Chapter 4 #2
‘They’ve heard a lot about you from Iris,’ August said. ‘Any new arrival here is going to draw a lot of attention. Especially from that lot.’
They passed a gaggle of women who clustered together outside the milliners. They were Ophelia’s age, most of them, and Portia had to fight to keep her expression neutral.
‘How is Pansy Townsend still here?’ she muttered. ‘I thought she would have found some poor unfortunate tourist to run away with, at least.’
Pansy and her friends had once been the bane of her little sister Ophelia’s life. Probably still were. Right now, Pansy, wearing a new hat, her golden hair in perfect curls and looking like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, was smiling prettily at Noah as he passed, sizing him up no doubt.
August snorted. ‘Not for want of trying. She had her eyes set on Seb for a while, can you imagine?’
‘Not you?’ As the eldest, August was technically the heir to the Starling name, not that it counted for much anywhere but here. He refused to use the title of viscount.
August gave her an arch look. ‘I don’t think she’s that desperate, Portia. Anyway, no one’s good enough for her. Somehow her relationships never work out. Almost like someone jinxed her once upon a time.’
Portia sucked in a breath at the veiled accusation. ‘I did no such thing,’ she exclaimed, affronted. How could he say that, especially in front of Dr Turner who already thought so poorly of her. Besides, she had only threatened to do it. Once. At the Yule dance, in front of most of the island.
‘You didn’t need to. Spoilt like old milk, that one. Watch yourself around her, Turner. Her father’s an important trader in Bennin and they holiday here. She treats the island like some kind of private resort and she really is desperate for a husband. Only a rich one, mind.’
‘She won’t find one in me,’ Turner muttered, his gaze fixed on the ground. Probably embarrassed by the conversation, Portia decided. Or the scrutiny. None of it was easy. ‘Not a lot of money in veterinary studies.’
‘Oh, we know that far too well,’ said August and laughed out loud. Pansy glared at Portia, blaming her instantly for August’s amusement. Portia just scowled back and saw the woman recoil, whispering furiously to her cronies. It almost made her preen. Lady Virginia Moorland would be proud.
The doors to the castle stood open in welcome.
As soon as Portia walked inside Iris was there, holding out her arms to her great-niece.
She was so much smaller than when Portia had seen her last, much frailer which was a concern.
But those arms always caught her. Iris was there for all of them whenever they fell and always had been.
Even though her great-aunt only came up to her shoulder, Portia only just managed to keep herself from falling into her embrace entirely and burying her face into the dandelion fluff of her white hair.
But Noah Turner was still there, still watching, and she was thoroughly sick of him thinking she was a foolish girl. August had been bad enough.
Great-Aunt Iris ignored both men for now, even her exalted new vet. She held Portia close for a moment and then pulled back, examining her face. Her gaze unerringly slipped down to the teacup dragon clinging to Portia’s wrist.
‘Well now, who do we have here?’
Portia lifted her hand to show off Jade and the little dragon preened, raising her head to gaze unwaveringly into Great-Aunt Iris’s golden eyes. She let out a little purr of interest. Iris stroked her head gently, tickling her under the chin until the interest transformed into delight.
‘Jade,’ said Portia, her voice still thick with emotion. ‘That is…’ She struggled to remember the full pedigree name. What had Virginia called her? ‘Jadis Buxton Fenland the Fourth, or something like that.’
‘Fenland, eh? She doesn’t look like a fenland.
That’s one of Percy’s but the colour is all wrong.
Interesting. What is he up to now, the old charlatan?
I wonder if he has a new dam. Poor little thing.
I hope they didn’t plan on breeding her yet.
She’s far too young. We’ll have to get her settled in to the snuggery in no time. I have a nest up beside—’
The dragon’s pleasure turned to alarm. Portia didn’t know how she understood it – instincts or intuition, or something – but Jade suddenly recoiled, her wings spreading wide, her tail tightening around Portia’s wrist almost to the point of pain. The dragon opened her mouth and hissed loudly.
Iris just raised her eyebrows. She wasn’t intimidated by a teacup dragon. Iris Starling had faced down great dragons in her youth, or so her stories went. ‘I see. Well, you’re a feisty one, aren’t you? Grown a bit attached to Portia, have we?’
Portia was already trying to put her free hand between the dragon and her great-aunt, shielding Iris, and hoping it would calm Jade down.
She had never seen a dragon react like this before, let alone to Iris.
‘I’m so sorry. She’s very frightened of everything and has barely left my side. She wasn’t very well treated and she—’
Iris shook her head and tutted, her tone entirely sympathetic.
Of course it was. This was a dragon after all.
‘Don’t apologise for her. It isn’t her fault, the poor thing.
Virginia Moorland doesn’t have the patience to care for any kind of living thing.
I shouldn’t be surprised. This little darling has clearly bonded to you, Portia, my dear.
You rescued her, protected her. Not to mention that our innate magic will make you feel like her safe place.
If a dragon thinks highly of you, never ask for a second opinion.
You’ll have to keep her close for now until we can reassure her that nothing untoward will happen to her here.
She won’t do well in the snuggery just yet.
It will be far too distressing for her to be separated. She needs you.’
Portia wilted. She had guessed as much. But looking after a teacup dragon had not been in any of her plans. Neither was being back here. There was nothing for it now. The expert had spoken and she was stuck.
That said, if anyone had suggested that she give up Jade, she would probably fight them tooth and nail.
She realised that now. Bonds went both ways.
As she pulled the little dragon in against her chest, stroking her gently and murmuring soft words of comfort, Jade burrowed in under her hand, shivering just a little and seeking reassurance Portia was only too happy to offer.
As for plans… she didn’t really have any plans. Not beyond waiting for Milo to clear her name and then… then going back to the Academy. She hadn’t thought about what she might do in the meantime. With or without a dragon. She had never felt so lost.
Her great-aunt studied her again, reading her disquiet effortlessly.
When they spoke of the Starling magic, people forgot that, in Iris most of all, it manifested as empathy.
Generally, she used it to comfort her rescue dragons, but she took in all manner of waifs and strays.
Including her own family. Now her attention felt like a warm blanket wrapped around Portia’s soul.
‘Everything will come out in the wash, my dear. Don’t you worry.
And for now, you’re home and you’re safe.
Your room is waiting for you, as always, and tomorrow is a new day.
Perhaps August will give you a hand getting your things?
You look done in. Go and get settled. Have a rest and join us later for lunch. I need to welcome Dr Turner.’
Portia glanced over her shoulder, looking for her brother, but her eyes met Noah Turner’s gaze instead.
He was watching her just as intently as Iris, his face unreadable.
If he had opinions about her care of Jade, and everything that had happened last night at the inn, he thankfully kept them to himself.
That was all Portia needed for now. Iris always knew what to say to her. She always had. Ever since Portia was ten and her world had fallen apart. Iris had come to the rescue then and if she could, she would now. Even if only by offering Portia sanctuary.
Starling Island is your home and always will be, she had told the four of them when they first arrived here so long ago, so afraid and forlorn. No matter where you go, it will always be here to welcome you back.
Iris turned her beaming smile on the defenceless Noah Turner who had no doubt been trying to fade into the wallpaper when faced with such an emotional display.
‘Dr Turner, what a pleasure to have you here. We’ll soon get you settled in and up to speed.
Let me show you the dragons, and your surgery of course.
There’s an office attached to it but I doubt you’ll get much use of that.
I spend more time in the snuggery, or with the hatchlings these days.
The orangery is a particularly popular space for them.
They do so love to fly among the plants there.
You’ll see. I’m so glad you’re here. We have so much work to do.
Tell me, did you read Tassinger’s recent paper? It’s marvellous.’