoying seeing her in such a domestic setting. It led his thoughts to what it would be like if they were to become man and wife, what it would be like to have Molly in his own kitchen, looking after him as only his wife would. He was surprised to find the notion did not sit badly in his mind.
    ‘You’ll go blind if you keep staring.’ Molly delivered the warning with a smile.
    ‘At least you know your place, woman. Now, where’s my tea?’
    Molly stuck out her tongue. ‘I’ll throw it over you if you don’t take care, fancy fig of a uniform or not.’
    ‘I’m glad you noticed my fine turnout.’
    ‘I couldn’t miss it. I’ve never seen you looking so smart. Are you out to impress the ladies?’
    ‘There’s only one lady I’m trying to impress but she’s a bit daft. She can’t see what’s right in front of her face.’
    Molly laughed and handed him his tea. ‘So what brings you to my door. Did you get lost?’
    Jack stared at the dark liquid in his mug as if he could read his future in it. Molly saw his serious expression and had the sense to remain quiet as she took the seat next to him, reaching her hand out so that it rested lightly on his arm.
    ‘It’s Sloames.’ Jack spoke at last, his voice quiet.
    ‘Sloames?’
    ‘He’s managed to exchange his commission. He’ll be leaving the regiment.’
    ‘And you?’
    ‘I can go with him.’
    ‘Oh.’ Molly’s hand withdrew.
    ‘That’s what I’m here to tell you.’
    Molly studied her hands for a long while before she spoke again. ‘What are you going to do?’ Her voice was small now, the question asked hesitantly as if she did not really want to know the answer.
    Jack looked deep into Molly’s eyes. ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘You could stay with the regiment.’
    ‘And go to the Indies? No thanks.’
    ‘So you’ll go with Captain Sloames.’
    ‘I don’t know, Molly. Sloames wants me with him. He wants us to go on campaign.’
    ‘Of course he does. He wants you there to clean his boots and wipe his backside.’
    ‘He’s not so bad. He took time to tell me about the news. I’ve got to go with him to London for a few days so he can finish all the paperwork. It’ll give me a chance to think.’
    ‘Bully for you.’ Some of Molly’s normal sharpness was returning.
    ‘I could always volunteer for another regiment.’
    ‘What good would that do? You’d still be leaving and you could end up going to war all the same. Besides, you like being an orderly. You’re always telling me that it’s the first step to getting somewhere.’
    ‘Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever amount to anything.’
    ‘You won’t if you go around with that kind of attitude. You were born poor and you’ll die poor same as me if you don’t get a grip and shift yourself somewhere. You make your own future. It doesn’t get neatly delivered on a silver platter. You have to go and find it.’
    They were both silent for a moment.
    ‘So what happens to me when you swan off with Sloames and go and fight your war?’
    ‘You could wait for me. I’ll come back for you.’
    ‘And when would that be? A year? Two years? And