Page 47 of Lessons in Touch

"Don't play dumb, Gabriel. I've been running this school for fifteen years. I know when something's going on."

"Headmistress, I promise you that I keep things professional with all my students. These rumors aren't true."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Completely. I would never do anything to hurt my position here or a student's future."

"I hope not." She opens another file. "Because if I find out that any teacher here has crossed that line, they're finished."

"Of course."

"The teacher would be fired immediately. Their career would be over. Any plans they had for politics would be dead."

Each word hits me like a punch. She knows about my plans to run for senate, and she's making sure I understand what I'll lose.

"And the student?" I ask, even though I don't want to know.

"Expelled. Forever. Her reputation would be destroyed, and her future would be gone. A young woman's whole life could be ruined because one teacher couldn't control himself."

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Very clear."

"Good." She snaps the file shut. "I'm glad we understand each other, Gabriel. You can go."

“Just a question. Who is the student? I mean, the rumors are not true, but who is it about?”

“I haven’t been able to find out yet. But what difference does it make? Oh, well…” she corrects herself. “Unless it’s the Devereaux girl. She has to graduate to get her inheritance. But she won’t if she breaks the rules. The Devereaux family is adamant about that.”

I stand up on shaky legs and walk to the door. Every step feels like walking through mud.

"Oh, Gabriel?"

I turn around.

"I'll be watching you very closely now. Very closely."

I nod and leave her office. I press the button of the elevator with shaky hands, but I try not to let the stress get the better of me.

Back in my office, I close the door and lean against it. The conversation plays over and over in my head. Mrs. Velmont knows something, but not all. If she had proof, I'd be packing right now.

Everything I've worked for could disappear. My job, my research, my political career—all of it hanging by a thread.

And Rose. If Velmont finds out about us, Rose's life is over. She'll get kicked out of Wolfswood, and her reputation will be destroyed.

I sit down behind my desk and put my head in my hands to try and think. We need to be more careful. Much more careful. Maybe even stop seeing each other completely, until she graduates.

But the thought makes my heart hurt.

As I’m trying to wrap my head around that thought, I notice a piece of paper on my desk that wasn't there before. Someone slipped it under my door while I was with Mrs. Velmont.

I open it, and immediately recognize Rose’s handwriting.

Gabriel,

I need to see you. Something happened at the party last night, and I can't stop thinking about it. Meet me in the tower attic at ten. Nobody goes there. I'll be waiting.

Rose