Simon had added a ruder verse when they were older, dealing with the fate of the maiden all forlorn, who had given the miller’s assistant the horn, and been laid in the mill that Joe built. Remembering this as she climbed to the upper floors, Thomasina thought it a shame that Simon had not turned his abilities to something worthier than drinking, gambling and womanizing.
The massive machinery looked reasonably sound, although there were ominous patches of rust in places. The millstones were starting to dry out and crack from disuse. Proper workmen would have to be called in to overhaul all that, but Thomasina did not think any of it was beyond repair. She lit one of the candles and, shielding it with her cupped hand, went down the steps to the kiln room.
Had Twygrist always been filled with the little scufflings and scuttlings she could hear? But then really old buildings were never completely silent. As if in response to this, there was what sounded like footsteps overhead and Thomasina was suddenly aware of Twygrist’s lonely situation. She strode back to the foot of the stairs, and called out, ‘Is someone there? Who is it?’
‘Thomasina? It’s me. Simon. I saw you walking along the lane –I tried to catch you up but you were too quick. What on earth are you doing in here?’
‘Taking a look at the fabric. Checking the sluice gates and so on.’
‘Oh, I see.’ He came down the stone steps and stood at the opening to the tunnels, looking around. ‘Lor, do you remember how we used to come down here as children? I used to tell you ghost stories–you never cared much for them, but they always frightened me half to death, and—’
‘Why did you follow me here? There’s nothing wrong, is there? With Maud?’
‘There’s nothing in the least wrong with Maud, providing you discount the fact that she’s only half a furlong from raving lunacy. You’ll have to do something about her eventually, won’t you? Still, that’s your problem, old girl. My problem is sordid coinage. That’s why I followed you. To talk about it.’
‘Money? I’ve already given you—’
‘A thousand pounds, with the promise of another two if Maud conceives. Yes, I know that.’
‘And I paid your debts,’ said Thomasina dryly. ‘Very substantial debts they were as well.’
‘Oh, a man’s known as much by his debts as by his enemies,’ said Simon, carelessly. ‘I’ve heard Cormac Sullivan say that many a time. But that thousand wasn’t enough, Thomasina. And three thousand isn’t really enough either.’
They looked at one another. ‘You want more,’ said Thomasina at last.
‘A lot more.’
‘We could say another five hundred, perhaps.’
‘I think we’ll have to say a lot more than that.’ He moved closer, and in the candlelight his face looked sharper.
‘I was thinking we’d double the three thousand,’ said Simon. And, as Thomasina made a quick gesture of annoyance and refusal, he said, ‘And then a yearly payment of five hundred on top of that.’
‘It can’t be done,’ said Thomasina at once. ‘I’m sorry, Simon, I simply can’t afford it.’