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
