Page 21 of Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection (Amaranthine Interludes #3)
“Get closer so you can see,” Jiro softly demanded, his smile hopeful.
Kip gratefully obeyed. He’d already flicked his tail around his bondmate, playful and possessive, before noticing that Jiro had something bulky under his coat.
Jiro said, “Boniface found a stowaway. Her name is Christobelle.” Opening his coat, he looked back up, waiting for Kip’s response. And from within, a pixie-faced child peeked.
She had to be a crosser. The faceted eyes were a giveaway. Loose hair rippled around shoulders that were wrapped in a cape decorated with silver ginkgo leaves. “Well, hi, little miss! I’m Kip. Did you tag along with your brothers?”
She blinked at him, then lay her head over Jiro’s heart, sticking her thumb in her mouth.
Jiro opened his coat further, murmuring apologies for letting in a draft and revealing glittering turquoise scales. He murmured, “Isn’t she … miraculous ? She has gem snake heritage.”
The kid was part midivar?
No wonder Joe was smitten.
Then Boniface bustled up. “Right, then. Bethiel and Linlu are off, bound for the nearest barge depot, then points north. More importantly, did she take a liking to Kip? You might be one of the reasons she smuggled herself along. The stories Harrison tells! But it seems she’ll cling to Joe much as she clings to Lady.
” Lowering his voice and adding the handsign for secrecy, he proudly added, “A refined taste for beacons.”
Despite Boniface’s claim, Christobelle unwound from Jiro in order to go to him. The man opened his coat and grumbled in a pleased way.
“But you’re her favorite …?” asked Kip.
“She and I get on well enough. We share a name, you know. Christobel is one of my many middles, and the children thought it would suit. So I shared it.”
Joe suddenly said, “It’s more than that. You’re her daddy.”
“Ah,” he said, looking awkward. “That does seem to be the consensus. Unofficially, of course. She’s Argent’s by rights.
A child of Stately House with all the protections that offers.
But I’m meant to have a little house sometime soonish, and when I do, there will be a room for Christobelle.
Or some sort of nook or cranny. You like hidey-holes, don’t you, sweetheart? ”
She blinked contentedly.
And waved to Kip.
“Friends then?” he asked, offering a palm. “Gimme five.”
Christobelle bestowed a gentle pat, and then Boniface decided that she’d had enough fresh air for the time being. While he returned immediately to the warmth of the kitchen, Kip held Jiro back on the enclosed porch, where they shed boots and coats.
“I’ve been thinking,” said Kip. “About the whole pushing your boundaries thing. We could do that. Sometime soon. If you wanted. Just you and me.”
“Umm … how far …?”
“Not far. I’ve got that place up past Nocking. It’s not much. Little cabin. A shed. Lots and lots of nut trees.” Realizing he should have put more thought into the whole thing, he repeated, “It’s not much.”
“Sure. I’d like that.” Jiro quietly added, “It’s a date.”