Page 32 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)
J ames awoke in a sweat the next morning, having suffered some sort of nightmare he could barely recall.
Something about a graverobber but they hadn’t stolen a body?
His hand came to his face as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and scratched his beard, considering not for the first time whether or not he should shave and be done with it.
Rolling out of bed, he went to the mirror that hung on the exterior wall, above the water table. The early morning light illuminated a reflection that appeared tired and discontented. He let out a snort. Of course he looked miserable. He was, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
Bending down, he splashed the chilly water over his face, glad to have the invigorating distraction to try and dissuade visions of Grace from entering his mind. But having seen her last night in a gown that had all but demanded every ounce of his attention, well, it was difficult not to.
His hands gripped the edge of the porcelain bowl as his gaze wandered out his window.
Her room was still dark, likely because she hadn’t returned home until very late.
Had she danced again with Mr. Milton? Had she finally realized that her even temper and clever speech could entice the entire city to fall in love with her if she so wished it?
Or had she realized, just as Catriona, that perhaps there was someone better for her, more suited to her lifestyle?
Mr. Milton was a rich man, almost obscenely so, and while new money wasn’t particularly welcome in the upper social circles of London, he would undoubtedly be able to provide her with whatever she wished should she change her mind on marrying.
James splashed more water on his face, trying to force out the very word from his mind.
He didn’t care one way or the other if Grace suddenly realized what sort of influence she might garner by marrying a man like Milton.
Yet, as much as his poor mood wanted to, he still couldn’t shake the determination he had heard in her voice about marriage.
I will never marry anyone. Ever.
The statement was equal parts comforting and confounding.
He believed that she never intended to marry, but there were situations where it would be necessary.
Their experiment, for instance. While he had withdrawn from her before spilling his seed the first time, he wondered what might happen if he was too late the next time?
If there was to be a next time, that was.
Still, people changed their minds every day and he couldn’t help but obsess with the idea of Grace spending a day with Milton, only to discover that she was in fact the marrying type.
A growl escaped him as he pushed himself up, away from the water bowl and decided to get dressed.
In reality, it didn’t matter. If Grace decided to change her mind and marry Milton, it would end whatever she sought to discover about herself and their tryst, or whatever she wanted to call it, would end and James would once again be left alone, although this time it seemed a far heavier burden.
With Catriona, he had been upset, angry even, and deservedly so, but having realized in the days that followed that she hadn’t ever truly wished to marry him, he wondered if the feelings were mutual.
She had been brilliant, not unlike Grace, but where Grace was honest and determined, Catriona had always floundered with her conviction.
Particularly whenever her father was around, which, James had recently admitted, was one of the reasons he had proposed.
His former mentor had been such an inspiration to him as a young doctor and he wanted to please him at all costs, so when Sir Ward had encouraged James to court Catriona, he likely did so in hopes to garner the approval of his former instructor.
That realization was difficult to concede, but it was the truth.
As James finished dressing, he was left with the cold facts that Catriona had never loved him, and while he had believed himself to be in love with her, it was really more of a feeling of reverence for her father, because compared to what he felt for Grace, well, nothing had ever felt so visceral.
With Grace, James was constantly in awe.
Not only did he find her clever and resolute, but she was humorous and genuinely kind.
Easy to talk to and one of the few people who would push back when he became boorish.
As a doctor, he had come to have a strong sense of self, to believe in his opinions and his abilities and rarely if ever was he pressed on his thoughts.
Grace challenged him, however, and as much as it annoyed him at first, he had realized that he had become a better doctor for it and in turn, a better man.
She had made him a better person and for that, he couldn’t help but love her.
It dawned on him halfway through his ride to his office and shook him to his core. He loved Grace, had loved her for weeks now, and it was only now that he realized it.
Stunned for the rest of the ride, he wondered how he should proceed with her. Their relationship had to remain professional, as she had dreams that he would guard and protect to ensure they came true, but how would he be able to go on living his life without at least admitting to her how he felt?
Would she be shocked? Horrified? Annoyed even, likely to believe that their coupling had led to his feelings.
No. Perhaps he shouldn’t tell her, lest she become uncomfortable and wish to leave to study under someone else.
He needed to keep her close to him, if only to see her hopes become a reality because if there was one thing he could do, it was to guide her through her apprenticeship so that she would one day become a doctor.
Yes, that’s what he would do. He would keep his feelings for her to himself and see her through her studies.
Then, perhaps he would tell her how he felt, but he wouldn’t do so now.
Not when he held all the power. He didn’t wish to coerce her into anything and so when he reached the office, he had decided that until the time was right, he would refrain from telling Grace how he felt.
Upon entering his offices, James could hear a number of voices coming from the back office. Curious, as he didn’t have any appointments until nine o’clock, he took off his coat and handed it to Virgil, who came hobbling toward him.
“It’s already a busy morning, doctor,” he said, taking the coat.
“The constable is here, requesting your presence at the Glasgow Necropolis as well as Dr. Cameron, who says he has something urgent to discuss with you, and Mrs. Felding is here.” Virgil gave a little wave to the woman sitting in a chair just outside the doctor’s office.
“It seems her husband is in a terrible way and requests you accompany her to her house right away.”
“What does the constable want with me at the Glasgow Necropolis?”
“It seems there was another attempt at body snatching and they believe there’s some sort of clue that you might be able to help them with.”
“You may speak when you are spoken to, Miss Sharpe!” Dr. Cameron’s voice called out from the office, causing Virgil to turn.
“Dr. Grace is here too.”
Instantly, James stalked toward the back office to push open the door.
There in the middle of the room stood Grace, a perturbed expression on her face, while Dr. Cameron, whose red cheeks and furious appearance caused James a surge of outrage. The constable, who was standing in between the two, seemed glad to see James.
“Ah, Dr. Hall, thank goodness,” the policeman said, taking a step back.
“What is the meaning of this?” James asked, coming forward. “Why are you yelling at my apprentice, Dr. Cameron?”
“Your apprentice ,” he spat with sarcasm. “Seems to believe that she is some sort of detective and has accused one of my students of several crimes—”
“I accused no one of anything,” she argued. “I merely asked the constable if he had considered that there might be a connection between the missing persons in Gallowgate and the grave robbers at the Necropolis.”
“Only to mention, by name, one of my students—”
“I was merely telling the constable what I saw.”
“What you think you saw. Women are always so desperate to cause trouble and spread gossip.”
“Ha!” she countered. “So, a woman cannot be stronger than a man, nor can we study as well as a man, but now we cannot see as well as a man? Good God, it’s a wonder we’re even capable of breathing without the help of your sex!”
“Insolent wench!”
Without thinking, without breathing, James was between the two, fists clenched at his side as he glared down at his former colleague, who stepped backwards with an air of self-preservation about him, bumping into the edge of James’s desk.
“I will not have you disparage Miss Sharpe, here or anywhere. She is a student of medicine, a damn brilliant one at that, and one to whom you have shown little to no respect. As a physician yourself, it is your duty to teach others and yet you ridicule her based on the mere fact that she is a woman?” He shook his head in disgust. “It’s not only beneath you, Dr. Cameron, it is in defiance of the very institution that you serve.
It is your job, our jobs, as doctors, to teach those who are capable to learn. ”
Dr. Cameron’s eyes went wide.
“You would defend this gossiping tramp over an innocent man?”
James’s resolve snapped and he grabbed the man by his lapels.
“Call her that again, and I’ll dissect you myself.”
The frightening threat hung in the air, causing everyone to remain still. It was like just before a storm, when the wind disappeared and everything became unnaturally quiet. James was breathing heavily, almost daring the cowering doctor to challenge him, but then the constable spoke.
“Sirs, I must implore that you settle this at a different time. Dr. Hall, you’re needed at the Necropolis as soon as possible. We must make haste.”