The dragons are still running the show, running the plot off the rails. But they have permitted me to offer you this sneak peak of the new book–at least they haven’t insisten on changing the working title yet: Miss Georgiana and the Dragon.
According to Miss Withington, the start of a term, was always marked with a relatively formal event. A little frivolity, a little ceremony, and a little reminder of the expectations of society, all rolled into one, would set the tone for their studies quite appropriately, or so Mrs. Fieldings said.
For the little girls, the event would be a tea party, with good china and fancy cakes, welcoming the new dragons who would be studying to become governesses to Blue Order families. For the rest of the term, the little girls and those dragon students would be taking their dinner early, in the student’s common room, rather like what children did with their governess at home.
For the older students and the dragons studying to be dragon-companions, a dinner party of sorts would be held, with pretty china, dinner dress, and time spent in the drawing room with parlor games and opportunities to exhibit their accomplishments. Excellent practice for social life after school days were past—or at least that was the theory. But since most dinners in society did not include dragons—with the exception of Pemberley’s dinners of course—the resemblance to an actual society dinner would be limited. Pax and Berry had chosen to take tea with the little girls to enjoy the abundance of sweet dainty things served them and now were sleeping off very full bellies in the bower in Bennetson Tower.
Hopefully that meant the dragon students would be learning to eat in a civilized fashion, from the dishes usually served at the table, not the usual chunks of raw meat that found their way to the table at Darcy House when Walker and Earl were about. While Georgiana was not terribly particular about food, bloody, hacked cuts, some still with feathers or scales attached, piled high on a platter, were simply not an appetizing sight. If Mrs. Fieldings managed to teach her dragon-students some proper table manners, then she definitely would be doing some good in the world.
“It is not so bad, eating with the dragons.” Miss Sempil tittered as they made their way down the wide, wooden main stairs to dinner. Her pale pink muslin gown complimented her complexion, making her positively pretty tonight. “You see, Mrs. Fieldings insists that they eat with proper cutlery, and it is rather amusing to see them try to use knife and fork.”
Oh, that would be a sight! Georgiana giggled behind hand. Such a thing would never happen at Elizabeth’s dinner table. She would consider it the height of rudeness to inconvenience the dragons that way.
“You must never laugh at them.” Miss Withington hissed as she came up behind them. How much more pleasant company would be if she were to develop a better sense of the ridiculous. “We are not allowed to laugh at other students here. Would you like to have been laughed at when you fumbled at the pianoforte?”
Georgiana glared over her shoulder. “I did not fumble. I was distracted by the rudeness of the audience. That is hardly the same thing.”
“Mr. Elkins says only weak musicians conjure such an excuse for their own mistakes. A good musician can ignore everything around them and focus on their performance.”
“As if your own performance were so very accomplished.” Georgiana sniffed. “There were multiple places—”
“I do not recall asking your opinion of my performance. I am well aware of my own shortcomings, thank you.” Miss Withington’s face flushed and she pushed past them, down the stairs.
“She is quite high and mighty tonight, is she not.” Miss Sempil just barely sneered.
“I wonder what has stirred her up so.”
“I imagine it is the dragon-companion students.”
“I do not understand.” Georgiana paused and caught Miss Sempil’s eye. “I understood she was paired with a companion student last term and found the experience quite satisfying.”
“She was and she did. The partnership was very successful and that dragon graduated and immediately found an excellent placement with a prominent Blue Order family. That is the problem.”
“Pray, be plain. I do not understand at all.”
“Although the partnerships will not officially be announced until the drawing room tonight, she has heard who she will be partnered with.”
“And that is a problem because…”
“Are you so simple you have not figured it out? It is Bede, she is partnered with Bede.”
“The sneezy dragon who interrupted me?”
“The very one. The same one who continually interrupts everyone, corrects everyone, and appears to know everything.”
“Oh heavens! Even our poor Miss Neville Withington does not deserve that!”
“No one does. I do not understand how Bede was admitted into Mrs. Fieldings’ academy in the first place. I cannot imagine a creature less suited to being a lady’s companion than here. Can you imagine spending your time with someone who thinks they know everything, questions and criticizes everything you do, and has little time for you otherwise?”
Georgiana pressed her had to her pinching chest. “Yes, actually I can. Not a fate I would wish on anyone.”
“I do not know what Mrs. Fieldings is going to do with her, and I cannot imagine what being partnered with her would be like.”
“I suppose Miss Withington’s dudgeon makes a great deal more sense now.” Poor thing. It was a very great deal being asked of the poor girl. Thank heavens it would not be asked of Georgiana.
2 comments
Wow this story is keeping me intrigued with each chapter your guess on Georgiana is as good as any I CANT WAIT TO SEE excellent
Great dynamics between all of the characters — dragon and human alike! I like this version of Georgiana, and I loved the reference to Elizabeth’s unwillingness to inconvenience the dragons at her table with knives and forks! Thanks for sharing, Maria Grace!