He laughs and it sounds broken.
“It’s been a bit busy recently - America. It’s just catching up with me. A few days off will do the trick.”
I sit down on the side of the bed. He’s buried into his pillows, his face almost as white as them.
“Is the doctor coming?”
“She’s been already. It’s fine, Blair. Don’t worry.”
“Do you want tea? Coffee? Breakfast?” I want to look after him. My father has always been a rock for us all. We were lucky; our parents were never cold or disinterested.
He smiles and shakes his head. “Not yet. In another hour or so.” He puts his hand on my forearm and gently rubs it. “You don’t need to worry. Everything’s fine. How was your ride yesterday?”
I nod. “Good. I forget how much I like being outdoors and not having to talk to people.”
He smiles. “You didn’t talk to your brother and Elise?”
“I rode back without them. I think they wanted some time to themselves.”
My father isn’t a stupid man. He’s known what has been happening between Lennox and my friend for years, he just chooses not to interfere because that would probably make my brother propose.
“Better he’s riding with Elise than a lot of other women he could have.”
His words aren’t lost on me.
I shake my head, my hair loosening from the tie it was in. “I’m not sure.”
My father doesn’t say anything, which translates as that he isn’t going to interfere because it’s not worth it.
“Ben starts today.”
I nod. I don’t especially want to talk about Ben. My dreams have left me feeling raw, the scab on an old unhealed wound has been knocked off.
“Is mum still having the garden party?” There was a tenuous connection.
One that made my father smile. “You know he applied for the job?”
We are still talking about Ben.
“I assumed he’d been asked to take it.”
My father shakes his head. “It was common knowledge that Micky needed to retire. Ben contacted Murray and asked how he could apply.”
Murray is my father’s secretary and the real ruler of the country. He quietly makes everything work and run smoothly. I know he has a wicked temper and I also know he has a penchant for kink.
My mother once told me that everything is fuelled by either money or sex, because both lead to power.
She’s very rarely wrong.
“And he got the job.”
My father nods. “He was the best candidate. And you know him.”
“So he was appointed with me in mind.”
This surprises me. I had thought that someone from my father’s security team would step over, someone who already knew the procedures and the gaps.
“He’s young. Better for you when you go on vacation. And you used to get along. I’m worried you’re lonely, Blair.”
