“Go home, Edward,” William said, trying to push the door closed but Edward’s hand was still stopping him.
Edward bristled at William’s comment. Pain lanced through his eyes, catching him by surprise.
There was more thunder and lightning, and then William made yet another mistake.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” William stepped aside, ushering Edward into his safe space with a sweep of his hand. Edward must’ve caught the dramatic roll of William’s eyes, but he didn’t say anything but ‘thank you’ as he brought the rain inside the entrance hall.
“Thank you, seriously,” Edward said, shivering like a dog caught out in a storm. Pretty fitting, William thought, all considering.
“Don’t thank me yet,” William said, amusing himself with Edward’s state. He was completely drenched through. Then William noticed the growing puddle on his not-so-clean floors, and felt the heat of rage simmer in the back of his head.
Edward noticed. “I’ll clean it up. Scouts honour.”
Breathe. Just breathe.
“Yes, you will. I guess the walk back to Stonewell not as enjoyable as you’d hoped?”
“Refreshing would be a word Icoulduse,” Edward said, shaking his hair and splattering water all up his walls. “Enjoyable wouldn’t be a word I picked.”
“Do you mind!” Frustration boiled over, heightened as water splashed across William’s face. He pointed to the doormat Edward was currently standing on. “Don’t move another muscle. There’s already enough damp in this house; I don’t need you making it worse.”
William turned on his heel, putting his back to a potential threat. Yes, he really was a terrible Final Gay.
“Leaving me so soon?” Edward called out.
William didn’t stop moving towards the stairs. “Unless you would prefer to stand there soaking wet and cold, then yes. I’m am. Just do me a favour and don’t leave that bloody doormat.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
As William rounded the corner, he caught Edward smiling to himself, hand raised in salute to his forehead.
His warm laugh followed William all the way to the airing cupboard upstairs, where he fished out a rough cotton towel that was so dry it would scratch layers of skin off. He didn’t go back downstairs until the poker was back in his hand, and his phone, which was halfway charged.
“Here,” William said, thrusting the towel at Edward’s chest. He was surprised by the solid form and unwavering posture, even if William thought the shove was slightly too hard.
“My saviour,” Edward mocked, already bringing the towel to his drenched chestnut-brown hair and rubbing it vigorously, all without taking his gaze off William.
“You won’t be saying that when I send you back out into the storm.” William placed his hands on his hips and bent his left leg to lean on the right. It was a stance Archie used to mock him for, one William never knew he was doing it until he was… well, doing it.
A fork of lightning lit the cloud-infected sky in a cast of silver, followed by an earth-shattering bout of thunder. William couldn’t help but jump at the sound, whereas stoic Edward seemed unfazed.
“You know, I can tell you’re not from around these parts,” Edward said, wagging his finger at William.
“Is that a hidden insult I hear beneath your observation?”
“Not at all.”
“Perhaps you keep those comments to yourself then, yes?” William replied, leaning further onto his right leg. “Instead, tell me how you left Hanbury hours ago, and have somehow found your way back.”
Instead of answering, Edward took his time looking over William. Brow furrowed and lower lip caught between his teeth, he mapped out the new owner of Hanbury Manor in silence.
“What?” William barked.
“The Cotswold air is believed to make a person more… friendlier, but it would seem you’ve not been around long enough to benefit. Yet. Consider this an educated guess, but you’re a city boy right?”
And proud. “Any more insults, Edward? I’ve just let you in my house, so I’d be careful how you respond to that. Oh, emphasis onmyin case it slipped your mind from earlier.”
Edward lifted a single dark brow in jest. “Sorry about that, again.”
