Page 60 of Dragons of the Great Wyves: Fire and Song
But Anne had no particular affinity, so like most draca, their bound broccworm roamed, often gone for days at a time.
However, a roseworm had just crept into the parlor to sit at Anne’s feet. That was what I had sensed, and it was very peculiar. Why would a bound draca sneak into Hartfield to visit a strange wyfe?
The soldiers ignored it. Being French, they had little experience with draca. They probably assumed the roseworm was bound to the Westons.
I concentrated, and the roseworm’s binding overlaid my vision, rose-red and stretching outside, well beyond Hartfield’s front gate. The draca was watching me now, which was unsurprising. Lizzy had said that great wyves shone gold in draca’s vision.
The sounds of the search ceased, and the French captain marched back in with the Overseer in tow. The pair of them came up to me with an unpleasantly decisive attitude.
Capitaine Fournier asked, “Have you remembered the amulet?”
Should I lie? I was frightened; my heart was pounding. That seemed to block inventing a story.
“You had better answer,” the Overseer warned. “Mr. Elton’ll be here soon.”
I blinked at him, so puzzled that I forgot my fear. I would much prefer to avoid Mr. Elton, but how could an American know that?
Mr. Knightley, understandably, was mystified as well. “Who is Mr. Elton?”
“Our vicar,” I said automatically. Which did not adequately convey the situation.
Mr. Knightley straightened with his own decisive air. “She knows nothing of the amulet,” he told the French captain. “Free her. Ask this Mr. Elton to escort her north.” To the Overseer, he said, “I will remain.”
“Absolutely not!” I exclaimed. “You cannot invent foolish plans without asking me first.”
“A clergyman can cross the line of battle,” he said doggedly. “He is the safest escort—”
That drew a ragged laugh from me. The Overseer guffawed at the same time. We eyed each other, as if wondering how we knew each other’s secrets.
The French captain, however, was nodding gravely, as if Mr. Knightley had been noble and sensible. What if he agreed?
“You cannot separate us,” I announced desperately, and then I knew whatto do. I raced through my memories of meeting John: Mr. Knightley’s introduction, everything that followed, everything that wasnotsaid…
“We are married,” I announced. My cheeks instantly heated, but that was charming in a new bride. I grabbed Mr. Knightley’s hand and threaded my gloved fingers through his, which required a bit of a shove. Then for good measure, I stepped closer so our arms could touch. A little too close—my hip rubbed his. My blush heightened.
“Married?” the Overseer said. The French captain looked skeptical as well. Mr. Knightley’s flabbergasted expression was certainly not helping.
But I had proof.
Across the room, the little roseworm was lying with her feet tucked under her body, dog-like. Her eyes, two gleaming ink drops, watched me. I met her gaze and threw my soul into a voiceless appeal:Please come to me.
The roseworm startled like she had heard a clap of thunder. Then she got up, stretched with maddening laziness, and trotted over.
“See who finally found us, darling,” I said happily to Mr. Knightley, and bent to pet the roseworm as she gamboled around my feet.
20
MISS BATES
EMMA
Soldiersand broken ornaments are sad, but friends celebrate a marriage, and Anne and her husband rushed over to offer their sincere, if surprised, compliments. The Otways followed more cautiously, but that drew the French captain into our impromptu celebration. He shook Mr. Knightley’s hand, offering congratulations in his native language, and bowed to me. A few soldiers touched their hats and smiled.
“You have set us on our back foot!” Mr. Weston continued heartily, neatening the tips of his mustache with two pinches. It had been drooping before.
Anne bobbed her child, who was looking around blurrily, woken by the fuss. “Were you married in London?”
“No,” I said exactly as Mr. Knightley answered, “Yes.” I stiffened, but he chuckled handsomely and explained, “In Chelsea. It is very rural, so Mrs. Knightley is correct.”
