The third night even more drifted up the bank from the village in two and threes. Some only stayed for one drink, but others hung around for longer, making the taproom buzz with conversation. Reuben Prouse had not been a popular figure and people were happy enough to allot him the lion’s share of the blame. Of Gus, they seemed less censorious and seemed to think he had been led astray, more sinned against than sinning.
Mina sat in the kitchen with Edna and Corin who were sewing new dresses for church. She had her handkerchiefs to embroidery, but in truth managed precious few stitches. She simply did not want to be alone with her thoughts these days, which often turned bleak.
She wondered how long it would be before she had news from Jeremy. He had thought that Sir Matthew Carswell would communicate far easier with him than with Mina, and she was forced to agree. She did not know what Mr. Havering’s opinion had been of their chances of Nye escaping conviction, for Jeremy had been uncommunicative on that score. She drew his note from her waist pocket again and stared at the well-read words.
“Your cup of tea will be getting cold, Mrs. Nye,” Corin ventured timorously.
Mina flashed her an absent smile and drank the beverage down. “I think I’m for bed,” she sighed. “I’m good for nothing else. I’ve sewn this same petal three times already and unpicked it again just as many times.
She had washed and was walking back through to the kitchen when she heard the horse hooves in the yard outside. She was surprised for it was nigh on ten o’clock. Glancing out of the window, she saw the rider dismount and was startled to see it was none other than Jeremy.
Hurrying through to the hallway, she flung open the door and waited for him to hand his horse over to Colfax who was still helping out where needed. Jeremy did not tarry to speak to his employee but strode immediately to where Mina waited. “Let’s go to your private room,” he said in a low voice and Mina led the way with her heart in her mouth.
As soon as he had shut the door behind them both, she turned to him, almost trembling with apprehension. “You have news? Please tell me.”
He reached into his jacket and withdrew a folded paper which he held fast a moment before passing it to her.
Mina’s hands shook so badly she could scarcely open it. “What is it?”
“Release papers.”
Mina cried out, almost dropping the papers to the floor. “For Nye?” She fixed her eyes on him with an intensity that was almost painful.
Jeremy smiled. “They are signed and ready for presentation to the officers at St Ives.”
“Then, why do you not present them immediately?” She glanced at the clock and cursed the lateness of the hour.
He cocked his head to one side. “It’s my belief that you should perform that office, sister. First thing on the morrow.”
“Me?”
Jeremy’s expression turned grave. “It’s my opinion you will need to exercise the full force of your charm on him, I warn you.”
Mina felt a spurt of alarm. “What do you mean?”
“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
