“When I saw him yesterday, his frame of mind was grim. He – er – was not contemplating the future with relish.”
“Well, no. He would hardly do so with the gallows looming on the horizon,” she reminded her brother somewhat tartly.
His lips quirked. “When I spoke of any possibility of cheating the hangman, he talked of disappearing to Exeter and leaving you in staid respectability at Vance Park.”
Mina turned quite cold. “What?” she cried.
“Either that or having you divorce him before he perished on the scaffold.”
“Divorce!”
“I’m sure it was only his depression of spirits that prompted such talk,” Jeremy hurried to assure her. “But I could not rouse him from it, try as I might. I think if I were to take these papers to him, he would disappear for at least a month or so.”
“Disappear? For a month!” Mina’s ire rose.
“No more than that, I’m persuaded, but even so I do not think you should be made to do without him at present.”
“No indeed!” Mina fumed, plunking her hands on her hips. “Why, the very idea!”
Jeremy gave a sudden laugh. “You’ll bring him about; I have no doubt.”
“Certainly, I shall,” Mina responded in high dudgeon. “You may depend upon it.” When he turned toward the door, she reached out to stay him, her mood changing abruptly. “Jeremy, wait. I have not thanked you for everything you have done for us—”
“No, and I beg you will not do so,” he interrupted her. “You are my family and I have more need of that now than ever.” He hesitated. “It will be your turn to return the favor in coming months. Comparatively, tis of little import, but I have started divorce proceedings as you advised. Amanda is not taking it well.” He grimaced. “I have no doubt that things will get a good deal worse before they get better.”
“Oh, Jeremy,” she squeezed his arm with a rush of sympathy. “It must be very hard, but I am convinced you are doing the right thing. We will be here for you, of course.”
He nodded, smiled at her, and left Mina still clutching the piece of paper to her heart.
*
It was not even six o’clock when Mina rose the next morning. She dressed hurriedly, but when she went to place her father’s watch in the inner pocket of her skirts, was surprised to find something hard concealed in there already. Drawing it out between two fingers she found it was her lost bridal sixpence.
She stared at it a moment, lost in thought, then taking it for a good omen she went downstairs a lightness in her step that had not been there before, in search of Ed Herney. He was already up and dressed and on confiding the errand was to fetch the master home, he showed every pleasure at the prospect of driving the coach and went to put the horses to. Colfax assured her he would hold the fort while they were gone.
Mina had finished a piece of bread and butter and a cup of tea by the time Edna appeared in the kitchen.
“You’re early this morning, Mrs. Nye,” she said with surprise, then added anxiously. “Not bad news I hope?”
“On the contrary, Edna,” Mina told her with a smile and produced the paper. Edna screeched and rounded the table to embrace her over the news.
There was just time for a hurried cup of tea before she climbed into the carriage and then she was on her way to the holding cells at St Ives. She clutched the papers in one gloved hand and drew her cloak close about her. Rain was steadily falling, and she peered out of the carriage window wondering if the April showers were going to turn into a downpour before the morning was over.
The rain slackened off by the time they reached St Ives, and they had to stop while Herney took directions having never had occasion to visit the cells before. They were soon proceeding down a side-street and seeing a uniformed individual alighting from a nearby doorway, Mina called up to Herney to halt the carriage.
“I will get down here. You must circle around and return in a half hour or so.”
“You’re sure you won’t wait for me to stable them and accompany you, ma’am?” he yelled down as she alighted.
“No, no. That won’t be necessary, thank you Herney.” She was already making determinedly for the steps.
Once inside, a forbidding looking gentleman approached her. Before he had even opened his mouth, Mina informed him crisply that she wanted to speak to whoever was in charge. Ten minutes later, after her papers had been duly inspected, she was ushered into an antechamber to await the prisoner’s release.
Mina took her pocket watch no less than three times as she waited for them to bring Nye to her. Would things have gone smoother if she had bought her brother along with her or even Colfax, she wondered? The officials had seemed affronted that so important a document had been delivered into their hands by a mere female.
No, she thought on reflection, for Jeremy had warned her that Nye had a mind to be difficult. She would be better be able to handle him on her own. The door opened and Mina sprang to her feet as Nye was ushered inside by an attendant.
“You’re to wait here,” the attendant said heavily. “And we’ll bring out your belongings.”
Nye turned toward her, his chin dark with stubble and his clothes rumpled. It was his expression however that gave her pause for thought, for it was closed and far from inviting.
Mina took a deep fortifying breath and walked forward but he made no answering move toward her. Coming to a halt in front of him she reached out to take his arm, but he stepped away from her, preventing her.
“What did you do, Mina?” he asked in an ominously quiet voice. She frowned a moment, unsure what he meant. “To ensure my release,” he added through gritted teeth.
“I did only what needed to be done, nothing more, nothing less.”
“Wait!” he said, his hand shooting out to grab her arm where she stood. His grip was hard, and Mina only just managed not to wince. His nostrils flared and he dragged her close until his face was inches from hers. “Did you let him touch you?” he asked harshly.
Mina’s jaw dropped. “What? Who are you—?”
His eyes narrowed. “Carswell. Answer me.”
“William Nye—!”
“Because if you did, it was a one-time-only deal. I’m not sharing you.”
“Lord Carswell is a respectable man!” she hissed.
“I don’t give a fuck if he’s the lord mayor of London, he’s not sleeping with my wife.”
“Of course not!” she spluttered. God, she’d forgotten what an unreasonable swine he could be! She let a crack show in her veneer and took a shaky breath, leaning into him. “Nye, can we please just leave this wretched place? I promise I’ll explain everything to your satisfaction as soon as we’re out of here!”
His hands tightened on her upper arms a moment before he gave a nod and released her. Someone coughed behind them and they realized the attendant had returned holding Nye’s watch and penknife. He took them from him and stuffed them in his waistcoat pockets. When Mina moved instinctively to his side to slip her arm through his, he shook her off. Mina swallowed down the hurt she felt at his rejection.
“I’m a state,” he said avoiding her eyes and running a hand down his jaw distractedly. “I haven’t shaved in two days. Walk ahead of me.”