A Bride for the Prizefighter - Alice Coldbreath Page 0,79

hurried knock on the door.

“Come in,” she called.

The door opened and Edna came in bearing a tray with a piece of roast beef. “The master’s taking supper with you this evening,” she said briskly, setting it down before hurrying on the dining table before disappearing again to re-enter with a bowl of roast parsnips and another of green beans.

“Oh?” Mina glanced at her watch and found it was already six o’clock. “I had not realized it was so late,” she said, climbing to her feet. “Is there anything I can do?”

Edna set the vegetables down and shook her head. “He’ll be delayed a minute or two,” she said. “Only he’s just had someone deliver a telegram from the receiving office in St Ives.”

“I see,” said Mina, taking a seat at the table. She wondered if she should carve, or if Nye would consider that his province. Edna fetched in a bottle of red wine and a beautiful cut glass carafe to decant it into. Mina exclaimed over this and examined its etchings. “This is lovely.”

Edna shot her an enigmatic look. “Seems he’s got a few things out of storage since your wedding, Mrs. Nye.”

Mina felt herself flush. She didn’t care to remember that awful ceremony. Had Edna been there that night in the church to witness her humiliation? She bit her lip, somewhat disconcerted at the idea. Edna bustled back in with a bowl of mashed potatoes and a gravy boat.

“If you don’t mind, Mrs. Nye, I’ll be going up to my room after this. I’ve some embroidery I’d like to finish for my aunt’s birthday—”

“Of course, Edna,” Mina interrupted her. “I can clear away after our meal.”

“Oh no, Mrs. Nye!” said Edna, sounding shocked. “You just leave it on the side for me to deal with in the morning.”

“We’re off to church first thing in the morning,” Mina reminded her. “I can certainly wash up afterwards.”

Edna looked pleased and left the room with a hurried ‘goodnight’. Mina guessed she was making herself scarce before Nye appeared. She sat a moment twiddling her thumbs, before deciding to go ahead and carve the meat. When she had done that, she uncorked the wine and poured it into the pretty carafe.

She had just laid her napkin down in her lap when Nye strode into the room with a heavy frown on his face and a piece of paper still in his hand. He stared at the table a moment blankly as though he’d forgotten he was even taking a meal. Then with a small start, he sat down opposite Mina and cleared his throat.

“Not bad news, I hope,” Mina said, nodding to the telegram he still held.

His brooding expression became more marked. “It’s a damnable nuisance,” he growled.

Mina’s thoughts flew to smuggling, but surely their operation would not be so brazen as to send wires publicly.

With a quick shake of his head, Nye stood up and reached for the roast beef dish, first placing some on Mina’s plate and then his own. “It’s about a fight to be held next week,” he explained grudgingly. “The venue’s fallen through and they want to have it here.”

Mina spooned some mash onto her plate. “You hold them here fairly regularly, do you not?” she asked with a raised brow.

“No more than once a month,” Nye answered tersely. “Usually less. We’ve never had two in one calendar month!”

“I see.” She set the bowl down and reached for the green beans. “Would it inconvenience you greatly?”

Nye gave her a disconcertingly straight look. “It means a house full of strangers,” he said bluntly. “Coming from all directions.”

“I see.”

He gave a short mirthless laugh. “I doubt you do somehow.”

“Doubtless it will mean a good deal of work for Edna,” Mina said mildly. “Making up all the bedrooms again for use.”

He grimaced. “Aye.”

“Well,” said Mina cautiously as she reached for the gravy boat. “I could always help—”

“You’re to stay out of the way, Mina,” he said angrily, slamming his hand down on the table and making her jump.

Color flooding to her cheeks. “I only—”

“I mean it,” he interrupted her rudely. “You’re to keep out of my business altogether.”

Mina froze, setting the gravy boat back down with a thump. She took one breath, then another, then rose shakily from her chair.

“Sit back down!” he ordered her.

Mina glared at him. “There would be little point,” she said icily. “As I have completely lost my appetite.”

He narrowed his eyes at her and they both stared a moment in silence. Nye’s hand on the