Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“I just remembered something.” Pavenham looked over at Jane, considering. “I received a letter last year full of questions about reptile diets and behavior, including some specific questions related to pythons. No, it couldn’t have been you. It was from a young man, Jonah or Josiah or some such.”
“Perhaps someone from the Exeter Zoo,” his wife suggested a little too quickly.
“You may admit it, if it was you,” said Townsend. He winked at Pavenham. “I have my suspicions.”
“If it was me—and I am not admitting it was—well, I probably wrote under a man’s name because I thought I might be taken more seriously. Not that I’m admitting anything.” She bit her lip, then shrugged. “All right, I believe it probably was me. You wrote back so kindly, Sir Pavenham, with so much helpful information. I’m grateful, and I’m sorry I wrote under a false name. It seemed the wisest thing to do.”
“I can understand why you wrote under a pseudonym, my lady. The scientific field has historically been the dominion of males, although it needn’t stay that way. We have not had women in the Zoological Society to this point, but we ought to, if they are adequately interested.”
Jane turned to Townsend. He shook his head. “I don’t think so, love. Not yet anyway. Let’s take it one step at a time.”
“Perhaps you could join the Zoological Society,” she said. “And I could attend the meetings with you.”
“Perhaps we can talk about it later. Why don’t you give Sir Pavenham a closer look at your snake?”
Of course, he would eventually join the cursed Zoological Society because she wanted him to. He was learning that marriage was all about doing things you never intended for the simple reason that you loved someone so very much.
He watched as Jane opened the enclosure, affording Pavenham greater access to the still-groggy reptile. They spoke of the snake’s digestion, her muscle tone, her typical eating schedule, her temperament and markings.
Again, Pavenham praised her caretaking skills, but she shook her head. “It is not enough just to keep the poor thing alive. I fear she is very unhappy. I often think how much fuller her life would be if she were living where she belongs, in those African wilds you study.”
Townsend saw the idea come to her, as he’d hoped it would. She gave a quick gasp.
“Sir Pavenham, would it be possible for you to transport Mrs. Cuddles to Africa on one of your future trips?” She touched the side of the snake’s enclosure. “This might be too large to travel with, but we have an excellent portable cage I use to take her in and out of the house. Mrs. Cuddles sleeps a lot and only eats every couple of weeks, so she would be a very cooperative traveler.”
“Good lady, I would be happy to take your python back to her homeland.” He made a laudable effort to look surprised by the request. “If you’re willing to part with her, the change of habitat would be a boon to her longevity and health.”
“Yes, it would be wonderful for her, wouldn’t it?” Jane paused, stroking her snake’s smooth coils. “Will she be safe there?”
“I believe so. She’s young enough to adapt back to life in the wild. It will be a sacrifice for you, of course, but I believe she’d be happier there.”
“Oh, how I would love for her to be happy. She’ll be so glad to go home.”
“A python regius like our lady here will be comfy as candlewick in the shrublands and grasslands of West Africa.”
“Would you like that, Mrs. Cuddles?” she asked the snake, gazing into its dark pink eyes. “To slither free among warm, dry grasses, where you could meet other snakes just like you?”
Townsend watched all this with an ache in his soul. How good, how selfless his wife was. Mrs. Cuddles would be happier in Africa, so she would let the creature go to Africa even though it would be two pets lost so quickly.
She looked back up at Sir Pavenham. “Will you watch him—her—a while to be certain she isn’t afraid or confused when you release her?”
“Of course, Lady Townsend. I’ll scout out the perfect stretch of land with similar snakes, lots of sunshine, a bit of water and a bit of shade. I’ll watch to be sure she looks content.” He glanced at Townsend. “I imagine it’ll be hard to track her though, once she takes to freedom and stretches her coils. In a blink, she’ll be seeking out males, mating and laying a clutch.” The man colored again, rubbing his temple. “Forgive me for being indelicate.”
Townsend chuckled. “You can discuss indelicacies with this particular lady, at least the reptilian sort. She won’t take offense.”
“Well, that is how species continue to grow, isn’t it?” said Jane with a smile. “I think Mrs. Cuddles will make an amazing mama. Well, to her eggs at any rate. Did you know pythons wrap around their eggs to warm them until the baby snakes are born?”