Page 38 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

He kissed her shoulder and Grace felt her body melt. She smirked and, rolling over with her eyes still closed, she accepted a series of kisses down her cheek and neck. James paused after a moment.

“I’m sorry for getting angry with you the other day. I didn’t mean to make you cry. Albeit, I’ll admit I was rather taken aback by it.”

Grace opened her eyes and gazed up at him, frowning slightly.

“Because you don’t like when women cry?”

He shook his head.

“No. But as I recall, you once said that there was nothing in this world that I could do or say that would make you cry.”

The words she had said to him in Lismore Hall months earlier felt like a lifetime ago.

“You remember that?”

“I remember everything concerning you.”

She smiled and leaned up to kiss him, and was met with equal enthusiasm, but as she reached for him, he pulled back. Frustration rolled within her and she pouted, causing him to laugh.

“We need to get out of bed.”

“No.”

She plopped back down to the mattress defiantly.

“You must. If anyone discovers what we’ve been up to, they’ll force us to marry.” The threat was enough to set her rigid, and he felt it beneath his touch. “See? Now you must wake up.”

Lifting her head up, she stared down at him, his eyes barely visible in the shadowy room.

“It’s not as though you want to marry either.” But even in the dark, Grace could see the unmoved muscles of his face and she suddenly felt uncomfortable. “You don’t wish to marry, right?”

“I was ready to do so before.”

“Yes, but not now.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Because I don’t.”

“I’m aware.”

She frowned.

“But you don’t wish to marry me. Correct?” He did not answer and as the silence dragged on, Grace sat up. “James, you don’t want to marry me, right?”

“Grace, you don’t wish to marry and I understand the reasons why.”

“Yes, but that is not what I asked.”

“What do you wish for me to say?”

“Tell me you do not want to marry me. Tell me that this, whatever this is, tell me that this is enough.”

Another beat of silence followed and Grace’s nerves began to vibrate with anxiety.

“Would you like me to tell you that this is enough or would you like me to tell you the truth?”

Grace’s hand went to her face, puzzled by his words. How could he be telling her this? And why was he so calm?

“But then, this must be a less than desirable arrangement for you?”

He shook his head.

“I don’t see it like that.”

“How can you not?”

He pulled himself up, the edge of the sheet that covered them slipping down his chest to reveal the taut muscles of his chest and abdomen. Grace had to force herself to pay attention and was temporarily distracted when his hand reached out for hers.

“Grace, I am aware of your reservations about marriage and as much as it pains me, I happen to agree with you.”

“You do?”

“Yes. If you were to marry, your chances of becoming a doctor would be drastically diminished. Even if it was to someone like me, who would afford you every freedom required to pursue it. I cannot, in all honesty, tell you that I would not eventually change my feelings about it, should we marry.” He paused for a moment before adding, “And as much as other men might promise to allow you to achieve your dreams, I would take their words with a grain of salt.”

She frowned.

“What other men?” When he didn’t speak, she blinked. “You mean Mr. Milton?”

“I’m sure he will try and tempt you with promises and whatnot, but I know your desire to become a physician and I’m not telling you to not believe him, but I wouldn’t put it past him to promise you all sorts of things and then change his mind once he has what he wants.”

Grace glanced down at their joined hands.

“He offered to build me a hospital.”

A moment of silence.

“Did he?” James asked, his voice gruff and she gazed up at him.

“But for me to be a patron of, not a doctor. He was honest with me. He told me he should want a wife first and foremost and I cannot give that to him.”

James stared at her.

“So, you will not marry Mr. Milton?”

“No.”

James’s hand tightened around her fingers, his countenance suddenly relieved and Grace felt her heart beat with pleasure. He breathed deeply after a moment.

“Then you will see this apprenticeship to the end. I will make sure of it.”

“And after?” she asked, unable to help herself. “When I become a doctor, what will we do then?”

He shook his head.

“I do not know.” He leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against hers before pulling back. “But I should like to be near you, however possible, for a very long time, indeed.”

Although Grace had always prided herself on her ability to refrain from crying, James’s words affected her in a way no others ever had. He wanted to be with her, regardless of marriage, all so that she might realize her dream. It felt as if her heart were breaking and mending all at once.

She reached forward, kissing him with all of herself, her hands going to either side of his face. He leaned back, allowing her to have her way with him until they were both breathing unevenly.

“Wait,” he tried. “Grace, you have to leave.”

“Later,” she muttered in between kisses.

“If you wait any longer, we will be married, and as much as that would please me, it’s not what you want.”

She paused, leaning her forehead against his and she tried to calm her breathing. Then, she pulled away.

“Yet. It’s not what I want yet.”

He smiled at her, but it felt uneasy.

“However this turns out, Grace, I’m here for it.”

She was still for a moment before she slid off the edge of the bed to get dressed.

He did as well, and with the next quarter of the hour, James was walking her across the street and opening the back door that led into the kitchens.

He wouldn’t let her go alone, which was as annoying as it was sweet.

“Wait,” she said suddenly, remembering why she had gone to see him in the first place. “What are we going to do about Mr. Roberts and the men in Gallowgate?”

James shook his head.

“I’m not sure. There’s obviously something going on, but without evidence we cannot do anything.”

“But we have evidence. The top toy. You must show it to the constable and tell him everything.”

A strained expression shone on James’s face.

“To accuse a student of medicine of something like this is to accuse his professor, Grace. I need more evidence, something to confirm what we suspect, before I bring it to the constable, lest we get it wrong and are destroying several people’s lives in the process.”

Grace nearly stomped her foot.

“But we have enough evidence.”

“Let me handle it.”

“But—”

“Please, Grace,” he said, effectively silencing her. “Good night.”

“Good night,” she said coolly as she turned and entered the kitchens.

James closed the door behind her and she stalked across the room, up a small flight of stairs, and down the servants’ hallway until she reached the foyer.

To her surprise, however, a light shone in the parlor.

Nervous that someone was still awake, she tried to tiptoe to the staircase.

Upon putting her foot on the first step, a loud CREAK echoed around her.

“Grace?” Aunt Belle called from the parlor.

Oh no.