Page 58 of Seduce & Destroy

He nodded.

My father shook his head. “When could she have been exposed to tea tree oil? Her mother had the same allergy. I’ve made sure that no tea tree oil products are used.”

“It’s a common ingredient in many products, cosmetics or medicine.”

“Don’t test my patience. Each item that comes onto the premise is vetted.”

“Perhaps it’s not an item, but a person. Like in fragrance.”

“Fragrance?” Father turned to me, his gaze darkening. Only one person came close enough for me to breathe in their perfume for a prolonged period of time. “Symptoms started six weeks ago. Fuck!”

I sat back in silence. It all made sense.

“Is that a plausible conclusion?” His head turned toward me for reassurance.

A little sombre, I gave him a nod. I could hear Father seething in the corner.

Then, Father dragged Dr Borley to a quiet corner of the library, where they exchanged hushed tones. After the fourth occasional glance thrown at me, I tilted my head, confused. When they returned, it was tense.

“Leave,” Father said.

Kneeling, Dr Borley gathered the supplies he’d brought as I continued to simply sit and think.

“But, Laney,” The doctor lowered his voice to a whisper. “It is in my professional experience that grief and mental stressors do not disappear without facing it, I think you shoul–”

“Leave,” Father repeated, unmistakable command in his voice before he brought his gaze to meet mine. “We have our diagnosis.”

Without another word, the doctor left, and Father sat in the chair he’d just evicted. Bereft. After ten minutes of silence, he pulled a folded letter from his suit pocket.

“This correspondence was delayed, it’s from Aldo Novelli. He’s arriving later today for an urgent meeting. He didn’t tell me the reason, but I want you to attend.”

He handed me the open letter, but he didn’t look pleased, which was unusual for him, especially when someone as close an ally as Aldo Novelli was coming. Instead, he looked like he wished Novelli was at the bottom of the North Sea. Something was on his mind that he wasn’t ready to share.

"Father, please tell me what’s going on," I said, laying my hand on his arm and looking at him imploringly.

"Maybe," he replied, gently smoothing my hair.

"Does the doctor think I’ll recover?

"Of course, Sunshine, he thinks if we take the right steps, you'll be on the road to recovery in a day or two," he answered dryly. "I just wish Aldo Novelli had chosen a different time. I need you to be well to welcome him."

"But please, Father," I insisted, “How do I heal?”

“Distance.” My heart collapsed in on itself. “Away from the allergen. Or the cause of the allergen.”

“But–”

"That’s all. Don’t bother me with questions," he answered with more irritation than I'd ever heard from him. Seeing that I looked hurt, he kissed me on my cheek and added, "You’ll know everything in a day or two at least, all that I know. In the meantime, don’t worry about it."

He turned to leave the room but came back before my mind wandered to her and how I kicked her out of my room last night. He only mentioned we were going to the Karstein ruins to meet Novelli and that we’d start walking at dusk.

“Don’t let her out your sight.” Father poked a finger into Neenan’s chest where he had stood guard at the door. “Not for even a moment.”

I could barely hear their next words. “Where’s Kenna?” “Stables.” “Good. Keep her away.” Then he left.

When we were finally alone, Neenan came to sit across from me.

“How’s your girlfriend? In trouble with daddy already?” He moved his eyebrows in a joking manner. “What did you do? Fuck on the front porch?”