Lady Pamela and the Gambler (The Merry Misfits of Bath 3)
“Her fiancé.” Before he could stop himself, the words were out. He gave Pamela’s hand a squeeze when she drew in a breath, but the doctor most likely wouldn’t give him information unless he had a strong connection to her. “Now, madame, do your job and find the doctor.”
The nurse stormed away, and he sat back down. “Don’t talk if it disturbs you. I’m just glad to see you.” He raised her hand up and kissed her knuckles. “I had to declare myself your fiancé or no one would give me information.” He smoothed the hair back that was sticking out from the bandage on her head.
“Of c-c-course I was d-disturbed. I was r-r-run over by a c-c-carriage on Milsom Street.” She licked her lips and continued. “It w-w-was on p-purpose, too. The d-driver headed d-directly for m-me. If someone hadn’t p-pushed me out of th-th-the way, I would be d-dead.”
That’s what he had been afraid of. “Once the doctor gives permission, I am having you moved to my house. I will hire someone to stay with you to see to your injuries.”
“I c-c-can’t stay in y-y-your house. I w-will be r-r-ruined.”
“My dear, I fear if you don’t, you will be dead, not merely ruined. After what I found out today and looking at the shape you are in after being purposely run over by a carriage, you need someone to protect you. I have a highly moral and upstanding housekeeper who will guard your virtue like a dragon.”
“Wh-what did y-you f-f-find out today?”
He began to tell her when footsteps stopped him from speaking. There was no point in taking a chance on someone overhearing him.
A man dressed in a three-piece gray suit with a stethoscope dangling from his neck appeared from behind the curtain. He held a chart in his hand and did not look at all intimidating which relaxed Nick, happy he did not have to fight his and Pamela’s way out of the hospital. The nurse was nowhere to be seen.
“Nurse MacLean tells me you are this woman’s fiancé.” The man looked down at the chart he carried.
“That is correct. And you are?”
The man held out his hand. “Dr. Bradford.”
They shook hands and the doctor moved next to Pamela and bent to pull her eye lids up one at a time and examine them. Speaking over his shoulder, he said, “She was apparently hit with a carriage and flung to the ground. She suffered some scrapes and bruises, the most serious a sprained wrist and a head injury that knocked her out. She will be sore for a few days.”
He straightened and looked over at Nick. “Drivers are quite reckless these days. Something needs to be done about it.”
“I agree,” Nick said anxious to have the conversation over. “What I need to know from you doctor, is how soon can Lady Pamela be moved?”
“It depends on how far you plan to take her.”
“To my house on Abbeygate Street. Do you have a vehicle here that can transport her? If not, I can return to my home and get my carriage.” At this point he preferred not to leave her in the hospital unguarded.
“Yes, there is a vehicle we use to move patients. It is how we got the young lady from the street where she was hit to hospital. I believe she can be moved that distance without danger.”
Nick turned to the nurse who had joined the doctor. “Prepare Lady Pamela for transport. We will leave immediately.”
7
Pamela felt quite alarmed at how relieved she was to see Nick. In fact, she’d been terrified since she’d awoken in hospital in pain. It took her some time to remember what had happened and when she tried to explain it to the nurse and doctor it had all come out garbled.
She’d never felt so alone. When she’d first come to Bath, she’d had the other women in the house to talk with and then when she entered Once Upon a Book, Addie’s store, she’d felt an instant bond. Adding Lottie to their friendship was a boon.
Now she’d cut them out of her life while she struggled with this problem, and Nick was the only person to whom she could turn. Even her brother would probably not be of much help since his wife was so adamant that she didn’t belong with them.
As much as she’d pushed Nick away—for his own good—he refused to be thwarted and she’d never been so happy to be wrong. She needed him and was grateful for his help.
He shouted orders to the nurse and doctor and then to the men who arrived to carry her on the stretcher to the hospital vehicle. She hid her smile at how everyone jumped to his orders. Even the doctor.
There was something about Nick, a man who was raised on the streets of London that commanded respect.
As they settled her in the hospital carriage, he took her hand. “I will be right behind the carriage on my horse. Once you are settled in my house, I will arrange to have protection.”
“Th-th-thank you.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the lips, apparently not caring that they had an audience.
Even though the doctor had ordered pain medication for her, it was still difficult riding over the cobblestones and various gaps in the poor roads from the hospital to Nick’s house. Each bump brought another pain.