Page 13 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

“Do not be angry with him; it was my idea. And as I technically do not work for you, Dr. Hall, I think I should be allowed—”

“Do you have any idea where you are?” he snapped, causing her to shut her mouth. “How dangerous it is to go wandering about a city you’ve no business being in? A city you’ve never even been in before.”

“I’m not going to get to know it cooped up in drawing rooms and offices, studying maps. Besides,” she said, lifting her chin to her left. “Virgil was kind enough to escort me.”

“Virgil can barely…” But Dr. Hall’s mouth snapped shut, seemingly unwilling to disparage his employee.

His nostrils flared as he glared at the both of them, and though Grace was well aware that she was in trouble, she couldn’t help but respect the doctor for keeping his temper in check in regards to Virgil, who, Grace noted, had the expression of a newborn fawn.

It would break his heart if Dr. Hall was cruel to him, but that didn’t seem like something the good doctor could do, for in the next instance, he exhaled, cursing as he did.

Grace glanced away, hoping to appear chastised.

“Virgil, you may go.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Hall.”

He didn’t speak as the youth dipped his head at Grace and hurried down the street. Grace watched as he disappeared in the crowd before turning back to the doctor.

“That was kind of you. Not to point out his disability.”

Dr. Hall did not appear pleased.

“Virgil is still on the mend as far as I’m concerned.

There’s no reason why he can’t gain back the full use of his leg eventually.

” He frowned at her. “But I won’t have his progress ruined because of a need to protect a bull-headed fool who thinks that just because she knows all the right people, she can do whatever she wishes. ”

That was not the correct thing to say to Grace, as what little affection she had for the doctor disappeared.

“You think this is a joy for me?” she said boldly, taking a step toward him as her patience evaporated.

“That I like being called ridiculous by every person I’ve ever known?

That I somehow find pleasure in the constant sneers and snickers that go on in front of my face as well as behind my back?

The idea of making a fool of myself and my family, you think that I’m not constantly aware and worried by that?

” She lifted her hand and poked her index finger directly into his chest, annoyed that she would take note of the solid mass beneath his shirt and coat.

“You, Dr. Hall, have no idea the pains it has taken me to come this close, to be this close to a dream realized, but I will not be half taught. I’ve come too far and am too clever for it.

Now, I demand that you treat me like any other male student who would follow you and stop trying to protect me from my own choices. ”

The glare of the doctor’s cool gray-blue eyes made Grace’s mind somewhat dizzy, but she kept her eyes on him, unwavering. He moved forward a fraction, his mouth open as if to say some biting remark back to her, but instead, his gaze drifted down her face and she felt herself become warm.

“Very well.” His voice came out a harsh whisper as she was suddenly seized around the wrist by a large hand and pulled toward the building.

He opened the front door, releasing his grip on her as he met the chief constable in the foyer. The old man eyed Grace with rejection.

“Absolutely not—”

“Constable, I understand your opposition, believe me, but Miss Sharpe is my student and is required to attend me while under my tutelage.”

The constable stepped forward, his voice dropping as he spoke, though Grace strained to hear him.

“The body is in an… advanced state of decomposing. The lady does not possess the stomach for such a scene.”

“She will have to,” Dr. Hall said, glancing back at her. “Because if she does not, I will no longer be required to instruct her.”

Grace’s eyes widened at his statement. He meant to be rid of her and there would be no ground for her to stand on if she fainted or became sick upon seeing the autopsy.

With a calm firmness that she never summoned before, Grace made her face stoic, her back and shoulders rigid as if she were heading into battle.

Dr. Hall seemed to note the change in her stance, for he remained still, waiting for the constable to lead the way. The old man shook his head with disapproval, and moved down the hallway.

They descended two different spiral stone staircases that led to a cold, curious set of rooms. It reminded Grace of a sort of dungeon, as there was a pungent odor in the air that seemed to grow as they continued.

At the farthest end of the hallway stood several men, each with their faces covered with white cloths.

Grace immediately sized up their outfits, noting that the two were completely covered in dirt, while another two were dressed as police officers.

Another, the last man, was wearing a tweed suit, although he was also wearing a white apron and a pair of spectacles.

Grace swallowed as they came to a stop in front of this group, her nerves on edge as they all glared at her.

She remained completely and utterly stoic. Grace doubted that the devil himself would surprise her in that moment, for all her focus was on herself and remaining calm. If she faltered, if she showed an ounce of disgust or worry or weakness, they would all see it and dismiss her.

She couldn’t let that happen.

“Dr. Hall,” the man in the apron said. “I didn’t know you were bringing a lady.”

“She is no lady, she is a medical student,” Dr. Hall said without emotion, reaching for two aprons that hung on the wall. He tossed one to Grace, who grabbed it immediately and began putting it on, as did he. “What are your notes on the body?”

But the man with the glasses resting on the end of his nose didn’t seem to hear the question.

“A woman medical student?”

Dr. Hall sighed, visibly annoyed as one of the police officers handed him a face covering, before also offering one to Grace.

“Yes.”

“But it’s unheard of.”

“On the contrary. Medical students often shadow mentors, particularly when said students do not have the opportunity to attend medical school.”

“Because it’s unheard of.”

Grace remained perfectly still, sure that any words she might speak would be ineffective to pleading her point. Instead, she watched Dr. Hall, who turned to face the police just as he finished tying his face covering.

“Chief constable, is it illegal for a woman to practice medicine in Scotland?”

“Er, um, well, not that I know of.”

“So, I am committing no crime at this moment?”

“Well, no.”

Dr. Hall turned to face the doctor.

“There you have it. Now, Dr. Stewart, if you have some sort of formal complaint about this, I’d suggest you take it up with the school.

However, since Miss Sharpe is learning as an apprentice of mine, and she is protected to do so under the Apothecary Act of 1815, your only complaint would be to Parliament or myself, and as I do not care about your opinion, might I suggest you write to London.

In the meantime, if you don’t mind, open the damn door so we can see if Mr. Flannery was poisoned and keep your concerns regarding my student to yourself. ”

Confusion flashed in the man’s eyes as Grace had to focus all her energy on not shaking, though her heart was likely visible beneath the apron she wore, for she was sure it was going to beat right out of her chest.

Never in her entire life had anyone spoken with such heat, such assurance when it came to her and her profession.

She had support, of course, from family and friends, but at most they could only support with anxiety, fearing that she would flounder.

But Dr. Hall was so confident, so serious and so respected that the other man didn’t even argue.

Instead, he opened the door and allowed them both to enter.

Grace was grateful to be present in a room with a decomposing corpse, for it was certainly the only sort of distraction she could manage to find that would pull her thoughts away from Dr. Hall.

The room was stark white, with small, rectangular windows set near the ceiling, allowing what little natural light to mingle with the brightness of several oil lamps that had been turned all the way up.

In the center of the room stood a wooden table, taller than any table Grace had ever seen, with a white sheet covering a mass of what she could only assume was the remains of Mr. Flannery.

Setting her jaw, Grace followed Dr. Hall as he went immediately to the center of the room and, standing next to him, waited for instruction.

“Usually, an autopsy would take place in the medical theater,” he said quietly to her as he reached for a pair of thick brown gloves that lay on the edge of the table, next to where Grace assumed the head of the body was placed.

“But because this body was exhumed so late after its demise, this room was chosen for the coolness to help alleviate the smell.”

Grace gave him a single nod, having tried to avoid inhaling through her nose since entering.

Once the gloves were on his large hands, Dr. Hall pulled the white sheet down and revealed a truly nightmarish sight.

The translucent skin of Mr. Flannery’s face was sunken in, almost as if a thin clay had been pressed over a skull.

The man’s hair was wiry and long, as if it had continued to grow even after death, and his neck had all but shrunk to the size of a billiards stick.

Dr. Hall dragged the sheet down to his waist, revealing emaciated hands with long fingernails and a sunken in chest that was similar to the illustrations Grace had seen in medical journals.

Dr. Hall took up a long silver instrument from the side table. He searched the mouth, pulling the decaying skin back as gently as possible as he searched for something Grace did not know.

“Cyanosis,” he said after a moment, standing up. “I’m sure of it.”