“Oh look!” Belle said loudly, interrupting Grace as she strained to peer over her shoulder. “Dr. Hall has arrived.”
Grace spun around and cursed her foolish heart that had jumped into her throat. In a sea of clean-faced gentlemen and pastel-dressed women, James appeared nearly a head taller than everyone else, dressed in a moss-green plaid kilt, black jacket, and matching vest over a stark white shirt. He wore hose up to below his knees, black shoes, and a large fur sporran with three black tassels that bounced against his thighs as he walked toward them.
Mouth open, Grace was paralyzed where she stood as he approached, rather like a magpie entranced by a shiny object. Never had she seen the doctor dressed in formal Highland wear and she was amazed at how very handsome one person could be. Every inch of him seemed to reveal something new and magnificent that she barely recovered herself by the time he reached them.
“Hello,” he said to her and her alone, his gray-blue eyes, two warm pools of want as they gazed over her. Grace fought off the urge to shiver.
“Hello,” she said softly. “I thought you said you weren’t coming.”
“I wasn’t, but I…” He hesitated, before glancing over Grace’s shoulder. “Lady Belle. Miss Scott.”
“Dr. Hall, what a pleasant surprise,” Belle said, scooting around Grace to get in front of her. She certainly seemed to be able to move quickly when she wanted to, despite the cane. “Grace said you weren’t coming?”
“Yes, well, my previous engagement was canceled and I found myself rather bored, to be honest, when I remembered that tonight was Mr. Milton’s ball.”
“How fortunate for us then. Grace was in want of a new dance partner, after her charming cotillion with Mr. Milton just now,” Belle said, adding in a faux whisper, “You know, Mr. Milton was very eager to dance with our Grace. He made it a point to interrupt his duty hosting, just to do so.”
“Aunt Belle,” Grace breathed, embarrassed. Hadn’t her aunt just criticized the man for doing so? And now she sounded as if she were bragging about it. “Please.”
“I cannot fault him for doing so,” James spoke, seemingly unaffected. “Indeed, I should follow his lead. Miss Sharpe?”
He held out his hand and whatever animosity that had been between the two for the past week melted away. Her fingers were gripped gently.
“Do remember to tell Dr. Hall about our upcoming visit to Kelvingrove Park,” Belle added loudly as James led Grace out onto the dancefloor.
Grace stared daggers at her aunt over her shoulder before she gave James a tight smile, just as a waltz began.
For several moments, neither spoke, as the music began. Instead, they just stared at one another, moving with an amount of grace she had never experienced before. He was a proficient dancer, of course, and led the way with such ease that she barely had to count her steps.
“Your aunt is trying to make me jealous.”
“Oh, no,” Grace countered, worried. “I don’t think that was her meaning in telling you about Mr. Milton.”
“I think it’s exactly her meaning and I do not fault her.”
“You don’t?”
“No. I’m beginning to think that Lady Belle believes that something might transpire between us.” He leaned down, close enough to lower his voice, but not quite close enough to be considered indecent. “And while I do not completely understand the rhyme or reason for your experiment, Grace, I have come to the conclusion that I’d rather be at your disposal than be your opposition.”
The words sank into Grace’s heart and once more, a pulsating need coursed through her. Every time she was sure she knew what James was thinking, he surprised her and what’s more, it was always something that made her like him more. Still, she tried not to appear so taken with him.
“You called my experiment deranged.”
“Oh, I still believe it’s deranged and I’m convinced you’re playing with fire, but at least with me, I might be able to protect you from getting burned.”
Grace felt her insides melt as an overwhelming sense of something came over her. She wasn’t sure what it was, having never felt it before, but it was intense. Her affection for this man had grown exponentially since her arrival to Glasgow and she wished she could kiss him at this very moment, to demonstrate her fondness for him.
Of course, she could do no such thing, not in a ballroom full of people. Instead, she squeezed his hand with her fingers. He smirked down at her, eyes alight with pleasure at the small gesture.
“So, tell me about this trip to Kelvingrove Park.”
Grace’s smile vanished.
“Oh, yes. Well, just before you arrived, Mr. Milton invited me, I mean, us. That is, Aunt Belle, Arabella, and I to Kelvingrove Park. A glass house is being constructed and he wishes to show us.”
James’s eyebrow gave a slight twinge.
“I see,” he said, and then after a long pause added, “I should think that with your experiment, you might refrain from giving a man like Mr. Milton false hope.”
