“Yes,” Grace said finally, her voice slightly breathless, causing a part of James to wonder why. “Dr. Hall and I have the same mentor. I’ve come to Glasgow to study under him.”
“Oh,” Mr. Milton said, his brow lifted. “So, you are her teacher?”
“No.”
James silently cursed at himself for his blunt response. The hurt that flashed in Grace’s eyes was enough to bother him, but there was something about being called her teacher that felt wrong. He was, in every sense of the word, teaching her medicine, but the power balance seemed inexcusably skewed. If she were a man, he’d likely have no trouble being introduced as a teacher, but there were other things at play. Her rank in society, her cleverness and determination. The way she became still whenever anyone spoke, as if she were not only taking in every word, but every detail. It was heartening and yet, it couldn’t bebecause he didn’t want to think of her as someone that had any effect on his heart.
No, God forbid she did that.
“I mean, yes,” he said, remembering himself. This was not a situation that he wished to have any part in and he wanted nothing to do with Grace Sharpe, or any of her personal relationships. It would be best to remove himself from this little tête-à-tête. He needed to walk away that instant, or he might do or say something that would ruin whatever reservation he had left. “If you’ll excuse me.”
Moving past the two, he was already down the steps when he heard Grace speak.
“If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Milton, I believe Dr. Hall might be able to help with my task.”
“Of course. Until next time, Miss Sharpe.”
James felt trapped. Whatever he was meant to be doing out here, he had forgotten and suddenly he wished to leave the opera house altogether. But then the gentle graze of fingertips on his sleeve stalled him. He turned around to see Grace’s amber eyes watching him.
“I’m sorry to have interrupted you. Please, do not let me hinder you.”
She frowned and glanced back toward the stairs where Mr. Milton was no longer.
“You mean Mr. Milton? I’ve only just met him.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“It certainly seemed you and your new acquaintance are on friendly terms. I would have guessed you met before.”
“I’m afraid not. I was only just introduced to him this evening by my aunt.”
The mention of Lady Belle set a bitter taste in James’s mouth.
“Yes, your aunt. Tell me, is it her fault that you’re out of the opera box, wandering the halls unaccompanied?”
Grace tilted her head.
“Yes, actually. She requested some sort of medicine she had left in the carriage.”
That got his attention.
“Medicine? What medicine?”
“My reaction exactly.”
“An usher couldn’t handle the task?”
Grace sighed and her chest rose. James had to avert his eyes, lest he appear to be staring at her.
“She insisted that I do it.”
There was no possible way for Lady Belle to know that the Baroness Glengirth would have requested a refreshment at the same time Grace was sent to gather medicine, yet James couldn’t help but feel as if the entire meeting had been orchestrated.
But really, that was likely his imagination running away with him. Good Lord, he sounded like the baroness. So instead, he held out his arm to her.
“Come. I shan’t let you go out into the Glasgow night to search carriages without at least an escort.”
