Page 22 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

The snickers that disappeared behind her were like stones being tossed into a well, the well being her stomach.

How had she not known about her aunt’s donation to this school?

Surely, it should have come up in conversation, particularly since she had known that Grace was going to attend a class here?

Why hadn’t Aunt Belle told her?

Confused and deflated, Grace wished to return to the pharmacy. Reentering the theater to find James, she was momentarily lost in thought when she heard raised voices from behind the curtains.

“It’s not only ridiculous, but dangerous!” Dr. Cameron’s voice echoed in the cavernous room. “A woman shouldn’t be anywhere near an operating table.”

Grace froze.

“I think you’re overexaggerating,” James’s voice countered.

“Really? Would you let her operate on you?”

“Inconsequential. I wouldn’t let any of your students operate on me. They’ve never even cleaned a wound. At least Miss Sharpe has removed boils.”

“Because they need to learn the basics before they can begin to attend a lead physician in a surgery. Miss Sharpe hasn’t studied nearly enough—”

“She’s quite well read—”

“Not beneath an instructor.”

“Because she is not permitted to attend university.”

“Exactly! Because women cannot be doctors. That mentor of yours should have his license revoked for even considering this madness. Just because Barkley couldn’t find another pupil to teach does not mean he can just pick a woman up out of a briar patch and instruct her on medicine.”

James’s tone turned frosty.

“Disparage me all you like, but I will not hear anything against Dr. Barkley.”

A beat. And then.

“I understand your position, Dr. Hall. Really, I do and I sympathize. If it weren’t for Dr. Barkley, you’d not be where you are today and you are a fine doctor.

” He paused. “But if you insist on this, allowing a woman to apprentice for you, I fear I will not be able to quell the growing outrage at this decision. You saw my students today. They will not tolerate a woman in this space.”

Grace strained to hear James’s response. A defeated sigh escaped him and Grace was certain she would not like his next words.

“Perhaps you are right,” he said, as Grace’s heart sank into her stomach. “Perhaps there is no place for a woman in your school.”

Although she had become used to the remarks that people made about her once they discovered her intention to become a doctor, this lack of faith hurt for some reason.

Quickly, she exited the room once more and waited for James.

Once Dr. Cameron and his assistant departed, James followed and he and Grace left the building in silence.

Although he couldn’t know how she was feeling, Grace was aware of him watching her.

When they were finally in the carriage, he spoke.

“I’m sorry if you were met with some resistance by the others. Dr. Cameron and his students can be particular about who shares their surgical theater.”

Grace remained perfectly still.

“It was an informative lesson. Thank you for including me.”

Though she tried to speak with a stiff coldness, her heart was racing. James frowned.

“Are you well?”

“Yes.”

A pregnant pause.

“You don’t seem to be.”

“Would you like to check my forehead?” she asked sarcastically. “I am fine.”

“Very well,” he replied. “Then perhaps we should return to our previous discussion.”

“What discussion?”

“Your experiment.”

Shame suddenly reached up and wrapped around her, like a drowning hand searching for leverage.

Why she had ever even considered speaking to him about that, she couldn’t comprehend.

It was just that, for a moment during their night at the opera, Grace had felt sure and safe with him.

As if she could tell him anything and yet, in the miserable aftermath of hearing him agree with Dr. Cameron, Grace couldn’t help but feel betrayed.

“I don’t wish to discuss that with you.”

He stared at her as the carriage rocked back and forth across the cobblestone streets. His cool blue-gray eyes bore into her and she had to look down.

“Why not?”

“Because.”

“I think I’m entitled to it.”

Her gaze snapped up to meet his.

“How so, are you entitled to it?”

“If you’re planning on carrying out some sort of affair while under my tutelage, I should like to be aware of it, so that I might take some precautions in protecting my reputation as well as yours.”

She stared at him and blinked.

“You would try to protect me? Even if I did something so foolish?”

“At least you are aware that it is foolish, although if you intend to go through with it, I may question your sanity. But yes. I would try to protect your reputation.”

“So that I might experiment with another man?”

There was a small twitch just below his right cheekbone. Though she couldn’t see if he was clenching his jaw through his beard, the heat in his stare seemed to confirm it.

“Yes.”

“Augh!” She let out, unable to control her frustration. Her hands curled into fists as she pounded the seat on either side of her. “Arrogant man.”

He blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“I do not wish to experiment with Mr. Milton and I will not stand to be pushed out of this profession. I will be a doctor one day, James. Mark my words. If I have to shadow Dr. Barkley for ten years, I’ll do it and no amount of cutting remarks or people’s opinions will deter me.”

He stared at her for a moment before finding his voice.

“I believe you will succeed.”

“Then say it.”

“Say what?”

“Say that I will be a doctor.”

“I don’t see how—”

“Say it.”

His brow furrowed as if he were confused.

“You will be a doctor, Grace.”

“Now believe it.”

“I do—”

“Then don’t shrink when others tell you that I don’t belong,” she said as the carriage rolled to a stop. The driver was quick to scrabble down from his seat and open the door. “Good night, Dr. Hall.”

But James reached for her forearm before she could reach the door.

They stared at one another, challenging and yearning, in a swell of confusion.

Slowly, he unfurled his fingers, but she didn’t move.

She wanted him to pull her toward him, to hold her against him and press his mouth to hers and kiss her just as he had the night before.

The small cough of the driver seemed to break the spell they were both under and Grace slid across her seat and exited the vehicle. The door shut behind her and she jumped, her nerves having finally reached the end of their limits.

As she climbed the stone steps and entered into the foyer of her terrace home, Grace removed her coat and slowly began her ascent up the stairs, only to be stopped by her aunt’s voice.

“Grace? How did your day go?”

“It was fine,” she said halfheartedly over her shoulder, as she continued her climb, eager to bathe and get into bed. “Just fine.”