Her pride somewhat hurt, she should have allowed them to turn away with the last word, but Grace was behaving quite out of character in that moment.
“Dr. Hall is no country physician and rather respected, is he not?” she called out, causing the two to pause at the top of the stairs. “I wonder what your thoughts are about him, having taken me on as an apprentice.”
Mr. Collins and Mr. Roberts stared at one another for a moment before a satisfying smirk spread across Mr. Roberts’s face. He glanced back at Grace.
“I’m sure whatever reasons Dr. Hall has for taking you on as an apprentice have everything to do with your family’s position.”
She laughed.
“Really? You think I’ve somehow bought my way into an apprenticeship?”
“Yes. Your aunt is Lady Belle Smyth, is she not?”
Grace frowned.
“Yes, she is.”
Mr. Roberts pointed up at the doorway behind Grace, causing her to turn around. There, above the doorway was a brass plaque that read:
In honor of her esteemed donation to the betterment and progress of medical studies, Lady Belle Smyth,1850.
The snickers that disappeared behind her were like stones being tossed into a well, the well being her stomach. How hadshe not known about her aunt’s donation to this school? Surely, it should have come up in conversation, particularly since she had known that Grace was going to attend a class here?
Why hadn’t Aunt Belle told her?
Confused and deflated, Grace wished to return to the pharmacy. Reentering the theater to find James, she was momentarily lost in thought when she heard raised voices from behind the curtains.
“It’s not only ridiculous, but dangerous!” Dr. Cameron’s voice echoed in the cavernous room. “A woman shouldn’t be anywhere near an operating table.”
Grace froze.
“I think you’re overexaggerating,” James’s voice countered.
“Really? Would you let her operate on you?”
“Inconsequential. I wouldn’t let any of your students operate on me. They’ve never even cleaned a wound. At least Miss Sharpe has removed boils.”
“Because they need to learn the basics before they can begin to attend a lead physician in a surgery. Miss Sharpe hasn’t studied nearly enough—”
“She’s quite well read—”
“Not beneath an instructor.”
“Because she is not permitted to attend university.”
“Exactly! Because women cannot be doctors. That mentor of yours should have his license revoked for even considering this madness. Just because Barkley couldn’t find another pupil to teach does not mean he can just pick a woman up out of a briar patch and instruct her on medicine.”
James’s tone turned frosty.
“Disparage me all you like, but I will not hear anything against Dr. Barkley.”
A beat. And then.
“I understand your position, Dr. Hall. Really, I do and I sympathize. If it weren’t for Dr. Barkley, you’d not be where you are today and you are a fine doctor.” He paused. “But if you insist on this, allowing a woman to apprentice for you, I fear I will not be able to quell the growing outrage at this decision. You saw my students today. They will not tolerate a woman in this space.”
Grace strained to hear James’s response. A defeated sigh escaped him and Grace was certain she would not like his next words.
“Perhaps you are right,” he said, as Grace’s heart sank into her stomach. “Perhaps there is no place for a woman in your school.”
