“I wasn’t aware that you heard…”
“Not heard? I’m awake at five o’clock every morning, aren’t I? And not two minutes after I step out of my room, do I hear a knock at the door.”
James frowned, confused. Who had come to call so early? He opened his mouth to ask when the sudden footfall sounded from the staircase and before he could stand up to see who was in his house, the dining room door opened and there stood his aunt.
“Mrs. Fletcher?” He nearly choked, dropping his napkin on the table, and coming around the table. “What are you doing here?”
Flora Fletcher was in her late sixties, with wild, gray hair that was always braided and rarely pinned up. She wore a ginghampattern dress, nearly a decade out of style, with a lace choker that just peeked out over the edge of her collar. Her eyes were bright green and always slightly wide, as if she was constantly surprised, which had caused a great many children in Glencoe to tease and taunt her, as she did appear rather wild, but she had never cared for the thoughts of others.
“My presence was requested,” she said as she moved into the room, taking a seat at the table without invitation.
She was a slender woman, but in a way that always caused James to worry. She should eat more, he always told her, but she was a sound believer in eating only vegetables and breads.
“By whom? I did not call you here.”
“No, and I wouldn’t expect it of you. You never call when you’re in trouble.”
He laughed, stunned that she was here.
“What is this, one of your premonitions? I’m fine, truly, there was no need to come all this way.”
“You’ve not been home in over two months.”
Ah, that was why she was here. She was cross with him. Very well, he deserved whatever bitterness she was feeling toward him.
Sitting down next to her, he took her frail hand.
“I am sorry, but I wrote to Dr. Barkley that I was busy. Training your prodigy is rather taxing, you know.”
Her green eyes flashed at the mention of Grace and her hand flexed against his, almost in a panic.
“You must believe her. Whatever it is she’s telling you, I can sense that you do not trust her and if you don’t, she will be next.”
James had never liked when his aunt became like this. She hadn’t always been so outspoken about her senses in the natural world. Hell, in his youth he had tried to call her crazy himself, arguing with her or outright ignoring her whenever she became pensive, but however he felt about it, it didn’t matter. His aunthad a knack for calling things out before they happened, and whether he liked it or not, she seemed to be having a feeling about Grace.
“What is it?” He leaned toward her, his voice low. “What’s wrong?”
Just then a knock at the front door sounded, causing Mrs. Cramer, who had been eavesdropping, to jump.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” she said while crossing herself. “I’ll answer it.”
James wanted to press his aunt further about what she sensed, but before he knew it, Dr. Cameron was standing in his dining room, red-faced and furious.
“Dr. Cameron?” James said, standing up as he dropped his aunt’s hand. “What are you—”
“Your apprentice has ruined me!” he shouted, waving his hand about. “Ruined my reputation, my school, the lives of my students. Everything!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Your little harlot went to the constable this morning and told him about some silly stupid toy that supposedly links Mr. Roberts to the graverobbing and in turn me. But I will not go down quietly, oh no. I will sue you and Lady Belle and every bloody person in this city to see justice brought forth.”
The harlot comment was not lost on James, who was finding it difficult to not react.
“Have a care with her name, sir,” he warned, his tone lethal. “Or I will ask you to leave.”
“I will not! You should be ashamed! Your practice, your profession, all wasted so that some chit might pretend and play doctor! And for what? She’s ruining the lives of actual professionals.”
“I have had enough,” James bellowed. The doctor stared at him, stunned at his explosive reaction. “Grace has not doneanything wrong. There is an open case about graverobbing, she’s aware of it, has been following it. I’ve been working with the constable for weeks now as well.”
