Grace made a face, aware of what Virgil was trying to say, but not liking it at all because it was true. She would have a far harder time in her field if she went around spouting off her feelings about workers’ rights and sanitary living conditions. But it didn’t mean she had to be quiet, which she was just about to say when a voice cut through the air.
“Miss Sharpe? A word, if you will.”
Grace spun around to see James standing in the doorway of his office at the back of the pharmacy. He nodded briefly once their eyes met before reentering his office, leaving her heart pounding and her head somewhat dizzy.
When had he gotten here?
Evidently, her stunned expression was painted all over her face, for Virgil glanced at her as he hobbled toward the opposite wall, carrying a glass jar full of dried herbs.
“Startled you, did he? My, you’re jumpy today.”
“I thought he hadn’t arrived, is all,” she said lowly, hoping the doctor didn’t hear her.
“He can be incredibly quiet, when he wants to be.”
“Miss Sharpe?” James called again.
Virgil jerked his head.
“Best go see what he wants. He sounds a bit miffed, doesn’t he?”
Did he? Grace hadn’t heard any difference in his tone, except perhaps a bit of urgency and deciding not to keep the doctor waiting any longer, went to the office.
James was standing in front of his desk, with his back facing her and upon hearing her enter, turned.
“Please close the door.”
She did so, unsure why she felt as though she were suddenly in trouble. When she faced him again, however, she was startled to see that he had stepped closer, effectively eliminating any and all space between them. He opened his mouth to speak, but Grace spoke first.
“Dr. Hall, er, I would like to speak first, if I may?”
He stared at her a moment, before speaking. And then—
“James.”
“Beg pardon?”
“You can call me James, if you’d like.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” she said, before exhaling. “I just want to thank you for last night.”
James blinked.
“Thank me?”
“Yes. You see, I’ve decided to test a theory. One that has been on my mind for some years now and I think, because you are as practical a person as I, that it would do well to test this theory. Only if you’re willing to, of course, I wouldn’t want you to feel obligated in any way, it’s just… I’m terribly curious and trying to discover something about myself.”
“That discovery being?”
She paused, unsure how to tell him. It was rather embarrassing and yet, there was something trustworthy in himthat she felt enabled to be honest. Taking a deep breath, she spoke.
“For as long as I could remember, I’ve felt outside of society. As a child, I was never one to run around wildly, or play tricks on family or friends. I’ve always been rather even tempered. Although, my sisters have done their best at provoking me.” She smirked for a moment before it disappeared. “After my parents passed away, I was expectedly sad, but I also became obsessed with how they died. I thought if modern medicine had been more advanced, had a cure been discovered, they might not have needed to pass away so young. It became my obsession. Learning how the human body worked, the cause and effect of one’s surroundings, their environment, food, disposition. I wanted to learn everything I could and so I read and read and read. I was sure if I could find enough texts, I might be able to start to puzzle together not only the human body, but also the human mind.” Her gaze drifted, unfocused, around the room. “Emotions have always been a secondary situation for me. I know how I should react to things, how I’m expected to perform, but I’ve never felt anything on a deeper level, at my core. That’s not to say I haven’t experienced things such as love, but it’s always been familiar at most. I’ve never fancied anyone, nor have I found anyone particularly attractive. For years, the only true emotions I felt were worry at my abnormality and disappointment in my failures, but then, last night…” She shook her head, unable to find the words to describe how she had felt. “It was almost otherworldly, I suppose.” She glanced at him only to find him watching her intently with his bright gray-blue eyes. She swallowed. “I fear I’m not explaining it very well, but being who I am, I would like to investigate it further. With your permission, of course.”
For a long moment, James did not speak and Grace began to worry that she had said the wrong thing. Finally, he inhaleddeeply and folded his arms across his wide chest, exhaling before he spoke.
“Grace, it’s not a practical thing to study, nor is it very wise for a lady to even entertain.”
“But I’m not a lady. I’m going to be a doctor.”
