Page 40 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

J ames was slow to rise the next morning, taking his breakfast nearly a half hour later than usual, to the great irritation of his housekeeper, Mrs. Cramer, who had sent his toast back three times to reheat before she finally just sat down at the dining room table and waited for him to appear.

After which, she served his breakfast in silence, but James didn’t mind.

In fact, he couldn’t think of anything that would ruin his mood this morning, after last night.

The image of Grace’s half-opened eyes and dark hair draped around her shoulders seemed to be permanently burnt into his memory, as if her very name was branded on his heart.

She had been every bit as amazing as the last time and while it had felt fundamentally wrong to wake her from her slumber and take her from his bed, he instead focused on what the day might bring anew in her presence.

He had frightened her by admitting that he wanted to marry her, but he had approached the topic with a cool disposition, for which he was grateful.

Because if she understood just how greatly he wanted to keep her in his bed and marry her as soon as possible, she might have gone running all the way back to Glencoe.

The truth was, he was desperate for her.

Nothing before had possessed his mind so earnestly.

He wanted to marry her, to love her openly and without worry, but he was also aware of what that might entail.

He had been infatuated with Catriona, after all, and while he was sure his feelings for Grace were something else entirely, he was cautious not to try and pressure her or force her into marriage.

He wanted her to want it equally, if not more so, and she would only resist or push him away if he insisted upon it.

He knew that about her and he had made the decision not to burden her with a proposal.

He would wait, quietly and by her side for as long as it took for her to realize her dream, and he would help her along the way in any way that he could, solely because he loved her and wanted her to have everything she wished.

The housekeeper plopped the rewarmed teapot on the table in front of him, a droplet of light brown water dropping to the white tablecloth below. James glanced up.

“I am sorry for sleeping in late, Mrs. Cramer, but might you refrain from slamming things down?”

“I’m not mad about you sleeping in, Doctor. I’m upset to receive visitors in the middle of the night without warning.”

James stared at the old woman, partially surprised that she would be so daring as to bring up his private life, while also feeling a sudden need to lie, if only to protect Grace’s reputation.

“I wasn’t aware that you heard…”

“Not heard? I’m awake at five o’clock every morning, aren’t I? And not two minutes after I step out of my room, do I hear a knock at the door.”

James frowned, confused. Who had come to call so early? He opened his mouth to ask when the sudden footfall sounded from the staircase and before he could stand up to see who was in his house, the dining room door opened and there stood his aunt.

“Mrs. Fletcher?” He nearly choked, dropping his napkin on the table, and coming around the table. “What are you doing here?”

Flora Fletcher was in her late sixties, with wild, gray hair that was always braided and rarely pinned up.

She wore a gingham pattern dress, nearly a decade out of style, with a lace choker that just peeked out over the edge of her collar.

Her eyes were bright green and always slightly wide, as if she was constantly surprised, which had caused a great many children in Glencoe to tease and taunt her, as she did appear rather wild, but she had never cared for the thoughts of others.

“My presence was requested,” she said as she moved into the room, taking a seat at the table without invitation.

She was a slender woman, but in a way that always caused James to worry. She should eat more, he always told her, but she was a sound believer in eating only vegetables and breads.

“By whom? I did not call you here.”

“No, and I wouldn’t expect it of you. You never call when you’re in trouble.”

He laughed, stunned that she was here.

“What is this, one of your premonitions? I’m fine, truly, there was no need to come all this way.”

“You’ve not been home in over two months.”

Ah, that was why she was here. She was cross with him. Very well, he deserved whatever bitterness she was feeling toward him.

Sitting down next to her, he took her frail hand.

“I am sorry, but I wrote to Dr. Barkley that I was busy. Training your prodigy is rather taxing, you know.”

Her green eyes flashed at the mention of Grace and her hand flexed against his, almost in a panic.

“You must believe her. Whatever it is she’s telling you, I can sense that you do not trust her and if you don’t, she will be next.”

James had never liked when his aunt became like this.

She hadn’t always been so outspoken about her senses in the natural world.

Hell, in his youth he had tried to call her crazy himself, arguing with her or outright ignoring her whenever she became pensive, but however he felt about it, it didn’t matter.

His aunt had a knack for calling things out before they happened, and whether he liked it or not, she seemed to be having a feeling about Grace.

“What is it?” He leaned toward her, his voice low. “What’s wrong?”

Just then a knock at the front door sounded, causing Mrs. Cramer, who had been eavesdropping, to jump.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” she said while crossing herself. “I’ll answer it.”

James wanted to press his aunt further about what she sensed, but before he knew it, Dr. Cameron was standing in his dining room, red-faced and furious.

“Dr. Cameron?” James said, standing up as he dropped his aunt’s hand. “What are you—”

“Your apprentice has ruined me!” he shouted, waving his hand about. “Ruined my reputation, my school, the lives of my students. Everything!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your little harlot went to the constable this morning and told him about some silly stupid toy that supposedly links Mr. Roberts to the graverobbing and in turn me. But I will not go down quietly, oh no. I will sue you and Lady Belle and every bloody person in this city to see justice brought forth.”

The harlot comment was not lost on James, who was finding it difficult to not react.

“Have a care with her name, sir,” he warned, his tone lethal. “Or I will ask you to leave.”

“I will not! You should be ashamed! Your practice, your profession, all wasted so that some chit might pretend and play doctor! And for what? She’s ruining the lives of actual professionals.”

“I have had enough,” James bellowed. The doctor stared at him, stunned at his explosive reaction. “Grace has not done anything wrong. There is an open case about graverobbing, she’s aware of it, has been following it. I’ve been working with the constable for weeks now as well.”

“That doesn’t give her the right—”

“She saw Mr. Roberts—”

“She thinks she saw—”

“For the grace of God, man!” he said, slamming his fist on the table.

“She saw your student paying certain people who have been, or are very close to being linked to the participation in bodysnatching. Now, if you are innocent, what are you worried about? It is a lead that must be followed. If your students are involved in something dastardly, then they don’t deserve to be doctors anyway.

However,” James stated, stepping toward the old man.

“If your students have been doing this on your behalf, then Dr. Cameron, you have some things to explain yourself.”

The old doctor shook with either rage or fear, for after a few sputtering curses, he turned and stalked out of the house. After a long tense moment, the housekeeper spoke.

“Never enjoyed his company anyway,” she said, turning to Mrs. Fletcher. “Tea, mum?”

“No, I should like to see Grace,” she said as she stood up. “Where is she?”

“Probably just returning from the constable’s office. I should like to speak to her as well.”

The two were quick to ready themselves and decided to walk around the block to use the front door, since it wasn’t particularly polite to enter through the kitchens.

Though they were quiet as they walked, James felt a sinking feeling in his stomach that told him something wasn’t right and by the time they reached the front door, Flora seemed to feel it too as she was gripping his arm tightly.

“Something’s not right,” she whispered to him as the door opened to reveal a distressed looking Mrs. Stevens.

“Hello, Dr. Hall. Madam,” she said with a curtsy as she stepped back to allow them entry. “It is good that you are here.”

“What’s happened?”

“It’s Grace. She’s gone missing.”

The pit in James’s stomach pulsated at her words as he and Flora stopped.

“Gone? Where? When?”

Mrs. Stevens pressed a kerchief to her eye to wipe away a tear as Arabella appeared in the doorway of the parlor.

“We don’t know,” she said, coming forward.

“Aunt Belle arrived home, having gone with her this morning to the constable’s office.

Grace told her that she wanted to go to your offices, Dr. Hall.

But that was over an hour ago, and when Andrews went there, he only found Virgil, who said Grace hadn’t been there since yesterday. ”

Releasing his aunt, he stalked into the parlor to find a visibly shaken Belle who was seated before the fire, her fist pressed to her mouth while Andrews hovered over her like a protective guard dog. The black and white cat that Grace had named Penguin sat at her feet, seemingly on guard himself.

“Did she say where else she might go?” he asked. “What did the constable say when you told him about the toy top?”

“He said it was evidence enough to bring in Mr. Roberts for questioning, but doubted that he would reveal who his contacts were. Grace insisted that she knew where they were, Rabbit home, or something, but the constable was more interested in Mr. Roberts and Dr. Cameron, considering that the bodies were likely for the use of students at the university. The constable said it was probable that the men were already gone.” She tapped her mouth with her knuckles.

“You don’t think that she would be foolish enough to go to Gallowgate alone? Not after yesterday, do you?”

A grim mixture of worry, fury, and the like rose up in James’s throat.

“I intend to find out. Excuse me.”

He took off, stalking out of the room, down the hallway, and through the kitchens, causing the maids and footmen to jump out of his way as he headed for the back door.

There was no time to waste. He needed his horse ready and mounted as soon as possible, for if his instincts were right, Grace was in a truly grave amount of danger.