Page 40 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
Your happiness would be found more readily elsewhere, I think. I wish you luck.
Cordially,
Miss Nedine Nethenabbi
Hatch-mother of Netherfield
Valeraine knew the truth: it was her rash actions that had caused this rend in Alyce’s love-life. Nethenabbi had been taken with Alyce, until he found out Valeraine’s secret. It was utter stupidity to suppose his attention to Alyce had been prompted by boredom, or a lack of other options. Nethenabbi had loved Alyce. Now, he was repulsed by the scandal of Longbourn house.
Dragon riding had only brought disaster to her life.
It was all for nothing.
For days, that thought played again and again in Valeraine’s mind. She had risked it all, and instead of a reward she had a banishment. The only silver lining is the rumor of her racing may never spread. At least, it hadn’t so far.
No, that wasn’t true. It wasn’t all for nothing. It had brought her bond with Lelantos. It had given her amazing moments of soaring in synchronous joy with her dragon.
The sisters attended parties, and were pleasantly social. There were men who flirted with them, but none seriously. None that caught their attention.
Valeraine always dreamed of riding Lelantos, of feeling his excitement in her mind as they dived. Then, she would wake up, and remember that her dragon was leagues away, and she might never get to fly again.
Valeraine snapped.
Weeks of ruminating in her failure had gotten her nowhere but deeper into melancholy. She had more to offer Longbourn than attending balls in pursuit of an unfavorable marriage.
Her own dignity might have barely gotten through the crisis intact, but Longbourn’s was still withering. She would not let it die. She would not let it be for nothing.
She had not felt the wind and her bond with Lelantos for nothing.
She had not shown everyone that Longbourn was capable for nothing. There must be someone out there who would negotiate for breeding rights on the strength of that.
Papa had said if there was a good offer, he would accept it. He would be stupid not to. All Valeraine had to do was broker that deal, and their house would be saved.
She would make her own contacts. She would write to the dragon houses, and negotiate the future of Longbourn. It was a new kind of race: could she save her house before her own secrets got her ruined? She would need to move fast, just in case.
And so, in late October, Valeraine wrote to Rosings. Mr. Royce Rosings had seen firsthand the power of Lelantos, and he had said that he needed it for his own nest.
The reply, when it came, was brief.
Miss Longbourn,
Thank you for your interest in the dragons of Rosings house. I am curious about your proposal, and wish to discuss it further with you.
Would you grace us at Rosings with your presence? I will be happy to host you, and look forward to impressing you with our cook’s delicious offerings.
Yours,
Mr. Royce Rosings
Dragon Lord of Rosings
Chapter thirty-one
Rosings estate was a day’s journey south from Kinellan City, so it was simple enough for Valeraine to ride Uncle Haupter’s coach there. She took her entire trunk with her, prepared for a lengthy stay. The only experience she had with trade negotiations was the occasional business that Papa had conducted. Sometimes, the visiting businessman would stay for days, trying to negotiate for better terms while taking advantage of Longbourn’s hospitality. Valeraine would be ready for anything: weeks of negotiation, fancy parties, or cleaning out the muck in Rosings nest. She would do whatever it took to get an egg. Longbourn needed it.
She hoped Mr. Rosings would be amenable. She would do anything to convince him (well, almost anything). If not, she would find another dragon house that was willing to deal. There must be a house that was as desperate as Longbourn out there. But first she would try to ally with the prestigious Rosings nest.
Valeraine arrived at Rosings manor in time for supper. She freshened up in the room provided for her (much more spacious and well-decorated than what had been provided for the Longbourn sisters during the derby. It seemed back then she had been a second-rate guest, and now there was space for her in the luxury accommodations).
