William’s heart skipped a beat at his reckless use of his lie. “Bought.”
“Right.” Edward’s smile was fleeting, but impossible to not notice. “They wouldn’t have known to tell you.”
“Convenient?”
“I take that as a no,” Edward shifted on his feet. “Because you see my family have been tending to the manor for as long as I can remember. Solicitor or not, it doesn’t change what I do.”
“Take what I say however you like while you promptly getting out ofmyhouse.”
Edward sighed, looked around the room he stood in and stepped towards me. “I apologise again. You might not believe me, but I don’t actually have a habit of forcing my way into others’ homes. Next time, I will be sure to–”
“There won’t be a next time,” William sneered, jabbing the poker so Edward continued to backstep out the front room. The problem was he could only get so far.
William was shaking, but it wasn’t from being scared. It was the hangover, finally sinking its tremendous claws into his body and mind. Whereas the thought of a cold shower the night prior was unpleasing, he couldn’t help but think it would have been the best thing for him now.
They stared at each other in contest for a few awkward seconds.
“May I?” Edward said, gesturing to where William stood.
William was in the way of the door, blocking Edward from leaving. He felt only a little embarrassed, having not realised himself. He quickly shuffled out of the way just as Edward breezed past him.
A waft of cologne washed over William. Like a freshly laid snare, it entrapped him and disarmed him even further. A natural reflex was to inhale deeply. The scent was subtle yet demanding, and William recognised it was musk, sandalwood and something sharper like freshly brewed coffee?
William followed Edward like a dog to a bone, lingering behind him until he finally stopped just outside the front door. A nasty chill snuck into the manor, promising more bad weather. Although the sky was clear and calm, even William recognised the undertone of a storm singing in the winds.
“Where’s your car then?” William asked, looking beyond Edward to the empty driveway. “Or gardener’s van or whatever…”
Edward looked behind him as though he, too, was surprised by the lack of transport. “I prefer to walk to this job,” he finally replied. “All the tools that I need are already here.”
“The nearest village is miles away.”
“Is that concern I hear? A moment ago, you were trying to skewer me.”
William’s cheeks pinched red. “Not at all. In fact, maybe Ishouldcall the police, and then it would save you the long walk back to Stonewell. I hear the back seats of a police car are really comfortable. But I get the impression you already know that, Edward.”
“Thanks for the offer,” Edward said, bowing. William couldn’t believe the adherent attitude that spilled off this man. “But I’d prefer the fresh air.”
Just as Edward finished speaking a drop of rain smacked down upon his head, followed by another and then another.
“Looks like you’re getting more than just fresh air,” William said, smiling to himself as he slammed the door closed in Edward’s face.
Biting down the string of vulgar words he wished to spit at the man, he jammed the key back in the lock, turned it and then walked away. All the while, he felt the burning of russet eyes boring through the back of his skull and the taunting laugh as Edward walked away from Hanbury Manor.
For good, hopefully.
William triple-checked every door and window, making sure they were locked. It had been hours since Edward left, and still William was still unnerved. If his phone hadn’t completely lost power, he would’ve made that call to the police – or at least tried.
“Oh hi, officer, sorry to bother you but this strange and rather handsome man just barged into my house…”
Even his inner monologue sounded desperate and pathetic, especially if Edward had told the truth about being a local to Stonewell. William didn’t think the police would take kind to having a literal stranger, as he was, calling up and reporting a beloved member of Stonewell’s society.
Regardless of his trepidation, William made sure Hanbury Manor was more secured than Fort Knox could dream of being.
Having exhausted every possible room and cupboard during his mission to secure the manor, there were few places left to find the fuse box.
The cellar was one of them.
He stood between the non-descript door that led down to the cellar just at the back of the kitchen. The smell of bad meat had already filled the manor’s ground floor. Turned out the fridge wasn’t only not cold enough for his food, but seemed to warm the few bits he’d stored inside of it. Eventually, when this bout of bad weather passed, he’d need to walk himself to Stonewell so he could replace the spoiled food.
