Chapter Six
GRACE
Grace stormed into the mansion, climbed up the stairs to her bedroom, and dropped her bag on her bed. Filling her lungs with air, she combed her fingers through her hair and looked at herself in the mirror before leaving for the infirmary.
Moments later, her heart dropped when she found an empty bed where Noah used to be.
Spinning around, she breezed down the corridor and into the doctor’s office. “Mr. Chambery, where’s our patient?”
The doctor raised his eyes from the book he was reading. “Last time I checked, he was with the headmaster in his office.”
“Why?”
Dr. Carl Chambery flipped a page. “He’s cured, and your grandfather wanted to talk to him.”
Nibbling on her lower lip, Grace debated whether she’d go to her grandfather’s office or wait to know more about what was going on.
“Do you need anything else?” the doctor asked.
“No. Thank you.”
Closing the door behind her, Grace chewed on her right thumb. What could her grandfather be talking with Noah about? Was Noah still there? What if he left without her having a chance to speak to him?
“What are you doing here?’’ Michael’s voice startled her.
“Nothing.”
Ignoring him, she paced to the stairs and climbed to her private space in the attic—her refuge and off-limits to the others.
Something wasn’t right, though. She felt it the moment she stepped in there, and the last sun rays streamed down the roof’s window and washed over the red velvet sofa in front of her bookshelves. She often curled up there with a book and a quilt covering her legs while entering the adventurous and romantic world of her favorite authors.
Her space smelled differently. Someone had been there and used her bathroom to shower. Her chest of drawers had been touched. Two drawers with her clothes remained open.
Her eye twitched, and she clenched her jaw. When she was about to turn and unleash hell on the other students, the bathroom door opened, and a male figure stepped out, still drying his hair with a towel.
With wide eyes, Grace came face to face with Noah, wearing a gray t-shirt and sweatpants with the academy’s logo. Her tracksuit. Her comfy stay-at-home clothes.
Her throat became dry, and her mouth slightly dropped at the sight of his gorgeous figure walking her way. Her eyes met his furrowed eyebrows.
She managed to speak. “What are you doing here? Who told you to come here?”
Noah halted in front of her and dropped the towel on the floor. He looked her up and down before walking past her and dropping onto the couch under the sunlight.
“Hey.” Grace turned on her heels. “I’m talking to you. Why are you here and wearing my clothes?”
Noah covered his face with his arm and rested his wet hair against one of the cushions.
“You must be one of the students. I’m Noah, the new substitute teacher.” His voice was sexy and low.
“Substitute teacher?” Grace asked to confirm she’d heard him right. “Of what?”
“Advanced Class of Attack and Defense.”
“That’s the headmaster’s class. He doesn’t need a substitute teacher.”
“He has some business to take care of, and he’ll be away for a few days. Now, could you leave and let me rest? I had a hell of a week.”
Folding her arms, Grace tapped her boot against the floor. “This is my place. You can’t be in here.”