Page 126 of Miss Bennet's Dragon
“You do not know what you ask,” he said. “You would have me reveal secrets I have told no one. Expose you to danger that has caused me great pain. But I cannot fault your honor. You unmask my own fault.” He took my hand. “I will conquer this, whatever the cost. I swear it.”
I hardly heard him. Our earlier conversation was an unfinished puzzle I had put aside, and now he had mixed it with this new conundrum, and the result was chaos.
He bowed low over my hand, never looking away from my eyes, then left. Lady Lucas replaced him, briefly noting how happy she was for Jane, then commenting at length on how our party was ruined by so many gentlemen departing early.
That night,alone in what I still thought of as Jane’s and my room, I stared at the ceiling while my mind whirled. But I had barely slept the prior night. The whirl slowed to sleep.
I was thrown into wakefulness, my senses singing.
The room was black as pitch, but an afterimage blazed across my vision—a shimmering silver line, distant but bright. My ears echoed with the triumphant bells of a glorious cathedral.
I could not hear Jane’s breathing. I sat up in panic, then remembered she was at Netherfield.
Whatever woke me left hints, like scents in the air. Celebration. Loyalty. Ancient remembrance.
My sister Jane was a bound wyfe.
44
OBSTINATE, HEADSTRONG GIRL
I woke with the dawn,dressed, and went out to our front garden.
Our drake was on his perch. One foot now had no front claws; the other had one. I bent to examine them and felt his warm nose explore the back of my hair.
I spread his toes. The webbing between them was almost complete.
I straightened and looked into his gleaming black eyes. “You have been a loyal friend to remain so long. But you must begin your next life while you are strong.” I wiped a wet eye and forced a smile. “I think we have learned a lot together. At least, I am less foolish than when we began. And you have new memories to carry. Will you become a drake again? Or a tyke? Or is the path always upward, and you are destined to be a wyvern? You are most worthy.”
He fluttered his wings, birdlike, then pressed the crest of his head against my forehead, the tip of his narrow muzzle between my eyebrows. I closed my eyes. He stayed unmoving, the touch firm and warm, like a long kiss.
I heard his wings open. Wind rushed. And he was gone.
I told Barbara,our cook, to expect two more for breakfast.
Mamma came down in good spirits. “Lizzy, dear, have you fed the beast?”
“He is gone, Mamma. But we will be all right.”
“I thought we must keep him. Are you sure?”
“Wait and see.”
Miss Darcy came down next, hesitant in a strange home, and we welcomed her. Mamma, who would have preened and flattered around such an important guest a few months ago, was polite and gracious, if no less scattered than usual.
Kitty and Mary appeared next. Mary, freed of mourning, had dressed in featureless black neck-to-toe with her hair down in a braid. Miss Darcy was in a white muslin frock with her hair twisted up. They made an amusing pair as they chattered about music. Like two keys on a keyboard.
The doorbell chimed, and Sarah proudly announced Mr. and Mrs. Bingley. We all dashed to the door. Jane hugged everyone. She was still a skinny wraith, but her cheeks glowed with health.
“How do you feel?” I asked her.
“I feel awakened from a long fever. Everything sparkles like the world has been scrubbed. And I am starving for breakfast!”
I was grinning like a fool with relief. “We have a good breakfast ready.”
Jane leaned close and whispered, “And we have the most incredible news…”
“I know,” I whispered back.
