A Bride for the Prizefighter - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,125

again. Somehow hearing him continue genial was far more frightening than Reuben’s ugly threats. “Nye will know I didn’t fling myself over a cliff,” she persisted. “I’m afraid your confederate’s understanding is far from strong. One time, Sir Matthew Carswell offered me a carriage ride and Reuben reported he had asked me to run away with him.”

Gus frowned and puffed furiously on his pipe. “And?” he prompted.

“This is just such another misunderstanding. We are on perfectly affable terms. The last thing Nye did was kiss my hand.”

Gus pondered this a moment, before breaking into a smile. “I won’t deny, you’ve got Nye panting on a chain for you, but you’ll have to admit Minnie dear, that you fight as much as you reconcile. That’s just the sort of couple you are.” He beamed at her. “It won’t be hard for folks to believe he drove you to it. Not a gently reared, respectable soul such as yourself.”

“Edna won’t believe it either,” Mina said, raising her chin.

“Edna Lumm’s thought an odd body in these parts,” he said mildly. “There’s not many will set much store by her ramblings,” he spread a piece of sacking over the barrel and sat back down on it again. “You’ve got to resign yourself to it, lass. There’s none will be the wiser for your untimely end. It’s a pity, but there it is. You’re a fine spirited lass after my own heart, but business is business, and none can get in its way. Started out as a wrecker I did when I was naught but a boy. You have to be utterly pitiless to succeed in that profession. You mustn’t think I’ll let my fondness for you stay my hand.”

Mina felt her blood run cold. Gus, a wrecker? The wicked men who deliberately lured ships with false lights so they were dashed on perilous coastlines and their cargo plundered. She had read accounts that had made her shudder, of poor victims washing up on the beach and being clubbed to death by the wreckers waiting there for any survivors who might tell the tale.

No, she could not depend on Gus showing her any mercy when the moment came to push her off the headland. As for Reuben, he heartily despised her. She would have to rely on her own wits to escape. If the time she had spent since leaving The Hill School had taught her anything, it was that she had a strong survival instinct and deep inner reserves of strength.

For some reason, Nye sprang uppermost to her mind. What would he do without her? Probably go to the devil completely she thought, without her to keep him in line! She shot a considering glance at Gus. He was garrulous and liked to while away the time with conversation. She would have to work with what she had.

“We are, I collect under the cellars at Vance House?” she mused. “Did you know this place was the reason Nye accepted our marriage?”

Gus looked amused. “Why bless your soul, Minnie of course I did!” he twinkled. “This place is vital to our operations. This here passage,” he said taking his pipe out of his mouth and pointing with it into the distance. “Extends all the way from the cellars of Vance house to the beach.”

“A secret passage?” Mina asked with a glimmer of interest despite herself.

“Oh aye,” Gus agreed. “None other.”

“I wonder that Nye did not throw out the tenants as soon as he had the deeds to the place. Surely it must have put you in danger of discovery?”

Gus shook his head. “The Tavistocks are an elderly couple who mostly only use the second floor of the house these days. Rheumaticky he is, and she’s deaf as a post. They retires early of an evening without fail and keeps no dogs. Precious little trouble we’ve had of ‘em this past five year.”

“I see,” Mina murmured. “Gus, will you tell me truthfully? How deep is Nye in this business?”

Gus shifted on his barrel into a more comfortable position. “Well, about as deep as he can be,” he admitted, shaking his head. “Now, I don’t say as it was his fault entirely. Old Jacob Nye as acted as his Pa, was up to his ears in the trade. In the end, there weren’t a drop he served that had paid any custom.” Gus chuckled as Mina took in the fact Nye had not chosen to become embroiled with smugglers.

“When Nye come back from Exeter, fair flummoxed he