Page 80 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
No doubt, she would even now be rallying her brother to leave. Could she really stop the courtship of Nethenabbi and Alyce?
If Nethenabbi gave up that easily, then maybe he didn’t deserve to have Alyce as his bride. Alyce was sunshine itself, and he must search after her light to be worthy of it.
It was a piece of a comforting thought, but not enough to calm Valeraine’s nerves.
It was truly impossible for her and Pemberley to be together.
And yet, Nedine did not think it impossible. It seemed that Olivinta, undoubtedly the origin of some of the rumors, didn’t think it impossible.
It was impossible, because even if Pemberley did propose to her again, she would reject him. She couldn’t marry anyone who would bring her away from Lelantos. She couldn’t abandon Longbourn, especially now when the Royal derby was three weeks away, and she might yet secure an egg and save her house. Marrying Pemberley would be running away from her quest.
She had once thought Mr. Pemberley was the last person she would ever marry. Now, her heart had changed.
Now, the last person whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry was Miss Nedine Nethenabbi.
Chapter fifty-four
Whatever meddling Nedine did in the romance of her brother it was wholly ineffective. He came to call on Alyce most every day, and invited her to Netherfield the other days, and it was clear a marriage proposal was imminent.
Mrs. Longbourn was delighted; her oldest daughter was going to marry a dragon master who was part of a wealthy and powerful clan. Of course, it was the enthusiasm of Mamma that nearly ruined the whole romance. She would flutter around Nethenabbi when he was sipping tea, asking if he needed anything more.
He would gracefully assure her that he was fine.
She would draw his attention to Alyce’s brilliant eyes, or her flattering waist, or her graceful mouth.
Nethenabbi would calmly respond that he agreed Alyce was quite beautiful. It was an impressive display of restraint on his part not to leave, or demand Alyce came to Netherfield to visit instead. Perhaps Nedine was an even worse chaperone thanMamma. But when Alyce smiled on him, he would light up with happiness, and so his admiration of her remained stable despite the motherly interference.
When the day came that Nethenabbi asked for an audience alone with Alyce, nobody was surprised. He took her on a flight on the back of his beloved dragon.
“It was the most romantic thing,” Alyce confided in Valeraine. “He told me I was the most beautiful and kind woman he had ever known, and then he proposed to me. I said yes, of course, for he is the most handsome and kind man in the world. Then… we shared a kiss, there in the sky. Val, it was perfect.”
The rest of the Longbourn family was in agreement. It was perfect.
Alyce and Mr. Nethenabbi would be married that spring.
Papa certainly thought it was the perfect alliance for Longbourn, leading to selling the farmland and tenant contracts to Netherfield.
Papa called Valeraine into his office to give her the news. “We haven’t yet signed the contracts, but they’re all done up. It’s time to usher in the end of our house with dignity.”
“But, Papa, the Royal derby —”
“Is in a week, and you’ve promised to bring a dragon egg home. Now, we both know that isn’t going to happen, but out of respect to your attempt, as I’ve said, we haven’t signed the contracts yet.”
“So, after the derby…”
“Yes. Then, I will sign over all that Longbourn has to be sold to Netherfield, with a gradual transfer over the next ten years. It’s the perfect opportunity for both of us: they get to easily build up their estate with competent, happy farmers, and we get to ensure a future for our tenants.”
Valeraine wanted to argue, but she knew he was right. If she didn’t manage to bring home an egg, that would be what wasbest for Longbourn. A quiet, orderly death. It was the best they could hope for, without a new dragon to refresh the house.
The Royal derby was Longbourn’s last chance.
The Royal derby was held in early March, on the border of winter and spring. The cold was finally breaking, and new flowers were budding. It marked the end of the winter derby season, the beginning of the Kinellan social season as the dragons of the kingdom became occupied with tilling and casting seed.
The last few weeks of training Valeraine squeezed in with Lelantos felt like they weren’t doing any good. The dragon was in the best shape Valeraine had ever seen him, eager to sprint and building his endurance. However, he was still old, and still couldn’t sprint for nearly as long as the dragons he would be up against. The only true advantage was his large wingspan, enabling him to climb and dive farther than the young competition. It had been enough to get them a lead in several derbies. It hadn’t yet been enough to win. Would the Royal derby be any different? Or would this be a last hurrah, followed by the gradual decline of everything Valeraine had worked for?
The Royal derby came all too quickly. Kesley and Valeraine flew on Lelantos to go to the derbygrounds outside of Kinellan City. Kesley had packed their saddlebags with treats for Lelantos and the masked rider costume, and Valeraine had packed food for them. They were as ready as they could be.
The rest of the Longbourn family bundled into coaches. It was a generous half-day’s journey by coach so they left with the sunrise.
