First Comes Scandal

Georgie wasn’t sure she wanted to see that, but she was eager to see the room where her husband spent so much of his time.

It wasn’t difficult to find the anatomical theater, but as it had well over a hundred men in it, all facing away from her as she peeked through the door, finding Nicholas from among the many was. Georgie was wearing a deep green day dress and a hat that wouldn’t be called fancy in any drawing room, but in this place she was decidedly out of place.

And conspicuous.

But luck was on her side. The bench just outside the door was positioned such that if she leaned over the armrest she could hear almost everything. She didn’t recognize half the words, but the context was helpful, and she was riveted.

“Did you hear that?” she whispered to Marian. Something about blood, and how much of it was in the human body.

Marian closed her eyes. “I’m trying not to.”

Georgie leaned further. Now the lecturer was talking about why blood was red, and how bloodletting was frequently essential to restore balance to the nervous system.

“The body is an animated machine!”

Georgie looked down at her hands. “I suppose,” she murmured.

“What are you doing?” Marian whispered.

Georgie shushed her, tipping her ear back to the open door. Drat, she’d missed something.

“… perform a variety of motions …” Georgie opened and closed her hands. All right. She could accept that.

“… and to communicate and interact with external bodies.”

Well now, that just made her think of Nicholas.

“We’re leaving,” Marian declared.

“What? No.”

“You’re flushed. I don’t know what they are talking about in there, but I know it is not appropriate.” Marian stood up with alacrity, exchanged a few quick words with Jameson, who had been waiting on the other side of the hallway, and then ushered Georgie right out the building’s door and into the courtyard.

Chapter 21

“Georgiana?”

Nicholas’s heart had nearly stopped when he exited the lecture hall and saw Jameson waiting for him in the corridor. There was no reason why the footman should be here in Edinburgh, much less on the grounds of the medical school.

No reason except an emergency.

Jameson must have seen the panic on his employer’s face, because before Nicholas could get out anything more than, “What are you—” Jameson blurted, “Nothing’s wrong, sir!”

Still blinking with surprise—and yes, concern, even though he’d been assured there was no reason for it—Nicholas let the footman lead him out into the sunny courtyard where his wife waited.

“Georgiana?” he said again. She was chatting with her maid and must not have heard him the first time. “What are you doing here?”

“Nicholas!” she cried with clear delight. She jumped to her feet to greet him. “I have splendid news!”

His first thought was—she’s pregnant.

Except that it was too soon. Not for it to have happened—their recent behavior was of the sort that pretty much guaranteed it would happen. But it seemed too soon for her to know. Maybe suspect, but not know.

And besides, it wasn’t the sort of thing she’d tell him right in the middle of a busy academic courtyard.

He took her outstretched hands, still somewhat suspicious of the joy on her face. “What is it?” he asked.

“Oh, don’t look so concerned,” she said. “I promise, it’s nothing but good news.”

“I am concerned,” he told her. “I can’t help it. I was not expecting to see you here.”

Not to mention that she’d never been to Edinburgh before. She didn’t know her way around the city, and there were many areas that were not safe for a lady. Hell, there were many areas that weren’t safe for him.

“I spoke with Mr. McDiarmid,” she said.

“Who?”

Something impatient flashed across her face, but then she seemed to shake it away. “Mr. McDiarmid. The land agent.”

“Oh, yes.” Damn it, he’d been meaning to go see the man for over a week. It was just so difficult to find time with all of his academic commitments. “My father’s man.”

“No, he’s been in touch with your father’s man,” Georgie corrected. She gave his hands a tiny squeeze before tugging her own away. “I assure you, he’s never met your father in person. If he had—Well, that’s hardly here nor there.”

Nicholas stared at her for a moment, but no, she didn’t seem to have any intention of illuminating that cryptic remark. “Would you please just tell me what is going on,” he said. Honestly, he didn’t have the energy to guess.

“I found us a house!” she exclaimed.

“Why, that’s won—”

But she was far too excited to listen to his congratulations. “He didn’t want to show me anything at first,” she said, probably not even aware that she’d cut him off. “He insisted that you be there, even though I told him that you were terribly busy, and if he wanted our business he was going to need to deal with me.” She paused, rolling her eyes. “He’s really not a nice man, but I put up with him since I just wanted to find a house.”

“You leased a house?” Nicholas asked.

“I haven’t signed anything of course. You need to do that. But I told him that you’d entrusted the search to me and that you would go along with whatever I chose.” Her eyes narrowed a bit, and her lips pressed together before she added, “You’d better like what I picked out, because if you don’t I’m going to look a fool and worse, that awful man will never do business with another woman again.”

“It sounds as if women shouldn’t want to do business with him,” Nicholas said.

“I hadn’t much choice, not if I wanted something right away. Besides”—she flipped her hand in the air in a this-ought-to-be-obvious sort of motion. “I don’t know how to find another land agent.”

They’d likely all be the same way, Nicholas thought. Most men would be willing to do business with a widow, who could sign her own contracts, but not a married lady. Not when her husband could so easily gainsay her.

“How did you get him to show you the properties?” he asked her.

She gave him a cheeky grin. “I told him I’d find another land agent.”

He laughed out loud at that. “Brava,” he told her. “I am impressed.”

“You should be,” she said pertly. She was clearly impressed with herself, and it was stunning how much Nicholas liked seeing that expression on her face.

“Can we go to his office now?” she continued, all brisk determination. “He said you could tour the property this afternoon. I’ve been crossing my fingers that you would be free.”

“I am free, but I don’t need to see it.” Nicholas reached out and hooked her pinkie finger with his. “If you think it’s suitable, I trust you.”

She looked at him as if she could not quite believe his words. “You do?”

“Of course.” He shrugged. “Regardless, it ought to be more your decision than mine. You’ll be there more than I will.”