by Maria Grace
A happy cheep confirmed her name.
Papa shambled up to Lydia and peered over her shoulder. “She is so tiny. I am not sure how she broke through the egg.”
Fitzwilliam crouched down and picked up pieces of shell. “It looks like it fell from the nest and cracked.”
Papa dragged his gnarled hand down his face. Pray he did not make a stupid remark about dragons who should not have hatched. The little one might peck his eyes out.
The chick pulled back from the honey and jumped on Lydia’s hand. Lydia held her up to eye level and stared at her. They seemed to share a conversation in blinks, facial twitches, and the occasional chirp.
“You are too small to fly off on your own.” Fitzwilliam knelt beside Lydia.
“I could if I wanted to.” The chick pecked toward Fitzwilliam and flapped her tiny wings for good measure.
“Of course, she could. She is as good as any of those bigger ones, better because I am sure she is far more determined.” Lydia nodded at the chick and glowered at Fitzwilliam.
“I am not so sure.”
The chick hopped toward him, hopping mad as it were. “You should not say such things about me.”
“No, you should not.” Lydia drew the chick into her chest and stroked between her wings. “Calm down, Cosette—”
“What did you call me?”
“In French it means ‘little thing.’ You are a little one. But that is no insult, for the littles can be quite surprising.” Did Papa catch the glance Lydia threw his way?
“Cosette? It will do.” She nodded and warbled, quite loudly for her size.
“Your voice certainly is not small.” Fitzwilliam rose. “What will you do?”
Cosette scanned the room then looked up into Lydia’s face. “You have more sweet?”
“As much as you wish.” Lydia smiled with the same wide-eyed sort of gaze at Cosette as Collins had been wearing since Earl’s hatching.
“Then I will stay. With you.” Cosette backed up against Lydia’s chest, wings spread, challenging.
“No, no, no. Not another!” Papa slapped his forehead.
Auntie peeked over Lydia’s shoulder and licked the top of Cosette’s head. Cosette shook her head and pecked at Auntie’s tongue. “She is my charge, and it is my say, not yours, Historian.”
Lydia pulled Cosette close to her chest and guarded her with the other arm. “I do not care what either of you say. If she wants to stay with me, then she shall.”
“I suppose it is good I agree with you.” Auntie glowered at Papa.
“It seems to have happened again,” Fitzwilliam whispered to Darcy. “First Collins, now her.”
“I would not have believed it of either of them, but perhaps it is possible people imprint as much as dragons.” Darcy’s eyebrows rose.
“It is certainly an interesting theory—one I am sure Papa will not like. But it will make for an interesting conversation with the Lord Physician.”
“She seems very like her brood mother. Rather a scold, I think.” Fitzwilliam pursed his lips, hiding his characteristic grin.
“Georgiana would be terrified of Cosette.” Darcy turned toward Georgiana who was deep in admiration of her peaceable Friend.
“Which is why Cosette managed to find the one person in the room who would not be.” Elizabeth tittered. “It is going to be an interesting Friendship for certain. One can only imagine what those two are going to get themselves into.”
“Considering who they are related to, one shudders to think.” Darcy laid his hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
All told, he was probably right.
Thank you!
Thanks for reading Netherfield: Rogue Dragon. I hope you enjoyed it.
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Other books by Maria Grace:
Remember the Past
The Darcy Brothers
Given Good Principles Series:
Darcy’s Decision
The Future Mrs. Darcy
All the Appearance of Goodness
Twelfth Night at Longbourn
Jane Austen’s Dragons Series:
Pemberley: Mr. Darcy’s Dragon
Longbourn: Dragon Entail
The Queen of Rosings Park Series:
Mistaking Her Character
The Trouble to Check Her
A Less Agreeable Man
Sweet Tea Stories:
A Spot of Sweet Tea: Hopes and Beginnings (short story anthology)
A Spot of Sweet Tea: Christmastide Tales (Christmas novella anthology)
Darcy & Elizabeth: Christmas 1811
The Darcy’s First Christmas
From Admiration to Love
Snowbound at Hartfield
Regency Life (Nonfiction) Series:
A Jane Austen Christmas: Regency Christmas Traditions
Courtship and Marriage in Jane Austen’s World
Short Stories:
Four Days in April
Sweet Ginger
Last Dance
Not Romantic
Available in e-book and paperback
Free ebooks
Available at Maria Grace’s website:
RandomBitsofFascination.com
Bits of Bobbin Lace
Half Agony, Half Hope: New Reflections on Persuasion
Four Days in April
Scenes Jane Austen Never Wrote: First Anniversaries
Anniversary February
Jane Bennet in January
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About the Author
Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. After penning five file-drawer novels in high school, she took a break from writing to pursue college and earn her doctorate in Educational Psychology. After 16 years of university teaching, she returned to her first love, fiction writing.
She has one husband and one grandson, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, is starting her sixth year blogging on Random Bits of Fascination, has built seven websites, attended eight English country dance balls, sewn nine Regency era costumes, and shared her life with ten cats.
She can be contacted at:
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Random Bits of Fascination
Austen Variations
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Acknowledgments
So many people have helped me along the journey taking this from an idea to a reality.
Debbie, Anji, Julie, Ruth and Susanne thank you so much for everything! Your help is worth your weight in gold!
My dear friend Cathy, my biggest cheerleader, you have kept me from chickening out more than once!
And my sweet sister Gerri who believed in even those first attempts that now live in the file drawer!
Thank you!
Don’t miss this free story from Maria Grace.
RandomBitsofFascination.com
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