Before the Firing Squad

Spoilers for The Devil's Whore, episode 1
Thanks to phyllisdobbs01 for the prompt and jinxed100 for being such a good beta

Harry Fanshawe shivered and tried to avoid looking at the soldiers guarding him.  How could he not be afraid when he was to be shot for cowardice the next morning?  How had this happened?  Why had King Charles decreed his death? 

Yes, he had surrendered his house to Cromwell’s troops, but what else could he have done, when Angelica had refused to leave?  He couldn’t force her to go, whatever anyone else might say.  It was true that she had had some strange ideas and thought that the views expressed by the likes of John Lillburne were worth listening to.  He knew that she was misguided and could be head strong.  He was aware that she expressed her passions in ways that no well brought up lady would.  Nevertheless, he loved her, as he had always loved her and now he might never see her again. 

Thinking of Angelica the tears began to roll down his cheeks.  He remembered how she had called him “her boy” and had smiled at him.  He made a move to wipe the tears away so that no-one would see him cry.  But it didn’t matter anymore, let them think they were the tears of a coward afraid once again, he knew they were shed for his beloved Angelica.

So My Lady

Spoilers for The Devil's Whore episode 4
In which I try to answer some of the questions that are raised at the end of the series, but Sexby takes a hand.  Thanks once more to my beta jinxed100 

“So my lady,” it was the day after Lillburne’s funeral and Sexby and Angelica were lying in bed in each other’s arms.  “I have heard rumours about Mr Cromwell’s intentions.”  Sexby emphasised the Mister.  “Are they true?”

“Yes my lord,” Angelica snuggled closer, “he is going to be crowned.  Not as king of course, but as Lord Protector.”

“All of which amounts to the same thing,” Sexby grunted.

“Yes,” his wife agreed.  “But do we have to consider Cromwell yet?”

Later on, once they were both dressed, Angelica returned to their original discussion.  “You plan to stop him, don’t you?  That’s why you came back.”

Sexby raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly.

“Okay, that wasn’t the only reason you came back.  But that was why you came back now.”

Sexby nodded in agreement.

“Who will you get to help you?”

“I’ll go by myself.  The fewer people who know the smaller the chance there is of betrayal.  You realise it will be dangerous.”

Angelica looked directly at him.  “Had I lived the kind of life my father had in mind for me, it is possible that I would not have appreciated the danger.  As it is ...”

Sexby grinned at her, “My apologies, my lady.”

Angelica continued, “but what if it goes wrong?”

“I will never let them take me like a dog.”

“But if they come for you you will be at too much of a disadvantage.”  She indicated his left arm.

“I won’t let them get that far”

Angelica swallowed hard.  She had already lost two husbands and she now knew that there was a very real danger that she would soon be a widow for the third time. 

Sexby saw her expression and smiled at her.  “I have not gone yet, my lady.  There is still time for us to be together.”  With that, he grabbed her hand and led her back to their bedchamber.