Chapter Forty-five: THE TREATMENT
For the first time in a long while I had not been awoken by the nurse with her tray holding my medications or the smells of antiseptics that was always in the janitor’s trolley as he rolled it through the hallway. It was all so different and very much peaceful. Seeing the manor again after so long gave a short-lived nostalgic feeling. Memories came rushing back again as I sighted the slaves wrapped up in their ragged dresses that was not enough to cover their very visible clavicles from having to eat so little all day. But unlike before, I had one of the finest rooms, Ryan made sure of that. The smell of the fine crescent wood underlined underneath my nostrils, the warmth from the scented candles with their light flickering from the late nights to dawn was just enough for a much faster healing process. I watched the skyline from the window, the nearly invisible white puffy clouds still gathering around the blue sky as the sun rose overhead. It was good to be able to breathe again. Just then, I heard a knock at the door as I turned towards it without saying anything, perhaps I didn’t hear right I wanted to be sure. And then I heard it again. It could be the slaves assigned to clean the room, I thought. But I was wrong.
“Ryan, what are you doing here?” I said as soon as I opened the door.
“Good morning to you too Clara.”
“What do you want?”
“I wanted to see how you are doing this morning and thought I should bring breakfast along.”
“Oh, I am doing very well. Thanks,” I said.
“Can I come in at least to drop this,” he pointed to the trolley that carried the tray of food while a maid stood beside it.
“Oh… You didn’t have to Ryan.”
“I know but I already did.”
“Seriously, you should have just let the maid do it.”
“Please don’t say no.”
I exhaled and paved a way. The maid brought the tray of food in.
“Place it in the table, thanks,” he ordered and she did just as he had instructed as she walked away pulling the trolley along.
“I can see you are even better today.”
“Yeah, thanks for letting me stay in this room the view is magical.”
“Clara, you know I can do anything for you.”
I looked at him and then looked away as I walked over to the window.
“This was my favourite spot when I was much younger. I used to come here and cool off whenever it seemed like I was carrying the weight of everyone and it choked me,” he said.
“Like I said it’s magical.”
He chuckled, “Yes, it is. That’s why I thought this view would be nice for you.”
“It is. I like it. You said ‘was’ your favourite view so which is your favourite view at the moment?”
“Apart from the view from the highest seat addressing my subordinates, staring at you is wonderful.”
He stared at me but as usual I avoided his eyes, they were very much charming especially as the lights were on them and so I tried so much not to have even a glimpse. I didn’t want to see them, not now, I wasn’t ready for that. I knew they might charm me and make me make decisions that I might not be proud of at the later days.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
“I should eat,” I said as I headed back to the bed.
“Oh now she is hungry.”
“Not really, I just don’t want to waste your efforts.”
“I never said I made them. I only brought them to you.”
“Still the same thing.”
“Okay, you win.”
“What do I have here?” I placed the tray on the bed as I began unfolding.
“Toast, scrambled eggs, some blueberry topped pancakes and tea and coffee.”
“Wow!”
“Yeah, couldn’t decide what you would like and so I made the chef make everything in the menu for breakfast today.”
“That’s lovely. I can’t even decide. I’ll have everything then but I’ll start with the toast and some coffee.”
“Okay that’s good, dig along,” he said as he watched me eat.
“Why are you staring? Aren’t you going to have some?”
“I am an early bird, I have had breakfast already. Just wanted to make sure that you had something to eat as well.”
“That’s really thoughtful of you,” I said taking the cup to my lips.
“Clara,” he called out as he moved closer to me, “You know how much I care about you.”
I dropped the cup of coffee back on the tray.
“Ryan look, you don’t have to keep doing this just to win my attention back.”
“You think that’s what this is all about?”
“Well clearly you just affirmed that.”
“It is more than that. No doubt that I still want you but this doesn’t have anything to do with that.”
“Well, it better not. I’ll be leaving soon Ryan, get that.”
“Hey… Hey relax, I know, I mean how can I forget? I just wanted to make sure that we are on the same page. I hate the fight and constant quarrels that has been happening between us.”
“So is this like an apology meal or what?”
“It is nothing. Let’s just say a friend helping another with breakfast,” he smiled.
“I can work with that.”
“Eat up I’m sorry I brought it up again.”
I replied with a smile as I grabbed the toast taking a bite from it.
In an attempt to sip from the cup again, I missed my lips for a bit spilling just a little of the drink over my lips.
“Oh shit! I am such a mess,” I muttered as I wiped it off my dress with the napkin. But Ryan still had his eyes on me.
“What? If you keep staring like that I might be forced to stop eating.”
“You have something here,” he pointed to a part of my face.
“Where?” I struggled with my face to wipe off whatever he was pointing at but with the way he stared, it seemed whatever he was pointing at still stood there.
“Here,” he took his finger across the edge of my lips wiping it off.
“Oh,” I gasped as I watched him. He licked it off with his tongue without taking his eyes away from me.
“Why did you do that?” I managed to ask after a while of being dumbfounded.
“I don’t know. But I guess I have missed the taste after all this while.”
“Thought you just said that you already had breakfast. What taste do you now miss?” My voice shook a bit as I asked. Low like in a whisper but audible enough for him to hear that he smiled back. At that minute, I knew that perhaps I shouldn’t have asked that. I wished to take back my words.
“Your lips.”
“Oh God Ryan, not again,” I looked away as memories rushed down my mind.