Tuesday (The Days of the Week #2)

Chapter Eight

I barely slept that night, my mind racing with the implications of what I had seen. The creature's glowing eyes haunted me every time I closed my eyes. At some point, sheer exhaustion must have pulled me under because I startled awake to sunlight streaming through a gap in the heavy curtains.

I looked around, taking in the dresser still in front of the door. Several joints popped as I uncurled from my spot at the end of the bed. I dragged myself over to the bathroom to splash water on my face.

My reflection in the mirror was pale, dark circles under my eyes standing out like bruises. I ran a hand through my tangled hair and took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I needed answers, and I was not going to get them by hiding in my room.

I quickly dressed and, with a great deal of effort, moved the heavy dresser back to its original position. I paused with my hand on the doorknob, listening for any sound from the hallway. Silence. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.

The hallway was empty, sunlight filtering through the windows at the far end. I stepped out cautiously, my gaze darting left and right. No sign of the creature or anyone else. I turned to look at the door.

My stomach dropped as I took in the deep gouges marring the dark wood. Four parallel scratches ran from top to bottom, the edges ragged and splintered. I reached out with a shaking hand to trace one of the grooves, swallowing hard.

It had not been a nightmare. Part of me had truly hoped it was. But the creature had been real. Feeling light-headed, I hurried down the hallway and descended the grand staircase. The manor was oddly still, with none of the usual sounds of the staff going about their duties.

I reached the ground floor and headed for the dining room. I paused in the doorway, surprised to find the room empty. The table, usually set for breakfast, was bare. Muted voices drifted from the hallway and I followed the sound, my nerves stretched taut.

Pushing open the door to the kitchen, I stepped inside. I blinked in the sudden brightness of the kitchen, the morning sunlight streaming through large windows. The staff stood in a clump with Holloway at the forefront. He fell silent at the squeak of the door hinges, and everyone turned to look at me.

The staff watched me warily, as if unsure what to make of my presence. I cleared my throat.

“Has anyone seen Mr. Ashcroft this morning?” I asked, my voice sounding too loud in the hushed kitchen.

The staff exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.

Finally, Holloway answered. “Mr. Ashcroft is...indisposed this morning, Dr. Blackwood. He asked not to be disturbed.”

I frowned. “Indisposed? Is he sick?”

Holloway's expression remained carefully neutral. “Mr. Ashcroft is simply resting after a long night. He will join you later.”

I studied the butler's face, searching for any hint of deception. But his features gave nothing away. I turned my attention to the rest of the staff, who all seemed to be very interested in the floor or the walls - anywhere but looking at me directly.

I forced a tight smile. “I see. Well, in that case, please tell him I returned to town.”

Holloway stiffened. “I'm afraid that won't be possible, Dr. Blackwood. Mr. Ashcroft insists you remain at the manor until the search for the missing boy is complete.”

I felt a flash of irritation, my exhaustion shortening my patience. “With all due respect, Mr. Holloway, I am not a prisoner here. I have patients in town who need me. And I need to update Aiden's parents on the progress of the search.”

The butler's expression remained impassive, but I caught a flicker of something in his eyes. Worry, perhaps. Or fear. “Dr. Blackwood, I must insist-”

“No,” I cut him off, my voice sharp. “I am leaving. Now. If Mr. Ashcroft wishes to discuss the matter further, he can find me in town.”

I turned on my heel and pushed through the kitchen door, running smack into an immovable body. Hands gripped my upper arms, steadying me as I stumbled back a step, and I slowly tipped my head back to meet William’s gaze. He looked pale, dark circles under his eyes mirroring my own. But there was an intensity in his eyes that made my pulse race.

“Christina,” he said, his voice low and rough. “We need to talk.”

I swallowed hard, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. “William, I was just coming to find you.”

His grip tightened, his touch burning through the thin fabric of my blouse. “Join me in my office,” he said.

I frowned, pulling back slightly. William's grip remained firm, not painful but immovable.

“Mr. Ashcroft, as I was just telling your staff, I need to return to town today. I have responsibilities.”

Something flickered in William's dark eyes, there and gone too quickly for me to decipher. After a long moment, he released my arms and took a step back.

“Of course, Dr. Blackwood.” His tone was carefully neutral, but I sensed an undercurrent of tension beneath the words. “But I must insist we speak privately before you leave.”

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder at the silent staff still gathered in the kitchen. Turning back to William, I gave a curt nod. He looked into my eyes as if searching for something before he returned my nod. He held the door open with one hand, gesturing for me to proceed him with the other.

I walked past William into the hallway, my skin prickling at the bare inches between us. As I led the way, I felt the weight of his gaze on my back like a physical weight. His silence was heavy, the tension radiating off him.

When we reached his office, he reached past me to open the door, his arm brushing against mine. I shivered at the barely there touch. I saw his head turn toward me from the corner of my eye. He gestured for me to enter.

As I passed, William leaned forward and a warm breath caressed my cheek. Had he just smelled me? The door closed behind us with a soft click and I turned to him. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed, most of him in shadow.

“You’re scared,” he said.

I blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

He walked around me to stand behind his massive oak desk, putting a physical barrier between us. His dark gaze locked onto mine. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night at dinner. It was...inappropriate of me.”

I raised my eyebrows, not having expected an apology. “I appreciate that, William. But I think we both know there are larger issues at play here.”

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “Such as?”

“Something tried to get into my room last night,” I said bluntly.

William went very still, his expression unreadable. “Something tried to get into your room?” he repeated slowly.

I nodded, watching his face closely. “Yes. Some kind of...animal. It was massive, William. And it left claw marks on my door.” I swallowed hard, the memory of those glowing eyes sending a shiver down my spine.

William's gaze flicked away from mine, focusing on a point over my shoulder. “You must have been mistaken, Christina. There are no animals in the manor.” But his voice lacked conviction.

I took a step forward, my hands gripping the back of the chair in front of his desk. “There are claw marks,” I repeated.

“A dog, maybe. My groundskeeper owns a mastiff.”

I shook my head. “No dog made those marks, William. It was something much larger.”

William's jaw clenched and he looked away, staring out the window at the dreary morning. After a long moment, he spoke, his voice low and tense.

“What exactly did you see, Christina?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “It was massive. Bigger than any dog I've ever seen.” I considered the strange way the creature had moved as it stalked me. Unnatural and wrong, somehow. “And it wasn't just scratching at the door. It was trying to break it down to get to me.”

William remained silent, his gaze fixed on the gloomy landscape outside the window. His shoulders were taut with tension beneath his tailored suit jacket.

“If you have a dangerous animal wandering your estate—”

His head snapped around, amber eyes flashing. “Dr. Blackwood,” he said flatly. “There is no such animal.”

I blinked at his use of my title. What happened to Christina? I could feel the wall going up between us, and it hurt far more than it should. I had only known the man for a few days. I should not care as much as I did.

I sighed, my shoulders sagging slightly. “What did you want to talk about, Mr. Ashcroft?”

He was silent for a long moment, the only sound the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. His expression was unreadable as he finally turned away from the window to face me fully. He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the desktop.

“I wanted to offer my help with the search today.”

I stared at him, wondering if I had heard him correctly. “You want to help with the search?”

He nodded, his expression serious. “Yes. I know these grounds better than anyone.”

I frowned. Why now? I had spent all day yesterday wandering the grounds with Alistair. I studied William closely, trying to read between the lines of his offer. His sudden willingness to help with the search, after keeping me at arm's length, set off alarm bells in my head. But I could not afford to turn down any assistance, not with Aiden still missing.

“Okay,” I said slowly. “When can we start?”

William straightened, his hands sliding off the desk. “Immediately.”

He moved toward the door, then paused when he drew even with me. His gaze dropped to my mouth, lingering there for a long moment before he dragged his eyes back up to meet mine.

“Meet me at the back entrance in ten minutes,” he said, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

With that, he swept out of the office, leaving me standing there. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. William Ashcroft was an enigma, one moment cold and distant, the next intense and magnetic. I could not get a read on him, and it unnerved me.