smallhobbit | 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.