The Archduke's Songbird-Chapter 35: Unwilling To Let Her Go

Isadora rushed to Jessamyn’s side seeing the child. Jessamyn almost cried when the boy, who looked around two, wrapped his little chubby arms around her neck.

He was relieved to hold someone after being kept in the dark for long.

"You’re safe now," Jessamyn patted his back. "Poor little turnip..." She said shuffling his thick blonde hair.

"Who would do this to a child?" Isadora asked looking into his face. "He’s... he looks aristocratic..."

Jessamyn took a closer look at his clothes. His jewelry was all stolen leaving nothing to identify him with. His clothes were dirty but they were of high quality. There was nothing on him, not even an embroidery that could identify him.

He was heavy. Isadora might be right. Not many commoner children would be this heavy. Jessamyn looked closely at his face. There were stains of dirt on his round face, but his silver-blue eyes were sparkling in the sun.

That’s not a common eye color!

"Do you talk?" Jessamyn asked softly.

The boy looked at her with his eyes groggy. With his red lips pouting, he made a suckling motion and then stuck his finger inside his mouth.

"Are you hungry?" Jessamyn chuckled and put him to rest on her shoulder. "You poor thing, let’s get you something to eat... Oh, it’s chilly, isn’t it? You need a coat...and a bath." He stank.

"Aww... He’s so cute... Look at him eating his finger..." Isadora couldn’t help but say watching his face from behind Jessamyn. His round cheeks squished on Jessamyn’s shoulder and pressed his eyes, but he was so into sucking his finger.

Jessamyn’s heart bubbled with an overwhelming feeling holding the boy. Her eyes stung and she wanted to cry. Not wanting to explore that feeling further, she turned to leave, holding the boy closer. Isadora didn’t notice the momentary change in her lady’s emotion and followed cooing to the baby.

"Leave it! It may carry diseases..."

Stopped by the booming voice, Jessamyn looked up pressing her lips. Sitting on the horse, Jerrick looked conceited, curling his lips at the little bundle of joy.

It...He calls a baby it!

Jessamyn clenched her jaws. "This is a boy. Look! He is not a it. He is a he! And he is adorable!" she lifted the baby and shoved him in front of Jerrick’s face.

As if she was flinging poop on him, he leaned back with his lips curled. Jessamyn tried to bring the baby closer to him, but couldn’t. He was heavy.

Jerrick let out a scoff and moved. Although he didn’t say a word, Jessamyn understood him mocking her for her strength or lack thereof.

Turning her face, Jessamyn tried to walk away with the child but was blocked by his horse.

*Caw* *Caw*

The haunted voice of the myna followed and she felt the landing on her head. After disappearing the bird found its place, again, on her head.

Jerrick chuckled. "Now, that is adorable," he said pointing at her head.

Only he finds this pestering bird adorable, Jessamyn thought.

"If that is adorable, why not keep it with you?" she mumbled and tried to walk around the horse. She shook her head to rattle the bird but it attached itself to her hair. She gave up and accepted the presence of that bird on her hair.

It was not like she had a choice. At least, it was silent. If it pooped on her hair, she decided to make a stew out of it.

Jerrick blocked her, again, interrupting her furious attempt to make herself scarce from his presence.

"What do you want?" she asked, annoyed. Her arms were already hurting. She needed to feed the little boy and find something warm for him to wear. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Give me some money," she held out her hand with her eyes wide. She thought he might be stopping her to remind her that she still didn’t have money.

He looked down at her and pressed his lips, then away he turned as if he didn’t hear her or see her with her hand stretched out.

Hmpf! As if I need his money. Anyone with a heart will feed this little turnip for free! Jessamyn tried to figure out how she could pass him.

"Bernard," Jerrick called, relieving his loyal servant of his self-inflicted pain. Bernard stood up with his head bowed.

"Take it," Jerrick pointed at the child. "That one too," he jerked his head at Isadora.

Jessamyn unconsciously hugged the child closer and took a step back. Bernard walked to her and Jessamyn looked at Jerrick with her eyebrows furrowed.

Take us where?

"Take the carriage back home," Jerrick added, this time looking at Jessamyn, to offer the answer to her question.

Jessamyn relaxed thinking Jerrick was sending them back to the castle. But when Bernard grabbed the child, she was shocked.

"You are coming with me, Jessamyn," Jerrick said, his tone laced with displeasure. He didn’t think he had to spell it out for her. She had turned dumber over the years.

"With you?" Jessamyn raised her brows.

Wherever will I go with him?

Jerrick held out his hand.

Is he asking me on the horse, with him?

"I don’t want to strain your horse, Your Grace," she did a short curtsey out of nervousness. "I’ll take the carriage with Isadora..." She tried hard and held her smile.

Isadora stepped in right at that moment. For one, she could sense that the archduke had something planned with the lady. She wanted her lady to get along with the archduke.

Secondly, she wanted to take up the offer and leave with Bernard when the archduke was gracious. The archduke’s grace only extended to the lady. She didn’t want Bernard to kneel any longer.

"But Milady, this is the same horse from that other night. It carried you both with ease on a rough terrain. It’s strong enough to carry you both," Isadora said.

Isadora wanted it to be a whisper to assure her lady, but out of excitement, she was not as soft as she wanted to.

"Yes, Milady," Jerrick imitated Isadora’s voice and laughed. "My horse is strong enough," he winked.

Jessamyn glared at Isadora. Isadora realized she might have appeared as a traitor to her lady. But that truly was not her intention.

"Have a nice day, Milady. Don’t forget to buy me some snacks," she said and got the child from Bernard’s hands. The child looked puny in his hands and he looked uncomfortable holding him. "Fret not; I’ll bathe and feed him."

Without looking back, Isadora ran away leaving Jessamyn behind.

Jessamyn let out a deep breath rubbing her forehead.

"So... What did you want to buy?" Jerrick asked, holding out his hand. "Get on."

He was grinning widely, the corners of his lips reached his ears.