by Maria Grace
“In his rebuttal, Laird Longbourn counters that since the estate is entailed upon an heir who cannot hear dragons, it is imperative that Miss Elizabeth marry him to ensure that a proper Keeper will remain on the estate. He charges her with neglecting her duties by leaving the estate improperly after said offer of marriage. He also claims innocence on the charge of attempting to persuade a Keeper.”
Murmurs filtered through the audience.
Minister of the Court rapped his staff on the floor until the room stilled. “On the first charge, the point of law is quite clear. A Keeper may refuse a marriage as long as it does not leave the estate without a Keeper.”
“Collins is dragon-deaf!” Longbourn stomped. “He cannot be a Keeper. She must marry Collins and return to my Keep.”
“Is there another daughter who is not dragon-deaf?”
Mary rose, shaking as hard as Collins. “I am, sir.”
The Minister of the Court looked straight at Mary. “And have you been acquainted with the estate dragon?”
“Not nearly so much as my sister, but yes.”
“You have been taught the role and responsibilities of a Keeper?”
“I am not nearly so good at them as my sister.”
“Her dragon friend would disagree.” Elizabeth edged back to stand beside Mary. “She quite adores Mary.”
“Are you willing to accept the role of Dragon Keeper?”
“Me? Sir, I ... that has always been my sister’s task. Longbourn would never accept another. He adores, Lizzy, insists upon her presence regularly. He is angry and resentful that I should be there instead of her.”
Longbourn roared his agreement.
“Silence, Laird Longbourn!” The Minister rapped the floor again. “That was not my question. Would you willingly accept the role?”
“I have never considered it ... But I suppose should anything happen to Lizzy, I would have to. Yes.”
“Laird Longbourn, you are familiar with Miss Mary Bennet?”
Longbourn grumbled.
“In the absence of Miss Elizabeth Bennet, has she provided you with food, security, and comfort?”
“Not very well. She is fearful and clumsy. She does not know how to do many things right at all.”
“The court will hear that answer as an affirmation. Longbourn’s needs are met under the care of the secondary junior Keeper.”
“I want Elizabeth.” Longbourn roared and stomped. “Mary will not do!”
Mary wrung her hands, eyes very bright.
“This demonstration of temper supports the case against you. You seem quite capable of threatening your Keeper.”
“She made me angry!”
“So you confess?”
“I was angry. I would not have hurt her.”
Uncle Gardiner stepped slightly forward, gripping the rail before him. “I witnessed the event. He lifted her in his talons, covered her with his wings and breathed venom on her. I believed she would be dead when he dropped her.”
“She is my Keeper! I would not have hurt her!”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet, were you at any time in fear for your safety or your life from Laird Longbourn?”
She squeezed her eyes shut and nodded. “Yes, sir I was, as I never had been from a dragon before.”
Longbourn trumpeted, the sound rang hollowly through the huge chamber.
“And on the count of persuasion—”
“I did not persuade her!” He stomped and slapped his tail on the stone floor.
April zipped to him and hovered in front of his face. “I was with her. I heard the voice, too.”
“It was not mine!” He snapped at her.
She barely buzzed away in time.
“Stop! She is a member of your Keep!” Cownt Matlock growled.
“There was a voice, sir, a dragon voice, urging me to accept Mr. Collins’ proposal.” Elizabeth’s voice sounded so small and weak in the room full of dragons.
“It was not me!” Longbourn screamed.
“Could you definitely recognize the voice as Laird Longbourn’s?” The Minister turned to Elizabeth.
“I ... I do not know.” Elizabeth leaned against the rail for support. “It came from the cellars. Only a major dragon’s voice could be heard at that distance. There is no one else it could have been.”
“It was not me. I should know very well who I have tried to persuade and who I have not.”
Voices shouted from the back of the Conclave. Others in the middle and the front answered them. The roars grew louder until Elizabeth had to cover her ears.
The Minister struck the floor gong twice. “Come to order immediately.”
The Conclave took far longer to settle down this time.
“On the matter of persuasion, sufficient evidence does not exist. The court finds for Laird Longbourn.”
Longbourn trumpeted and flapped his wings.
“However, the court also finds that Laird Longbourn, you are in violation of the Accords. There is no evidence Keeper Elizabeth Bennet is in dereliction of her post. She is well within her rights to withdraw if she feels threatened. No Keeper should ever feel threatened by their dragon.”
The Conclave agreed. Loudly.
“She is a fool if she believes I threatened her.” Longbourn flipped his wings to his back and tossed his head. He had never been gracious in defeat.
“Then you will be relieved to know that you do not need to have a fool as a Keeper. Miss Mary Bennet, are you willing to marry Mr. Collins and take on the role of Keeper of Longbourn and Guardian to the dragon-deaf?”
“Marry Miss Mary?” Collins stammered.
“Do you object to her?” The Minster of the Court glowered.
“I ... ah ... no ... I had just thought the elder sister was the more appropriate choice.” He waggled his fingers at Mary.
“She has refused you, twice I believe. Miss Mary Bennet, do you object to a marriage with Mr. Collins with all the privilege and responsibility it will entail?”
“No, sir, I do not object.”
A quick glance suggested not only did she not object, but she rather relished the notion.
“Then by order of this court, I declare Miss Mary Bennet betrothed to Mr. William Collins, a marriage to be conducted at the earliest possible date in her home parish of Meryton. The couple shall reside at Longbourn where Historian Bennet will take charge of Collins’ instruction and official sponsorship into the Blue Order in one year’s time. A cockatrix who can speak to men directly will be assigned to Longbourn to translate. Until such time of his official induction, Miss Mary Bennet, you are his official Guardian. He is not to be out of your presence in company at any time. If at any time he proves to be any kind of threat to the Blue Order or dragonkind, it is your responsibility to alert the Order. Mr. Collins, justice among dragons is swift and severe. Do you understand?”
Collins gulped and sagged into the support of the Bondsmen.
“Does the Conclave agree?”
A deafening roar filled the court room. Was it possible that the dragons were as glad to have reason not to kill him as the men were?
“Let the records show this decision.”
Longbourn shrieked and flapped his wings. He bounded over the box’s rails and landed just short of Elizabeth. “You would abandon me?”
She pulled her shoulders back against the trembling in her belly. “I will not be afraid of my Keep’s dragon.”
“And this is your final word on the matter?”
“Mary will be your Keeper now. Treat her well, and she will be glad of the appointment.”
Longbourn huffed acrid breath at Mary, and she shrank back. He turned to Elizabeth. “You are no longer welcome on Longbourn estate. I will not have its shades polluted by one who abandons me. You are never to enter the house or the gardens again. I forbid it. You shall never see your family or your father again.”
“It is within your right to determine who is allowed within your territory, but you cannot dictate the family
’s choices to see her outside your territory.” The Minister of the Court called from his bench. “Speaking of your territory, your application to expand your boundaries is denied and your territory will be reduced ten percent as penalty for your transgressions against your Keeper. Keep well within the boundaries of Longbourn estate or more severe consequences will follow.”
Longbourn roared and stomped. “Bennet will never see you again. I forbid my Keeper from it, and I shall persuade the others who do not hear. You have no home. You are no Keeper.”
A high pitched cry echoed from the far side of the room. Pemberley bounded out of her box and half-lunged, half-waddled to Longbourn.
“No be mean her!”
“Get away from me, you little—”
Pemberley reared back on her hind legs and huffed. A little spurt of flame singed Longbourn’s nose, and he jumped back.
Elizabeth hurdled over the railing and caught Pemberley’s face in her hands. “No! You must not do that. You know better than to threaten another dragon!”
“But he hurt you. He want hurt you again! Only protecting. I allowed that.”
“Of course you are, my dear. But there are many others here whose job that is. We must learn to perform our role, and let others do theirs. Now, you should apologize to Longbourn.” Elizabeth pushed Pemberley’s head toward Longbourn.
“I sorry.” Pemberley dropped her head and muttered.
“I have no need for apologies from babies and dragonless Keepers.” Longbourn stormed off down the tunnel he had come from.
“You no Keeper now?”
“It is nothing for you to worry about. Nothing has changed for you.”
“Yes. Yes it do!” Pemberley flapped and hopped like an excited fairy dragon. “You no have dragon. I be you dragon. You my Keeper.”
“You already have a Keeper, dearling.”
“I want two! I vikontes, I can has two, right?” She turned to Cownt Matlock. “Please, can I has two Keepers?”
Matlock rose and the Minister of the Court struck the high gong twice. “Is there any in the Conclave who doubts her imprinting now?”
Silence. Not even the scratching of talons on the stone floor.
“Let the records show this decision. I officially welcome you, Vikontes Pemberley into the Blue Order.” Cownt Matlock licked the top of her head.
Pemberley licked him back, looking up at him, puzzled. “That mean I can has two?”
“Dearling, I am sorry but—”
“There is a way.” Darcy laid his hand on her shoulder. He drew a deep breath and stood very tall. “Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would you consent to be my wife and Pemberley’s Keeper?”
Her eyes bulged, and she grabbed for the railing behind her.
“See, you can be my Keeper!”
“No!” Lady Catherine sprang to her feet. “Absolutely not! Under no circumstances.”
“On what grounds?” the Minister of the Court asked.
She looked straight at Matlock. “You well know the reasons.”
“State them for the court.” Had Matlock learned that glare from his dragon?
“He is engaged to my daughter. From their birth—”
“A betrothal I never agreed to—”
Pemberley squawked and flapped. “I not have that one! No, she awful! She no like me!”
“Your precious changes mean that he is not bound by his dragon’s demands.” Lady Catherine crossed her arms over her chest.
“But you should listen to mine.” Rosings lumbered toward them. “I will tolerate the young one as my Keeper, but I will not share my territory with another dragon, even Pemberley. If the young one marries Darcy, one of us will be left without a Keeper unless they do not live together.”
“An intolerable option,” Darcy muttered under his breath. “I will not have Anne.”
Lady Catherine whirled on him, shrieking like Cait. “But it is a spectacular match! If you refuse, I shall never see you again. You will be—”
“Enough!” Matlock stood. “Darcy is in no way obligated to marry Anne.”
“But since their birth—”
“Escort her from the floor.” Matlock waved several Bondsmen into motion.
Lady Catherine regained her composure enough not to be dragged away kicking and screaming—but only just.
Pemberley watched the procession then turned back to Cownt Matlock. “I can has her my Keeper?”
Sir Edward stood in the second row of the officials’ gallery. “It is the opinion of the Lord Physician that the drakling would fare best with Miss Bennet’s presence.”
“I concur.” Barwines Chudleigh lifted her head a little higher.
“And I.” Rosings bellowed.
More dragons added their loud agreement.
Pemberley wrapped her neck around Elizabeth’s waist tightly and stared up into her eyes to plead.
April landed on her shoulder and nipped her ear. “I shall stay with Pemberley if you do not take him!”
She glanced behind her. Uncle Gardiner nodded.
Beside him, Mr. Darcy caught her gaze. Oh! The look in his eyes! Her face flushed and it crept down her neck.
Mr. Collins had never looked at her that way.
Darcy could be taciturn and dour, ill-mannered and rude. But men like Colonel Fitzwilliam followed him, Walker trusted him, Pemberley and Georgiana adored him.
“I ... I accept.”
Pemberley squealed and wrapped her neck around Elizabeth’s waist.
“Let the record show that the Court approves the request of young Pemberley to be granted two Keepers and note the betrothal of Miss Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.”
Apparently the dragons approved.
The Minister allowed the Conclave to quiet on their own.
Lord Chudleigh rose and cleared his throat. “That concludes the cases before the Blue Order Court.” He gestured toward Lord Matlock.
“There remains a final matter for the Conclave to consider, one of grave concern. I have received three independent reports from Dragon Friends stationed with the militia in Hertfordshire, all pointing to the presence of an unknown dragon in that county.”
Who knew silence could be every bit as frightening as dragon roars?
The Accords permitted a major dragon to kill another major dragon trespassing on its territory. But a battle of major dragons, especially ones of similar size and strength, could go on for days and would be certain to draw the attention of the local human population, threatening the secrecy of the entire dragon community. Dragon war was the most likely outcome. If a rogue dragon really existed, it had to be dealt with immediately, hopefully by bringing it into the Blue Order and under the rule of the Pendragon Accords. The alternative was unthinkable.
Matlock began reading the reports. Dragon thunder heard the night of the Netherfield ball, but two voices, not just one.
Her skin prickled. Was that possible? She closed her eyes. What had she heard that night?
Reports of thefts from the regimental supplies ... Great Heavens, Pemberley’s egg might well have been hidden among the stolen supplies—was that the crux of the argument between Wickham and Darcy before the ball? That Wickham had lost the egg he had stolen?
Mary leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Do you think it is possible that voice you heard—”
Elizabeth grabbed her hand. “I ... I think I heard it the night of Jane’s betrothal at Netherfield as well.”
Mary gasped. “Netherfield? Lydia!”
“What do you mean?”
“Before she went to stay at Netherfield. She was saying some very odd things. I think—Heavens! Can it be possible?—I think she might be like Aunt Gardiner!”
“You think she has started hearing dragons now?” Elizabeth chewed her knuckle.
“As I think about it now, yes, I do. If there is an unknown dragon at Netherfield, and she is speaking to it, of course she would want to be there with it, alone. It could be trying to convince her to become
its Keeper.”
“But Jane and Bingley—”
“Are at risk of suddenly disappearing to make way for Lydia!”
Darcy leaned toward them. “Do you think it possible that the dragon script we found at Netherfield could have been written by a dragon?”
“The last time I was there, I found paintings in the drawing room, with hidden bits of script. There was one that I did not understand, but now I think the script read ‘sanctuary’—possibly a dragon taking sanctuary? Lindwyrms have been known to write and even paint—it could have been done by one.”
“Whilst in Meryton, Walker thought he heard a voice—”
“That is right! He asked Longbourn about it.” Why had she not paid more attention to that?
“Do you recall what he said—that there was nothing unknown in his territory? He did not actually deny its presence.” Darcy bit his bottom lip.
“He has been awfully cross, could tolerating the presence of another dragon—” Mary said.
“Lord Matlock!” Darcy’s voice boomed over Matlock’s reading. “We have come to believe that the dragon you speak of is a lindwyrm that has possibly taken residence at Netherfield Park.”
“And you failed to mention this?”
Elizabeth gulped. Actually it was Papa who failed to mention it. He had been musing for quite some time of the possibility of an unknown dragon in the region. She thought it had been idle talk, wishful thinking of something noteworthy he might record for the Order. If it had been more than that, though, he should have brought it to the attention of the Order. Why would he not?
“It is only now that we have put all the pieces together. If it is indeed at Netherfield, it may pose a serious threat to the dragon-deaf residents there.”
“Sir!” Elizabeth cried. “It is my eldest sister and her husband. Pray, allow me to go to Netherfield and investigate. Perhaps I might make contact with it and induce it to become part of the Blue Order.”
“If there is any among the Order who can do such a thing, it is she.” Rosings shrugged her wings and shuffled back to her place.
Barwines Chudleigh rose up and extended her wings. “I concur.”
The room filled with sounds of approbation.
“Let the record show that Miss Elizabeth Bennet will go immediately to Meryton to assess this situation and make contact with this unknown dragon. Use whatever persuasion is necessary to stay at Netherfield Park and protect the dragon-deaf residents there. Keeper Mary Bennet, you and Historian Bennet will provide as much assistance as possible, while respecting Longbourn’s ban on Miss Elizabeth in his territory.”