Page 3 of A Winter Redemption

Otherwise, Ketho could just sod off.

“It is,” Jarne said. “Perfumes can awaken feelings, stir emotions, and rouse sensations. You can be transported through scent.” Jarne crossed his legs. “I particularly enjoy the challenge of trying to create a fragrance that is reminiscent of place. You need to detect the components of that specific place and then recreate it from the base essential oils. It requires a skilful and analytical nose.”

“I see,” Ketho said.

Jarne still couldn’t tell if Ketho was weary of the topic. He really didn’t care, so he went ahead. “And scent and memory are deeply connected,” he said. “So if you can capture the scent, then you can capture the memory. Such as the memory of place, a feeling, a moment in time, or even a person.”

“How so?” Ketho asked, resting his chin on his hand.

“When I do custom orders, I sometimes work with those who wish me to capture something they have experienced but I have not. That is a real challenge.” His heart rate picked up just thinking about it. “A lady came to me last year. She wanted me to capture the smell of her mother’s gardens from her childhood. She wanted to be transported back there.”

“And did you?”

“She described what she could remember, fragments of smells, memories of plants. For weeks I tried different scents. Flowers, grasses, woods.” Jarne stared at the wall. “She grew up in Bordertown, and I realised based on some of the flowers she mentioned that she was remembering a summer garden. So I tested the flowers and grasses that bloomed in the summer in Bordertown.

“But she kept saying something was missing,” Jarne said, fingers pressing against the wooden table. “It was quite vexing. But then it clicked that it was the scent of her mother. So I looked at what perfumes, laundry powders, and soaps would have been popular at the time.” He remembered late nights, researching and tinkering. He’d barely slept for days. “But finally I got it.”

The old lady had cried, hands trembling as she breathed in the perfume. “You’ve captured it perfectly. Thank you.”Pride swelled in his chest at the memory.

“It was difficult but satisfying when I achieved it,” Jarne said.

“You’re very passionate about making perfumes,” Ketho said.

“It is gratifying work.”

Ketho leaned back and watched him, eyes assessing. “And what else do you do in Bordertown? What frivolities and fun do you engage in there?”

“I have no time for frivolities and fun,” Jarne said. “I am busy with work.”

“Your work consumes your entire life?” Ketho asked. “What about people? What about friends? Do you have a partner or spouse?”

Jarne couldn’t stop the grimace.

ChapterThree

“Ihad a husband.” Jarne raised his glass and gulped the wine. He could still see Sasha bent over their table, a man fucking him from behind. His jaw clenched, and he drank again.

“Oh. I see,” Ketho said, voice gently. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I’m guessing he did something,” Ketho said. “Was he unfaithful?”

Was his face so easy to read? Jarne knew he shouldn’t be talking about such personal matters with a stranger. But blast it, he needed to talk to someone. Someone other than his family, who had no sympathy for him or his situation.

Truth was, Ketho’s “I’m sorry” was more than anyone in his family had given him. Which stung.

And why not talk to Ketho? It wasn’t like Jarne would ever see him again.

“Sasha said it didn’t mean anything. He said it was to help the family business. So technically, he was doing it for me.” He swallowed. “The man he let bugger him was a patron of Greweth Perfumeries. A member of the royal family of Norend.” Jarne’s fingers pressed against the wooden table. “I told Sasha it was over and that I’d be setting our divorce in motion.” Which he’d done before he left Bordertown.

But even when Jarne had told Sasha he was ending things, Sasha had rolled his eyes. “You’ll change your mind once you’ve calmed down. Talk to your parents. They’ll help you see what’s important.”

As it turned out, Sasha had judged his parents more accurately than Jarne. They saw no problem with Sasha fucking patrons if it assisted the family business. His mother’s words rang in his ears: “Anything for Greweth Perfumeries.”

He hadn’t known how to reply to that. He and his mother had always been so similar. Apparently, their opinions were not similar when it came to this.

“Was this the first time he was unfaithful?” Ketho asked, still using that gentle voice.