He leaned back in his chair and studied her. “And you seem to think these women disappearing, and the possibility of someone being in your room are connected?”
“Y-y-yes.”
“So do I.”
Pamela shoulders slumped and she broke out into a smile. “Th-thank you. No one else s-s-seems to b-b-believe m-me.”
A warning went off in Nick’s head. “What do you mean? Have you told anyone else about your concerns?”
She nodded and took a sip of tea. “Yes. I asked M-mrs. O’Leary for information on wh-where Lizbeth went and sh-she said she d-d-didn’t know. When I k-kept pressing her she b-became agitated and t-t-told me to mind my own b-b-business.
“Th-then I visited the p-p-police this morning and they d-d-did everything to make me f-feel silly except p-pat me on the head.”
His muscles tightened and panic seized him as he sat forward, glaring at her. “I don’t want you to return to your boarding house.”
Pamela’s mouth dropped open. “Not go b-back? Everything I own is th-there.”
Nick ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m afraid you’ve made yourself known to whoever is doing something illegal.” He shook his head. “I don’t want you there.”
She drew herself up. With the wisps of hair hanging from her crooked hat, her shredded handkerchief, mis-buttoned coat, and swollen eyes, all he could think of was how adorable she looked; like an indignant child. He tried very hard not to smile.
“You cannot order m-me about, Mr. S-s-smith. I am an adult and I c-can t-take care of myself.”
Foolish woman. If anyone needed protection, it was her. He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. There was no reason to antagonize her further, since it might encourage her to do something risky. “I think you might be in a bit deep. You have no idea what you are getting involved in. I’ve spent years on the street. I can smell criminal activity from miles away. This stinks to the high heavens.”
“Why d-d-didn’t the police th-think so?”
He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair again. Soon he would look as disheveled as she did. “They have to follow rules. Even if they spoke with your landlady—which I pray they did not—the fact that a young girl moved out of her room rather abruptly is not something that would interest the police.”
She sat for a minute, chewing on her lovely lower lip, then straightened in her chair. “Whether the p-police believe me or not, I have to d-do whatever I can to f-find R-Lizbeth.”
Nick’s heart took an extra thump. “Just a minute. You cannot go off on a search for a woman who may have disappeared for nefarious reasons.”
“Th-there you are, t-t-telling me what to do again.”
“Lady Pamela, I will not allow you to put yourself in danger.” He held up his hand as she opened her mouth to speak. “If you insist on returning to your room, promise me you will put something in front of your door when you retire for the night that will wake you up if someone tries to get in. A chair wedged under the doorknob would be good also.”
She nodded.
“And also, please do not do any sort of questioning. I have contacts you would never have access to. Please allow me to help you with this.” If he had his way, he would bundle her up and take her as far away from Bath as he could. A landlady already annoyed with Pamela’s questions could mean nothing or could mean a great deal.
“I d-do feel b-better.” She gave him a warm smile that slammed into his gut. What was it about this woman that made him terrified of something happening to her? She continued to grin as she picked up a small sandwich and took a bite.
“You know I am interested in courting you. That means I care about you. I understand, for whatever reason, you have been rejecting my suit, but if nothing else, please take my advice on things that I have a lot of experience with.”
“I w-will.” She continued to devour almost the entire plate of sandwiches which told him she probably hadn’t eaten since her friend disappeared.
Nothing more was mentioned about her friend while they walked from the restaurant to his carriage. He took Pamela’s hand and helped her into the vehicle. Once they settled in, he stared at her as they rode over the bumpy cobblestones.
“Pamela?” He reached out his hand, holding his breath to see if she would accept his gesture.
She offered him a slight smile and took his hand. He pulled her across the space to sit alongside him. He turned so he faced her and cupped her cheeks. “This is something I’ve wanted to do since I first laid eyes on you.”
He slowly moved his head down until their mouths were only a breath apart. When she didn’t pull away, or slap his face, he closed the space between them and covered her mouth with his.
He’d had his share of women over the years, but nothing affected him like the feeling of her soft warm lips against his. She tasted like honey and tea, moist and plump. His hands slid to her neck, his fingers slipping into her curls. A light flowery scent drifted from her hair.
He touched her lips with his tongue, and she opened enough for him to sweep in and taste more of her. His entire world became this carriage, this leather seat, this warm and soft woman in his arms. Exactly where he wanted to keep her for the rest of their lives. Take care of her. Protect her. Be the man who teaches her the joys to be had in the marriage bed.