Page 84 of Duke of Diamonds
“He’s perfect,” she declared.
The parrot screeched again, swooping low before landing neatly atop the pianoforte.
Fiona crossed the room, her slippers whispering over the rug. She lifted a hand toward him.
“Mozart,” she said, her smile widening. “I shall call you Mozart. Since you’ve taken to the pianoforte like a true composer.”
The bird leaned forward and nibbled at her fingertip.
“Do you like your name?” She scratched gently beneath his neck. “I think it suits you.”
“Caaaaw... Perfect!”
Fiona gasped. “He talks!” she exclaimed, glancing over her shoulder just as Mrs. Burton echoed her shock.
Mozart flapped once and called out again, “Perfect!”
Fiona gave a delighted laugh and scooped him into her arms. She twirled once, skirts flaring, as the bird continued his chant.
“Oh, we shall have a grand time teaching you words,” she said. “Won’t we, my clever fellow?”
“Perfect!” he replied.
Mrs. Burton groaned softly, shaking her head. “Lord help me. I’ll be minding two of them now.”
Fiona only laughed harder.
She was just finishing her supper in the dining room when Mr. Everett entered with a small silver tray.
“The express post has arrived, Your Grace. There is a missive from Scotland.”
Fiona dropped her fork, and the clatter of silver against porcelain rang out as she pushed back from the table and reached for the letter upon Mr. Everett’s tray.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she broke the seal.
Isaac.
Her breath caught at the sight of his handwriting. That steady, bold script she had come to recognize far too quickly.
She unfolded the letter, scanning the lines hungrily.
Returning soon.
The words leapt from the page and struck her squarely in the chest.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, her pulse quickening with a thrill she hadn’t expected.
“Mr. Everett,” she said, still half-reading, “would you fetch?—”
She stopped.
“No... never mind.”
She stood abruptly, folding the letter as she moved. The chair scraped gently behind her.
“I shall find Mrs. Burton myself.”
The butler gave a brief nod, but she was already crossing the room.
