“Really, William? Did you know that hell is just a religious construct used to fear-monger a large group of people into behaving according to someone else’s rules?”
William narrowed his eyes. “Let me guess, you were one of those Theology and Philosophy BA students?”
“Masters, actually.” Edward rocked back, getting himself comfortable on the worn carpet of the bedroom floor. “And yes, I studied at the University of Bath and completed a Masters in London. Turns out, over five years of study in religion gives you a bit of insight into the possibilities of–”
“Haunted manor houses?” William interrupted, already feeling the pins and needles tingling in his toes. He regretted saying no to Edward’s offer of sitting on a pillow.
“Houses, people, objects and many other things, yes.”
“What does a person do with a master’s degree in theology and philosophy anyway?”
With every passing beat, it occurred to William that he really didn’t know anything about the man sitting across from him.
“If I tell you, you’d laugh at me.”
“I’m sat in an alleged haunted house with someone who I hardly know after just being found outside in the rain, digging up the grave of someone who killed themselves here. I think the time of laughing at random things is far behind us.”
“Touché, Will – William.”
“Will is fine,” William said, a strange weight shifting from his shoulders. “I think after what you’ve done for me tonight, that nickname is earned for you to use.”
Even if it reminded me of Archie, even if it hurt me every time you use it.
“All right, Will.” Edward tested the nickname, William almost enjoying the way it sounded on his tongue. “If you really want to know, I went to University to please my dad and make sure that the occupation I’ve always wanted was my own decision and not something the pressure of school put upon me.”
“Dare I ask what occupation that was?”
“Promise no laughing?”
William crossed his heart. “Do I look like someone that laughs a lot?”
“No. Actually, you don’t. And that makes me sad.” Edward seemed to straighten; his chin lifted higher as if he was preparing for a reaction after he answered. “I wanted to be a priest.”
William was highly aware that he was losing control of his face. “A what?”
“You promised!”
He bit down on his lower lip to stifle the giggle that built in his throat. “I didn’t put you down as…”
“Careful, Mr Thorn. Sticks and stones my break my bones, but whatever words are about to come out of your mouth might be the end of me.”
“Priestly,” William fought to keep the laugh in.
“I told you I was eclectic.”
“Religious would’ve been more on the nose.”
“Well, I’m not. I used to be. As you can imagine, those five years at school really put me off the idea.” Before Edward let another question slip out, he asked one of himself. “What did you study?”
“I wouldn’t call it study when I dropped out at the beginning of second year,” William replied. It wasn’t often that he thought back to his short stint at university. “I went to master the art of English Literature, but left with a big ego after I got my first book deal, with a well-to-do publisher in my first year. The advance was healthy, so I took the risk and left one dream to pursue another.”
“Advance or no, it’s no wonder you dropped out,” Edward said, mocking a yawn. “I had a friend who studied the same course. She said that if she ever had to read a Charles Dickens novel again, she’d move to a far corner of the world and rebuke books for a lifetime.”
“Sacrilege,” William mock gasped. “Dickens is one of the greats.”
“Great bores.”
“Coming from the man who actuallyenjoyedreading the Bible.”
