Page 39 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

W incing, Grace turned.

“Yes?”

“Come see me for a moment.”

Shoulders dropping, Grace walked toward the parlor door.

There, sat behind a desk not unlike the one she possessed in Lismore Hall, was her aunt.

Andrews was standing behind her, his eyes drooping and to Grace’s amazement, there was Penguin the cat, sat on her desk atop a stack of papers, purring loudly as Belle rubbed her bejeweled fingers on the cat’s cheek.

“Good evening, Aunt Belle. It’s late, is it not?”

“I could say the same thing to you.” She turned her head. “Andrews, you are dismissed. Grace will help me to my room tonight.”

Andrews bowed his head, though only Grace saw it, and he left the room without issue.

“Are you feeling well?” Grace asked, coming farther into the room.

“Well enough, except for the fact that I’ve a wayward niece.”

“Wayward? That’s rather harsh I should say—”

“Driver told me you went to Gallowgate. Alone. That you were attacked and that he had to fend off the attacker with an umbrella. Then, when I wake up in the middle of the night to have a nibble, I’m overcome with this strangest feeling.

I have Andrews check on your room and alas, you’re missing.

What’s more, I’ve received a letter from a Dr. Cameron, personally requesting that I remove you from the city, or else he threatens to sue you for libel. ”

Grace cringed.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Belle, but Dr. Cameron is exactly why I had to speak with Dr. Hall about a police case—”

“For four hours?”

Grace dropped her head, mortification sweeping over her.

“I’m so sorry, Aunt Belle. What you must think of me, I’m sure I cannot bear it.”

A moment of silence passed and then.

“I do not judge people, my dear, least of all women. Come. Sit down and tell me what’s troubling you.”

For a terrible moment, Grace felt her emotions rise up within her, but then she allowed herself to take a deep breath and followed her aunt’s instructions. She sat on the settee before the fireplace. Hands clasped together, she spoke.

“Dr. Cameron, the chief constable, and myself were in Dr. Hall’s office a few days ago, waiting for James-er, I mean Dr. Hall to arrive.

The constable mentioned that he was there regarding another grave robbery and I foolishly mentioned that I saw a Mr. Roberts paying two men dressed in dirty clothes, in Gallowgate while I was attending Dr. Hall.

Mr. Roberts is one of Dr. Cameron’s students and when I called out to him, he saw me, but hurried away.

I thought it was suspicious, and so I spoke about it.

Dr. Cameron became suddenly enraged, saying that I was accusing Mr. Roberts of grave robbing and in turn, accusing Dr. Cameron as well as the entire Andersen University.

I argued that I did no such thing and it turned into this whole fiasco.

” She shook her head. “James told me that it was rash of me to speak on such things, but I know Mr. Roberts wasn’t in Gallowgate on any sort of charity mission. ”

“And why are you so sure of that?”

Grace’s shoulders dropped.

“That’s the crux. I didn’t have any evidence, so I went to Gallowgate to find some. I went to question the factory workers and learned that one of the men that had taken money from Mr. Roberts carved small toy tops and handed them out to the children.”

“Toy tops?”

“Yes, those little toys that spin around and around? Well, there was one found near the last grave that was decimated. That places at least one of them who was being paid by Mr. Roberts at the crime scene.”

Aunt Belle shook her head.

“But how does that connect Mr. Roberts or Dr. Cameron to any of this?”

Grace’s hand lifted to her head, rubbing her temple where a headache was forming.

“It doesn’t, at least, not yet. That’s what I was speaking about with James tonight. He thinks we don’t have enough evidence, and that it would be irresponsible to go to the constable at this point, but I’m positive that we should.”

Aunt Belle’s face twisted as she soaked in everything Grace had said. After a moment, she nodded.

“Grace, you are one of the brightest women I’ve ever known, and I’ve been on this earth a long time. If you believe that you have enough to go to the constable about this, then I support you.”

Grace stared at her.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“But what about James?”

She sighed.

“Dr. Hall may be too familiar with Dr. Cameron to see what’s going on. He isn’t on the outside, like you, able to take in the entire picture.”

“But am I seeing the whole picture?” she asked, standing up. “I’ve gone over it a dozen times and a dozen times more. I can’t be sure anymore. I would be remiss if I accused an innocent man of something.”

“But you have a lead. You must follow it to discover if it’s true, regardless. If anything, you may prove the doctor’s innocence.”

She shook her head.

“I just don’t trust myself anymore.”

“Always have faith in yourself, my dear. Always. There are forces in this world that try to silence our instincts. That would call us hysterical, or foolish for trusting ourselves. Believe in yourself. Most of the time, you’re the only person you can trust to know your feelings.

” She tilted her head. “I believe in you, my dear.”

Grace smiled, though she wasn’t sure if she could.

“Then, perhaps I should go to the constable?”

Aunt Belle smiled with a firm nod.

“I will go with you if you wish. Now, tell me about your relationship with Dr. Hall.” Grace blanched and a chuckle escaped Aunt Belle’s mouth. “It’s quite all right, my dear. Remember, I was a king’s courtesan.”

This was true, but even so, Grace felt wildly out of her depths. Inhaling, she decided to be honest.

“I am fond of him. Very much so, and he wishes to marry me.” Aunt Belle’s eyes widened with glee. “But he believes that his mind may change over time, about what he wants in a wife and so he’s decided to respect my wishes to remain unattached while I finish my apprenticeship.”

Aunt Belle’s smile vanished.

“That’s three years from now.”

“Yes.”

“But after that, he will propose?”

Grace shrugged.

“If our feelings remain the same, I suppose he might.”

A strange “Boh!” sound escaped Aunt Belle’s lips as she slapped her hand against her desk. It was obvious that she was annoyed, angry even, but then she shook her head and seemed to calm herself down.

“Men,” she spat as she stood, causing Grace to step forward to help her.

“They never do what they’re supposed to.

” Grace tilted her head in question, but Belle waved her free hand as she allowed Grace to escort her.

“Never mind, my dear. Never mind. Take me to my room. I’m in want of sleep.

And I suggest you go to sleep as well. We’ve an appointment with the constable tomorrow. ”

“Yes, Aunt Belle.”

“Oh yes, and dear? You’ve misplaced this.” Belle pulled from her robe pocket Grace’s silver chain.

Grace felt her cheeks warm as she stepped forward and took it from her.

“I had been looking for this. I must have forgotten it.”

Belle watched as she replaced it over her head with a knowing expression.

“I thought so. Come, walk me to my room.”

Grace helped her aunt out of the parlor and down the hall to her bedroom, followed by Penguin, who seemed to have taken to his new role as favorite with pleasure.

After helping her into bed, she exited the room and climbed the stairs before reaching her own room.

Once there, she leaned against the door and let out a sigh.

She was going to go to the constable’s office first thing in the morning and tell him everything she had learned. Surely James would be annoyed with her for going around him, but she felt it in her gut that this was the correct thing to do.

As she dropped onto her own bed several minutes later, staring up at the ceiling, she wondered if marrying James was a possibility after her apprenticeship. This could be a passing fancy, one that she might one day regret, but she couldn’t see doing so now.

At some point, Grace’s eyelids became heavy and she fell asleep where she had dropped, her mind awash with worry about tomorrow’s task and all that might result from it.