Chapter 21
‘Good news?’ asked Lillian, when Esme appeared back in the waiting room. ‘You were in there for so long, I thought …’
‘The worst? I did, too.’ Esme gave her a shaky smile, and held up the tonic. ‘My leg’s better, but I still have to take this, to clear out the last of the venom.’
Outside, it was still only mid-morning, but it felt like days, not hours, had passed since their search of the fountain. Delicious smells wafted from an outdoor café only a few doors away. They headed straight there, and ordered breakfast.
‘So did he use his beetles on you?’ asked Daniel.
Lillian thumped him. ‘What? You knew about the beetles? You could have warned her.’
‘I did—sort of. I said that his treatments were unconventional. I thought if I said any more, she wouldn’t have gone to see him.
