Page 85 of Degradation
‘I hope that Miss Marguerite wasn’t too upset about the state of the late madam’s rooms.’
I frown at the memory of that day and Stevens lets out a small sigh, the only visible indication that he might be upset.
‘After she left, one of the other members of the house staff came across a box of items, which had fallen out of the bins.’ He eyes me. ‘The trash, sir.’
‘Yes, Stevens, I know what bins are. What was in the box?’
‘Oh, nothing of any real value, sir. Merely some trinkets that Miss Marguerite, or even you, might like to keep.’
‘Thank you, Stevens. Have the box put in my car, would you? I’ll take them to Dais–Miss Marguerite later today.’
‘Very good, sir. I think you’ll find that Mister Novelle is in his study.’
I nod and make my way through the house, anxious to find out what my father knows, or thinks he knows, if this meeting actually has anything to do with Daisy, or not.
When I get to my father’s study, I knock twice and wait.
‘Come in.’
I open one side of the tall, mahogany French doors, which my father had imported from a Chateau he bought on the Rhine in Germany a few years back, and then stripped for parts. They’re pretentious as fuck in a house that’s barely thirty years old, but that’s John Novelle.
‘Pop,’ I greet.
He’s sitting behind his huge, ornate desk. He puts a lone finger up and continues writing.
I roll my eyes.Nice to see you too, Dad. It’s only been a month or so.
I busy myself while I wait for his little power play to be over, reading through some of the book titles of the ancient-looking tomes he had brought in when he last renovated, to stock his floor to ceiling shelves that take-up most of the wall space. Most of them are old encyclopedias, I realize. He’s probably never even opened them, they just fit the aesthetic of the room. I notice the metronome he had ticking when I brought Daisy in on her first day. It sits silently on the shelf.
‘Sit.’
Here we go.
I stroll over to his desk and sit in front of him, the leather chair deflating considerably as I do, thereby ensuring that he’s seated higher than me.
It reminds me a little of when I was a kid and I was waiting before him to receive whatever punishment he was going to dole out, which, of course, is the point. I don’t let it bother me.
‘You asked that I come,’ I say, hoping we get the ball rolling soon, so that I have enough time to get to the lab and then to the club later to help Dom and Sandy with stock-taking.
‘Yes.’ He glances up at me and then down again, turning the page of whatever he’s reading.
I stifle a sigh. If he knows he’s getting to me, he’ll make sure this takes even longer.
‘The Christmas Gala. The one at the Forrest’s. It’s early December. Call Melissa for the date and make sure it’s in your calendar. You’ll be attending.’
I nod. ‘Of course, I go every year.’
‘And will you be bringing Laurie Hilner?’
I grit my teeth. Did she tell the whole goddamn state that we were together?
I force a polite smile. ‘Unfortunately, Miss Hilner and I are...no longer seeing each other.’
My father frowns. ‘Who will you be bringing, then?’
I say the first name that pops into my head. ‘Marguerite, of course.’
‘Marguerite.’ He says her name as if it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
