Page 35 of The Beast of Ashwood Manor

“Why are you doing this, Gil?” I asked. “Is it pity?”

“I told you, Cale. I have a passion for words.”

“Oh.”Of course it only has to do with something he loves, not about helping me. He benefits from it because he gets to do something he enjoys.

“It’s getting late.” Gil stood from the table and popped his back. “You should go get something to eat.”

“We could eat in my room.” I stood up and picked up the book to take.

“I’m pretty tired. I’m going to head to bed soon.”

I’m not sure why it always crushed me, but I always nodded and smiled anyway. “All right.”

When we parted, him going upstairs and me to get supper, I instantly missed his company. As I was about to enter the dining room, I heard someone say my name, and I stood outside for a moment, waiting and hoping they weren’t talking bad about me.

“They stayed in there all afternoon,” Natalie muttered. “Can’t imagine what they did.”

“You know Gil,” Royce said in his burly voice. “He ain’t gonna do anything with him. I heard them in there reading. Nothing more.”

“But that’s still good,” Eugenia cut in. “Gil has spent more time with him than any of us in the past few years.”

“I’m telling ya”—Royce cleared his throat—“he’ll string him along and then break his heart.”

“Maybe have a little more faith, Royce,” Edgar spoke up.

“My faith’s all run out. I lived on faith for over forty years. Done. Don’t have any faith in him. Neither one of ’em.”

Someone sighed, and the room went quiet before Annie commented on the meat she was eating.

Feeling nauseous, I turned away and made my way up the stairs.

Iwaseagertomeet with Cale again, which went against everything I had sworn I wouldn’t do. It was hard to stay away from him, especially after promising to teach him to read.

But I went into teaching Cale telling myself I wasn’t going to let him into that inward part of myself, and I didn’t want to know that part of him either. Teaching him to read was one thing. Prying into each other’s lives was another. And I had to be cautious that I didn’t overstep that boundary.

By the end of the week, I was surprised that he was able to already sound out all the letters of the alphabet, read the cat book, and write three-letter words. So, we moved on to writing four-and five-letter words. By the time it was so dark I had to light the lamps, Cale was full of enthusiasm.

“I can’t believe I know so much already!” he exclaimed, his smile broadening across his face. “I want to keep going. Can we keep going?”

I furrowed my brow and took off my specs. “Aren’t you tired?”

“No. This is so fascinating.”

“Why don’t you take another book with you tonight and underline the words again?”

“I guess I can.” He shifted and looked at me then turned away.

I cocked my head and looked at him. “What is it?”

“I just . . .” He turned to me. “Will you please eat with me tonight? The others are quieter around me since I’ve been studying with you. But that’s all we’re doing—teaching and learning. I’ve been eating alone in my room, and I just . . .” He trailed off, twisting his fingers.

I hesitated, knowing full well that a week ago, I’d have told him no. Hell, two nights ago, I had told him no. But the way he looked so nervous, and knowing that the others had taken to gossiping about us in ways that were starting to bother him, I nodded.

“Yes, I’ll eat with you tonight,” I said.

His face beamed, his eyes shining, and I had to look away to make myself not feel for him. It was getting harder to deny the fact I wanted him. If I ate in his room, would I be able to resist any temptation he threw my way? Cale seemed innocent, but there was a side of him that was curious, that wanted to pry. And when he did it, it usually stopped me in my thoughts.

After cleaning our workspace, I got us food from the kitchen and met him in his room. The night was cold and full of nonstop rain. He already had the fire going and the table set.

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