“I’m waiting,” he said harshly.
It was funny to think the large angry man sat opposite as a sight for sore eyes, but that was how it seemed to Mina, even though she currently wanted to throw something at him. She let her gaze roam over his dark hair and smoldering eyes. Then she caught the expression in those eyes and thought she’d better make haste to explain her role in his release.
“Jeremy engaged his legal man to take up your cause, a Mr. Havering. I believe the Vances have employed his firm for many generations,” she answered in freezing accents.
His eyes flickered, but he made no comment on this. “And?” he prompted. “I saw whose name counter-signed those papers, Mina,” he added dangerously. “So, don’t even think about lying to me.”
“Very well, I did approach Sir Matthew,” she admitted. “But never alone. Jeremy accompanied me to Upton Gadsby. He spoke to Sir Matthew as well as I. In fact.” Her voice rose with indignation. “I barely spoke to the man. I concentrated my efforts on Cecily, so she would bring her influence to bear on him.” He gave her a withering look at that. “They are engaged to be married,” she added pointedly. “At least, unofficially they are.” He made no comment on that and Mina started to feel a little desperate. “In any case, if anyone owes an explanation, it’s you!” she flung at him accusingly. “What on earth were you thinking telling Jeremy that you wanted to divorce me or go running off to Exeter?
“I’ll tell you what I was thinking, Mina,” he retorted angrily. “I was thinking that when I was swinging from the gibbet, you’d be set up in a fine house, befitting of a lady like yourself!” His eyes avoided hers, staring unseeingly out of the carriage window.
“Well, that’s not what I would want,” said Mina firmly.
He swung around, an incredulous look on his face. “Well if that isn’t just bloody typical of you, woman, then I don’t know what is!”
“I’m not a fine lady,” she carried on, calmly ignoring his outburst. “I’m a publican’s wife and I’m more than happy with my lot.”
He snorted. “How about a convict’s wife?” he asked bitterly. “I don’t think you’d have suited that fate, Minerva.”
“Certainly, I would not,” she agreed. “But as you had renounced your former way of life, I had no intention of allowing that to happen.”
He stared at her incredulously. “You had no intention?” he echoed, then shook his head. “You’ve got no idea, woman.”
“On the contrary, I knew full well what I was about. But as for you, how dare you make plans to leave me? Do you have any notion—?”
“Do you have any notion how I felt?” he broke in heatedly. “When I found that rock covered in your blood? That rock Edna told me Reuben had smashed against the back of your head—” His voice was thick with emotion and for a moment, his throat seemed to close on him. “I knew full well whose fault it would have been if you were found somewhere cold and dead with all that spark and fire of yours extinguished,” he carried on unevenly after a moment’s pause. “Mine! All mine. Mine was the blame for carrying on with that pack of—” Words failed him again. “The blame was mine and so should the punishment have been.”
“Nye—”
He waved her words aside. “I’m not a fit husband for you Mina. I never was. Do you think I’m unaware of the fact? Faris was insane to have even thought of such a scheme and I’m a villain to have taken the bargain. Do you understand? I married you to get my hands on Vance House because the smugglers had been using that passage and the cove there for years.”
“Yes, I had realized that,” she admitted coolly. “But why then, on gaining it, did you not immediately evict the tenants? More importantly, why did you tell the smugglers that you were quitting the business altogether?”
Nye brooded a moment, then took a deep breath. “I was not bothered about a pair of old, stone-deaf sitting tenants,” he said dismissively. “And as for quitting.” He gave a short, harsh laugh. “I was crazy to think they would even consider letting me get out of it.”
“Likely because Gus was always so personable,” Mina mused. “He’s very good at hiding his ruthless nature.”
He shot her a troubled look. “I don’t even like to think about how you must have felt when you came around in that passage.”
“I won’t lie, I was badly frightened when I caught a glimpse of Gus’s true self. I think personally he was the real leader of operations, do not you?
Nye looked startled. “I don’t—” He frowned and directed her a look beneath his brows. “Gus?”
“Every time Reuben spoke of ‘the guvnor’, Gus was practically laughing up his sleeve. He did not trouble to hide it from me.”
“He always spoke of receiving orders from another,” he said slowly, but his expression was thoughtful.
“Is it true that no member knew more than one or two others of the company?” He looked evasive. “I remember that night they called up to the window for you they had scarves over their faces.” She could see he was still reluctant to speak on the matter and sighed. “Edna has told the Riding Officers she could not identify the man who drove the cart that carried me away, for she only caught sight of his back view.”
Nye’s gaze met hers. “Did you see him?” he asked.
She shook her head. “His hat was pulled low and I only glimpsed him for an instant before Reuben struck me.”
He tensed at her words, then exhaled noisily. “Probably just as well,” he muttered.
“The Rowleys have taken to frequenting The Harlot of an evening,” she told him.
He sat up in his seat, with a quick frown. “What? Have they said anything to you? To Edna?”
She shook her head. “It’s not so much an intimidation tactic as a show of support,” she assured him. “Corin and Herney spread it in the village that we are not identifying anyone apart from Gus and Reuben.”
“Reuben’s dead, I saw to that myself,” he said abruptly.
Now it was Mina’s turn to sit up. “What do you mean?” she faltered. “I thought he got shot in the struggle?”
Nye shook his head. “I broke his neck,” he said briefly. “He should not have touched you.”
“Broke his—?” Mina stared at him a moment, then gave herself a quick shake. “Well, it’s of no matter now.”
Nye shielded his eyes from her with his hand. “Gus may still turn Queen’s evidence you know,” he said gruffly. “To save his skin. If he were to implicate my own involvement over the years…”
She hesitated a moment. “Was that one of the reasons you wanted to disappear to Exeter?” she asked, suddenly stricken.
“No.” He looked impatient.
“In any case,” said Mina. “I don’t believe for one minute that Gus would do such a thing.” She hesitated. “You see, his whole defense angle is that he was an ignorant old man who was taken advantage of by the wily smugglers. A bit of flattery, a few bottles of rum and he was putty in their hands. That sort of thing. He won’t blow that apart now by admitting to knowing much more about the business. Officer Guthrie told me Gus acted quite bewildered that you had been taken into custody. He told them that Reuben gave him his orders and you were nothing to do with it.”
Nye looked a good deal taken aback by that. “Reuben giving orders?” he repeated skeptically. “No one would believe that.”
“They would if they wanted to. It turns out Reuben was not well-liked in the village. The officers did not even know him. I bet you the guards are already warming to Gus and allowing him extra portions of tobacco and gin,” Mina said with a snort. “He’s a cozening old rogue. Or at least, that is the face he presents to the world.” She thought fleetingly of the more sinister things he had told her but pushed that resolutely out of her mind. It could have been lies, she told herself. Gus Hopkirk was first and foremost a spinner of yarns.
Nye looked conflicted. “Still,” he hesitated. “If he truly was the one in charge…”
“Put it out of your head,” Mina begge
d. “It’s my belief such a thing would never be proven. It is just a notion of mine after all, and one I will not so much as mention to anyone else save yourself.” When he continued silent, she added. “Besides, he bore you no ill will. He told me himself that you were drawn into smuggling by old Jacob Nye and that you had little choice about it.”
Nye did not look appeased. “If he gave the orders to have you kidnapped Mina—” he started wrathfully. “Then—”
“But don’t you see? That was nothing personal. It was just business. Indeed, he scolded Reuben for treating me poorly. He did not dislike me.” It occurred to Mina that Nye did not realize Gus had intended for her to be flung off a cliff edge. She decided not to enlighten him. Likely it would just put rash ideas into his head about getting Gus convicted at all costs. “Now that the smuggling ring is broke quite apart, I daresay he will bear no malice, but will instead focus on swaying the jury in his favor.”
“Aye and he’ll probably escape with a custodial sentence,” said Nye darkly. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“And what’s that to us?” shrugged Mina. “I doubt he’d come back to Penarth. He’s not from ‘round these parts and likely he’s left many such skirmishes with the law in his wake. He’ll probably go whistling out of prison and take himself another name and pitch up at some other seaside spot. A salty seadog with a wealth of tales and a winning manner.”
“And that’s it, is it?” Nye asked. “We just forget about the ordeal he put you through?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “We put all that behind us. At least.” A sudden thought struck her. “I may write him a letter to be given in prison.”
“What?” Nye thundered.
“Just to let him know, that I will never breathe a word of what I learned in that passageway and that you refused to turn Queen’s evidence so he knows he has nothing to be revenged against on that score.”
“They read and censor every letter a prisoner receives—” Nye began, but she fluttered a hand at this.
“I know that of course! I would couch everything in exceedingly careful terms. For instance, I would thank him prettily for preserving me against Reuben. He would be vastly pleased by that I think and read it aloud to his jailors at every opportunity, for you see it backs the line he means to take. Then I could tell him that you had been released and how vexed I was that anyone could be so foolish as to suppose you had been involved.” She tapped her chin distractedly. “Perhaps I could finish by assuring him I bear him no ill will and wish him well in his trial.”
Nye looked irritated. “And if he should call on you to testify in is defense?” he pointed out testily. “Could you swear in a court of law that he intended you no harm?”
This floored her for a moment, before she rallied. “I could truthfully say that he upbraided Reuben for repeatedly threatening me. And besides, I don’t think he would want me on the witness stand for he would know I would not actually lie on his behalf.”
“No, except by omission,” he said caustically.
Mina directed a swift look at him. She had almost run out of steam now and had precious little left in her arsenal to distract him from his current mood. “Well,” she ventured, going for broke. “I have discovered some new friends in any event. The Tavistocks are an exceedingly nice pair and I beg you will not dispossess them of Vance House, for they seem very settled and have been there some twenty years all told.” When he did not immediately respond, she rattled on. “There is not the smallest need to evict them on my account Nye, for I have no intention of being set up as a fine lady while you go haring off to Exeter!” She folded her arms and firmed her mouth. “So, you need not think it!“
All of a sudden, she found herself pushed back against the cushioned seat and her mouth taken in a bruising kiss. “Mmmffff!” Mina made an annoyed sound around his tongue as he covered her body with his own, dominating her with his far bigger size and frame. “Nye!” she protested when he finally dragged his mouth from hers.
“You’ll not be satisfied with any outcome that does not include me by your side, is that what you’re saying Mina?” he asked in a gravelly tone, his hands roaming over her back and down her hips as he maneuvered her where he wanted her. She felt him reach for the hem of her skirts.
“Nye!” she squeaked in outrage. “Not here in the carriage!”
“Aye, here in the carriage. I’m having you, on your back.” His eyes were dark with desire and Mina blinked up at him in alarm.
“‘Tis only a half hour’s journey before we’re home—” she reminded him reasonably.
“Now!” he growled, unfastening his crotch. “I cannot wait.”
She huffed “Oh very well!” as the uncouth lout tossed up her skirts and started dragging her drawers down her legs. “But I think it very unmannerly of you!”
Suddenly, to her surprise, he froze. “Your head,” he said, his eyes flying to hers.
“Oh, it’s fine now,” she assured him. “Just a little cut, entirely cleaned and mending.”
“Let me see,” he said, reaching for her bonnet strings and untying them.
“You can’t, it’s mostly covered with hair.”
He ignored her, casting off her bonnet and turning her head this way and that.
“Satisfied?” Mina felt a little flustered, sat like this with her drawers around her ankles and Nye practically on top of her.
“There was so much blood,” he said uncertainly. “I saw it.”
“I imagine you know more about head wounds than I,” Mina pointed out. “They bleed a lot. After all your own eye has barely recovered from your recent boxing match.“
“It doesn’t pain you?” he asked gruffly.
“Barely at all.” She gazed at him, touched that his ardor had been so quickly doused by concern for her well-being. “And you were quite right,” she told him, taking the bull by the horns. “In what you said before.” When he looked blank, she added quietly. “Unless you’re by my side, then I won’t be happy, Nye. I happen to be in love with you, you see.”
He went completely still at that, his eyes growing dark with emotion. “Then I’d better make sure to keep you happy,” he said, his voice rough with desire, as he sank to the floor of the coach between her legs, shoving her petticoats out of the way.
“Nye!” she squealed, realizing his intent with dismay. “I’ll fall off the seat!”
He lowered his face to the juncture between her thighs and growled against her, making Mina feel quite weak. She reached up to brace her hands against the seat back as he opened his mouth directly over her and started placing open-mouthed kisses there. “Oh Nye!” she groaned. “Don’t let me fall!” He must have heard her as his grip on her thighs tightened and he pinned her harder into the seat as he feasted on her like a man half-starved. Mina closed her eyes and shivered. “Nye!” she whimpered. “Have mercy.” She thought he gave a stifled laugh, as she uttered a hoarse cry and came apart completely, with embarrassing haste.
She was only vaguely aware when he ripped open the bodice of her dress, scattering the buttons.
“This bloody corset,” he complained, as he unhooked the front to free her breasts. She should protest at such treatment, she thought dreamily. She would look a state by the time they reached the inn. Then again, she could just draw her cloak about her, and no one would be any the wiser. He was palming her breasts now. “Ah God, Mina,” he groaned. “You’re so beautiful.”
She blinked at this epithet. Beautiful? He must be the only person who thought her so. For a moment, she almost wished she were dressed in frilly undergarments to please him. Red stockings, she seemed to remember were to his particular liking. Maybe she would work up the nerve someday to purchase a pair?
“What did I ever do to deserve all this bounty,” he said huskily and lowering his face to nuzzle against her breasts.
She clasped a hand to the back of his head, stroking his dark hair as he worshipped at her bared bosom. She sent up a fervent hope that no other carr
iage would pass them on this country road, for if they chanced to glance through the window, they would surely get an eyeful. Then he opened his lips against the tender swell of her flesh, and she forgot such considerations in the delight of his tongue and the scrape of his teeth and the sucking depths of his hot, devouring mouth.
Pinning her to the edge of the seat, he reached down to free himself from his breeches and she felt the bold thrust of him against her belly. “Hurry Nye,” she implored.
He cast a wild glance out of the carriage window. “We’ve plenty of time.”
“That’s not what I meant!” she sobbed, crowding against him. “I can’t wait any longer. Please, Nye.”
He was still for a heartbeat. “Ah Mina, love,” he said thickly. “It needed only that...” He caught her behind her knee and hooked it over his hip. “Tell me again.”
“I can’t wait, I want you- oh! Oh Nye!” she keened as he thrust and her eyes watered as she felt him lodged within her, sinking into her slowly but surely. His hands were not gentle as he jostled against her, forcing his thick inches deeper, dragging her hips down as he bumped her against the seat, until she had taken his entire length and their bodies were tight and flush against each other.
He gave a harsh groan, his brow beaded with sweat and she realized he had been exerting some will after all, to temper his actions and not grow frantic. “Ah Mina,” he breathed. “God, I couldn’t ever give you up. I was lying to Faris, to myself even.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, looking deep into his eyes. “Good,” she said simply, and he surged into her, making them both moan aloud. “Will,” she whispered, rubbing her hands across his shoulder blades. “I-I don’t want you to go slow.”
He gave a suppressed laugh again. “So, then tell me to go fast,” he recommended, illustrating with a hard buck of his hips. Mina uttered a yell, which startled her greatly and made Nye’s eyes flash. She tightened the grip of her leg about his hip, wishing she could wrap the other around him, but the tangle of her petticoats prevented her.
A Bride for the Prizefighter: A Victorian Romance Page 35