Although she had become used to the remarks that people made about her once they discovered her intention to become a doctor, this lack of faith hurt for some reason. Quickly, she exited the room once more and waited for James. Once Dr. Cameron and his assistant departed, James followed and he and Grace left the building in silence. Although he couldn’t know how she was feeling, Grace was aware of him watching her. When they were finally in the carriage, he spoke.
“I’m sorry if you were met with some resistance by the others. Dr. Cameron and his students can be particular about who shares their surgical theater.”
Grace remained perfectly still.
“It was an informative lesson. Thank you for including me.”
Though she tried to speak with a stiff coldness, her heart was racing. James frowned.
“Are you well?”
“Yes.”
A pregnant pause.
“You don’t seem to be.”
“Would you like to check my forehead?” she asked sarcastically. “I am fine.”
“Very well,” he replied. “Then perhaps we should return to our previous discussion.”
“What discussion?”
“Your experiment.”
Shame suddenly reached up and wrapped around her, like a drowning hand searching for leverage. Why she had ever even considered speaking to him about that, she couldn’t comprehend. It was just that, for a moment during their night at the opera, Grace had felt sure and safe with him. As if she could tell him anything and yet, in the miserable aftermath of hearing him agree with Dr. Cameron, Grace couldn’t help but feel betrayed.
“I don’t wish to discuss that with you.”
He stared at her as the carriage rocked back and forth across the cobblestone streets. His cool blue-gray eyes bore into her and she had to look down.
“Why not?”
“Because.”
“I think I’m entitled to it.”
Her gaze snapped up to meet his.
“How so, are you entitled to it?”
“If you’re planning on carrying out some sort of affair while under my tutelage, I should like to be aware of it, so that I might take some precautions in protecting my reputation as well as yours.”
She stared at him and blinked.
“You would try to protect me? Even if I did something so foolish?”
“At least you are aware that it is foolish, although if you intend to go through with it, I may question your sanity. But yes. I would try to protect your reputation.”
“So that I might experiment with another man?”
There was a small twitch just below his right cheekbone. Though she couldn’t see if he was clenching his jaw through his beard, the heat in his stare seemed to confirm it.
“Yes.”
“Augh!” She let out, unable to control her frustration. Her hands curled into fists as she pounded the seat on either side of her. “Arrogant man.”
He blinked.
