Disgustingly healthy, as Jack had said.If I may ask a question, can you tell me anything of my brother? Was he still safe when you left?
An image of Jack, almost maternal in its feeling, came into his mind.I was only there a few days after you left, just long enough that I could be certain you were taking the elixir. He was still well then.
It was something, at least.
There was another question Darcy needed answered, though, and he would rather ask it directly than through Elizabeth. He found Cerridwen in the dressing room they had made over for her. The scent of sandalwood greeted him at the door, no doubt from the oil which Chandrika, Elizabeth’s maid, was rubbing into the dragon’s scales.
“Yes, just there,” Cerridwen sighed with pleasure.
Darcy greeted her, and then said carefully. “Cerridwen, there is something I am wondering about. I know dragons do not like being asked questions, but would you mind if I told you my problem?”
The dragon snorted out a puff of smoke. “I suppose you must have many questions.”
“Mostly just one, about what will happen if the Nest refuses to give Coquelicot sanctuary. If I traveled with her and kept taking the elixir for the lesser bond, would she be able to go to a different Nest that might have room for her?”
“There are stories of mortals who took on the lesser bond for months at a time, so it might be possible,” she said reluctantly. “Except for the part where you are not supposed to leave Pemberley.”
“I am safer here, yes, but is it enough of a difference that I should allow Coquelicot to die for it?” His voice was sharp.
“Of course not, and it is to your credit that you are willing to take that risk. There may be less drastic solutions, though. Perhaps we could find another mortal who could take on the lesser bond to her for that journey. Let us see first what the Nest says, but I will help to find a way to keep her safe, should it be necessary.”
He should be satisfied with that. Cerridwen would fix things to keep Coquelicot safe, which was the most important thing. It was ridiculous to want to reject any solution that involved Coquelicot bonding to anyone else.
Chapter 11
“Youarekindtocheck on me, Little One. Everyone here has been very good to me,” Coquelicot said. “Quickthorn and Cerridwen have explained many things, and your Eldest granted me an audience. It went well.”
“Already?” Darcy asked in surprise. No one had mentioned Coquelicot leaving the house, but this was good news. “I had not realized you visited the Nest already.”
“I have not. I meant the Eldest downstairs, the one you call Rana Akshaya. Even if she has no Nest, it would have been terribly rude for me to stay here without paying my respects.”
Should he correct her about Rana Akshaya’s status as a guest? No, better not to assume anything about dragon protocol. “If there is anything else you would like for your comfort, I would be glad to know of it.” He could never repay what she had done for him.
Some anxiety entered her aura – shyness, perhaps? “I would like to meet your familiar, if I may. The one in the shape of a big cat. It is an unusual thing, to have both a familiar and a dragon bond, even a lesser one. His bond to you came first, and I must acknowledge that.”
“I will ask him. That would have to be outside, as he does not come into the house.” Except the one time the lynx had terrified the servants by doingso when Elizabeth was near death, but that was not an experiment Darcy was in a hurry to repeat.
She ducked her head. “And your little hatchling? May I make her acquaintance, too? I have heard so much about her already.”
For a moment he thought she must mean Agate, the nestling who watched over Jenny. “My daughter? Of course. I would be glad of that.” Jenny had been a little fretful the last few days. Nelly had said it was nothing, but Coquelicot would be able to tell for certain – and to fix anything that was wrong. And how could he keep from worrying about his tiny daughter who had nearly died once already? “Shall I fetch her now?”
The French dragon beamed. “Oh, yes, that would be delightful!”
Coquelicot bent over the tiny form in his arms. “Could you free her hands for me?” the dragon asked.
Carefully Darcy reached down and unwrapped the swaddling cloth. He was growing accustomed to how small Jenny was, but those impossibly tiny fingers, with their perfect miniature nails, still made his heart skip a beat. Every single time. How could his daughter be so utterly perfect?
Cradling her against his chest sent a rush of satisfaction and pride through him. How could anyone love a child this much?
Her unfocused blue eyes blinked at him as the dragon's huge foreleg reached towards her. Good God, those talons alone were as big as she was! An impulse seized him to pull her away, but this was Coquelicot, whom he trusted. Still, he had to struggle against his instincts to stay still.
The dragon touched the side of one talon lightly against Jenny's miniature hand where it lay on her chest, carefully pointing the sharp tip away. The infant's fingers slipped around the narrow form and gripped it.
He could tell Jenny was pleased. Elizabeth and all the other women said she was far too young to smile, but he could tell she was smiling. Sheliked Coquelicot!
“Oh, how delightful! Her Talent has a trace of me!” the ruby dragon exclaimed.
Darcy tore his eyes away from his astonishing baby to look up at the dragon. “She does? How could that be?” And how could Jenny's Talent already be palpable, when most mage children lacked any until they reached adolescence? She was barely a fortnight old!
