Longbourn: Dragon Entail: A Pride and Prejudice Variation (Jane Austen's Dragons Book 2)
Page 31
April could hardly stop her flittering, far too delighted that Elizabeth had found a mate. No doubt April would be seeking one of her own soon, too. A broody fairy dragon was just what one needed when trying to make contact with a rogue dragon. A generous cup of chamomile tea and honey eventually helped April to sleep.
Not so Elizabeth. She stared at the ceiling until nearly dawn when a rapping at her window drew her out from under the counterpane. Walker stood on the window sill.
“I cannot stay. There is a letter in my satchel. You may send your reply with me the next time I see you.”
She removed the letter, buckled the satchel, and he flew off.
How had Darcy had time to write?
The letter was not even sealed—he obviously trusted Walker implicitly. And it was written in pencil—who wrote a letter in pencil?
One very determined to write under less than ideal circumstances.
Her hands trembled as she unfolded the letter.
My dear Elizabeth,
I cannot say that I am disappointed to be writing to you so soon, I only wish I had something of substance to report on the matter which concerns us both. F and I made it to a coaching inn just before the evening rainfall came in torrents. So we are reasonably dry and fed for the evening.
She chuckled. Travels with Father had taken them to some less than comfortable places. He was politely describing a leaky roof and difficult to identify foodstuffs on a dirty plate.
In the morning, Walker will fly to Brighton. With any luck he will be able to find local dragons who may have overheard some of Wickham’s conversations. F and I will make inquiries along the road. Hopefully there will be some news of them. I have faith that between these efforts and Rustle’s in Meryton, we will be able to make quick work of finding them.
Did he realize that he need not be so positive for her sake? Probably not; he really did not know her that well at all. Still though, it was a kind gesture.
With so little news, I am sure you question why I have bothered sending Walker out in the middle of the night with a letter. I would not have you thinking me so inconsiderate of my Friend; I am writing this largely on his behalf.
You might wonder what possessed Cait to volunteer to go to Meryton in the service of Collins when we both know her feelings toward the man. She is not by nature such a generous being. The decision was largely a self-serving one, and of Walker’s initiation. He wanted her to be near you.
He fears Cait is too proud to tell you this herself, but she will be laying her clutch in the coming weeks, and he fears her health may be at risk. The eggs of her previous clutch were especially large, and she had difficulty laying them. As eggs of subsequent clutches become larger, he fears she is at risk of becoming egg-bound.
Walker believes that you will be able to tell if Cait needs help and, more importantly, she will accept it from you. After what you have done for Pemberley, they both trust you implicitly.
As do I, my dearest, loveliest Elizabeth.
Her vision blurred. She dragged her sleeve across her eyes.
I realize you do not yet know me well enough to understand how very few people I say that of, but you can apply to F for a full accounting of the matter.
I count that among the first, but far from the only of your virtues that induced me to seek your hand. Though I hope this business will not keep us apart that long, I hope to acquaint you with all my reasons through our correspondence. Then perhaps you will be able to say that you know me.
Your sincere and loving servant, FD
He trusted her! Trusted her!
That should not mean so much, but it did. She pressed the letter to her chest. As cruel as it was that they should be separated, if he continued to write such letters, it might not be so very dreadful.
She carefully tucked the letter inside her reticule. The coach would be brought around soon, and she needed to bid Pemberley and Georgiana farewell. During the journey she would read the notes she had transcribed about lindwyrms—the most likely species of the rogue dragon—and reread Darcy’s letter. Hopefully that would be enough to distract her from the fact that she was wholly unwelcome at Longbourn.
She wrapped her arms around her waist and made her way down the grand stairs. Slate and Amber met her on her way to the cellar steps and greeted her enthusiastically, offering their congratulations and excitement over having a proper mistress in the house again as well as their hopes that she would be able to return home soon from her Blue Order business.
Home. They called Darcy House her home.
What an odd thought.
But here she was Keeper to a dragon that adored her, had a sister excited for their new relationship and new Dragon Friends who anticipated her company. Most importantly, her betrothed—a man who trusted her—invited her to call this place home. What more could “home” possibly mean?
What indeed?
If only a rogue dragon, a man who sought to be a Deaf-Speaker, and her unmanageable sister would cooperate, she might be able to discover what that kind of a home meant.
In the meantime, to Meryton.
For more dragon lore check out:
Jane Austen’s Dragons Index
AND
Elizabeth’s Commonplace Book of Dragons
At Elizabeth's Commonplace Book of Dragons
Coming winter 2017
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Other books by Maria Grace:
Remember the Past
The Darcy Brothers
A Jane Austen Regency Life Series:
A Jane Austen Christmas: Regency Christmas Traditions
Courtship and Marriage in Jane Austen’s World
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
Sweet Tea Stories:
A Spot of Sweet Tea: Hopes and Beginnings (short story anthology)
Snowbound at Hartfield
The Darcy’s First Christmas
Given Good Principles Series:
Darcy’s Decision
The Future Mrs. Darcy
All the Appearance of Goodness
Twelfth Night at Longbourn
Short Stories:
Four Days in April
Sweet Ginger
Last Dance
Not Romantic
To Forget
Available in e-book and paperback
Free ebooks
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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 year
s of university teaching, she returned to her first love, fiction writing.
She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six new novels in the works, attended seven period balls, sewn eight Regency era costumes, shared her life with nine cats through the years and published her tenth book in 2015.
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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, Susanne and Raidon thank you so much for cold reading and being honest!
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!
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