Page 59 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
But Valeraine would have been lost to her house. She could not have borne it, being parted from her dragon. She would happily marry, if it was someone whom she loved, and if — most importantly — it would not take her away from Lelantos. Someone like Kesley. She could never abandon the house, to wither and disappear in the next generation. Longbourn would be stronger because of her, and Pemberley would look at it one day and take back his words.
She never could have been happy with Pemberley. He was the most arrogant, hypocritical man she had ever known. No amount of dragons or concessions could make up for that shortcoming.
Someone delicately knocked on her door. It was Alyce. She entered and perched on the bed next to Valeraine, a bird that might startle away, wary of terrible news. “How did it go?” She had known of Valeraine’s plan to confront Pemberley.
“I have found out why Nethenabbi never replied to your letters.”
This wasn’t what Alyce had expected, and it was not altogether welcome news. Alyce had worked hard to not care about what Nethenabbi was doing. She didn’t want to undo that by showing interest. She also could not bear to leave this information unturned. “Oh?”
“Mr. Pemberley hid your letters from him, and stopped his letters from posting.”
“That devilish man,” Alyce murmured in her sweet way.
Valeraine sat up. She needed to look in Alyce’s face, confirm it was really her kind, angelic sister who was saying this. “Alyce!”
“He has been nothing but terrible to you, and now to me as well. What an underhanded thing. Did he do it because of you racing?”
Of course it had been because of her racing. Valeraine didn’t want to admit it. There was more important news, anyway. Valeraine laid back down. She could not bear to look Alyce in the eyes when she unfolded this. “He proposed to me.”
“Proposed... marriage?”
“Yes.”
“After he blackmailed you, and reported on you to Papa, and held my letters?”
“And directly after he insulted me and Longbourn house very thoroughly. That’s when he said, ‘When you are my wife.’”
“I didn’t think he could get any worse.” A terrible thought occurred to Alyce: “What did you say? Did you accept him?”
“No. No, I rejected him soundly, with many insults and with blackmail. I don’t think he will attempt a proposal again.”
“That’s likely for the best. You seem to attract proposals to you,” Alyce mused.
“All unsuitable ones. I could never leave Longbourn.”
“You have such loyalty to our family, but I hope…” Alyce trailed off.
“What?”
“I hope your loyalty does not chain you to this place. I want you to be happy — and I know Lelantos makes you happy. But you deserve a chance to fly free as well.”
Valeraine scoffed. “Fly free to Pemberley? Or Rosings? No thank you, my place is here, building the future.”
Alyce conceded, “You would’ve been marvelously unhappy with Mr. Pemberley.”
They sat in companionable silence, sharing their hatred for Mr. Bennington Pemberley, the worst man in the world.
Who had also just proposed to Valeraine.
Every time she thought of his proposal, her rage flamed anew.
“Do you think I should call on Mr. Nethenabbi?” Alyce asked shyly.
“Let him call on you first,” Valeraine reassured. “You’ve done more than enough chasing.”
“But what if he needs some more encouragement?”
“Your beauty and grace is enticement enough. He’ll come.”
