Whipping her head back, she saw a fair-looking man, with a white cravat, vest, and shirtsleeves beneath a pristine black coat. He had a mustache, as was the current fashion, and slightly wavy hair.
“Mr. Milton!” Aunt Belle said cheerfully, offering her hand as the gentleman took it. “It has been an age since I saw you last.”
“Lady Belle. Always a pleasure,” he said before turning back to face Grace and Arabella. “And who have you brought to town now? More dancers?”
“Ah, ha, no,” Aunt Belle said quickly, her wrinkly cheeks turning crimson, Grace noted. “This is my niece, Miss Grace Sharpe and a family friend, Miss Arabella Scott.”
The man’s brow lifted.
“Is that so? I didn’t know Lady Belle had any relatives,” he said, bowing to both women.
“Do you not read the papers, Mr. Milton?” Arabella asked. “It was reported on nearly two years ago.”
“Alas, I was not in Scotland this past year or the year prior. I’ve actually just returned from a tour on the Continent.”
“Yes, I remember,” Aunt Belle said. “You were going to study the architecture of the Austrian opera houses, were you not?” Before he could answer, however, Belle turned to Grace and Arabella. “Mr. Milton here is an architect.”
“Ah, well, I wouldn’t call myself that,” he said quickly. “I’m an admirer of it, but my business is elsewhere.”
“Yes, Mr. Milton built the Milton shopping arcade several years ago. A very successful venture, I believe, is it not, Mr. Milton?”
“You flatter me, Lady Belle.”
“Surely not. Mr. Milton is as modest as he is clever. Tell me, what new projects do you have on your plate?”
The man tilted his head, a satisfied grin creeping across his face.
“Well, I did go to Austria to study the opera houses for a reason. I’d very much like to open another theater, near my shopping arcade if possible.”
“A smashing idea,” Aunt Belle said, jabbing her walking stick on the ground. “The more theaters a city has, the better, I believe.”
“Aye,” he said, before leaning slightly toward Grace. “You see, Miss Sharpe, the Austrians have the very best theaters and I am eager to match their grandeur.”
“They have the best medical theaters as well.”
The man stared at Grace for a moment before Aunt Belle spoke.
“Ah, you’ll have to forgive her, Mr. Milton. My niece is a student of medicine and can rarely speak on anything else,” she added pointedly.
“A student of medicine? You mean to say you’re studying to be a nurse? A noble pursuit, Miss Sharpe.”
“Actually, I’ve plans on becoming a doctor.”
“Oh, aye?”
“Yes.”
For the briefest of moments, Grace felt herself and her company hold their collective breath. It was getting easier to discuss it, but it was still so uneven, the reactions she would get. But Mr. Milton only smirked and, to Grace’s awareness, leaned ever so slightly toward her.
“I should think any sick person to have you as a doctor would be the luckiest patient in the world.”
Stunned momentarily, Grace felt her cheeks warm at the compliment.
“Thank you, Mr. Milton.”
“Mr. Milton,” Aunt Belle said suddenly, stepping between the two. “Be a dear and help an old woman to her seat. I cannot bear to walk up these steps alone. My leg, you see, it’s acting up again.”
“Is it?” Grace asked, concerned.
