Page 50 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
“But, Val, even if Papa won’t expose you, won’t Pemberley? It’s the same result.”
“I have uncovered a wicked secret about Pemberley which will solve the whole knot. He is Scaleheart.”
“Lady Scaleheart?”
“Lord Scaleheart, more like.” Valeraine withdrew the letter and the column clipping from her pocket, brandishing them at Alyce. “I have proof, here. If he exposes me, I will retaliate.”
“If he is Scaleheart... he isn’t as nasty as we have supposed. He fights for civility and better regulation.”
“He does not. What the Scaleheart columns really do is stir up controversy which bites his enemies. Have you ever heard of him campaigning for anything Scaleheart writes for? It’s all a dirty front.”
As Alyce thought about that, Valeraine carefully packed the letter back into her pocket, keeping it close. She was excited to wave this proof in Pemberley’s face, when she could see him next.
“Would you really do it?” Alyce asked. “Would you really have the cold heart to ruin him?”
“If he ruins me, I will gladly return the favor. I may even do it if he insults me one more time. I’m on the precipice of hating him enough to do it with no further provocation.”
Alyce began packing her own things. “I wish you luck, with Papa and with Mr. Pemberley. You’re stronger than both of them, and they’ll understand that soon.”
Valeraine then went to Uncle Haupter to announce they would be leaving. Though he protested — thinking no doubt of the reaction of his sister and brother-in-law — he loaned them the coach when Valeraine threatened to walk and beg rides from whomever they met on the road. It would be terribly scandalous, dangerous, and uncomfortable with the weather turning colder.
And so, three days later, Valeraine and Alyce arrived back in Longbourn in the early evening.
It had been months since she’d seen her home. When they had left, the trees had just begun to dip into yellow. Now, the leaves were autumnal reds and oranges, with plenty of brown littering the ground. Valeraine felt warm despite the nip in the air. This was where she truly belonged.
She could sense Lelantos in the nest, peacefully resting. Perhaps the long absence had made her more aware of him, because her connection to the great beast felt sharper than ever. She felt Lelantos stirring. He was impatient that he couldn’tbreak free and go to her. Though he did have the strength and the firepower to thoroughly ruin the nest, he had been raised to believe otherwise. Valeraine wondered if that lesson had been taught by one of her great-great-grandmothers.
As soon as the coach rolled to a stop at the doors of Longbourn house, Valeraine jumped out and went to the nest. The welcoming committee of servants, sisters, and Mamma could wait. Her dragon needed her.
When she entered the nest, flinging open the person-sized door on the side, a trumpeting from Lelantos welcomed her home.
She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “I’ll never leave you again,” she promised. Her breath warmed his scales.
Lelantos moved a wing to encircle her. He was lonely, and longing to race. He was happy to see her, and confused as to why she went away for so long. He was hungry — but not unusually so for this time of day.
She didn’t know for how long she stood there, hugging her dragon, before she heard the door creak and admit a slow pair of footsteps. It couldn’t be Kesley, because he would be jaunty and vocally welcoming her home.
Her heart knew whom this would be. It was the person whom she least wanted to speak to, and most needed to.
She couldn’t put off the confrontation with Papa for any longer. The fear she had been trying to ignore came roaring back in. What if he said no, and meant it? What if he was willing to disown her? Perhaps the fear of her ruining the family would be enough to push him to those lengths.
“I started visiting the nest, when you were gone,” Papa stated conversationally.
Valeraine turned, and nudged the dragon wing out of the way so she could see Papa over the top. He looked worn, and old. Had he always been that rumpled, the bags under his eyes always soblue-tinged? Or had this stress been caused by her agitating the reputation of Longbourn?
“Oh? Because you missed me?” she said.
Papa shook his head. “I went to the nest because Lelantos was putting up such a fuss. He’s been growling more, making it difficult for Kesley. He almost lit the ceiling beams alight.”
“I missed him too. And you, of course.”
“I’m beginning to think keeping you separated wasn’t such a clever idea.”
Valeraine didn’t know what to say. Would he be horrified to know that she had bonded with Lelantos — a man’s duty and magic? Or would he be resigned to it, now that the damage had already been struck? Would he be impressed, and allow her to fly?
“Lelantos is my dragon,” she said simply. “I know him. I’ve bonded him.”
Papa shook his head. “I suppose that’s how you got him to fly so smoothly, then.” He put his hands behind his back and shook his head again. “I never would have believed it, that our old Lelantos would have that closeness in him, that he could learn a new trick.”
