Page 95 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
She loved the way that he easily accepted her, even with all of her faults (which he was ever cognizant of). She loved seeing the change in him, where he had transformed from so disapproving that he separated Nethenabbi from her family, to repenting and repairing his mistakes and supporting her in the Royal derby. He was a man capable of great change, and she loved him for it.
She wanted to be close enough to see how he changed next.
Valeraine admitted, “My feelings, since I expressed them in the winter, have changed drastically.”
Pemberley knelt by her side, and took her hands gently in his. “Since my last plea for your hand, I’ve had opportunitiesto admire you. I’ve seen your courage and tenacity, your care and your sacrificial spirit. You have bewitched me, and give me courage and hope that I can one day take a fraction of the beautiful risks you do. You set the world aflame with your beauty and passion, and I’m full of joy to look upon you. I love you, Valeraine.”
Valeraine had no words. She could do nothing but squeeze his hands with hers, a fluttering touch.
“I have been abominable toward you. I keep remembering what you said to me, ‘If you had presented yourself with humility.’ I have behaved most ungentlemanly toward you. I have insulted your family, and your person. I apologize with my whole heart, and beg you to forgive me. I will endeavor to correct myself to be even the smallest bit worthy of your company.”
“I forgive you,” Valeraine whispered, and found it was so. She couldn’t continue to be angry with this sincere man in front of her.
“Valeraine, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
Then, in realization, she said, “No. No, I cannot.”
“You cannot?” Pemberley looked as if he might fall over, his kneel becoming wobbly.
“I cannot leave Lelantos. He’s my dragon.”
Pemberley stood up at this, still holding her hands. “I cannot live without you. If I were to leave Pemberley nest to be with you at Longbourn, would you accept my suit then?”
Valeraine shook her head, disbelieving. He would give all this up, for her?
“What if I bought Lelantos, and brought him here to Pemberley, would you come to be the mistress of this nest then?”
That might just work. But, “It might be years before he settled enough here to contribute any useful work,” she protested. “And you must know that people say he will not live long.”
Pemberley smiled ruefully. “For a chance to have the winner of the Royal derby as a drake in my nest, I consider that a worthwhile investment. And for the chance to have you at my side, all the better.”
Valeraine imagined this life. Her and Pemberley as the masters of the grand nest together, with Lelantos at her side. Her dragon would ease into a new life at Pemberley nest over the years, his temperament mellowing as he acclimatized. She would have a husband who not only accepted her riding, but championed it.
This was what she needed: not the acceptance of all the dragon houses. Not the praise of the wider world. She needed to be proud of herself, and have a collection of loved ones who cheered her.
“Yes,” Valeraine said.
Pemberley tentatively approached her and pulled her into his arms, soft and slow.
She looked into his eyes, intense and sincere.
“Valeraine,” he whispered, and leaned in for a kiss.
She kissed him, and her heart soared. This was where she belonged; she was sure of it.
“I love you,” he murmured in her ear. Another kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she whispered back.
They held each other as the stars twinkled to life.
Chapter sixty-five
The announcement of Valeraine and Pemberley’s engagement was taken well by the Longbourn family.
Mamma was overjoyed. Such a rich man for her daughter! Even more dragons than Alyce would have!
