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Elizabeth swallowed hard. Jealousy was not attractive. All gifts came with a price. And hearing dragons was worth it.
Dragons were the one thing she did not share with Jane. Sometimes it was easy enough to ignore, but at times like now, the cavernous gap between them ached like the death of a friend.
out over the bent and knobby fingers. “You have been my strength, taking over for me as I have been able to do less and less. You are the true Dragon Keeper here, my dear. As much an honor as it is, it comes with a price.”
“He likes Elizabeth, and I do too. You offended her.” He liked her? Surely Darcy misheard.
heheh 😈 darcy is realizing that lizzy is very well loved
What was it about her that dragons found so very endearing?
It stretched its neck toward her. She embraced the huge scaly head and scratched behind his right ear with both hands. Dear god, the creature wagged his foot just like a dog.
“Are you jealous?” Walker whispered in his ear.
LOL
He picked up his head and stared down at her. “Upon my honor as a wyvern and ancestral estate dragon of Longbourn, I shall not eat whatever annoying little creature you present to me. Are you satisfied?”
“I will eat anyone who hurts you or any of my Keep. Slowly, one tiny bite at a time.”
She turned her glower on him, potent as wyvern venom. No one, save a dragon, had ever looked at him that way. She was stunning. And a little frightening.
Really? A dragon cared about dancing? No, he cared about Miss Elizabeth, passionately.
Stunning, simply stunning in her fury.
Papa’s views on marriage were so very convenient for him, but would he say the same to Jane?
My mind was more agreeably engaged. I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.”
She was the only woman he had ever met who not only heard dragons, but had the heart of one herself.
“Lizzy, do not interfere in business you do not understand. It is times like these that I question the Order’s willingness to involve women in such weighty matters.”
what? you have no idea how this has lowered my opinion of mr. bennet
“But he is fiercely protective of his Keep, and you are part of that now. He may bluster, but that is merely draconic pride, to which he has a right as Laird of this Keep. Treat him with respect. If you pick the scale mites from his brow ridges, he might even share his mutton with you.”
“That is because they were written by men, my dear, upon whom the government of men places the authority of law. So that is what they write about. However, Providence has put us in the place to care for hides and hearts. So, we must keep our own books.”
“She is pretty, and you like to look at her.”
“I am afraid, Mr. Darcy, that this adventure has rather affected your admiration of her fine eyes.” “Not at all, they were brightened by the exercise.” Darcy rose and paced the length of the room.
“I will not have that. Stop it at once.” “Then you might want to stop saying very stupid things indeed.”
April shrieked and flew at him, yanking a feather from the top of his head. “You will stop your whining and do as you are asked. You proud, arrogant, unfeeling creature.”
But Miss Elizabeth was genuine, everything about her was real, fashionable or not. She would be the same tomorrow as she was yesterday. There was something reassuring in such steadiness.
“No Keeper should feel threatened by their own dragon. I should very much like to tell him that.” April pecked at the bedpost as though it were Longbourn’s hide.
i love april. she’s fiercely loyal to elizabeth and will not hesitate to bite any person or dragon
“You are a condescending, ingratiating, self-important mammal, with the arrogance of a cockatrice and the appeal of the Snake King.”
“You permitted her to be hurt. Now she is weak and angry. It is your fault we quarreled.” “You quarreled with your Keeper?” With Miss Elizabeth, whom all dragons adored?
“I do not think there has been a woman who has so loved dragonkind in centuries. She will do what must be done.”
No doubt this was a prelude of what was to be the rest of her life. Bowing to the unwelcome wishes of one master or another.
If I am to be his declared Keeper soon, then we must establish what that relationship will look like going forward. I will not permit him to be master and I, slave. There are certain … courtesies that I require, even if I am only a lowly human. He must understand that.”
But what kind of Friend would leave her in fear of her own life? Perhaps that was not a Friend she truly wanted to have.
After being caught helpless in a dragon’s paw, held up to a gaping, venomous maw, powerless in the face of it, how could she ever trust a major-dragon again?
Darcy sat back on his heels and stared. What a peculiar tableau. Though beyond disheveled, Miss Elizabeth had never been more attractive, surrounded by the creatures that adored her.
It was easy to see why they did. She understood them, knew them in ways that no dragon lore had ever revealed. She laid down everything she had for them. Remarkable. Stunning. She was a Keeper suited to a dragon of royal stock, like Pemberley.
The drakling reveled in her kindnesses, never happier than when she was permitted to sleep in Miss Elizabeth’s arms. Pemberley even willingly shared her nest with Rumblkins, Rustle, and the fairy dragons who visited often, all for the privilege of Miss Elizabeth’s company.
Even though Miss Elizabeth insisted Darcy manage all the feedings, Pemberley still returned to cuddle with her after each one, utterly besotted with her.
No wonder women sought the companionship and advice of other women when a baby was due. Infants were far more complicated creatures than their size would suggest.
“Why she go?” Pemberley whined, staring after her. “She not happy. She angry when you say Collins. What is a Collins?”
Elizabeth would become Longbourn’s acknowledged Keeper, and he—and Collins—would run her life to his satisfaction and comfort.
Dragon Keeping always carried a price. Until now, it had been easy to pay, a joy for the privilege of company that understood and esteemed her. And it would be again. It had to be.
