Chapter 24: One Plain Vow

By nine the next morning, Leo had moved four cribs into the east wing.

He had also moved the rocking chair and the mobile of gold snakes.

He had added a small velvet box of baby socks that nobody had asked about.

"I would like it known," he said from the doorway, "that I will remove all of it if you say the word."

"What's in the box of socks?"

"Optimism."

I walked around the room once.

It was bright and square, with a window that faced the dome.

The floor was warm in the sun.

I picked up the first crib and carried it to the window.

"Carys, what are you doing?"

"Appraising."

I set a tray of green tourmalines in the crib.

I clipped a jeweler's lamp to the rail and left my loupe on the arm of the rocking chair.

The mobile hung over the tray, and the gold snakes caught the light and chimed.

"Oh," Leo said faintly. "It is a workroom."

"It's a workroom. For now."

"For now?"

I pointed to the crib in the corner, the smallest, the one with the carved headboard.

"That one stays empty," I said. "Ask me next year."

Leo put both hands over his mouth.

"Don't cry," I said.

"I am not crying."

"You're crying on the socks."

Felix looked in at the door in his velvet jacket, with a contract under his arm.

"The north pack named me official bard," he said.

"They cry on cue. It's the best audience I have ever had."

"Congratulations."

"I started a ledger of my own, by the way. You're filed under Friends, Unbillable."

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