Chapter 5: Laurie the Parrot
SOON, it was time to see the parrot.
Four humans and one bird sat in a room in the largest hotel in Doncaster. This large, white bird was apparently a parrot. It was inside a gilt birdcage, barely moving, its shoulders hunched, its glazed eyes staring listlessly at Olivia.
“Do you know much about birds?” asked the man present.
“Yes, I know some,” Olivia responded. “But this is my first time seeing a parrot. Lord Woods, I am sorry to ask this, but may my husband and I be alone with the parrot while I work on it?”
The thirty-eight-year-old count, Lord Alfred Woods, looked taken aback. He’d hidden his rank, that of a count, until they met in person, and already agreed to meet in Doncaster for Olivia’s convenience, even though she was a commoner. The fact that he was willing to make so many concessions was an indication of how important this parrot his father left him was.
But he frowned slightly and thought, I can’t possibly agree to leaving Laurie alone in a room with a commoner I’ve only just met. If I did and Laurie’s condition worsened, I’d have no way of knowing if it was Laurie herself or if these people did something.
Feeling those emotions, Olivia thought, That’s not surprising. Most people would feel that way.
Then she said, “If that’s not acceptable, then may I ask you and Lina to make a promise if you two stay in the room?”
“What sort of promise?” he asked.
“I don’t want what I do here to become fodder for the rumor mill. That’s all.”
“That shouldn’t be an issue.”
Olivia looked at the count, who seemed a little perturbed, then readied herself for the task at hand. “All right then, I’ll begin. Laurie, you don’t seem well. What’s wrong?” she asked.
Hungry.
“You’re being fed, aren’t you?”
Want eat bugs.
“I see. What sort of bugs do you like?”
Like grasshoppers. Like caterpillars.
“All right. Is there anything else wrong?”
Bad smell. Hate bad smell. Unpleasant.
“Can you tell me what smells bad?”
That person. He smell bad.
At this point, Lord Woods stepped in, no longer able to watch in silence. “Wait just a minute. Are you trying to make it look like you’re having a conversation with Laurie?”
“I understand why it might seem like that, but I—”
“We’re done here. Leave. If you were hoping to take advantage of someone clutching at straws, you should have done a better job.”
Olivia sensed Arthur growing angry, but she shook her head in silence. They were dealing with a count, and they were just commoners. If she argued, it would cause trouble not just for her, but for Arthur as well.
“There’s nothing we can do, Arthur,” she said. “Laurie, I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. My lord, if you’ll excuse us. I am really sorry, Laurie.”
“Wait!” cried Lina as she rushed over to stop Olivia leaving.
“Lina, I don’t blame you for bringing these people here. Don’t worry,” said Lord Woods.
“That’s not it, my lord. I… I’m shocked. Olivia knew Laurie’s name.”
“What of it?”
“I never told her Laurie’s name. But she knew it. Is there any possibility that she has some sort of special ability? That she could maybe actually speak with Laurie?”
“Don’t be absurd, Lina,” said Lord Woods with a strained smile.
Olivia ignored them and searched through Laurie’s memories and emotions. Since she’d come all the way here, she figured she might as well do everything she could. She wouldn’t get another chance to see Laurie if things went south and they were removed from the room.
The parrot did seem very unwell. The fact that it wanted to eat bugs meant it was picky about its food. It wouldn’t survive long if it wasn’t getting proper nutrition.
If neither Laurie’s current owner nor her previous one fed her insects, she would have lived a long time without her preferred food. She may have survived this long because she’s a large bird, but her condition would have suddenly worsened. If that was the case, they didn’t have much time.
Animals are good at hiding it when they’re unwell. Out in nature, they’d be attacked if other animals learned of their weakness. Laurie was already showing signs of being unwell, though, which meant things were quite severe.
However, the count couldn’t bring himself to trust two commoners. He’d decided they were just after some sort of reward money.
That’s absolutely ridiculous, he thought. Lina must have simply let Laurie’s name slip without realizing it.
“No, my lord,” said Olivia. “Lina never told me Laurie’s name.”
“What in the…?”
“What do you normally feed Laurie? She seems to prefer the seeds of wild plants and vegetables, fruit, and insects. This bird needs a variety of foods, just like humans do. And, this isn’t very easy to say, but Laurie says there is a bad smell coming from you. Do you use any strong-smelling products near her? Cologne, for example?”
The count fell silent, he and Lina looking at Olivia in shock.
He kept Laurie in his room, with her birdcage set next to a set of shelves. One of the things on the shelves was a bottle of cologne, and the count’s morning routine included standing near Laurie’s cage while he spritzed himself with the cologne two or three times.
Is it possible she really is speaking with Laurie? he thought.
“Yes, I can hear animals’ inner voices,” said Olivia.
And is she also hearing mine?
“A little.”
The count’s emotions filled with shock and a little fear, leading to the birth of a strong feeling of disgust. He looked at her as she responded in time to the questions that flitted through his mind, a mix of emotions on his face.
That expression brought back old memories for Olivia.
Oh, it’s been such a long time since I’ve seen that expression, she thought. I always saw it when I was a child. I thought I’d put it out of my mind, but I haven’t, have I?
Arthur felt Olivia’s emotions flowing into him. It was unbearable. “Olivia, let’s go. This has gone far enough. You knew it’d end up this way. You came anyway ’cause you were worried about the parrot, but I don’t want to see you hurt any more than this. My lord, if you’ll excuse us.” He bowed, put his arm around Olivia’s shoulder, and started walking. Olivia looked at Laurie. Laurie looked back at Olivia.
Help.
Olivia stopped in place. The pain in Laurie’s voice lanced through her heart. I was found in the forest. I wanted nothing more than someone to help me, and my grandparents did just that. But now I’m going to just abandon Laurie?
Laurie looked dejected.
Laurie is trapped in a cage, not living the life she was meant to. Isn’t that the same as me when I was five, hated by my family, constantly walking on eggshells? And Laurie can’t even run away like I did that day.
Olivia hated herself for giving up so quickly and leaving.
That’s when the count spoke. “Wait. Please. Please wait. Can you really read my mind? And Laurie’s?”
“I can clearly hear Laurie’s heart. Right now, she’s asking me to help her. Oftentimes, I can’t read humans even if I try. You’re currently open, because you’re somewhat worked up. That means I can read you if I try.”
“Then tell me what I’m thinking right now.”
“All right. You’re thinking, ‘I can only assume there’s something wrong with this woman’s head based on what she said, but she was right that I use cologne near Laurie. But Lina likely just said something.’”
“Good heavens!”
Unsurprisingly, the count flinched when she completely hit the mark on something he couldn’t ever say aloud.
“Was I correct?” asked Olivia.
“I-I did indeed think that. You really can read minds, can’t you?”
“Yes. I can also sense how you’re currently disgusted by it.”
“Right. Well, that means Laurie is really asking for help, doesn’t it? I find it hard to grasp this ability of yours, of reading human and animal thoughts, but I can’t brush you off after what you’ve said. No, that exchange we just had proves that much. Please, then, take a look at Laurie. And forgive me for my rude behavior.”
Olivia smiled and accepted the apology. The sting from her past wounds was nothing, at this point. It hurt her far more to consider abandoning Laurie when she was asking for help.