He knew very little about stuttering, but it appeared Lady Pamela’s stutter grew worse when she was nervous and agitated. Which she appeared to be at this moment. Certainly not something he wanted to cause.
“I hoped you had changed your mind. If you are free at the moment, I’d be honored if you would accompany me on a ride in the park. Or perhaps a trip to the ice cream parlor on Milsom.”
He couldn’t believe that Nick Smith, brought up on the streets of London, owner of a gambling establishment, and feared by many men, was asking a woman to accompany him to the ice cream parlor. If any of his club employees heard him, they would laugh themselves daft.
She shook her head, maybe not trusting herself to speak again. Then taking a deep breath, said, “No. I am e-e-expecting a s-s-student s-soon.”
“Ah, yes. Miss Danvers said you taught piano.”
“And v-v-voice.” She sighed. “As s-s-strange as th-that might s-s-seem.” Her flushed face told the story of her anxiety and humiliation. Someone in her life must have made her believe she was somehow wanting because of her affliction.
Ignoring her discomfort, hoping she would be more at ease if he didn’t react to it, he said, “Not so. Miss Danvers also said you sing like an angel.”
“It s-s-seems Miss D-Danvers had a l-l-lot to say about m-m-me.” She smiled at those words and that encouraged him.
“Perhaps tomorrow afternoon?”
Lady Pamela took in a deep breath. “I’m s-s-sorry, Mr. S-smith, but I am n-n-not suitable f-f-for comp-pany. It m-m-makes me t-t-too uncomfortable. As I’m s-s-sure you noticed.”
“If you are referring to your stuttering, it doesn’t bother me in the least. I have found you to be a lovely young lady, beautiful, smart and witty. And I also noticed you stutter more when anxious.”
She didn’t respond but just watched him warily.
“And I would like for you get to know me well enough that you are not anxious around me.”
Her sad eyes told him her answer. She stood and gave him a slight dip. “Th-thank you f-f-or the f-flowers. I m-m-must return to m-my room to await m-m-my st-st-student.” With those words she turned and fled the room.
“I will show you to the door.” The annoying doorman was back again. As if Nick was unable to find the door which was about five feet from where he stood watching Lady Pamela escape.
He nodded and left the house.
His next stop was Once Upon a Book, the store owned by Lady Berkshire. He knew Berkshire from one of his clubs. Whenever Nick felt the need to escape the confines of his gambling club, he would spend some time drinking brandy and reading the newspaper at The Bath and Country Club. His final step in becoming the man he wanted to be was being accepted as a member of the club.
Westbrooke told him Lady Berkshire no longer ran the shop since she was about to give birth in a few months. Nick planned to speak to whoever was running it now, hoping there might be a book on stuttering, if there was even such a thing.
He laughed, remembering that was how Berkshire met his wife. He’d gone to her bookstore looking for a book on deafness for his son, Michael.
He let another almost three weeks go by before he presented himself to Lady Pamela’s boarding house once again. This time he carried a bouquet of daisies. The same man answered the door.
“How may I help you?” He looked down his nose at Nick again.
Nick held his temper. “I would like to speak with Lady Pamela.”
The man sniffed. “And you are?”
It had almost become a comedy. But at least he knew Lady Pamela was safe in this house. “The same man I was two weeks ago. Mr. Nicholas Smith.”
“If you would wait in the drawing room,” he pointed to the doorway as if Nick didn’t remember where the room was. “I will see if her ladyship wishes to speak with you.”
Nick walked into the same room, stood at the same window and waited.
“Mr. S-s-smith?”
> “Yes. It’s me.” He walked toward Lady Pamela, held out the flowers, and bowed. “These are for you.”
Every time he saw her, he was taken with her beauty and innocence. Others might believe he wasn’t good enough for this sweet woman, but Nick had spent a good part of his life preparing himself for just such a lady. He’d always known when he married it would be someone far above him in class by birth.
“You are looking lovely today, Lady Pamela.” She wore a buttercup yellow dress with pale green piping around the neckline, the sleeves, and hem. Her hair was pulled back, but instead of her usual chignon, it was secured with a yellow ribbon, the wavy locks falling down her back. His hands itched to run his fingers through it.