‘Aye, well, I hope she hasn’t passed it on to you,’ he says, and I shiver. Does that mean he knows we kissed? Or is he just assuming that Tori and I still spend every free second together?
‘Me too,’ I say lamely.
He nods. ‘Anyway, I just wanted to pop in while I was in the area. It’s this way to the sick bay, isn’t it? It’s ages since I was last here.’
‘I’ll show you the way,’ I offer.
‘That would be grand, thank you.’
*
I have no idea what we talked about as we walked, but it’s never seemed so far to the sick bay in the far corner of the north wing. Mum had said that nearly all the beds were full, but it’s quiet as I follow Tori’s dad into the room. They can’t do more than just send me packing, so it’s worth a try. Maybe I can see her for a moment.
No such luck – I realize that when Dr Henderson spots me. He’s sitting with Nurse Petra at a desk in the lobby area. He’s normally only here in the mornings on Mondays and spends the afternoon seeing patients at his surgery in Edinburgh. But, apparently, he’s got his hands full here today.
‘Mr Belhaven-Wynford,’ he says, when he sees us. ‘How nice that you could come.’ He glances in my direction. ‘Petra will take you to see your daughter and I’ll join you shortly.’
Tori’s dad nods and follows Nurse Petra. As I try to take a step in their direction, Dr Henderson stands up and blocks my path. ‘Charles,’ he says, and my hope vanishes. ‘Am I mistaken, or did study hour begin two minutes ago?’
‘Please,’ I beg. ‘Just for a moment.’
His eyes soften, but he still shakes his head. ‘We don’t need any more patients just now.’
‘I’ll sanitize my hands.’
‘I’m very sorry, Charles, but you’ll have to wait a few days.’
I hate doctors and their whole bloody professionalism. That fact dawns on me yet again.
‘Is she any better?’ I ask quietly.
I still can’t read his face. ‘Her temperature has gone back up, but you mustn’t worry. I’m sure Tori will be up and about very soon.’
‘OK. Could you please tell her that I was here? And that I’m sorry? It’s important.’
It’s the first time I’ve seen a hint of sympathy in Dr Henderson’s eyes. ‘Of course I can.’
‘Good.’ I glance past him, but can’t see a thing. ‘Er . . . thank you, then.’
‘Off to study hour with you, Charles.’ He waits until I’m back in the corridor before he turns. Walking away feels so wrong.
Her temperature has gone back up. What does that mean? Given that Tori was burning up enough that she fainted, it can’tbe good. Didn’t Mum say they were trying to get the fever down? Isn’t it working? And isn’t that dangerous?
My thoughts follow me all the way back to my wing. Everything’s quiet on the stairs and up on our corridor; all the doors are shut, as always at study hour. Only Mr Acevedo’s is open, so he’ll notice if anyone tries to make a break for it.
He’s sitting at his desk and immediately looks up as I stand in his doorway.
‘Well, here’s a surprise,’ he says. ‘You’re in luck – I was just about to mark you down as absent.’
‘I’m sorry – I was at the stables and on the way back I bumped into Tori’s dad.’ I might be imagining it, but Mr Acevedo’s eyes seem a little more understanding now. He must have seen how much I was losing it this morning. ‘I just had to show him the way to the sick bay – you can ask Dr Henderson.’
‘I see.’ He turns back to his computer. ‘Off you go, then.’ I don’t move, and after a while he looks up again. ‘Or is there something else?’
For once I force myself to do the sensible thing, and listen to my gut. ‘There is, actually. Have you got a minute?’
Mr Acevedo beckons me in. I sit down on the chair that’s normally reserved for getting a bollocking. He rolls over on his office chair and crosses his legs.
‘I can’t play Romeo any longer.’ One simple sentence. Effective. Like ripping off a plaster. Doesn’t make it painless, though.
