Free The Butterfly in Amber by Kate Forsyth Page B

boy made him look merely caramel coloured. Isaac’s eyes were as round and black as sloes, his skin was the colour of elderberries, and his hair was as thick and curly as an unshorn sheep. Luka could not help staring.
    Isaac scowled at him, then made a dreadful face, screwing up his eyes, waggling his hands behind his ears and sticking out his tongue, which was quite startlingly pink. Luka grinned, and after a moment Isaac grinned back.
    â€˜A message for the countess!’ the cook cried. ‘Heavens above! At this time of night? What is my lady up to now?’ She shook her head and laid down her rolling pin. She caught sight of Zizi,riding on Luka’s shoulder, and gave a little scream.
    â€˜No, please, you must be quiet,’ Luka said. ‘There are soldiers hunting for us! If they hear you, all will be lost.’
    He came into the kitchen, one hand on Zizi to keep her close, and Rollo pushed past him, eager to investigate the delicious smells of this warm, dark room. Emilia came in too, and then Sweetheart followed ponderously after her, lifting her snout to sniff the air.
    The cook’s eyes opened round as shiny new coins, but she clapped one fat, floury hand over her mouth and said nothing.
    Luka shut the door behind them, and quickly drew the curtains across the windows. ‘We must see the countess at once,’ he said, enjoying the air of intrigue he was creating.
    The cook looked distressed. ‘But it’s so late . . . she’ll be in bed . . .’
    â€˜It’s a matter of life and death,’ Luka said. Emilia frowned at him, and he shot her a quick, laughing glance.
    â€˜But . . . the bear! I can’t take a bear in to see my lady!’
    â€˜Sweetheart’s quite tame,’ Emilia said reassuringly. ‘If you give her something to eat, she’ll just lie down and have a snooze by the fire.’
    â€˜But . . . a bear! A bear in my kitchen!’
    â€˜Do you have any bread and honey?’ Emilia said encouragingly.
    â€˜Well, yes, but . . .’
    â€˜That’ll do just fine.’
    The cook hobbled across to the dresser and took down a ceramic pot, cut some bread and spread it with honey. Emilia gave it to Sweetheart, and she gave a little moan of pleasure and gobbled it down, then licked the honey off her claws, looking around for more.
    â€˜Goodness, how much will she eat?’ the cook quavered.
    â€˜She is hungry,’ Emilia said. ‘So are we, I must say.’
    The cook looked at her suspiciously, but cut several more slices, spread them with honey, and gave them to Luka and Emilia. They gobbled them as fast as Sweetheart had, though Luka fed Zizi the last of his. She ate it daintily, holding it in both paws. The bear got up, complaining, and Emilia quickly passed her the honey pot. Sweetheart grinned, sat down by the fire, and dipped her paw into the pot.
    â€˜She’ll be happy for hours now,’ Emilia said.
    The cook put her hands on her hips and glared at her, but Emilia gave her most sweet and winning smile. Against her will, the cook’s lips twitched. ‘Horrid child!’ she said. ‘Remind me of my son, you do. He was always wheedling bits of food out of me too. I suppose you want something for the dog as well?’
    â€˜Rollo would love it if you had any scraps to spare,’ Emilia said. The dog wagged his tail at the sound of his name, and looked up at the cook with beseeching eyes. She laughed, and got him a big bone out of the pantry.
    â€˜Well, I guess you can leave the dog and the bear here,’ the cook said, as the two animals settled down happily to eat. ‘But I warn you, if that bear so much as twitches a claw, I’ll be screaming so loudly every soldier in the county will hear me.’
    â€˜Don’t do that,’ Emilia said hastily. ‘Just say, “Down, Sweetheart!” and she’ll sit down, I promise you. She’s very tame, and quite