Page 42 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

J ames had exited Lady Belle’s home just as the constable arrived, having been summoned to investigate Grace’s disappearance.

Evidently, the constable had a soft spot for Lady Belle and had come as a personal favor.

Although James didn’t speak to him, the two men were quick to climb onto their horses and take off down the street in an effort to reach Rabbit House as soon as possible.

The fury that had surged through James’s body at the idea of Grace going to such a place alone was only dampened slightly by the existential dread that consumed him as he hurried his horse to move faster.

Ducking around corners and cutting off pedestrians and carriages alike did not bother him, though he did hear the faint call of the constable behind him.

It was dangerous to ride at breakneck speeds through a city, but James did not care.

His only concern was for Grace, who he would promptly put over his knee the moment he reached her for daring to do something so foolish.

He and the constable arrived in Gallowgate quicker than he ever had. Without hesitating he jumped off his still moving horse and ran directly to the front door, banging on it with ire.

“Open up!” he demanded, as the constable climbed off his horse. “Now!”

“We’re full up!” a muffled, female voice called out.

“It’s the police!” the constable called back.

But James’s hands were already holding onto either side of the doorjamb. Bringing his knee up, he kicked the front door open with the booted heel and marched into the small entrance.

“Now see here—”

He grabbed the person, a woman as it were, by the collar.

“Where is she?” The woman snarled and barely let out a word when someone from above called out for help. Dropping her, she fell to the floor as he glanced upward. “GRACE?”

“Quick! She’s upstairs!” the constable yelled, but James was already two steps ahead of him.

He climbed the staircase two steps at a time only to find a dozen doors in a narrow hallway.

He held his hand out to stop the constable and upon hearing a scuffle behind the first door, he took a step back and rammed his shoulder into the thin wood, bursting through the room.

There on a straw bed was Grace, eyes bulging from her head as she reached out toward James while two men hovered above her.

James’s vision went black. In an instant he was grabbing both men by the collars, tossing one to the floor as he attacked the other with a series of blows to the abdomen.

When the other man stood back up, a bald man, James threw the other at him, knocking them both down before he leapt on top of them and continued his shower of fists and cursing to rain down on them like a monsoon of fury.

“James!” Grace’s voice called out, but he could not stop.

It was as if the devil himself had come to possess James and he would not end his reign until both men were dead.

“Hall! For the love of Christ, you’re killing them!” the constable yelled, and it was only after the police chief wrapped James’s arms up and yanked him backwards, causing the doctor to fall on him, was he stopped.

After several minutes of heavy breathing, James rolled to his side and, upon seeing Grace, hair tussled, neck red with finger marks, and tears streaming down her face, did he finally go to her.

He grabbed her, holding her in a painful hug, pressing her body to his and he kissed her forehead, cheeks, ears, and mouth, every inch he could.

“You foolish,” kiss. “stupid,” kiss. “outrageous,” kiss. “damning,” kiss. “woman!” Kiss. Kiss. Kiss. He held her back by the shoulders, shaking her. “Have you any idea what could have happened to you? They were going to murder you!”

“I know,” she cried, nodding as she leaned forward, accepting his biting words with humility. “I’m so sorry.”

“What would I have done without you, Grace? What sort of world would you have left me in?” He kissed her again, this time softer before stopping again.

“When I think of what else they might have done to you…” He turned, almost ready to start his campaign of vengeance again, but at the squeezing of Grace’s finger’s he stopped.

“Please, James. I have to tell you. And the constable,” she said as the chief of police looked at her.

“The missing persons in Gallowgate. These men were killing them, by strangulation. They said Mr. Roberts was paying them twelve pounds a body. On top of the graves that they robbed at the necropolis.”

The constable’s eyes widened.

“Is that so?” She nodded vigorously. “Would you mind coming down to the station to give a testimony?”

“Yes—”

“No. She’s going home.”

“But—”

“As your doctor, I demand you return to your house at once where I can properly examine and diagnose you. Until you are deemed fit, I must refuse any statements delivered to the justice of the peace until you are no longer under duress.”

“But—”

“Grace.”

Swallowing, she eventually nodded, evidently seeing something in his face that told her not to test him.

“Take me home, please.”

With that, she was wrapped up with his arm just as a number of police officers came into the room. They moved down the steps, out of the boarding house, and onto his horse, where he held her close to his chest, keeping the animal below at a steady pace.

Though they didn’t speak the entire ride home, James had to admit that he wasn’t sure what to say or where even to begin.

Since learning that Grace might be in danger and then finding her so close to death, he had sensed his entire foundation shift.

No longer was he concerned with the thoughts and ideas of his fellow physicians, colleges, or patients.

All that mattered to him was Grace and as dangerous as that was, he knew it was a feeling that would never leave him.

He loved her. He loved her so much that he was willing to put his entire life, his entire profession on the line if only to be near her and to make sure she was safe and close.

But did she feel the same?

Upon their arrival to Lady Belle’s home, James helped her off the horse and walked her in through the front door, only to be immediately met with the thankful sighs and yips of joy from the household.

“Oh, my goodness, Grace!” Arabella said, coming forward. “Are you all right?”

“Where did you go?” Mrs. Fletcher asked. “Are you hurt?”

“My dear, that was a terrible idea,” Aunt Belle scolded. “You should be ashamed—”

“She needs rest,” James yelled at the lot of them, causing everyone to quiet down. He continued to help her up the stairs. “I need hot water and blankets. Mrs. Stevens? Send someone to retrieve my doctoring bag from my house at once.”

Everyone began to follow him upstairs, but he turned on them, with Grace still in his arms.

“I will see the patient alone.”

Aunt Belle spread her arms as if to block everyone behind her from passing.

“As you wish, doctor,” she said matter-of-factly. “Everyone! Give this man some room!”

James was down the hallway and in Grace’s room within minutes, sitting her on the bed as he knelt before her.

He touched her chin as gently as possible and turned her face to the side as she winced.

The red marks on her skin sent a rush of fervor through him and he wanted to be back in that room at Rabbit House, pummeling those two men again.

“Bastards,” he said as he gazed up to her.

Her tears had dried on her cheeks and as furious as he was, he was also grateful.

So grateful that she was there. Without thinking, his head fell to her lap as his arms reached around her waist and pulled her toward him.

For a moment she didn’t move, but then her hands began to rub his back and he felt his spirit break.

“James, I’m sorry,” she said as he glanced upward. “I’m such a fool.”

“I can’t have anything happen to you, Grace. Not anything.”

She tilted her head, her brow furrowed.

“Why?”

“Because I love you. I love you as surely as the air in my lungs keeps me alive. I love you beyond reason, beyond measure, beyond clarity.” He paused, the emotion of his confession causing his throat to tighten. “Please, Grace. Promise me, you’ll never do anything so foolish again?”

“You love me?”

“Grace, please promise—”

“Do you really love me?”

“Yes,” he said in a huff. “Of course I do.”

“I love you, James. I do,” she said, sliding off the side of the bed to kneel before him. “I knew it, for a while now, but I didn’t think… I’m sorry.” She wrapped her arms around his neck as his spirits lifted. “I love you and I’ll never do anything so wild ever, for as long as I live.”

She loved him. What a world it was.

After Mrs. Stevens returned with his doctoring bag, he set to work.

Grace was bathed behind the silk screen and dressed in the softest, frilliest night rail and placed beneath the covers.

Once they were alone again, he did a full examination and prescribed her a week’s worth of rest, which was met with arguments, but he insisted.

Once he finished, there was a knock at the door.

“Enter,” James said.

Mrs. Stevens entered the room scowling as she was followed in closely by Constable Murphy. James opened his mouth to speak, but the constable held up his hand.

“I know you have your work, Dr. Hall, but I do as well and I need to question the patient at once.”

“Now listen here—”

“James,” Grace said gently, causing him to turn. “I can manage.”

Although it was obvious to everyone that James would rather she didn’t, he only nodded stiffly. He didn’t leave the room, however, and while the constable appeared annoyed, glancing at the door several times to suggest the doctor leave, James refused.

Sighing, the constable came forward and looked down at Grace.

“Can you explain, in your own words, what led you to Rabbit House and what transpired there?”

“Yes. I went to Rabbit House in hopes to confirm a suspicion I had about one of Dr. Cameron’s students.

You see, I saw Mr. Roberts paying a man outside Rabbit House a few weeks ago while doing rounds with Dr. Hall.

It seemed odd that a medical student would be in Gallowgate without accompanying an attending physician, so I was suspicious.

When Dr. Hall told me about the spinning top toy being found at the grave of Pauletta Tidsale, I remembered Mrs. Monty’s son playing with something similar.

I was sure that the grave robbers were connected with Rabbit House. ”

“And you knew about Dr. Cameron’s involvement?”

Grace shook her head.

“No. I suspected that Mr. Roberts was doing something nefarious, but I didn’t think Dr. Cameron knew about it.” She paused and glanced at James. “He didn’t, did he?”

“I don’t know,” James said, looking up at the constable. “But he was in a foul mood this morning about the entire ordeal.”

“Unfortunately, Dr. Cameron’s involvement seems to be a little more complicated.”

“How so?” Grace asked.

“Well, it seems the doctor was paying a premium for bodies, but had specifically instructed his students not to involve outside parties. Dr. Cameron has been paying for stolen corpses for well over a year now. His student, Mr. Roberts, found the work too strenuous and decided to employ a few fellows from Gallowgate, who also didn’t particularly care for digging up graves.

When one of the occupants at Rabbit House died in his sleep, they handed his body over and were paid extra for the, er, well, I suppose the freshness of the body.

” The constable shifted from one side to the other, visibly uncomfortable with his own words.

“It sparked an idea and when Mr. Roberts offered to pay them extra for clean, fresh corpses, they decided to take matters into their own hands.”

Grace’s hand lifted to her mouth and James took a step forward.

“I think you’ve asked enough questions for now. Please, allow her some rest.”

“Well, we didn’t get to what happened to her in Rabbit House.”

“She was attacked. Nearly killed, what else must she tell you?”

“Dr. Hall, if you’re going to interrupt me, I’ll have to ask you to step outside.”

“Not bloody likely.”

“Please, the both of you,” Grace said, lifting her hands to stop them. “I’m perfectly capable of speaking. Now, Constable Murphy, continue.”

The constable asked several more detailed questions, things that certainly didn’t seem like they were important, at least to James.

Things like what her assailants were wearing and exactly what time she arrived at Rabbit House.

Eventually though, the constable finished and with a nod, thanked the both of them before leaving.

Grace fell asleep soon after and he waited until he heard the gentle snores coming from her before leaving her to sleep in peace.

Upon exiting the room, he found Aunt Belle with that damn cat at her feet. It seemed she had climbed the stairs unassisted and was watching him with intent.

“Yes?”

“How is she?”

“Bruised but otherwise unharmed.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“What are your intentions, Dr. Hall? I know I am a senile old woman, but I am not blind. You care for my niece a great deal and I wish to know your intentions.”

James sighed, scratching his beard for a moment.

“I doubt anyone would ever accuse you of being senile, Lady Belle. In regards to Grace, however, I am fond of her. More than fond, actually. I love her.” Belle smiled. “But she does not wish to marry. At least, not until her apprenticeship is over with and she is a fully fledged physician.”

Belle frowned.

“Yes, I thought so. Well then, I suppose there is no helping it. Grace will have what she wants. But afterwards, Dr. Hall. What about when she reaches her goal, what then?”

He shook his head.

“I do not know. But I promise that I will only ever be in the business of making her happy. I do not care if she ever marries me. I just wish to be by her side always. I want to be there for her as no other person can or will be.”

Aunt Belle smirked, seemingly satisfied.

“Good. Then I believe you will be.”

He let out a soft, pitiful laugh.

“Until she realizes how much better she can do.”

Aunt Belle’s smirk vanished.

“Do not question the loyalty of a Sharpe woman, Dr. Hall. Grace is her own person, but she looks at you the same way Hope sees her Graham or how Faith sees her Logan. I believe you will have your own bride, given the time and the gentle touch I know all you doctors to possess.”

With that, Aunt Belle turned, as did the cat, and before he could stop himself, he hurried forward.

“Let me help you down the stairs.”

“What a dear. I shall be very happy indeed when I get to call you my nephew-in-law.”