Page 43 of Grace in Glasgow (Seduced in Scotland #3)

Three years later, Lismore Hall

T he warmth from the parlor fire’s blaze was enough to make Grace second guess her wool plaid dress that was trimmed with gold thread. It was a fine gown, far fancier than her usual attire, but one that was expected for Hogmanay celebrations.

Glancing around the room, it was a sight that would always warm her heart for years to come.

Wedged between a frail Aunt Belle and Dr. Barkley sat Hope and Graham’s eldest of three children, a girl named Fiona as they read from a large book.

Grace could not see, but by the look in Aunt Belle’s eye, it was something exciting.

The twins, Elanor and Gregory who were barely two, were cackling with glee at Andrews, who was making faces behind a paper mask that he kept moving in front of his face, causing the two to giggle wildly.

Graham was speaking to Logan and Faith, who were swinging their own child, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy named Ian, by the arms back and forth, as it was proving to be the only thing to keep his attention for very long.

Mrs. Fletcher was in a conversation with James as well, as a pregnant Rose, Aunt Belle’s former secretary, tried to gather the McTavish clan together so that they could be ready to sing in the New Year.

Of course, she was finding it difficult as they were all scattered throughout the room, dancing and chatting loudly amongst themselves.

Penguin the cat chased Jaco the dog around the chairs, causing a great fit of laughter, and Arabella chuckled from the corner of the room.

The elderly Mr. Scott was telling her what appeared to be an amusing story, judging by her smile.

It had been a long time since everyone was together like this.

For the past three years, Grace herself had been working tirelessly on her career.

Having finished her apprenticeship six months ago, she had just returned to Scotland the day before from a surgical stint in Italy, where she had studied under the very surgeon who had performed Aunt Belle’s surgery five years earlier.

She had barely been able to speak to James privately upon her return before they had to embark on a journey north to Lismore Hall.

James had stayed in Glasgow during Grace’s time in Italy, and while their correspondence had been strong during her time away, the atmosphere between them had felt somewhat strained since her return.

Of course, they had been traveling with James’s aunt the whole time, as she had come to live in Glasgow with James in recent months.

But even after their arrival, dinner and whatnot, Grace couldn’t help but watch him and worry that perhaps his feelings for her had lessened over time.

Staring at him now, he must have felt her gaze, for he turned back to look at her.

Grace’s heart began beating wildly, just as it always seemed to do when she was the center of his attention.

Excusing himself from his company, he came across the room, reaching for two goblets of wine as he reached Grace, who was leaning against the window seat that overlooked the snow-covered garden.

“My love,” he said, handing her a glass, which she took. “Are you all right?”

“Very much so. Why? Do I not appear it?”

He shook his head, a touch hesitant.

“To be honest, no. You’ve a look of melancholy on your face and it’s causing me to worry about you.”

Grace grinned.

“When have I ever caused you to worry?” The obvious expression on his face made her chuckle. “Well, I suppose I have from time to time, but you needn’t be worried now.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“Because I’ve decided on something. Something I hope you might assist me with, since I will be lost without you and I can’t very well do it on my own.”

James sighed.

“If this is about the hospital again, I already told you, I will allot as much of my time as I can, but it will be difficult considering my new position at the school and everything.”

“It’s not about the hospital.”

He gave her a suspicious glance.

“Then what is it?”

Grace placed the wine glass that she had not sipped from on an end table.

“Well, I’ve been thinking recently and it has been several months since I’ve been granted the title doctor and I was rather curious…

I mean, I once asked that we might wait to further our, well, relationship until I reached this goal I had and since I’ve reached it, I’m not sure if you were still… I mean…”

She shook her head, staring at her hands while the words formed clumsily from her lips.

“Grace—”

“I just want to know if you were still of the mind to propose, or if your feelings have waned in the years since you made that statement.”

When he didn’t speak right away, Grace felt her throat tighten, but then he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her straight out of the parlor, in the view of everyone.

Mortified, Grace tried to pull her hand away, but he had such a grip on her that he did not let her go, even when they were in the hallway.

“James,” she tried. “Please—”

“You think my feelings have waned? That it is you, who has been waiting these months to hear about a proposal?” he asked incredulously. “For God’s sake, Grace, it is I who has been waiting for you.”

She stared up at him.

“Me?”

“Yes. It was three years ago that you told me that when you finished your schooling, your studying, that you would come to me. But that wasn’t true. You went to Italy instead.”

“To shadow a surgeon.”

“Yes, I understand that. But to assume that you were the one waiting, when you specifically said that you would be the one to come to me, well, Grace. You’ve cut me more than you know.”

Grace, realizing that she had indeed told him such a thing, reached for him.

“Oh, James. I am a fool, aren’t I?”

“The smartest, most clever fool I know.” She smiled, tears stinging her eyes. His hand came up and his thumb brushed against her cheek. “Well? Are you going to ask me?”

A bubble of laughter came from her throat and she nodded quickly.

“James Hall,” she started, gripping his coat lapels. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes,” he whispered, leaning down so that their foreheads touched. “Finally.”

He kissed her for the first time in months and Grace was stunned that so many cheers and whistles sounded within her soul when he suddenly broke away. To her horror and combined pleasure, the entirety of their friends and families stood in the doorway, cheering them on.

In the next moment, the bells chimed and more cheering came.

“ Should old acquaintance be forgot ,” Andrews began to sing, surprising everyone as they all joined in to sing the rest of “Auld Lang Syne”, all under the tired but gleeful gaze of Lady Belle Smyth.

Her nieces were all joyfully on their way to their happily ever afters, just as she promised her sister she would help with, all those years ago.

The End