Page 54 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
Valeraine cuddled to Kesley’s side, shoulder to shoulder, leaning her body against his. She wanted him to know everything, to plan and share together. That would begin with how to handle the matter of Scaleheart.
Valeraine said, “I have discovered an extraordinary secret about our nemesis.”
Kesley laughed. “Do we have a nemesis?”
“Of course we do! It’s —”
“Selaide?”
Valeraine huffed, “Mr. Pemberley, of course.”
“Val, he doesn’t seem very menacing when he flinches away from ladies at the ball. You cannot simply call him your nemesis when he does not move against you.”
“But I’ll move against him, now that I have ammunition.”
“I doubt you’ve anything that would faze him. After all, he is the master of one of the largest nests, and you are just —”
“He is Lady Scaleheart. I have proof.”
Kesley let out a bark of laughter. “That effeminate dullard. I never would have guessed a man was hiding behind Scaleheart. I wonder what he gets out of it. A way to attack his competitors from the shadows? And then disguise himself as an elderly woman?”
Valeraine had thought all this herself, just days before. Pemberley was manipulative and hypocritical as Scaleheart. He had killed dragoneers in the derbies, then preached gentleness from behind the quill. And yet, it sounded so crass (and unlike the man she had met) when Kesley laid it all out.
“But I don’t see what you’re so excited about,” Kesley continued. “Pemberley is ineffectual and disliked. Anyone who has met the fellow already knows he is a proud bore who snubs people, what more is there to know?”
Valeraine playfully hit him on the arm. “This is serious. If the ton were to discover he penned all those inflammatory things, people would despise him. They would finally see him for who he is. I will blackmail him with it, and with that leverage I’ll extract the promise of his secrecy.”
“I’ll confront him. It’ll be more intimidating, coming from me.”
“Thank you, but I must do this. He has threatened to expose me, after all.”
“I’m sure Mr. Pemberley hardly thinks of you. You don’t need to do anything but evade his notice, I think.”
“That scoundrel wouldn’t forget about me! He is proud, and rude, but he was properly upset about discovering me. He went out of his way to insert himself in my business, and...”
At Kesley’s unconvinced face, she suddenly had the perverse wish that she was talking to Pemberley, instead. He would take her seriously. Especially when she was revealing her blackmail, or even when she was just insulting him. Pemberley detested her riding, but at least he would hang on her every word.
Looking into Kesley’s half-smirk, formulating his next witty reply, she yearned for someone who might acknowledge the devastating potential of her plan.
Kesley let the subject die, and put his arm around her shoulders.
She put Pemberley from her mind. He was no matter; she would vanquish him soon. Then, she could focus on winning the Royal derby to save Longbourn, and building her own happiness. With the house flourishing, Kesley might want to align himself to it.
“Do you think we have a shot?” she wondered.
Kesley shrugged. “Lelantos isn’t young anymore, and all this training can’t change that, even if he is improving. But you? You’re the best racer I’ve ever seen. I think you have a real shot at the Royal derby.”
“I meantus. You and me. Papa says I will inherit Lelantos, and Longbourn nest. Would you want to share that with me?”
Kesley was quick with his answer, “Who wouldn’t want all that, Val? With your vision for Longbourn, with a new egg, it could really become something.”
“And, even if my vision for Longbourn doesn’t happen, if the Royal derby is a disaster, or if Lelantos dies next week?”
“You’re beautiful. What, are you having second thoughts about wanting me?” He struck a pose, showing off his handsome face in comedy.
She laughed, as she was supposed to. But she wanted to press him more. She wanted him — a husband who wouldn’t stand in her way while she revitalized their house. To hear him say he would be that person. Not just that Longbourn would one day be something to be desired. She wanted to be desirable now. She wanted him to offer for her hand, sincerely.
“I’ll be leaving soon for Sidton manor for the solstice,” Kesley said, “so I don’t want to officially begin a courtship now. Perhaps when I return in January we could explore possibilities?”
