Netherfield Rogue Dragon Preview, part 6

What Elizabeth doesn’t know just might hurt her after all. What is Darcy to do?

Darcy sank back into the large, soft, and very clean chair near the fireplace in a room easily twice the size of any he had seen for at least a fortnight. Clean linens—he had actually checked after the rigors of recent days—covered the tall bed surrounded by bed curtains not tattered and torn. Both a closet and a chest of drawers accepted his luggage-all free from any sign of vermin or dust. The very definition of luxury.

Mr. Thomas Powlett’s invitation to stay at Birchcaster Heath, though he claimed the accommodations to be modest, was far more welcome than he knew. This was the first time in weeks that Darcy had a room to himself and as much as he liked Fitzwilliam, the opportunity to simple be alone was incredibly welcome. Finally his thoughts were becoming quiet and well-ordered once again, almost like the pain of a lingering headache receding.

His meeting with the drake, Birchcaster, had been quite satisfying. It seemed he shared the relatively easy-going temperament of his Keeper and welcomed the Blue Order assurances that there was no need for alarm. Far better than the reception they received at the last estate whose resident wyrm, Overport, was not adverse to calling them liars and threatening to run them off his land himself. Matlock should be receiving a letter soon to inform him of that particular greeting and the need for some Order oversight for that estate.

Just how many more estates of this ilk dotted the English countryside? And what did that mean for the actual state of the Blue Order and their influence over the Dragon State? He raked his hands through his hair, pulling slightly. He had never wanted to become involved in the administration of dragon affairs. Father had managed to keep clear of the duty, arguing on more than one occasion with Uncle Matlock on the matter. He had managed to keep himself to Pemberley and be done with it all. But with the death of Old Pemberley and the birth of little Pemberley everything changed.

How melodramatic that sounded, but a firedrake had not been hatched in anyone’s current memory. She was a powerful dragon, or at least she would be, and it would be the first firedrake to be raised in the modern era. Instructing her and shaping her understanding would be crucial for the future of England and the Blue Order.

Thank heavens Miss Elizabeth wouldbe at his side through it all. It was tempting to think that Pemberley somehow realized that her situation would need more than he alone could offer. But that was imbuing a baby dragon with sage wisdom, and even he realized that was crediting her with a bit too much. Still though, it was fortunate.

Walker pecked the French door that opened on to the balcony and it swung open. He hopped in and closed it behind him. “I had nearly forgotten how pleasant it was to come into accommodations designed to accommodate my kind.” He flapped his wings slightly.

“It does feel a bit like the return to civilization, does it not.” Darcy laughed and reached for the buckles on the satchel. “I wonder that you will be able to fly anywhere without this in place once we are done with the affair. I’ve gotten so used to seeing you with it, you look quite naked without.”

Walker snapped his beak in a warning that was not entirely playful. “Nakedness is a warm-blooded convention that I would thank you to keep to yourself.”

“How did you find Cait this visit?”

“Big, broody and balky. She hates nearly everyone and everything right now.” Walker picked something invisible from between his toes.

“Rather like she was the last time she clutched?”

Walker hopped to a small tabletop. “Precisely, so I am not entirely worried. I suppose it is an advantage that I am only able to make short visits, so she rather welcomes my arrivals. She does detest Collins though. The Order needs to provide another translator soon or she may peck his eye out.”

“He is such a dullard?” Darcy rubbed his forehead hard.

“If it were only that she would not be nearly so upset. He is a dullard with opinions. It seems he has decided it is his right as a warm-blood—which by the way he thinks makes him the superior partner in the relationship—to have opinions on all matters related to dragons and the Blue Order. Opinions which he unfortunately thinks are correct. He borders on quite unteachable.”

“Bennet will have his work cut out for him then. It is his job to mold him into an appropriate candidate for membership into the Order. Perhaps Collins has forgotten what it will mean for him if he continues to be so opinionated. Do you think it would be helpful if I wrote to remind him of his very precarious position?”

“I know Cait would be incredibly grateful for it.”

Darcy leaned forward on his elbow. “Grateful enough that she might permit Fitzwilliam to try to befriend one of her clutch?”

“If he listens to you, she might befriend you herself.”

“Thank you for that honor, but no.” Darcy guffawed. Cait in his household? But then again, Elizabeth had already asserted dominance over her… No, it was a very bad idea.

“Good. There is a reason cockatrice only live together for brief periods.” Walker scanned the room, probably looking for a plate.

“The kitchen sent up a bowl for you just an hour ago. There, on the dressing table.”

Walker found it and tore into the raw meat. It was not pleasant to watch a cockatrice eat, so Darcy turned to his letter.

My dear Mr. Darcy,

Thank you for sending along Georgiana’s latest letter. It is delightful to see how much of a change her time with Lady Astrid is making. It is difficult to believe she was once so reticent about dragons.

Have you considered that Barnwines Chudleigh’s continuing favor might well put her in a way of meeting an eligible Keeper sooner rather than later. No, I do not think Chudleigh is inclined to bother with match-making, do not worry for that. But she is a very social creature and with all her salons and parties, I am certain many introductions are being made. So you may wish to steel yourself for the possibility of yet another wedding in the near future.

After having just attended Mary’s I did begin to realize that there might be special circumstances surrounding our own. You might think me silly to suppose it, but to me it seems likely that there may be dragons among those who wish to attend at least our wedding breakfast, if not the ceremony itself and we should be prepared for the possibility. I have no idea how one plans a wedding breakfast to include dragons—the very idea boggles the mind I suppose, but then again, so much of what is going on right now does as well, it barely seems unusual. Perhaps if we both give the matter some thought, we might come up with something that will suit all parties.

He reread the paragraph twice, chuckling each time. Dragons at a wedding breakfast—the very thought. But she was right, with her, it was entirely possible. At the very least it would not hurt to be prepared for such an event. What was more, she was thinking about their wedding, and in—what must be for her—positive terms. Bless it all, if his betrothed wanted dragons at her wedding breakfast, then by Jove there would be dragons. It would no doubt be the most talked about wedding the Blue Order would ever know—not at all what he would desire, but for her, it would be worth it.

Perhaps it was doubly good that Fitzwilliam was in another room. He would laugh far too much at the notion. Best put that eventuality off for as long as he could.

More and more recently, April has taken to spending time with Cait. In some ways I do not mind, she has been rather short-tempered and my ears bear witness to the degree of her irritation. The broodiness will only grow worse until she finds a proper mate. Fairy dragons are native to the Longbourn woods, so I doubt she will have difficulty finding a harem to join and she is—well you quite know her personality—she will have no trouble in exerting dominance over the other females. I expect she will have a clutch of her own before summer.

I am glad for her, but—and I have spoken of this to no one—I am concerned that she may decide to lay her clutch in the wild and remain with them to protect the eggs. She has more sense than the average fairy dragon and will be diligent in seeing them hatch safely, but I do not know if she will decide to return to me after that, though. She has never been my prisoner, but I have also never considered what would happen should she decide to leave. It has never been a possibility before.

I do not wish to sound maudlin or melancholy, but without the company of my family, Netherfield has been lonely. So much so I would swear to you I heard giggling in the hall last night, much like my sisters’, but there was no one there. Not even the maids. I wonder that I may be going daft. I suppose the thought of losings April’s companionship too has been just too much.

I pray this does not sound overly sentimental, but how much longer do you think your journey will take? I find myself impatient for your arrival at Netherfield.

He traced the last several words as though it would bring her closer. She missed his company, wanted him there with her. If that was not tantamount to a declaration of love, what was?

I do not think Longbourn will be pleased to have a second broody female nearby. As I understand he and Cait have already had words on multiple occasions. I encountered him just after Mary’s wedding and he is little changed since we last saw him—except perhaps he is more agitated over Collins. I am a little concerned that he might interfere if Cait should suddenly need assistance in laying her clutch as I have recently become convinced she might. The advice from the poulterer and the falconer have been much more helpful than I imagined and between them and the book from Papa, I believe I have assembled a sound strategy to assist her. Perhaps the order might name me the first dragon midwife.

If anyone could aspire to such a title, it would be Elizabeth. He dropped his chin to his chest at the image of her hurrying out from Pemberley in the middle of the night to attend a dragon laying.

I have learned a little more about the paintings that bear so many draconic evidences. Talia, the puck who lives in the garden (by the way, when you come, could you perhaps bring with you a variety of threads and yarn, the more colorful the better. And wool! She is a great lover of a warm nest.) has proven a great wealth of knowledge, assisted by her fondness for dried meat.  She has been a resident at Netherfield for many years now and says the Netherfield dragon is a relatively recent arrival. Likewise the paintings are fairly new. Apparently, every few months a new painting arrives on the doorstep, wrapped in brown paper, with instructions to Nicholls to see it appropriately hung in the house. In exchange for her rabbit warren remaining undisturbed (I will explain that when you arrive) Talia encourages Nicholls to think the paintings souvenirs of Mr. Bascombe’s travels to the continent and beyond.

Needless to say, it seems reasonable to assume that they are the work of our rogue dragon and having them hang in the house suits his vanity. I have been studying the paintings at length and many seem to repeat the theme of escape and sanctuary with many dragon types represented. What I do not know is if these themes are to be taken literally or metaphorically or perhaps our painter lacks imagination and cannot think of anything else to render on canvas.

Perhaps I will know sooner rather than later though. I took your suggestion and scratched a message to the Netherfield Dragon in the soft dirt of the cellar. I fear I was neither subtle nor very kind in asking him why he was persuading Mary to be disagreeable. Imagine my surprise when he wrote me back: Because I do not like you.

I am not sure which surprised me more, that he responded at all or that he claims not to like me without having even met me. Needless to say, I asked him why, and I currently await his response.

In my idle moments I have been continuing to work at deciphering Lydia’s journal. Without Fitzwilliam’s expertise and experience, it should be no surprise that I have had less success than he. But I did come across a phrase that is potentially concerning. I have included both the encrypted characters and my attempt at translating them. I do not know entirely what to make of it, but it does seem rather significant.

Please let me know your thoughts, and when you might make your way to Netherfield. And me.

Yours, EB

Darcy’s hands trembled just a bit, for so many very good reasons. But some of them needed to be pondered later, after the more urgent issues had been dealt with. He forced himself to turn the page over and stare at the passages from Lydia’s journal. The page full of coded characters made no sense, but below one phrase Elizabeth wrote: introduce him to my secret friend.

His hands turned cold as he read the words twice, thrice. Secret friend. He bolted to Fitzwilliam’s room which was next door to his and barged in, not bothering to knock.

“What the devil has gotten into you Darcy!” Fitzwilliam jumped from his chair, knocking an empty glass to the floor.

“Word from Elizabeth.” He held out the page.

“She has deciphered—”

“Not very much, very little really. But the phrase is concerning.” He turned the letter to the coded passage.

Fitzwilliam scanned the page, his finger tracing as he went. “Introduce … special not secret, special friend? Get me my portfolio and sit down.” He pointed to a small table.

Darcy fetched the portfolio from the closet. Fitzwilliam had already spread the paper out on the table and brought a candle closer. He pulled notes and a pencil from his portfolio and spent the next half an hour scribbling across the ciphered characters.

“Bloody hell, that girl’s head is filled with fluffy and nonsense.”

“Be careful—”

“Not Elizabeth you idiot, her sister. I can only make out enough to be certain I am not certain of anything. She refers to a special friend, but who that might be is anyone’s guess, much less who she wishes to introduce to him. I have deciphered that it is a him at least. And that he is tall and handsome.”

“She wishes to introduce someone to Wickham?”

“Or it is possible she means that she wishes to introduce Wickham to someone. I do not know. Lord I wish I did, but I do not.” He scribbled something out further down the page and wrote something else in its place. “This does strongly suggest that she wished to make the introduction near Longbourn though and the date is not long before she disappeared from Netherfield.”

“So you think she might mean to go back to Hertfordshire?”

“Or it is equally possible she never actually left.”

Darcy’s eyes bulged and his jaw gaped. “What? That is not possible. She is well known in the area. How could she possibly remain hidden there?”

“Humor this old army spy for a moment.” Fitzwilliam raised an open hand.

“Spy?”

Fitzwilliam flashed a lean smile and nodded once. Darcy gulped. What else did he not know about his cousin?

“As I said, bear with me a moment. When you wrote to me, you told me the terrain around Hertfordshire was largely karst, no?”

Darcy slapped his forehead hard. “Caverns. So many damnable caverns!”

“Quite so. You searched a great number of them looking for Pemberley as I recall. Some of them, if your descriptions were accurate would be large enough to house a couple quite tolerably for some time. And if properly stocked, they could remain there for quite some time. Wickham could easily acquire supplies in the next village over and never show his face in Meryton.”

“Do you really think it possible we have been on a goose chase all this time whilst Wickham and Lydia have been at arm’s length from Elizabeth all this time?” Darcy clenched his fists until they trembled.

“Considering we have found no trace of them on the road, and Wickham has never been good at covering his tracks, it seems highly likely to me.”

“That could explain the giggling in the hall and why he said he did not like her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Elizabeth made contact with the dragon—they have left notes for one another and his last said that he did not like her very well.”

“There is no telling what Wickham could have told him! The dragon could think her very dangerous indeed.” Tight lines drew tight along Fitzwilliam’s eyes.

“We leave for Hertfordshire at dawn then. I will send Walker ahead to warn her of our concerns tonight.”

Dear God let the warning not be too late! With the current state of dragon affairs if any blood was shed, war might well be inevitable.

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How did Elizabeth and April become friends? Find chapters HERE 

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How did Elizabeth and April become friends? Find the story HERE