Chapter 38
Chapter thirty-eight
During their time trials around the hills that day, they grew twenty-three seconds faster. When Lelantos was tired and slowing, they landed on their starting hill, and laid out a picnic blanket Kesley had brought.
Valeraine took off the restrictive flying leathers so she could lounge. Kesley helped her undo the buckles, and it was easy between them, not as full of anxiety as the first time. They built a fire, warming their hands and food over it.
Valeraine cuddled to Kesley’s side, shoulder to shoulder, leaning her body against his. She wanted him to know everything, to plan and share together. That would begin with how to handle the matter of Scaleheart.
Valeraine said, “I have discovered an extraordinary secret about our nemesis.”
Kesley laughed. “Do we have a nemesis?”
“Of course we do! It’s —”
“Selaide?”
Valeraine huffed, “Mr. Pemberley, of course.”
“Val, he doesn’t seem very menacing when he flinches away from ladies at the ball. You cannot simply call him your nemesis when he does not move against you.”
“But I’ll move against him, now that I have ammunition.”
“I doubt you’ve anything that would faze him. After all, he is the master of one of the largest nests, and you are just —”
“He is Lady Scaleheart. I have proof.”
Kesley let out a bark of laughter. “That effeminate dullard. I never would have guessed a man was hiding behind Scaleheart. I wonder what he gets out of it. A way to attack his competitors from the shadows? And then disguise himself as an elderly woman?”
Valeraine had thought all this herself, just days before. Pemberley was manipulative and hypocritical as Scaleheart. He had killed dragoneers in the derbies, then preached gentleness from behind the quill. And yet, it sounded so crass (and unlike the man she had met) when Kesley laid it all out.
“But I don’t see what you’re so excited about,” Kesley continued. “Pemberley is ineffectual and disliked. Anyone who has met the fellow already knows he is a proud bore who snubs people, what more is there to know?”
Valeraine playfully hit him on the arm. “This is serious. If the ton were to discover he penned all those inflammatory things, people would despise him. They would finally see him for who he is. I will blackmail him with it, and with that leverage I’ll extract the promise of his secrecy.”
“I’ll confront him. It’ll be more intimidating, coming from me.”
“Thank you, but I must do this. He has threatened to expose me, after all.”
“I’m sure Mr. Pemberley hardly thinks of you. You don’t need to do anything but evade his notice, I think.”
“That scoundrel wouldn’t forget about me! He is proud, and rude, but he was properly upset about discovering me. He went out of his way to insert himself in my business, and...”
At Kesley’s unconvinced face, she suddenly had the perverse wish that she was talking to Pemberley, instead.
He would take her seriously. Especially when she was revealing her blackmail, or even when she was just insulting him.
Pemberley detested her riding, but at least he would hang on her every word.
Looking into Kesley’s half-smirk, formulating his next witty reply, she yearned for someone who might acknowledge the devastating potential of her plan.
Kesley let the subject die, and put his arm around her shoulders.
She put Pemberley from her mind. He was no matter; she would vanquish him soon. Then, she could focus on winning the Royal derby to save Longbourn, and building her own happiness. With the house flourishing, Kesley might want to align himself to it.
“Do you think we have a shot?” she wondered.
Kesley shrugged. “Lelantos isn’t young anymore, and all this training can’t change that, even if he is improving. But you? You’re the best racer I’ve ever seen. I think you have a real shot at the Royal derby.”
“I meant us. You and me. Papa says I will inherit Lelantos, and Longbourn nest. Would you want to share that with me?”
Kesley was quick with his answer, “Who wouldn’t want all that, Val? With your vision for Longbourn, with a new egg, it could really become something.”
“And, even if my vision for Longbourn doesn’t happen, if the Royal derby is a disaster, or if Lelantos dies next week?”
“You’re beautiful. What, are you having second thoughts about wanting me?” He struck a pose, showing off his handsome face in comedy.
She laughed, as she was supposed to. But she wanted to press him more.
She wanted him — a husband who wouldn’t stand in her way while she revitalized their house.
To hear him say he would be that person.
Not just that Longbourn would one day be something to be desired.
She wanted to be desirable now. She wanted him to offer for her hand, sincerely.
“I’ll be leaving soon for Sidton manor for the solstice,” Kesley said, “so I don’t want to officially begin a courtship now. Perhaps when I return in January we could explore possibilities?”
“If I —” Valeraine began.
“Ho! Miss Longbourn,” a feminine voice called.
Valeraine whirled to look. It was Nedine Nethenabbi, and following her was Mr. Nethenabbi.
Following him was Mr. Pemberley.
The men held rifles, and a few hounds trailed at their heels.
“We were exploring for hunting prospects,” Nedine called. “Because these hills are part of our land, you see.”
“We’ve shot several beauties,” Nethenabbi put in enthusiastically, showing a wolpertin that he had strung over his shoulder.
“It’s also a wonderful spot for picnicking,” Kesley added jovially. “Didn’t realize that this wasn’t Longbourn land.”
Pemberley was staring at her. He coughed, and looked out at the horizon.
“When did you return to Netherfield?” Valeraine asked.
“Just yesterday,” Nedine said. “I’ve returned to await the hatching of our eggs, which should be any day now.”
“Welcome back to the neighborhood,” Valeraine said, trying to make it sound suitably friendly. Then, because she really wanted to know, she asked, “What is your technique for hatch-mothering?”
“I have found great success with a combination approach. I provide my hatchlings with equal nurturing and discipline.”
“I read some are in favor of only gentleness?”
Mr. Nethenabbi scowled. “That will be from Scaleheart? I’ve only grown in distaste for the authoress after she slandered my family. I wouldn’t trust anything she writes, if I were you. Though her reputation for correct reporting is marvelous, her commentary is suspect.”
Mr. Pemberley shuffled his feet, shifting his weight.
“Indeed,” Valeraine said. “I don’t put much stock in her writings, myself. I was merely curious about Miss Nedine’s techniques.”
Nedine nodded. “It is ludicrous to expect a dragon to behave without any reprimand or punishment.”
“Miss Longbourn,” Mr. Nethenabbi said, almost shyly, “is your family well?”
“Yes, we are all well.”
“Are your sisters still at Longbourn house? All your sisters?”
“Indeed, Alyce and I returned from Kinellan City last month.”
Nethenabbi seemed to take this news with a riot of emotions, happiness and despair chasing each other on his face in a spiral of expression. “I see. Would it be... unwelcome,” he seemed to struggle greatly, “if I called on Miss Alyce?”
He still wanted to court Alyce? Valeraine was furious on behalf of her sister.
She should ask him what he was playing at.
To so cruelly ignore her, to so fully forsake her, only to now begin again.
Valeraine wanted to ask him how long he planned to pursue this, until he broke Alyce’s heart again.
How long would he pretend to be the gentle caller, before deciding Longbourn house with its Masked Rider was too scandalous for his consideration?
Alyce wanted this man. Valeraine would not frighten him away.
“It would certainly be welcome,” Valeraine said. “Alyce is ever eager to hear from you. Indeed, she has waited for your response to her letters.”
“Her letter?” Nethenabbi asked. “What a tragedy; it must have gotten lost.”
Valeraine could only raise her eyebrows, and let it pass. He must be lying. Or, perhaps, someone at Netherfield had intercepted the letters, and then again in Kinellan City.
Her eyes darted to Pemberley. She had assumed he was meddling by telling Nethenabbi of the Masked Rider, and letting Nethenabbi’s own disgust propel him away from Alyce.
Could it be that he used not the truth to manipulate his friend, but deception?
Had he been intercepting Alyce’s letters — and probably reading them, laughing, and burning them?
Then Nedine had gladly taken up the task when they were in Kinellan.
Valeraine hadn’t thought it was possible to hate Pemberley more, but the fire inside of her burned ever brighter. She would put a stop to it, when she delivered her threat to him. Now that he was in the neighborhood, it would be an easy enough thing to arrange.
“Your dragon is surely the reason that our hunting has been poor.” Nedine said. “The tulirepo and wolpertins must be in their burrows, scared by the mighty beast.”
Kesley stepped up behind Valeraine, putting a guiding hand on her elbow. “We will be leaving now, then, so your hunting can improve.”
“Of course you will be leaving,” Nedine tittered, maintaining a light tone.
“Farewell,” Pemberley said.
Valeraine remembered in her childhood exploring these hills with her sisters, roaming the countryside. Now, the invasion of Nedine Nethenabbi had come to crowd in the land of Longbourn and be the most unfriendly of neighbors.
If Lelantos passed, they would have to downsize, not being able to support as many tenant farmers. The fields would be bought by Netherfield, and the border between their lands would shift ever tighter.
Valeraine took a step forward, wanting to give Nedine a piece of her frustration and anger, but Kesley’s hand on her elbow tightened, holding her back. He had anticipated her, and saved her from further embarrassment.
Valeraine instead gave a small curtsy, made her goodbyes, and she and Kesley boarded Lelantos and flew back to their nest.
When she returned to the house, Valeraine penned a letter to Pemberley, asking to meet him in private.
A response came that evening, agreeing to meet in two days, at dawn.
She couldn’t wait to reveal all that she knew of his lies and treachery, and make him beg her for mercy and discretion.
Let him feel the pinch of blackmail and coercion.
She would master Pemberley, and then she would save Longbourn.