Page 29 of Alder Woodacre and the Acorns of Affection (Amaranthine Interludes #3)
The kitchen was too crowded because Mom had decided that Sunday should involve brunch. Joe ducked out, escaping in the direction of the oak glen, only to find someone else already there. Ash lifted a hand in greeting.
Joe chose a seat near him and ventured, “You okay?”
“I am,” Ash promised. “Dad’s flying home right about now so he can meet Kaga.”
“Where is he? Kaga, I mean.”
“Kurloo brought him into Fletching to meet True and Rook. They’ll fill him in on the empty years. Probably load him down with baby stories.” Ash lifted his hand again.
Boniface was picking his way down into the hollow.
Before he reached them, Ash quietly added, “Tami and I will go into town in a little while, once Doon-wen and his team smuggle Dad in. We’ll probably stay over with Doon-wen and Rook if it gets late.”
“Are you glad? About meeting him?”
“I will be eventually.” With a faint smile, he added, “He seems like a nice enough guy.”
Joe caught a whisper of movement in his periphery and turned in time to catch Christobelle. She was swathed in a cashmere scarf.
“I wondered where were hiding away.” Boniface peered around, his gaze settling thoughtfully on Biddie’s winter-bare branches. “Quite the playground you have here. Perfect for your several squirrels. Very dramatic.”
Biddie appeared before him, hands clasped behind her back as she peered up into his face. “Do you like drama?”
“ Mon dieu . Lord, trees. Err … right.” Boniface recovered quickly enough. “I do like drama. When there isn’t enough, I’ve been accused of creating it. I fear it’s a family trait. More importantly, are you enjoying the excess of company, Miss Biddie?”
“Yes, Bon-Bon.”
“See here,” he grumbled mildly. “My name is Boniface.”
“That’s not what Nonny calls you.” With a coy smile, she added, “That’s not what Argent bloody Lord Mettlebright calls you.”
“Hear now! Not in front of the children.”
“Yes, Boniface,” she said sweetly, her attention next turning to the little girl in Joe’s arms.
Boniface said, “Christobelle, would you like to befriend this tree? Go with Miss Biddie. I need a word with this gentleman.”
Biddie held out her hands, and Christobelle floated her way. Then both of them were gone in a wink. Joe turned, eyeing the tree’s many platforms and nests, finally spotting the girls swaying on one of the wide swings that Kip had installed. Then he asked, “Should I go?”
“ Non . Stay. You can vouch that I at least made an effort, should Argent get his flourish in a snarl.”
“Sounds serious. Shall we sit together?” invited Ash. Their song circle now included seating, and he led the way to a low stone bench.
Boniface draped a handkerchief at his place before gingerly taking a seat. “Argent volunteered me. Some of that is proximity. I’m here. The rest counts as trust. Please, consider my intrusion to be an oblique show of goodwill.”
“Intrusion?” Ash echoed, brows drawing together. “You’re a welcome guest.”
“Ah. Well. Most people don’t like unsolicited advice, yet here I am.
” Boniface indicated himself with a very avian flourish of fingers.
“I am willing and able to act as a neutral party, should you need someone to moderate important discussions, including the pivotal one scheduled for this evening. And as an appointed advocate, I can make certain that your wishes are both heard and respected.”
“Lord Mettlebright appointed you? I don’t see how he has any authority to do so.”
“Well-spotted. Allow me to clarify. Suuzu Farroost is the one who officially appointed me, which he can do because I’m his man and … well! You and Kaga Glosswing are avians, making you Suuzu’s responsibility. I won’t pretend that Argent didn’t put him up to it, though.”
Ash shook his head. “This is a family matter.”
“All the more reason! Lord, if circumstances required me to return home, I wouldn’t face Maman without several kinds of support.” Boniface sat a little straighter. “It bears mentioning that I’m good at asking the kinds of questions that people would rather avoid.”
Though he sighed first, Ash said, “I’ll bite. Like what?”
“Were you secretly hoping to flush out your biological father with your series on the telly?”
Ash blinked. “No.”
“Do you plan to add Glosswing to your legal name? Perhaps hyphenate?”
“No.”
“Has Kaga’s precipitous arrival—with all his former ties cut—put pressure on you to give him a place you’re not yet ready to yield?”
There was a lengthy pause before Ash quietly admitted, “Yes.”
“Yet Tami already offered him a place here, in the enclave.”
“Yes.”
“Very generous, I’m sure. Difficult to take back, now that the invitation’s been made.” With a repeat of that earlier avian flourish, Boniface promised, “As an appointed advocate, I can make certain that your wishes are both heard and respected.”
Ash muttered, “I don’t want to be the bad guy.”
Boniface’s smile was a quick, sharp thing. “Rest easy, mon ami . That’s my job.”