She seemed to relax a bit. “I do not mind. It is a novel experience to be in her presence for so long without earning a reprimand of some sort.”
“Rosings does seem unusually quiet without her.” Clearly he still made her nervous. Perhaps he could remind her of their moment of agreement. “I have been hoping to ask you more about Pepper. I cannot recall ever noticing anything unusual about her apart from her eyes and her willingness to travel with you. She seemed like any other cat.”
“I am glad to hear it.”
He decided to push his advantage. “If she is part fay, what is the other part? A normal cat?”
“I do not know. I have assumed she is not fully fay since everyone can see her, not just children, but she is not an ordinary cat. She can disappear when she wishes. Even I cannot see her if she does not want to be seen.” Elizabeth crossed to the window and opened one pane.
“Some fresh air?” It was a chilly day for it.
“Not exactly.” She studied the view briefly.
A white bird flew past the window and then settled on the ledge. Elizabeth whispered some words to it and held out her finger like a perch. The bird hopped onto her finger.
Astonished, Darcy said, “Is that a white raven? I have never seen one before, much less a tame one.”
“Look closer.” There was laughter in Elizabeth’s voice as she carried the bird towards him. “Pepper dear, do you remember Mr. Darcy? I have been telling him about you.”
Surely she could not believe this bird was her cat!
The white raven stretched its wings, showing a wider wingspan than Darcy had expected. With a soft caw, it took to the air, circled the library once, and landed on Darcy’s shoulder.
Darcy stared at the bird. He had never seen a live bird at such close range. How tiny the feathers on its face were! It tilted its head as if studying him. Was one of its eyes yellow? With a sudden move, it caught a lock of his hair in its beak and tugged it. Hard. Darcy winced.
“Be kind, Pepper. Mr. Darcy wants to help us stay safe.”
This was altogether too strange for Darcy’s comfort. “Are you telling me your cat changes shape?”
Elizabeth smirked. “Actually, I thought I was showing you.”
The bird pecked at his nose. Quite distinctly it said, “Mrrow.”
“Good God!” cried Darcy. Birds were not supposed to meow!
“Pepper, do take pity on the poor man. He has never conceived of a creature as astonishing as you.”
The white raven hopped onto Darcy’s leg and began to preen itself. Somehow it blurred around the edges, and suddenly became the familiar white cat. Pepper licked her paw and rubbed it across her face as if this were a perfectly normal occasion.
In a strangled voice, Darcy managed to say, “I grant you this is not an ordinary cat.”
“No, she is quite extraordinary,” said Elizabeth with some pride. “And vain of her beauty. She likes to be scratched under her ears.”
Darcy followed her instructions, though it took more courage than he cared to admit. “Does she turn into other animals?”
“Not that I know of, but she seems to understand what I say, at least when she chooses to. She often ignores me as well. She knows when I want her. It was not mere chance that she flew to this window. But most of the time she is like any other cat, except that she happens to turn into a bird.”
Pepper began to purr.
He tried to gather his scattered wits. “Is she a phouka, then? In the old stories, cat and raven are two of the shapes phoukas can take, but I thought all phoukas were dark.”
“I have no idea what she is, and she is not telling. I only know she is a very beautiful kitty, aren’t you, Pepper?” She leaned down to pat the cat’s head.
How was he to think clearly with her body right in front of his face, her scent of lavender tickling his nose? “I do not think other mages would suspect her. I cannot imagine anyone thinking to test your cat with iron.”
The cat narrowed her eyes at him, as if to suggest anyone who did so would regret it.
To his regret, Elizabeth straightened. “I hope not.”
