“Could you be so kind as to convey a message to Miss Carswell for me?” she enquired cordially. “And let her know that Miss Walters awaits below and would very much like to see her.”
The butler hesitated. “Miss Cecily is still abed I fear.”
Mina’s eyebrows rose. She had not expected that Sir Matthew would allow such indulgences in his house as lying abed until eleven in the morn. “I believe she will very likely receive me in her room,” she said with a confiding smile. “We are very old friends you see from Cecily’s schooldays in Bath.”
The butler’s brow cleared. “I see, miss. I will certainly let Miss Cecily know.” He disappeared, only to reappear five minutes later, beckoning to Mina from the doorway. She excused herself to Jeremy, who looked resigned to kicking his heels and followed him upstairs to a very charming bedchamber done out in rose pink. Cecily was wearing a frothy lace wrapper with her golden hair still loose over her shoulders. She squeaked at Mina’s appearance and hurried forward to embrace her warmly.
“My dear Miss Walters,” she gushed, drawing her into the room. “I am so happy to see you delivered from the jaws of certain death!” she gabbled before noticing that they were not alone. That will be all Fimble,” she said grandly to the butler, in dismissal.
Mina cleared her throat. “A cup of tea would be most welcome, Cecily dear,” she prompted.
“Oh! Of course!” Cecily turned back to the butler. “My usual tea and toast,” she said vaguely. “With an extra cup for my guest.” She shut the door after Fimble and begged Mina to take one of the pink and gold boudoir chairs. “Forgive me for being so thoughtless,” she said with a charming smile. “Only I had thought – with everything that has happened – that you would not be able to eat or drink a drop! I vow I could scarcely eat any supper yesterday after I had been apprised of the awful goings-on!” She gave an eloquent shudder before crossing to her dressing table and seating herself there.
So, thought Mina, Sir Matthew had been kept fully apprised of the business. Very likely the Riding Officers were hoping to go for a conviction.
“I do hope you won’t mind my seeing to my toilette,” Cecily ran on apologetically. “But I simply must be presentable by the time dear Sir Matthew returns.” Mina saw with surprise that Cecily colored slightly as she said this and anxiously scanned her pink and white complexion in the mirror for any flaws.
“Of course not,” Mina said, folding her hands in her lap. “In truth I am very relieved that you have been apprised of what has occurred. I was not sure if Sir Matthew would think such matters fit for your ears.”
Cecily took a pretty pink bottle up and lifted the stopper to apply rose water to her face. “Oh, as to that,” she said not quite meeting Mina’s eyes in the looking glass. “Things have undergone a slight change between Sir Matthew and myself.” She simpered as she opened a box of pearl powders. “Since that unfortunate contretemps that you so kindly extricated me from.” She dabbed a large powder puff to her nose and chin. Swiveling on her seat, she looked earnestly at Mina. “I will not scruple to tell you, my dear Miss Walters—”
“Mrs. Nye,” Mina interjected smoothly, but Cecily took no notice of such a trifling detail.
“—that you must wish me happy in the very near future.” She fidgeted with the ribbon at her breast, a moment. “Only fancy! Quite unbeknownst to me, Sir Matthew has been madly in love with me all this while! He finally declared himself in a fit of passion when he railed at me for being taken in by that unworthy scoundrel Mr. Brinson. It seems poor Sir Matthew wished for me to make up my own mind, but when he saw I could be so easily taken in, he said he will no longer permit my being out in society until we are safely married. We are only waiting for my twenty-first birthday next year and then we shall tie the knot.”
Mina frowned. “And what do you think about that, Cecily?” she asked, feeling somewhat taken aback.
“Oh, well I am fully sensible to the honor that he does me, Cecily answered, preening herself. “I daresay none of my schoolmates will marry so well as I.” Mina remembered that Eliza Hinch had married a baronet but thought it would not be fortuitous to bring that up at this precise moment. “It does still take me aback that I should have captured his heart,” Cecily admitted in a burst of confidence. “For he always seemed so stern and forbidding, that I never once thought of him in the role of lover, but now that I do…” She blushed. “Well, I have to own he is the very finest man I know. And not so very old at six and thirty. We are only related by marriage, and besides Sir Matthew has promised that he will take me to Rome for our honeymoon and that I may have one of my cousin’s litter of Maltese dogs for my very own companion. They are such dear little things, like little balls of white fluff! Oh, I shall be so happy to have both a husband and a little doggy of my own,” said Cecily clasping her hands together and gazing at her reflection in the mirror raptly.
“I see,” said Mina, though in truth she found it extremely hard to imagine Cecily as the wife of dry Sir Matthew. She wondered for instance, what on earth they could have in common to talk about of an evening. For Sir Matthew was cool and sardonic where Cecily rattled on like a pea goose. While it was true that Cecily still seemed to feel some vestiges of her former awe around her guardian at present, Mina did not doubt this would soon dissipate and then she would regale Sir Matthew with her every empty-headed thought. Still, she reflected, it was highly likely that people thought she and Nye made a strange couple. Perhaps Sir Matthew would simply sit Cecily on his lap as Nye did with her. “I am happy things are going on well for you, my dear,” she said aloud.
“Oh yes,” Cecily agreed dreamily, as she threaded a riband through the front of her locks. A discreet knock on the door heralded the arrival of a tea tray which was set down on a gilded occasional table.
“Would you be so kind as to pour, Miss Walters?” Cecily asked, her eyes not leaving the mirror.
“Of course.” Mina nodded and thanked the parlor maid. “I do wish you would call me Mina, now Cecily. For our own ages are not so very disparate and we have been acquaintances now of many years. And with you so very soon to be entering matrimony, it seems foolish that you should address me so formally.”
Cecily wheeled around at this; her expression rapt. “I would be delighted, my dear Mina!” she exclaimed. Mina wondered at it, but it seemed Cecily was in deadly earnest. The only reason Mina could think of, was that Cecily could write to her former schoolfellows, now proclaiming them to be bosom friends. For her to think of this as a social triumph was so patently absurd that Mina could not help hiding a smile, despite her own mood at present.
Cecily applied perfume and then rang the bell for her maid to help her into a dress of lavender with a profusion of ruffles and lace. Mina had poured their tea and eaten half of the toast before Cecily dismissed her maid and sank into a chair beside her.
“Now tell me everything!” she urged. “Dearest Mina, spare no detail, for I want to hear it as though it were one of those wonderful stories you used to tell us at school.”
Mina regaled her with an extremely expunged version of all that had befallen her since their perfidious stable hand abducted her and secluded her in an underground passage. Of Gus Hopkirk’s involvement she mentioned precious little, save that he had implored the villainous Reuben not to let her freeze to death, or offer her unnecessary violence.
“What a terrible man that ostler was - so cruel and brutish!” Cecily shuddered. “For you to be at the mercy of such a ruffian turns one blood quite cold!”
Mina agreed. When she came to the part of the story where Reuben had gagged and bound her for her journey to the cliff edge, Cecily shrieked and clapped her hands to her cheeks. She did not utter a word until she reached the Riding Officers taking Nye into custody along with Gus Hopkirk.
“No!” cried Cecily, sitting up indignantly. “But why should they do such a stupid thing?”
Mina spread her hands wide. “I think because Nye owns Vance House and was Reuben’s emplo
yer they think- “
“But how foolish! As if that were his fault!” she expostulated. “I vow and declare I never heard of such stupidity! After they abducted his own wife!” She stood up and then sat down again in great agitation. “But where is your husband now?” she asked.
“He sits in the holding cells at St Ives, awaiting transfer to Bodmin jail.”
Cecily gasped. “But we must tell Sir Matthew at once!”
Mina looked down demurely at her gloved hands. “I must own that was my mission in coming here this morning. To throw myself on Sir Matthew’s mercy…”
“Of course!” breathed Cecily approvingly. “It is the only thing to be done!”
“Alas, he was from home when I arrived—”
“Oh, but I am sure I heard his carriage come up the drive some twenty minutes ago,” said Cecily blithely.
“Really?” Mina said, turning toward the window. “I did not notice it.”
When they made their way downstairs moments later, they found the drawing room empty and the murmur of male voices from Sir Matthew’s study.
“Who was it accompanied you this morning?” Cecily asked in a whisper as they hovered on the threshold.
“My half-brother, Lord Faris,” Mina responded and saw Cecily’s jaw drop.
“Lord Faris?” she gasped. “Lord Faris is your brother? Dearest Mina!”
“Yes,” Mina agreed, craning to make out any of the words through the door. “I did not find out until recently, however. Should we knock?”
Cecily looked horrified. “Oh no! On no account. We must sit and wait for them to join us after they have talked business. Sir Matthew does not approve of women who put themselves forward in an odiously pushing manner,” she stressed.
Mina gritted her teeth but sat beside her ex-pupil on a sofa all the same. They had not been sat there for more than a couple of minutes when Jeremy emerged, his usual urbane self, though there was a pucker between his brows Mina did not care for. His gaze sought hers for a reassuring smile before Sir Matthew checked on the threshold to the room.
“Mrs. Nye, I had not realized you accompanied Lord Faris.”
“Dearest Mina was visiting with myself when you arrived home, Sir Matthew,” Cecily told him fluttering prettily.
He stiffened and Mina thought a little color entered his hollow cheeks. “Indeed,” he said, his gaze darting between them. Whatever he saw did not seem to make him any easier in his mind. “Er – Cecily has ordered you some refreshment?” he asked.
“Oh yes,” Mina agreed. “She has been a most considerate hostess. Jeremy,” she said rising to introduce her brother to Cecily. “This is my good friend, Miss Carswell. Cecily this is my brother, Lord Faris.”
“Enchanted,” Jeremy said, bowing over Cecily’s hand. She blushed prettily and became quite flustered. Mina noticed Sir Matthew’s brows snap together as he watched her brother at his most charming.
“You have seen my husband this morning, Sir Matthew?” she asked pointedly.
“What? Oh – er, as to that, I’m afraid I only managed to look in on him very briefly, ma’am.” He dragged his eyes from Cecily to address her. “I spoke with Officers Havilland and Guthrie and only had the time to really speak to that hardened charlatan, Augustus Hopkirk, if that even is his name,” he added cynically.
Mina remembered that Gus was not around from these parts and reflected with surprise that it may well be an alias. “I see.”
“Surely Sir Matthew, there is something you can do for my friend?” Cecily appealed, moved to tears. “It is too cruel that her husband should now be held prisoner! And most unjust.”
Sir Matthew looked uncomfortable. “I will own that I was not fully appraised of the facts,” he said after a slight pause. “But there are certain matters we need clarification upon,” he added pompously. “And we cannot act in haste on these matters, my dear Cecily.”
“Well Carswell,” said Jeremy, taking up his hat and cane. “I have made my next actions plain. My solicitor will be engaged to act on behalf of my brother-in-law, and we will lodge an action against any move to transfer him to Bodmin immediately.”
Sir Matthew’s expression tightened. “As you say, my lord,” he said with a stiff bow.
“Come, Mina,” said Jeremy, offering her his arm. With heightened civility, they took their leave.
“What did he say?” Mina asked in a low voice as they pulled away from the house.
“He offered Nye a custodial sentence this morning, if he turned Queen’s evidence against Hopkirk.”
Mina gasped. “What did Nye say to that?” she asked in dismay.
Jeremy cast her a speaking glance. “Nothing. He is not easily coerced or intimidated as you may imagine.”
“At least then he would not hang,” Mina said, biting her lip.
“You would still be married to a convicted felon, however.”
“But not a widow,” she pointed out.
“There is that,” he conceded.
“I think you put him out a good deal talking of legal representation. They had not expected Nye to have such backing.”
“It was not mere bluff,” Jeremy assured her. “I will ride to see Havering this afternoon.”
“Did he tell you nothing else?” Mina persisted.
“Carswell said Hopkirk is playing the lovable rogue card to the hilt. Just a bluff old sailor out of his depth and manipulated by more unscrupulous types.”
Mina cast a quick glance at Jeremy. “Does Gus try to throw the blame on Nye?”
“Quite the contrary. He claims Reuben issued all the orders and says he knows of no other members of the gang. He acts bewildered by the fact Nye is in custody. Hopkirk says he was horrified to find Reuben had kidnapped you. Asserts he did everything in his power to make you more comfortable and protect you from the fellow.”
Mina pursed her lips. “Like all convincing lies, it has some truth to it though precious little.” She looked Jeremy straight in the eye. “I believe Hopkirk was ‘the guvnor’,” she admitted. “And very likely the mastermind behind the whole smuggling operation. But I doubt it could ever be proved.”
Jeremy gave a low whistle. “Hopkirk?” He gave her an uncertain look. “Carswell is determined to bring someone before a jury as for punishment.”
Mina stared straight ahead of her. “If I was willing to testify against Gus—”
Jeremy shook his head. “If he truly were the head of the gang, that could be dangerous Mina. We do not know how many men make up his company of men. There could be dozens in the locality waiting to wreak his revenge.”
“True,” she admitted. “And I have no proof. Only suspicions and some stories he told me,” she hesitated, remembering the truly horrible things Gus had said about him being a wrecker and the fate of his former wives. “The trouble is, he has told me a good many tales and all of them are tall ones. He could have been just trying to frighten me, but—” She broke off, remembering Gus’s expression of malignant glee in the lamplight. “I do not think it.”
They were quiet for the rest of the homeward journey and when Jeremy set her down in the courtyard of The Harlot, Mina was met by Colfax, who seemed to be seeing to outside duties. He informed her that a Riding Officer was awaiting her in the parlor and Jeremy immediately said he would accompany her inside.
“No please,” Mina said turning back to stop him from leaving the carriage. “I would be much more comfortable if you went to see your legal man on Nye’s behalf. I am much recovered now and will be more than equal to their questions.”
Jeremy relented, though Mina could see he was not happy about it. Corin was waiting in the hallway to take her cloak and bonnet, impulsively hugged Mina and then hung up her things. Edna hearing her voice, came hurrying out of the kitchen with a suppressed sob to fling her skinny arms about her.
“That wicked oaf, Reuben!” Edna said in a low voice that shook with anger. “Oh, your poor head,” she exclaimed, seeing the bandage beneath her bonnet.
“It is nothing really, a clean wound that the doctor is assured will heal nicely. Forgive me, Edna, I must go into the parlor now to deal with this officer.”
“I have a tea tray ready to bring in with you,” Edna responded, making haste to fetch it.
Mina had been girding her loins to confront the unpleasant Havilland, so she was considerably taken aback to find it was the younger and more personable Riding Officer that awaited her. Leaping to his feet, Guthrie bowed punctiliously and greeted his hostess. Edna set down the tea tray and retreated and Mina bade Guthrie to take his seat.
“I trust you are feeling better today, Mrs. Nye?” he asked as she sat opposite him.
“My bumps and scrapes are healing, thank you, Mr. Guthrie, though it is not pleasant coming home after my ordeal without my husband by my side.”
He winced. “I understand.”
“Can I ask about the night he has spent in custody?”
“He is tolerably comfortable, I believe ma’am.”
She supposed she would have to make do with that, she thought, setting out two cups and saucers and pouring the tea.
“My brother Lord Faris intends to engage his own legal man for Nye’s defense,” Mina told him steadily and watched him blink over this as she passed him his cup.
“Indeed?”
“Can I ask the intent of the Crown in his arrest? Do you mean to posit that he is implicated in my kidnapping?”
Guthrie swallowed. “We do not believe that your husband was involved in your kidnapping,” he admitted. “Otherwise, he would scarcely have requested us to accompany him to ambush Hopkirk and Prouse last night. My superior, Officer Havilland believes it to have been a ‘falling out among thieves’ situation. He thinks the most likely scenario is that your husband was trying to disentangle himself from the association and your abduction was a bargaining tool on their behalf to ensure his continued cooperation.”
Mina took a sip of her tea and then replaced it on her saucer before speaking. “And what of Gus Hopkirk? Can he shed no light on the matter?”
A Bride for the Prizefighter: A Victorian Romance Page 33