Page 88 of Duke of Diamonds
She leaned over to stroke the bird’s feathers with the back of her knuckle. “He was soaked through and trembling when I found him. Wing torn. I kept him in my chamber for days until he could stand properly again.”
Her voice had softened. Isaac felt a tighteness beneath his ribs.
“You are full of endless surprises,” he said, watching her with something almost akin to awe.
She looked up, face alight. “The most pleasant ones.”
“Heavens!” Isaac sighed.
“Heavens! Caw!” Mozart squawked with enthusiasm, flapping his wings once for emphasis.
Fiona bent over in laughter, one hand pressed to her stomach. Isaac arched a brow, not quite managing to hide his surprise. “Manners there,” he said, pointing a finger at the bird.
“Maaan-ers!” Mozart cried back, mimicking both the word and the scolding tone with near-perfect precision.
Isaac blinked.
“Oh no,” he murmured.
“Oh no!” Mozart repeated, louder this time, as if issuing a grand declaration.
Fiona had to clutch the edge of the table to stay upright.
Isaac narrowed his eyes at the bird, then turned to his wife. “Is he always this... rebellious?”
“Only around you,” she replied between peals of laughter. “He has been perfectly angelic before now.”
“Manners,” Isaac tried again, enunciating with exaggerated care.
“Maaaaanners,” Mozart replied with great importance, puffing out his chest.
There was a beat of silence. Then, with the gleam of a true performer, the parrot cocked his head and said, “Isaac!”
Isaac’s mouth parted. “He knows my name?”
Mozart tilted his head the other way. “Duke!”
At that, Fiona collapsed into another round of laughter, wiping the corner of her eye. “I might have told him your name.”
Isaac stared at the parrot, who looked quite pleased with himself. “I see.”
“Perfect!” Mozart sang.
Isaac gave in. A low laugh rumbled from his chest as he shook his head. “You may have created a monster, Fiona.”
Fiona scooped Mozart back into her hands. “He is averyclever monster, thank you.”
Mozart squawked in agreement. Isaac watched the two of them—his wife and her impudent little shadow—and felt a grin stretch across his face.
Good Lord. I might actually be fond of the blasted thing.
CHAPTER 28
“And here I decided to try a softer gold rather than the darker brocade. I thought it might warm the corridor, and I daresay it does, do you not think?”
Fiona’s eyes were full of delight as she gestured toward the curtains framing the landing windows. Her hand swept with confidence, her step light as she turned to face him.
Isaac smiled faintly and gave a nod. “It does.”
