Page 35 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

“It is a noble pursuit,” he finally said after a long silence. “And unfortunately, it makes me like you all the more.” He sighed. “Are you sure? I could build you your own hospital that you might be a patron of. You could help hundreds, if not thousands of people.”

She smiled sadly and placed her hand on his shoulder.

“Are you trying to bribe me?”

“Possibly. Is it working?”

She laughed and her hand fell away.

“Would you allow me to practice medicine as your wife?”

Even before he answered, she saw the truth in his face.

“If I’m to be completely honest, no. I’m searching for a companion, one who might travel with me and I fear that would interfere with your work.”

She understood and though she knew she should feel despondent about it, Grace couldn’t muster up any regret at his honest words.

“Mr. Milton, if you did build a hospital, which I think you should, I would gladly take up residence there as an employee. I’m sure it would be a grand building indeed.”

A small spark flashed in his eyes and Grace saw his attention switch.

“It would be, wouldn’t it? Long, open hallways, spacious rooms. Running water,” he said in a dreamy sort of way. “It would be the most modern of hospitals.”

She smiled.

“I’m sure it will be.”

His attention temporarily brought back to the present situation, Mr. Milton nodded.

“Well then, I am sorry for my loss, but happy for the city of Glasgow as she will gain you as a physician.”

Grace couldn’t stop herself from frowning.

“Perhaps one day, but not soon. I’m afraid I’ve insulted one of the most renowned doctors in the city and, well, generally made a mess of things.” Mr. Milton waited for her to continue, but she shook her head. “Never mind. I’m sorry I couldn’t say yes to your proposal, Mr. Milton.”

“Me too.” He paused for a moment. “Miss Sharpe, I know my next request will seem beyond outrageous, but I cannot seem to help myself. I will regret it the rest of my life if I don’t ask.”

“Yes?”

He hesitated and then shook his head.

“No. I don’t think I will.”

Seemingly reading his mind, Grace leaned forward and brushed her mouth ever so gently against his. He remained perfectly still and upon feeling nothing but friendship, Grace stepped back. A pleasured expression passed over his face.

“Thank you, Miss Sharpe.”

“Thank you, Mr. Milton.”

They continued their stroll through the unfinished part of the greenhouse, just as the skies opened up and it began to rain.

As quickly as they could, Grace, Arabella, and Aunt Belle were loaded into their carriage and brought home, all the while listening to Arabella go on and on about Mr. Dalton, who apparently was preparing for a trip around the world.

He was tasked with finding rare and beautiful specimens for the greenhouse and had fascinated Arabella with every word.

Once they had entered the house, Grace felt her previous melancholy surface once more and she was left with nearly a half day of nothing to do as she had told James that she would be out of the office for the whole day, but the rain had cut their activities short.

Now, as she wandered throughout the house, her mind reeled back to her brash accusations. Why had she been so insistent on telling the constable about Mr. Roberts, and in front of his professor no less? What had made her so sure of herself that she would do something so careless?

It had been instinctual, which of course meant nothing.

But even now, after having been properly chastised for her rashness, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right about seeing Mr. Roberts in Gallowgate.

Yes, James had said that he could be there on some charitable cause, but the amount of bills that had been handed over to those two men, it just appeared more like a payment than anything and what could a well-to-do university student want with two particularly rough looking men in the slums of Glasgow?

It simply didn’t add up.

Not to mention that besides the grave robberies, a number of people were still missing and all of them had last been reported being seen in Gallowgate.

It didn’t make sense that people were disappearing in the middle of the city.

Surely, if they were leaving or running away, someone, anyone, would have seen them leave.

Particularly if they were from Gallowgate.

The people there were dressed in near rags and if someone like them had been seen in any other neighborhoods, it would have been reported.

But it hadn’t. They had all disappeared right in the middle of Gallowgate.

Grace stared out the parlor window, watching the rain roll down the glass pane, arms folded across her chest as an outrageous idea began to form in her mind. If people were vanishing within Gallowgate, then there had to be some sort of evidence there. Evidence she could discover herself.

It was a dangerous idea, but then she had been there several times now.

And she didn’t plan on knocking on every door, but maybe she might ask a few of the families in the factory housing building.

Surely they would have seen or heard something and if Grace could discover where these people were going, then she’d be able to bring evidence to the constable and, perhaps foolishly, show James that she was right.

Turning on her heel, Grace headed for the doorway when Aunt Belle appeared, followed by Andrews.

“Ah, my dear, there you are. Do you feel like a game of chess? This dreary weather has me in the mood for a game.”

“I cannot, actually. I am going out.”

“Out? In this weather? Where are you… Oh,” she stopped herself suddenly. “Yes, dear, do what you must. But bundle up. I fear this rain may turn to sleet soon enough.”

“I will. I won’t be long.”

“Take as long as you like,” Aunt Belle said, waving her off.

Grace wasn’t sure why her aunt was always so relaxed about her comings and goings.

She was the complete opposite of her sister, Grace’s Grandmother Alice, who had been a stickler for propriety.

Grace and her sisters had never been allowed out on their own without at least a maid, yet here Grace was, acting as though she were completely independent, all with her aunt’s support.

It was a strange situation, but one that Grace was grateful for. Her driver, however, seemed to blanch when she told him where she wanted to go.

“Are you sure, my lady? That is not an area I’m sure I should bring you to.”

“I’ve been there a number of times before.”

“Yes, but in the company of Dr. Hall.”

“Unfortunately, Dr. Hall is busy at his office today and I have some pressing matters to attend, so if you will,” she said with a definitive nod to end the conversation.

The driver hesitated a moment before agreeing, as he closed the door to the carriage.

Soon, they were rushing down the cold, wet streets of Glasgow.

It took some time to get there, as the rain had indeed begun to freeze, causing a slickness on the road that required an alternate route.

By the time they reached the street that the factory housing was on, Grace tapped the roof of the carriage, signaling her driver to stop.

“My lady?” he asked as she hopped out of the vehicle, wrapped tightly in her wool cloak.

“Stay here but a moment. I shall return.”

Without waiting to hear his pleas, Grace twisted around and hurried down the street. She didn’t want the carriage visible, as it was rare to see one in this part of the city, and tended to make the locals suspicious.

Within a few minutes, she was pulling open the door to the factory housing building, and to her surprise, ran right into Mrs. Monty.

“Oh gads, now what do you want?” she asked, visibly annoyed. “Come to pester me kids with more questions about pieces of trash?”

Grace tilted her head.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Dr. Hall was here, not two days ago, asking about some silly little piece of toy that he found somewhere in your part of the city. Asked my boy where he found it and who gave it to him.”

Grace was confused. What toy? And why had James come all this way to ask about it? Then, he hadn’t even mentioned it to her. Of course, they had been on the outs, but still, it seemed to be rather important if he came all the way to Gallowgate to inquire about a toy.

“He did?” The woman bobbed her head up and down. “I’m sorry, I haven’t any idea why Dr. Hall would have come. You say it was a toy?”

Mrs. Monty’s shoulders dropped as she sighed, annoyed.

“Charlie! Get out here!”

The redheaded boy who had shown Grace his toy spinner during his first visit, came out of the room behind his mother. Mrs. Monty turned on the child, bent at the waist, and grabbed him by the face.

“Tell this lady where you got that top from, do you hear me? No more shrugging and saying that you don’t know nothing. I’m not having my home invaded with doctors who think they can just show up whenever they bloody like.”

Grace winced as the mother dropped the boy’s chin. He came around his mother and hung his head.

“Sorry, doctor lady,” he said quietly.

Grace knelt down.

“It’s all right. Did Dr. Hall ask you about your top toy?” The boy nodded. “And you told him you didn’t know where it came from?”

“I told him I just found it on the street.”

“Was that the truth?” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell Dr. Hall the truth?”

“Because I didn’t want him to take it away from me.”

“Oh,” Grace said gently. “Well, if you tell me the truth, I promise, I won’t take it from you.”

The boy glanced up. Then, he pointed at the doors at the entrance of the building.

“I got it from them.”

Grace craned her head around.

“Who is them?”

“The misters who stand outside that building.”

“What building?”

“The one that has the picture of the bunny.”

“Rabbit House?”

The boy nodded as his mother came up, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Heard enough?”

“Yes—”

“Good. Now I hope not to see you for at least a month. Come along, Charlie.”

With that, the woman and her son returned to their room and slammed the door shut, causing Grace to jump. Well, that had been informative. Except that she had no idea why a toy had anything to do with Rabbit House. Or what James had been intent on discovering.

Leaving the building, Grace lifted her hood and through the rain, she saw one of the two men she had seen the day she saw Mr. Roberts.

The bald one. He was leaning against Rabbit House, one foot up on the brick wall, while smoking a long pipe and staring daggers at her as she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

Glancing down the road, she saw her carriage on the corner and cursed herself for being so careless.

Lifting her chin and staring back, she didn’t let herself cower as she turned left.

The bald man kicked off the wall and though she didn’t turn around to see, she knew he was following her.

At first she tried to walk at a normal pace, not wishing to appear nervous, but then her body seemed to take over and soon she was hurrying down the muddy streets.

The distinct sound of footsteps splashing in the puddles behind her caused her to grab her skirts and run. Thankfully, her driver was waiting on the side of the carriage, under an umbrella and saw her coming.

“My lady?”

“Hurry!” Grace yelled back and he opened the door as she dove into the vehicle, just as a meaty hand grabbed at her ankle. “Ah!”

She kicked the hand away and witnessed the driver turn his umbrella into a weapon, thrashing the bald man without mercy as she pulled her body inside the carriage and closed the door.

Before she could sit up and push back the curtains, the vehicle was off.

Gazing out of the back window, she saw the bald man stagger to his feet.

Heart pounding in her ears as she tried to catch her breath, Grace knew what she had to do next.

She needed to speak with James at once.