Page 46 of Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox
“Two. Nearly three.” Gingko scowled and said, “Don’t push it.”
Argent tucked his chin, hiding his face against his mistress’s back. She wore soft flannel. Pajamas. They’d put her to bed with him? He closed his eyes and focused on more basic things. Like breathing.
Tea and tonic. Astringent herbs. Tsumiko’s calm and Gingko’s concern. Argent stirred restlessly. “What are you doing here? You should be patrolling the boundaries.”
“I do,” he retorted. “Every couple hours.”
“And?”
Gingko reported, “No signs of reconnaissance or retaliation.”
There wouldn’t be. Nona was better than that. Argent said, “Get Michael.”
For once, the boy excused himself without argument.
Tsumiko turned toward him. “You seem better.”
Argent sourly asked, “Why are you here?”
“Medical reasons,” she replied. “Dosage against pain. And Gingko said this is how fox families take care of each other.”
“You are neither fox nor family.”
“You didn’t seem to mind.”
Michael entered, his expression grim, and he wasted no time. “We’ve come up with a contingency plan. Are you alert enough to hear it?”
“Proceed.”
“We’re quite sure that Lady Nona will not speak. To do so would only advertise her defeat. Her silence protects her position.”
Argent said, “Yoursilence will be of greater interest to her.”
“Agreed. She’ll do everything in her power to erase her defeat from memory. Every witness to her attack and the ensuing battle of succession is at risk.” Michael pulled a chair to the bedside and sat. “On the upside, she’ll be as slow to heal as you, and she won’t have the benefit of a beacon in her bed, shining a light onto the road to recovery.”
“Where is she?”
“No one knows. Nona’s gone into seclusion.” Michael asked, “Is there anyone she might send after us?”
“Against me? No. Against you?” Argent choked on a rising growl. “She has a sister. How are the wards?”
“Multiplying by the day,” Michael said soothingly. “But Sansa would prefer a more proactive means of defense.”
“In what form?”
“A healer and her attendants. They’ll come a month early.”
Witnesses. A good start, but that couldn’t be the full extent of the plan.
Michael continued, “I’ve had Tsumiko’s solicitor contact Cedric Smythe, requesting an earlier departure and extended stay. He was delighted. Arrangements are nearly complete.”
“When?”
“Departure is in three days,” replied Michael. “So focus on mending.”
Tsumiko said, “We’re staying somewhere else?”
“You and Argent will be the guests of Lord Percival’s brother Cedric. The trip is an annual tradition, and it’s a convenient excuse to get you and Argent out from underfoot while we have Amaranthine guests at Stately House.”
