It had been two days since Miss Davenport’s rescue from The Naughty Nest. Nick smiled at the thought of the two women who had been inseparable since that night.
He sat at the desk in Montrose’s library contemplating his next move. Mallory had sent along a note that morning that at his request, his sister, Lady Berkshire had offered Miss Davenport a place to stay at her house in Bath. She would be leaving with Mallory’s escort the next morning.
Nick and Marcus had brought Miss Davenport to the Metropolitan Police station to report what had happened to her. He’d been stunned and angered at their lack of interest. They took her statement and he was sure it was filed away somewhere never to be seen. It was no wonder Mallory was so frustrated at trying to get a bill passed to protect women and children.
He couldn’t help but wonder if Miss Davenport’s status as an orphan from the country had affected their behavior. He was certain if Lady Pamela, a member of the ton, had been abducted there would have been much more of a hue and cry.
The officer they spoke with indicated that since Miss Davenport had been taken from Bath it was a Bath police issue. Mallory said once Miss Davenport was settled in his sister’s house, he would have her go to the Bath police, but Miss Davenport seemed reluctant to do so. Both men also discussed how important it was to alert the police to Mrs. O’Leary’s part in the incident.
The police had suggested that Nick might suffer from some repercussions for his part in freeing Miss Davenport, and he should be cautious. Although he listened, he knew with his underworld connections he was quite safe.
He patted his jacket pocket where a diamond ring sat, ready for him to put it on Pamela’s finger when he proposed to her. They hadn’t spoken about their future with Pamela lending support and a comforting ear to Miss Davenport. Since she would be leaving for Lady Berkshire’s home in Bath the next morning, he would wait until she was on her way before speaking with Pamela about their future. He couldn’t wait to officially make her his.
Grossman entered the room and bowed. “Mr. Smith a missive has arrived for you. The bearer asked to wait for an answer.”
Nick reached out and took the note.
Mr. Smith,
I request a meeting at White’s at three this afternoon, if that suits. I believe we have something to discuss, since we have a mutual interest in my sister, Lady Pamela Manning.
David, Earl of Mulgrave
Nick frowned. He knew Pamela had a brother, who while maybe not estranged, at least they certainly held no close relationship. As far as he knew she’d received no word or visit from the man since they’d been in London.
“Tell the messenger that I will accept his lordship’s request for a meeting.”
Grossman bowed again and left the room. Nick tapped the corner of the note on the desk.
Nick had to admit to some trepidation when he entered White’s at three that afternoon. Since he had never met the man, he asked a footman to direct him.
Lord Mulgrave stood as Nick approached and held out his hand. “Thank you for coming to see me, Mr. Smith.” He waved to a chair across from him. “Please, have a seat.”
Nick settled in and adjusted his jacket, waiting for Mulgrave to speak since this was his show.
“Would you care for a drink?”
Wishing to get over whatever it was that this man had to say, he shook his head. “No thank you.”
“Very well.” Mulgrave straightened in his seat. “I wish to speak with you man to man.”
Since it was apparent they were indeed both men, the man’s opening seemed a bit superfluous, but Nick remained silent and studied Mulgrave. Mulgrave did resemble Pamela in some ways. Same color hair, not quite as curly, same color eyes, but not with the warmth he saw in Pamela’s. Both had slender builds.
“It has come to my attention that my sister has developed, I guess what one would call a fancy, for you.”
Nick’s brows rose, but he remained silent.
Mulgrave cleared his throat. “I might as well just say it. You are from a disreputable background and upbringing. My sister is a member of the nobility and has been raised as a lady to take her place in Society as such.”
Not only did Nick decide right then and there that he disliked the man, he also wanted to punch him in the face. However, a gentleman did not do such a thing in a gentleman’s club. Perhaps he would invite the pompous arse to meet him at a boxing club. “Go on.”
“She is most likely fascinated with you because she has always been a bit on the shy side, and…strange.”
“Strange?” If the man didn’t hear the threat in his voice, he was more stupid than Nick had first thought.
Apparently, he had noticed because he shook his head and held up his hand. “I don’t mean that in a negative way—”
“—indeed?”
Mulgrave sighed. “Let’s speak plainly.”
“You haven’t seemed to have a problem doing just that so far.”
Mulgrave waited a moment. “If you request permission to marry my sister, it will be denied.” He settled back, apparently convinced that was all to be said on the matter.
“Your sister is beyond the age of needing your consent.”
Amazingly enough, the man seemed surprised. Either he was such a neglectful brother that he didn’t know his own sister’s age, or he thought Nick would be chased off so easily. Not for a minute.
Mulgrave cleared his throat. “That is no matter. My sister, Lady Pamela comes from a reputable family who loves her and does not want to see her banished from Society.”
Did the man think Nick knew so little of the woman he planned to marry that he didn’t know she was ‘invited’ to leave her brother’s house—and Society—three years before? “Is that right?”
Mulgrave waved his hand in dismissal. “She had a minor falling out with my wife and decided a move to Bath would suit her better.” He leaned in, but Nick stayed where he was. “Lady Mulgrave has seen the error of her ways and wants to present Pamela to Society again.”
The conversation was preposterous and tedious, and it was time for it to come to an end. “I’m afraid I cannot honor your wishes. I love Pamela and I plan to ask her to marry me.”
Instead of the expected angry outburst, Mulgrave looked at him with pity. “You love her, don’t you?”
“With all my heart.”
“If you are the man you claim to be, and you love her with all your heart you will let her go.” Mulgrave fisted his hand on the arm of the chair. “You will ruin her life.” His voice rose, attracting some attention from those nearby. “She will not be welcomed in the circles into which she was born. You might think it doesn’t matter to her, but once she has children who are shunned by her own people it will make her miserable.”
Nick sucked in a deep breath. The man was good. He knew the one argument that would sway him. Pamela unhappy because her children were not accepted. Because her husband, no matter how far he removed himself from his childhood, would cast a shadow on his children. Their children.
Hadn’t Pamela grown up with the darkness of not being able to speak without stuttering? Did he really want to see her suffer again when her own children cried for being left out, for being made fun of?
He knew instantly that the sinking feeling in his stomach was his conscience telling him to do the right thing. He had always thought Pamela was too good for him, but determined as he was, he ignored it until her brother slapped him in the face with it. Could he be the gentleman Pamela’s brother thought him not to be? Let her go?
Apparently seeing the dent he’d made in Nick’s tenacity, he quickly pushed on. “We are more than happy to have her move back into our house. Right now. She is already on the brink of damaging her reputation staying with you.
“There is a morally-upright woman staying with us,” he mumbled.
“Yes. So my wife tells me. But she is your employee, and that doesn’t count.”
Nick’s head snapped up. “How does your wife know this?”
“She visited Pamela last week. She attempted to talk sense into the girl but was unsuccessful. I am hoping as a man who knows his place, you will do the right thing.”
Mulgrave stood and straightened his jacket. “As I said. If you truly love her, let her go. Allow her to have the life she was born to have.” With those words ringing in his ears, Pamela’s brother turned and strode from the room.
The next morning Pamela returned from seeing Marcus and Lizbeth off to Bath on the train. Mrs. Fletcher had opted to return with them which provided a chaperone for Lizbeth. With Mrs. Blossom in the house, Pamela didn’t worry about needing one for herself.
Nick had told her he wanted to speak with her in the library once she returned from the train station. She was quite certain this conversation was one she’d been expecting for a while. There was no doubt in her mind that he was going to ask to marry her.
And there was no doubt in her mind what the answer would be.
She loved the man and knew they would have a wonderful life together. He may never had said the word ‘love’ to her, but all his actions proved to her that she could count on having a loving husband, along with happy children to dote on. Something she never thought to have.
But then, Lottie and Addie had never expected it either and they had succeeded. Why not her?
With a bright smile on her face, she knocked lightly on the library door and opened it. Nick sat behind the desk, his back to her, staring out the window
“Nick?”
He swung around in the chair. He looked quite somber which set her on edge. “Is s-s-something wrong?”
“No. Not at all.” He waved to the chair in front of the desk. “Have a seat.” He chuckled without humor. “I realize I should have stood as you entered but since my manners have never been good, I apologize.”
She frowned as she sat and smoothed out her skirts. Whatever was wrong with him?
Nick stood and placed his hands behind his back. He cleared his throat and her heart gave an extra thump. Something was very, very wrong.
“I wanted to discuss with you my return to Bath.”
His return?
He walked over to the window and gazed out. “I was thinking since you no longer have a room at the boarding house, that perhaps staying here in London might be the best thing for you.” He turned. “With your brother.”
All the blood left her head and she felt very close to a swoon. He wanted her to stay here in London with her brother and he would return to Bath?”
“I d-don’t underst-stand.”
“It’s simple,” he snapped. “I have to get back to Bath. I have devoted too much time to this search for Miss Davenport. My business is suffering. I need to return.”
As soon as the tears sprang to her eyes, Nick turned his back on her once again and walked to the fireplace where he rested his arm on the mantlepiece. He tapped his finger on the brick. “I have arranged for Dorothy to pack your things and my driver will take you to Mulgrave’s townhouse.”
Pamela licked her dry lips. She felt as though she was in a bad dream. It was all so surreal. This was not the man she’d fallen in love with. “D-d-did my brother v-v-visit here?”
“No.” He looked her straight in the eye.
“Th-then d-did you m-m-meet him somewhere e-else?”
Nick let out a deep breath. “Pamela, I don’t understand what all these questions are about. I did as you asked, and helped you find Miss Davenport. She has been found and is on her way to Lord and Lady Berkshire’s home.”
He returned to the desk and shuffled papers laying there. “Now I just need to get back to my normal life.” He looked up at her and the pain in his eyes stabbed at her heart. “And you must return to yours.”
When she opened her mouth to speak, he held up his hand. “You must excuse me, now. I have a lot of work to do before I leave in the morning.”
Confused, hurt, and angry she left the library and hurried up the stairs to the bedchamber she’d been staying in. As Nick had stated, Dorothy was busy packing her belongings.
“I’m just about finished, my lady. Mr. Smith has already arranged for his carriage to be brought around.”
Well, then.
“Th-thank you, D-d-dorothy.” She refused to fall apart in front of the young girl. She would hold her tears until she reached her former bedchamber.
Thoughts still swirling around her head, she helped Dorothy finish, then made her way downstairs. She walked to the library, but the door was closed. She didn’t have the nerve to open it to say goodbye.
Holding onto her composure by a very thin strand, she walked as if in a dream away from the library, down the corridor to the front door. Grossman opened the door and bowed as she passed through.
As promised the carriage sat in front of the house. The driver had already placed her luggage in the boot. She took the driver’s hand and stepped up into the vehicle.
She was numb. Felt nothing but knew in her heart that when her feelings did catch up with her it was going to be very difficult.
The ride to Mulgrave House passed quickly. It occurred to her that her brother didn’t even know she was coming. Suppose the lovely Corinne refused her entrance? Then she would have to put up a tent in their garden. A slightly hysterical giggle erupted from her mouth.
She climbed the stairs and the butler opened the door before she even dropped the knocker, then bowed. “Good day, Lady Pamela.”
She remembered him as being a footman when she moved out three years before. She nodded, still not sure of the steadiness of her voice.
“Pamela, my dear!” Corinna hurried down the corridor, her arms outstretched. “We are so very happy you’ve decided to join us.”
Things were getting stranger all the time. It was almost as if Corinne expected her. But that wasn’t possible since Nick only told her a short time ago that he thought a move to her brother’s house was for the best.
She allowed Corinne to wrap her in a hug. “Th-thank y-you.”
Corinne scrunched her nose as if she smelled something bad. Then she tapped Pamela on the nose. “We must work on getting you over that stuttering issue. We shall probably have to hire someone to prepare you.”
“P-p-prepare me f-f-for what?”
“Why to be re-introduced into Society.” She linked her arm through Pamela’s and moved her forward. “It is well past your time for a husband, sister.”