Page 23 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
“He will not.”
“That old toad. He is so accustomed to being a lesser dragoneer that he will drag the rest of the family to ruination with him.”
Valeraine dropped into an armchair and looked at the sunset. It was populated with clouds, vibrant and on fire. The end of the day, gorgeous in its decay.
Longbourn was dying not like a sunset, but like a molding piece of cheese. Inching toward being unsalvageable as it was ignored in the back of a cupboard.
“So, the news is,” Selaide said with cheer, “Mamma said I looked so beautiful in the cream dress that it should be mine.”
“Do not even pretend that —”
“It’s true.” Selaide leaned forward, conspiratorially, as if they were on the same side. “I told Mamma it wasn’t right, that you would have no gown to wear, but she has solved that. You can wear one of Alyce’s old gowns. You remember the deep blue?” Selaide held up her sewing project, which was indeed the blue gown. “I am adjusting it to your measure, knowing how distressed you would be without a properly tailored gown.” Then Selaide smiled wickedly, pleased with herself, as if all were settled now. She had gotten away with her treachery, and left Valeraine with no quarter.
If they were younger, Valeraine would have pulled her hair. But that had never gotten her anywhere, except in trouble with Mamma. Selaide would never learn, never be punished, never have to face consequences from their mother. So all Valeraine said was, “I will never forget this evil you have done to me.”
Selaide giggled at the melodrama.
Valeraine wished Alyce were home, so she could complain. Alyce would be comforting, understanding the unfairness of the situation even if she would not join Valeraine in hating Selaide.It was no use going to Kesley or Merna, who didn’t have the passion for gowns needed to be angry with the situation.
Valeraine wrote a letter to Alyce on all of the terrible developments at Longbourn. She also confessed to deciding to fly in the Rosings derby.
A reply would come in a day, likely filled with the many virtues of Nethenabbi and the grandeur of Netherfield and its cultivated tables and draperies. And commiseration, and sisterly affection, and measured advice.
They would soon be together again, and go to the Rosings ball arm in arm. Alyce in one of her new gowns, Valeraine in the hand-me-down. At least it was unlikely that the company at Rosings manor would recognize the dress as one Alyce had worn. They had, in the last few years, gone to almost exclusively events in Galsopshire, and the ton at the Rosings derby would certainly be of a higher status.
Valeraine had just under three weeks to prepare, then. For being ravishing at the ball, despite her second-rate gown, and impressing Nedine Nethenabbi and bachelors alike. For the derby, which she was going to win, beating the loathsome Pemberley, and thereby save Longbourn.
Chapter twenty
For the next three weeks, Valeraine spent as much time with Lelantos as possible. Some days, his time was claimed by the tenant farmers. One needed help hauling lumber, and another to harvest and transport their first August patch of crops. Lelantos returned from that smelling of radishes, and she had to take him to the lake to get a bath.
But it wasn’t yet the busy season in the fields, and so on most days Valeraine could fill his time with practice for the derby. They sprinted and dived through the air, coached by Kesley, standing companionably nearby. Lelantos was markedly improving, building his stamina, and thoroughly enjoying the exercise.
Valeraine also found a rope, and Kesley helped her design a sequence of knots that would act as a harness. She practiced all the knots until she was sure of them, and herself. Next time they raced, she would be tied to Lelantos. This would minimize someof the risk of falling out of the air. She would not be plummeting alone, at the very least.
After Lelantos had nested for the night, Valeraine and Kesley would scrub his scales, polishing them far more than they had previously bothered. The aesthetic improvement was minimal. The dragon’s emerald coat stayed a disappointing matte, showcasing his age and infirmities. However, there was a slight improvement in Lelantos’ attitude toward Kesley, so the extra pampering was doing some good. After they were finished in the evenings, late and tired, they would look out at the stars together, and murmur hopeful predictions. Lelantos had a real chance of winning the Rosings derby.
Sometimes, in the early mornings, Valeraine would wake and be unable to get back to sleep. Her mind was buzzing too much with anticipation. She would go to the nest, with the blush of the sun barely tickling the horizon, and say good morning to her dragon. Valeraine stroked his ears, feeling their leatheryness and the small hairs dotting them. “We are going to be spectacular. You are going to fly circles around those poorly trained hatchlings.”
Lelantos would send his enthusiasm back to her. In this quiet moment, she could bask in the connection to her dragon. He was so happy, training hard and being loved. It was uncomplicated, a pure feeling. Valeraine would take the feeling into her own heart, trying to let it grow there. It was crowded in her soul with worries and fear. But she took solace from her dragon. They could do this. They would win at Rosings. Everything would change, and she would save Longbourn.
Alyce returned home after two weeks at Netherfield. She began a new embroidery project at once, working on a table runner that Mr. Nethenabbi had given to her care.
“You’re practically the mistress of Netherfield already,” Valeraine teased her.
Alyce actually blushed at that, but she didn’t deny it. She returned to Netherfield each day that week for tea and design projects.
Then, it was time for them all to go to Rosings. It was two days’ journey by dragonflight (at least for Lelantos, who couldn’t fly all day) and four by carriage. Lelantos couldn’t carry all of the family and their things, so most of them set out by carriage four days in advance, stopping at inns and with Uncle Haupter in Kinellan City along the way. It was decided that Valeraine and Alyce would be the ones to fly (to give Alyce another two days to visit Netherfield before setting off, of course; and because it wouldn’t do to have Kesley travel overnight unchaperoned with them).
They camped in a clearing on a mountain, it not being polite to land a dragon in the greens of Kinellan City. It was peaceful. The respite Valeraine finally needed to sleep well. What are worries to rocks and mountains?
Chapter twenty-one
The Misters W— Ruin Themselves
by our trusted correspondent, Scaleheart
This has not yet been formally announced by the Crown Constabulary, but young Mr. W— has been arrested for buying a dragon egg. The egg has been confiscated to be hatched in the Royal nest, and the money that foolish Mr. W— paid for it has vanished with the underhanded sellers.
