“Exactly! This is your family legacy, and you shouldn’t let your condition limit your possibilities. Your condition doesn’t define who you are. Embrace your title, become famous, and…give me a raise.”
Perry sighed. “There are things I can’t do.”
“Like what?” Oliver gave him a smug look.
“Like mingling with normal people. Enjoying a party without the constant worry of having a seizure in front of everyone. I can’t even have a simple conversation without wondering what people are thinking of me, if there’s something wrong with me, or why I trip on words when I speak.”
“Tosh.” Oliver scribbled on his notepad, muttering, “The patient shows a lack of confidence, vision, and pride.”
“I don’t lack confidence, and would you please stop referring to me asthe patient?”
“I’m a professional.” Oliver clicked his tongue. “You do lack confidence. But I have a remedy for you.”
Perry held up his hands. “Absolutely no. No more experiments with supposedly magical herbs from distant lands or calming techniques from the far east that involve sharp needles.”
Oliver shook his head. “This remedy is here in London, and it’s called the Scarlet Room.”
“Oh, sod off. What is it?” Perry rubbed his brow. “Not another spa.”
Oliver scraped a chair closer to him. “It’s a club, an exclusive and expensive one, but you can afford it, and well, so can I since I’m your physician.”
“Oh, really? I guess your sudden interest in a seedy club has to do with the medical treatise on human behaviour you’re writing for your specialisation in alienism.”
“More or less,” Oliver said. “That quiet town in Switzerland didn’t offer many opportunities for collecting data. And the Scarlet Room isn’t seedy. It’s underneath London. Everything is possible in the Scarlet Room because there are no rules. You can do whatever you want, be whoever you want. What happens in the Scarlet Room stays in the Scarlet Room. No etiquette either.”
Perry stared at the overexcited face of his friend. “How do you know about this place?”
“Because I, unlike you, enjoy talking with people, and Geneva was filled with Londoners.”
“How can an indecent club help me?”
“You’ll have the chance to be around people without any obligation of being polite, introducing yourself, smiling, and talking about the latest cricket match. You can ignore or be ignored, mingle or be on your own, observe or participate. You can do what pleases you while getting familiar again with being around people. Also, the other people will leave you alone if you want to. Perfect.”
Not the word Perry would use. “I’m not sure.”
“Don’t say no immediately, as usual. Before throwing your life, money, and title out of the window, start by reintroducing yourself to people. After that, I’m sure you’ll feel better.”
Perry absolutely, utterly doubted that.
