Mina choked on her mouthful of wine. “A misunderstanding only.”
Ivy cast her a shrewd look. “Only Gus did say as Nye nearly choked the life out of him for his impertinence.”
“I think Gus might be prone to telling tall tales,” Mina said severely. “By the by, did there used to be a monastery around these parts?”
“Don’t know about that.” Ivy shrugged. “I’m not from ‘round here though. Not originally,” she sighed. “Moved here with my husband, I did.”
“Husband? I did not realize you were married, Ivy.”
Ivy nodded. “Leastways, I thought he was my husband. Before his actual wife turned up to claim him. Bigamist,” she said when Mina’s mouth fell open.
“No!”
“Apparently he was always doing it.”
“Oh Ivy, I am sorry.”
Ivy shrugged. “You lives and learns,” she said cheerfully rising from her chair with her bottle in one hand and her glass in the other. “Anyway, I’ll leave you to it,” she said. “I’m going for a little nap before I have to go down and take over at ten.”
“Goodnight,” Mina called after her. The wine had left an unpleasant taste in her mouth, so setting her still almost full glass down on her dresser, she reached for her jar of tooth powder and gave her mouth another scrub. It wasn’t, she told herself, that she was concerned that Nye might think her tongue tasted bad. Such a consideration had not even crossed her mind. Besides, she did not really expect him to come to her tonight. Not if he was expected to cozily sit with Gus and Reuben in a monthly tête-à-tête.
Retrieving her new jar of bloom of roses, she moisturized her face and neck and then heaped her pillows up behind her back so settle with one of her periodicals. So well-thumbed was it that it fell open right away at her favorite articles and she had only run her eyes over the first three paragraphs when her head began to nod and she was forced to put it to one side and extinguish her candle.
11
When next Mina woke, she found herself lying on her side, somehow cocooned and warm as toast. She lay a moment, blinking at the unfamiliar sensation. Had she rolled herself around in her blankets, she wondered as she surfaced from sleep? Then she felt the weight of an arm around her middle and a heaviness pressed against her back and realized she had a bedmate. She caught her breath, spying first the brawny arm slung over her waist. His tanned skin stood out against the pale eiderdown. Then she noticed the rolled-up shirt sleeve and slowly turned her head. Will Nye was lay on top of the bed next to her, fully clothed except for the fact he’d removed his boots and waistcoat.
First light was streaming through the window, but it did not seem to disturb him one whit for his breathing was deep and regular. Despite the fact he’d once boasted he did not sleep; his eyes were closed and he seemed dead to the world. Hastily, Mina turned her head to face front again. When had he climbed the stairs to the attic room, she pondered? She had not heard him, though she had not shoved the chair under the door as was her usual practice either. In truth, she had half-expected him after his words to her in the courtyard. We’ll try that again later, he’d said. But he had not woken her for another half-suffocating embrace. He had let her sleep on. He had not even joined her under the covers.
A sharp rap on the door startled her out of her thoughts and she sat up, dislodging Nye’s hold on her. To her surprise, he did not stir, but slept steadily on.
“Mrs. Nye?” It was Edna’s voice.
“One moment, Edna.” Mina slid from the bed and pattered across the room in her bed-socks. Drawing the door open, she found Edna looking harassed. The servant was dressed but, her mob cap sat awry on her head and she had not yet donned her apron to start work. “What is it, Edna?”
“I can’t find the master,” Edna hissed. “Only there’s a pair of Riding Officers downstairs who’s asking for his whereabouts most particular.” She wrung her hands. “What am I to do?”
Mina cleared her throat. “He’s abed, I’ll rouse him now and send him down to deal with it.”
Edna fell back a step. She could not have looked more astonished if Mina had announced he was sat on the roof. “Oh,” she said lamely when she was able to form words again.
“Tell them he will be down directly,” Mina said, shutting the door and turning to face Nye. He looked like he had rolled into the spot she had vacated, but still lay fully stretched out and slumbering. “Nye!” she called. No reaction. She walked over to the bed. “Will Nye!” Nothing.
Reaching out, she placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Nye, you must wake up.” When he did not react to that, she felt a sudden alarm. “Was he in some kind of drunken stupor?” Kneeling on the bed next to him, she took a firm hold of both shoulders and shook him vigorously. Finally, his eyes flew open and he stared up at her. “Nye!” she practically yelled in his face.
“What is it?” he mumbled; his eyes drifting shut again. “Come back to bed.”
“There are two Riding Officers downstairs who wish to speak to you,” she insisted loudly.
Again, his eyes blinked open and he stared up at her a moment. “Mina,” he said distinctly and why that made her heart beat louder in her breast, she had no notion.
“Yes?” she asked and watched as comprehension stole into his eyes.
He sat up suddenly, causing her to practically fall backward off the bed. “What the hell happened?” he asked belligerently, gazing around the room as though for someone to blame.
“What do you mean?” Mina asked, mystified. “You fell asleep, that’s all.”
He gave a snort, clambering off the bed. “I don’t sleep,” he corrected her.
She slipped off the bed and plunked her hands on her hips. “Well you do rather a good impression!” she told him tartly.
He scowled and then cast about the room, looking bewildered. “Where are my boots?”
Mina glanced down at the floor beside the bed. “There they are,” she said and pointed helpfully. “And that must be your waistcoat over the chair.” She wondered at his confused, helpless manner. He genuinely seemed befuddled and she wondered if he’d spent a heavy night drinking.
After a moment, he sat abruptly in the chair and pulled on his boots.
“Why would there be officers here at The Merry Harlot?” she asked him and was pointedly ignored.
“Put some clothes on,” he said giving her a hard stare and Mina glanced down at her voluminous white cotton nightgown.
“I will, once you’ve gone,” she answered briskly. He could hardly expect her to start stripping off with him there.
He huffed at that, stood up, crossed the room and exited it with a slam of the door. Mina pursed her lips and started thoughtfully to dress. She lingered over arranging her hair into a tidy roll which she pinned at her nape. Then she descended the stairs and disappeared into the scullery for her wash. She fancied she heard voices as she crossed the hall, and on entering the kitchen, she found Edna there waiting for her with anxious eyes.
“I’ve made the tea tray up to bring in to you,” she said turning around. Mina opened her mouth to thank her, though she really did not think it necessary to take her morning beverage in the parlor, when she noticed four cups set out on the tray. “They’re in the parlor now,” Edna said, seeing the direction of her gaze.