“Yes. But I’m willing to bet Mr. Smith paid you a visit, did he not?” He smiled at Pamela.
She felt as though her clothes would burst into flames from the blush that had taken over her entire body. Curses on being so light skinned that every emotion resulted in a red glow. “Y-y-yes.”
“And then, of course, once Carter told me, I had to tell Addie, and that is probably why she considered inviting him tonight.” He downed the rest of his drink.
Lottie looked over at Addie. “Why did you not?”
Addie sighed. “Because I didn’t want to embarrass Pamela, but it seems we’ve managed to do that anyway.”
Pamela gulped the rest of her sherry down and wished for another, but Grayson was busy listening to everyone talk about her as if she wasn’t there. What she really wanted was to hear more about Mr. Smith. She knew very little, except that he owned a gambling club. But she would not ask and only stir more interest in her direction.
What also bothered her more than thoughts of him, was the way her body reacted when he was near. Her breathlessness, the tingling in her lower belly, and thoughts of what it would feel like to have his large hands roam her body.
“Nick’s story is a very interesting one.” Carter leaned back and rested his foot on his bent knee.
Pamela perked up. ‘Twas almost as if Carter had read her mind.
“He was one of those street kids in London about twenty or so years ago. Worked for one of those lads-man—”
“What’s that?” Lottie asked.
“It’s a man who takes in children from the street. Feeds them—barely—and gives them a place to sleep and teaches them how to steal.”
“Oh, no!” Lottie said.
Carter patted her hand and smiled at her. “Keep that innocence, my love.”
“I thought gambling was illegal?” Addie asked.
“It is. But there are many ways to get around it. And Smith is as clever in dodging the laws as he was in rising from a common thief to an upstanding businessowner. From what he’s told me, he plans to get out of the gaming business within the next few years and put his money into something respectable as he called it.”
Interesting. Mr. Smith had been a thief on the streets of London. Unlike Lottie’s surprise, Pamela was familiar with the existence of children who had no homes and spent their time in criminal activity directed by shady adults. The London newspapers oftentimes carried stories about them.
She felt a bit of sympathy for Mr. Smith, and also a sense of pride in what he’d managed to accomplish with what life had handed him.
“Smith is a tough man. Being on the streets taught him well. I wouldn’t want to be on his wrong side, but I’ve also seen him toss
young bucks out of his club who were about to lose their last pound.” Carter glanced over at Pamela and gave her an encouraging smile. Whatever was that about? Certainly, he didn’t think she had a fancy for Mr. Smith.
A butler arrived at the drawing room door and announced dinner. Relieved to have the conversation switched to something else, she joined her friends at the table and proceeded to have a very enjoyable evening.
Pamela had arrived at the Berkshire townhouse in a hack, but Lottie insisted on Pamela joining them in their carriage for the ride home. After sufficient thanks and hugs, Pamela hurried up the steps to the boarding house and dropped the knocker.
Mr. Andrews at the door as usual let her in. “Good evening Lady Pamela.”
“Good evening to you as well, sir.” She climbed the stairs to the first floor and passed by her room, continuing on to Miss Spencer’s room at the end of the corridor.
She and Miss Spencer had become friendly in the few weeks she’d lived at the boarding house. She told Pamela that when she had arrived in Bath, Mrs. O’Leary happened to be at the train station and offered her a room.
She was very grateful since she’d been a bit nervous about being on her own, having come from a small village in southern England.
When Pamela had left earlier for Addie’s house, Miss Spencer had been suffering from a slight cold, and Pamela thought it would be nice to check on her.
She tapped lightly on the door. “Miss Spencer?”
No response.
She tried again. “Miss Spencer?”