“I’ll be taking over your table, gentlemen. Molly is needed in the kitchen.” Her words were punctuated with a heavy hint of innuendo as she leaned forward to place a tray of drinks on the table. Her bosom threatened to spill out of the top of her dress, which had the immediate benefit of capturing the attention of the other four men at the table. But the lout who’d been intent on claiming his original prize hesitated, unwilling to give up the battle. Fortunately, all it took was a wink from the new barmaid and her hand on his arm to capture his complete attention, and his eyes focused on her ample cleavage.
John turned to face the woman whose name he now knew was Molly. She intrigued him more than he cared to admit, having captured his attention from the moment he’d stepped into the tavern earlier that evening with his two companions. She must have been new to her position, for she lacked the experience dealing with customers that the second barmaid clearly possessed. She was shaking, her breath coming in short, rapid pants and her pupils blown wide. From her extreme reaction, it was clear she’d never had to deal with unwanted advances before tonight. At least not from men who were willing to take first without asking permission.
He started to reach for her elbow, wanting to lead her away, but thought better of touching her. In that moment she wouldn’t welcome even an innocent touch from a man. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back. “I can escort you to the kitchen to ensure no one else bothers you. You’ll be able to find a moment of peace there.”
She took a shallow, unsteady breath and looked away. When her gaze met his again, she gave her head a sharp shake. “I need to leave.”
He followed the direction of her gaze and saw that the owner of the tavern, a portly middle-aged man who’d been very welcoming to him and his friends when they’d first arrived, was making his way toward them. From the stern expression on the man’s face, John assumed he was about to take the woman beside him to task for being less than welcoming to the lout who’d wanted more from her than someone to serve him drinks.
The path to the front door of the establishment would bring them face-to-face with the owner. “Is there an exit to the back? Perhaps off the kitchens?”
Nodding, she turned and headed away. He hesitated, unsure if he should follow. She stopped after a few steps and looked at him. Time stood still as he became aware yet again of just how bewitching this woman was. Her dark hair was pinned up with several loose tendrils escaping its haphazard arrangement. He could see that her eyes were a deep shade of blue he’d never seen before, and her generous lips, one of which was clenched between her teeth, had his thoughts wandering down unwelcome paths.
He’d already noticed her figure in the tight serving outfit that all the other barmaids wore. But her neckline was more modest, a scrap of pale white linen tucked into her décolletage to hide the bounty that lay beneath. When he’d first noticed it—because he’d been unable to stop himself from taking in her figure when she’d caught his attention—he’d assumed she wore it as a way to differentiate herself from the other women, to draw out the curiosity of the men she served. But now it was clear to him that she wasn’t used to the attention she’d gained and had tucked in the scrap of fabric to preserve her modesty.
She glanced past him again, and her eyes widened when she saw that her employer was almost upon them. She crooked her finger at him in invitation. He followed, a quick glance telling him that the tavern owner had stopped his pursuit, a small smile of satisfaction on his face. It was obvious he assumed Molly was leading him somewhere private for a tryst.
Instead of leading him to the kitchens, she slid behind a dark curtain that, to his surprise, hid a doorway. For a moment he wondered if he’d misread the situation entirely, but nevertheless, he followed when she slipped through the opening.
They were in a dimly lit hallway, but the woman didn’t stop as she made her way down its long length. She struggled for a moment with the bolt on the final door but finally managed to pull it back and escape through it. Catching a glimpse of a dark alley, he followed. He hadn’t saved her just to have her fall into mischief outside. It was very late and the streets—especially an alley—wouldn’t be safe.
He’d almost have to follow as she fled down the alley. Instead, she stood with her back to the dirty tavern wall, her eyes closed as she took in deep breaths of air. He kept his distance so as not to alarm her.
A full minute passed before she opened her eyes and met his gaze. “I cannot express how grateful I am to you for your assistance.”
Her accent reminded him of a fellow soldier he’d once known who’d claimed to be from the north of England. A million questions sprang to mind, but he restrained his curiosity.
He accepted her thanks with a bow of his head. “It was the very least I could do.” He waited a beat before asking the one question uppermost in his mind. “Are you certain you should be working here? Not that I’m judging you, heaven knows there are worse fates that can befall a woman. But you seemed to be out of your depth.”
She released her breath with a soft sigh. “It was my first night. I’ve never done this type of work before.”
“Are you planning to return?”
He could see her wrestling with the answer. Finally her shoulders slumped. “No, I think it best that I don’t. Alice was able to distract that patron once. There’s no telling what could happen the next time.”
His sense of relief was immediate. He didn’t know this woman, but he felt an odd sense of protectiveness toward her.
“Are you returning inside?” She seemed to realize the double meaning behind her question, for she rushed to add, “I’m not issuing an invitation. I was merely curious.”
He found himself staring into Molly’s face for several long moments, drawn to her more than was wise. “My friends are still inside, and it will be the last time I see them for some time.”
She gave her head a sharp nod. “Of course. I should be off then.”
She turned to walk away, but he couldn’t allow her to disappear into the night unprotected.
“I’ll walk with you to the main street. I have a carriage waiting for me. It can take you home and then return for me later.”
Her smile was shaky, but it had the effect of making him feel as though he were ten feet tall.
Without another word, they made their way down the dark alley. When they finally reached the street beyond, the scant lighting from the waning moon offering very little light, John was glad he’d been there to help this woman. The second barmaid—Alice, the woman next to him had called her—might have succeeded in diverting the lout’s attention without his assistance. But the thought of this woman, who only came up to his shoulders, trying to make her way home alone in the dead of night left him with a sense of dread.
The alley had led them to the end of the street, and it was another full minute before they reached the front of the tavern. He’d caught the attention of his coachman when they were still several buildings away. By the time they reached the tavern’s entrance, the carriage was rolling to a stop next to them.
“You won’t be returning to work here?” He’d already asked the question, but he had to make sure.
When she met his gaze, her expression was impossible to read, and for a moment he feared the worst. Finally she sighed and shook her head. “I think it best I give up the silly notion of working in a tavern.”
Her statement struck him as odd. A young woman taking up such a line of work in a part of town that was less than savory wouldn’t normally refer to the pursuit as asilly notion. Normally it was an act of necessity.