Lying on the doorstep was a young baby, its limbs flailing. Its face was scrunched up and it was screaming, tears running down its face. Raymond leaned down and picked up the baby, testing several positions before he was sure the baby was in the right position. He carefully inched open the door with his shoulder and shut it with his foot before awkwardly walking into the living room, where Jean Descole sat hunched over his desk, quill scribbling away furiously.

"Master?" Raymond asked, barely stopping himself from gulping.

"Yes?" Descole asked, not looking up from his papers. They were covered in what looked like a child's scribbles, but Descole couldn't afford to waste time getting the main ideas for his newest invention down.

"...I found a bairn on the doorstep," Raymond replied. That got Descole's attention. His arm ceased functioning and the quill dropped, creating a splotch of ink on a bit of blank paper (lucky it was blank). Descole stood up and walked over, staring at the baby Raymond was cradling.

"Did you see, per chance, who put the child there?" Descole asked, trying to decide if prodding the baby was the right thing to do at this point. No, he had to empty his mind of silly thoughts like that.

"I didnae see anyone, Master," Raymond reported faithfully. Descole mulled it over, then decided it wasn't worth it standing there looking confused.

"I'll take the baby. Get Melinda, she should know what to do," Descole replied, carefully taking the baby. Was he holding it right? It was still screaming at him. Raymond briskly walked out, leaving Descole staring into the beautiful eyes of the baby. He wasn't entirely sure of its sex, and it took him a few minutes to check, but when he had, he knew it. When his cook Melinda rushed in with Raymond behind her, she gasped.

"It's adorable!" she squealed.

"It's not an 'it'," Descole explained patiently. "It is a 'she'. And she has a name."

"A name? Master, does that mean..." Raymond trailed off purposefully. Descole nodded.

"Get the adoption forms ready. Jeanne will be joining the family," Descole said. "Melinda, I am going to need a hand in Jeanne's upbringing. Do you know anyone who could possibly help?"

"Sorry, Master. I don't know, but I can call round and see if any of my friends will be willing," Melinda said. Descole nodded.

"Yes... Yes, that's what you'll do. I appreciate your efforts, Melinda," Descole said and only then noticed that Jeanne's wail had finally ceased. The minute he was alone, he let himself smile down at young Jeanne, who smiled and giggled back. Descole melted at her adorable face, but knew he had to steel himself for the upcoming years. He couldn't melt at the sight of his new daughter anymore.

He was going to need to get used to Jeanne Descole.