My Lady's Dragon

Chiara da Luna

Chapter 9 (The Last)

As they all filed into the dining hall, Rose saw Parker and Molly carrying Lil's dinner. She charged them with the message about receiving Admiral Roland and company before taking her seat—a different place than usual, with several tables combined. The usual seating was upset by Admiral Roland's presence, which necessitated the inclusion of the Chinese allies. Someone had gone to pains to arrange the combined tables more formally with Admiral Roland at one end and Laurence (as befitting an adopted prince of China) at the other end, with just enough ambiguity as to which was the head of the table. Beyond that political distinction, no attempt was made to sort by precedence, but rather by linguistic skills. Admiral Roland had Sipho and Dyer at either hand to talk with and translate for the adjacent Chinese officers. Laurence, surrounded by other Chinese officers, spoke to them in their language, although Rose noticed that he often referred to notes. For once, the sexes were sorted more evenly, because, whereas the British Corps ran to male officers, the Chinese were mostly female. Across from Rose, Emily, shining bright as midday sun in her spectacular gown, carried on a sprightly dialog in Chinese with her partners, as did other young British officers who had traveled to China on Temeraire's several trips and thus acquired the language. They alternated with the captains, who, like Rose, knew not one Chinese word, but she had attended enough dinners that included foreign diplomats to carry on a conversation with smiles and thus not neglect her partners. Emily, when not eating, clutched her fan shut to avoid sending unintentional messages, but Rose occasionally brought hers out, to the admiration of her partners, who showed her handsome Oriental fans in return.

Because of Admiral Roland's presence, the kitchen staff took extra pains with dinner, even attempting some Chinese cooking, which Rose bravely ate with a smile, though often her eyes watered. Her Chinese partners pointed sympathetically to other items on her plate that she soon found would cool the fire in her mouth. Her smiles came more often and more genuine, and she attempted to similarly guide her partners through the British fare.

During the second course, Parker brought a message to Admiral Roland, who issued a general invitation to all, saying that Florenzia had invited them all to tea after dinner. "At least, I think that's what this poetic screed means, when I have filtered out the flattery and metaphors."

So after dinner the entire company traipsed to Florenzia's pavilion, where they came to an abrupt stop behind Admiral Roland, gawking up at Florenzia. through the steam produced by the bowls of tea, full of exotic spices that perfumed the air. Further back, the fireplace roared and blazed, backlighting the dragon and her bristling headdress eerily.

The dragon leaned her head forward to say, "Ah, Rose, you have brought our guests. I am honored to welcome you, as are my captain's daughters." She held out one foreleg, talons glittering with the diamond-chipped sheaths, to Rose, who mounted the stairs and stood in the dragon's embrace. Molly slid down from the back of Florenzia's head, but hardly anyone remarked her, all attention being fastened on Florenzia's black and silver halo, multiple ribbons, bows, and feathers fastened to each tendril.

Molly wore her new blue dress, with a shawl wrapped tight around her left arm to hide the absence of sleeve and a sash camouflaging the hastily stitched-on skirt whose hem hung askew. She whispered to Rose, "Truly I will rip it all out and resew it, only she did want me in my new dress." She followed Rose's eyes upward. "She wanted to wear The Hat, but I told her it was for outdoors, so she made me tie ribbons and stuff on her tendrils, like I did for Lt. Roland. Only more."

Rose squeezed the girl's shoulder reassuringly and faced the company with a bright, brave smile.

Admiral Roland recovered first and climbed the steps. "Florenzia, Captain Blakeney, thank you for your kind welcome. I am pleased to see both of you on the mend. I am happy to extend my deepest sympathies and wishes for your recovery in person."

Lil, embraced by Florenzia's other foreleg, tore off a stiff salute. She presented a combination of military severity with frivolous decoration. Having no other dress shirt, she wore the maligned frills, but her pants and boots were crisp and severe. Her lank wheat-colored hair was yanked back from her forehead into a tight braid ending between her shoulder blades, where Molly had tied it off with a saucy bow and flower, away from Lil's eyes.

As the rest of the company shuffled onto the pavilion, several tripped, unable to take their gaze from Florenzia's magnificence. Then several of the younger officers, exclaimed over the flight table, which was set up on the far side of the pavilion. Lil's faced finally relaxed as she led them there and showed them the dragon figures that she had carved and painted. When a clamor went up for a demonstration, she and Rose set up their formations and began their moves, accompanied by much advice.

Shortly thereafter, Florenzia called for Rose to demonstrate the harp, as the Chinese guests were fascinated with it.

"Thank you, Flossie," called Lil in a croak. "You have saved me the public humiliation of being beaten all hollow by my little sister. Do you remember, Rose, when I was sentenced to Wexley for a few months, to get over some sickness? You must have been ten or so."

"And you were seventeen. Of course I do," responded Rose. "But you beat me sometimes."

"Only after I digested every flight manual I could get my hands on. Lord, I don't know which was worse, walking into the schoolroom and seeing your bright little face over the flight table or your governess' basilisk stare over the schoolbooks. Fortunately Old Meggy would rescue me after a few hours, saying that I had to rest. And then she'd make me do it! I was miserable, I can tell you."

Granby stepped up to take Rose's place. "I don't know what makes you so certain that I won't trounce you soundly. I have been studying the rules that Lady Rose provided, and I too have mastered the flight manuals."

"Ho! We'll see about that!" Lil leaned over her dragons.

Rose made her formation over to Granby, who thanked her for such an advantageous position. She joined the group by the musical instruments, which included spectators from the ground: Laurence's heavy weight Temeraire, invited for his Chinese abilities, and the uncaptained middle weight Perschitia, a blue hybrid dragon who came out of curiosity. She did not fight, for she had no aptitude, but she was the author of many ideas that helped in battle and maintaining the covert. Rose frequently saw her and Florenzia in conversation; they were alone in having no aerial duties.

"Do play the harp for us, Rose," asked Florenzia. "Our friends tell me they have similar instruments in China, and some have gone to fetch them. How I long to see them!" She looked with dissatisfaction at her sheathed talons. "I do wish that I could play, but I can't get my talons between the strings."

"I do not see why it is impossible to make a dragon harp," said Perschitia. "I should have to do the equations..." She looked toward the pavilion ceiling. "It would be rather large."

"Perhaps Lt. Roland would like to sing while I play," suggested Rose.

After a startled jump, Emily set her jaw and marched forward. The song was well-received, by her mother especially, and Rose suggested to a surprised Laurence that he join Emily in a duet, which went so well that he proposed another.

Emily scowled. "I was promised that one was all I needed to learn." Rose then took her place. She and Laurence discovered that they knew many songs in common, but they yielded after two to the Chinese delegation when their instruments arrived.

Temeraire informed them, "The one held in the lap is a guzheng, and the one held on the shoulder is a konghou." He sighed. "It has been many years since I heard such music, which takes me back to the pleasantest memories."

Rose had never heard such music, but she enjoyed hearing something entirely new instead of a series of butchered Haydn sonatas.

Admiral Roland was in a mood to be pleased with all performances, human or dragon, British or Chinese, whether her own daughter's song, the young chorus singing in harmony while riding atop dragons dancing a stately sarabande, Florenzia's aria, or the dragon's first verse of their planned serenade for the Duke of Wellington.

She graciously approved the project with an implication for others similar. "Sound the trumpets; beat the drums. Quite unexceptionable." Rose's pointing to the words of the next verse brought out her hearty laugh. "'See the godlike youth advance!' Ha! His Grace has certainly discovered that fame, fortune, and above all, a title renders the plainest countenance godlike, and he must be able to bear a chorus of dragon maidens praising it."

The suggestion by a young ensign that they dance on dragon back took very well with all the company. When the audience rose to join the performers, Rose saw the longing on the faces of both Captain Laurence, who had been turning pages for her while she played the piano, and her sister, barred from such happy activity. She said, "Captain, do you join the dance. My sister can turn pages for me."

"Except that I can't read music," grumbled Lil as she took Laurence's place.

"You turn when I nod," said Rose.

Of course, there were more men than women, but several men heroically took on the women's part in the dance. Captain Little borrowed Emily's fan and flirted outrageously, to the amusement of all, with Captain Granby, who acquitted himself respectably despite having only one arm. After the British had laughed as much as possible and fell off the heavyweights, to be caught by the smaller dragons who pressed close, the Chinese crews indicated by smiles and gestures that they wished to contribute to the entertainment. With the British turned back on the pavilion still breathless, the Chinese performed acrobatics on their dragons while the Scarlet Flower dragons danced, nimbly stepping over bamboo sticks that other members of their crews clacked together in rhythm. From time to time an acrobat would drop to the ground and take over a pair of sticks without a break in the rhythm, and a dragon would pick up the relieved party so that she could perform her own acrobatics on dragon back. Charmed, Florenzia begged that the Chinese should teach the British. She almost purred when they agreed. Clearly she looked forward to being able to participate in this activity, at least. The British cadets and ensigns were fired with such a spirit of emulation that Rose promised to add it to the curriculum.

Finally Lil, Florenzia, and Rose bid their guests good night, with Rose simultaneously longing for bed and being sorry to end the evening. Captain Laurence had offered to escort her to chapel the next morning, to show her where services were held, and, to stave off Florenzia's interest, Rose immediately invited Granby to accompany them. He acquiesced with no special grace, but Rose felt that she had to even the scales after singing duets with Laurence, despite Florenzia's recent vow of disinterest.

Admiral Roland remained, her daughter tucking arms with her, while Florenzia lectured her crew about chapel attendance the next morning-"Though my captain's daughters tell me that I cannot require those of you who are of age to attend (though I do not see why), nevertheless I hope you will set an example for the younger ones and not give them the idea that they may neglect their religious duties when they come of age."

Under the dragon's booming tones, Admiral Roland said, "Captain Blakeney, I see you are filling out your crew. Lavvy Dane was a good choice as a second lieutenant; she was an excellent middy. Have you given thoughts to a first?"

"No, sir," replied Lil. "With Florenzia grounded, the matter did not seem urgent."

Admiral Roland suggested, "Maybe Gardenley would suit. Since the death of Contrerenis, she has taught in Loch Laggan, but she finds it uncongenial and begged me to put her back in action. She doesn't want to be put to a new dragon as she expects to retire in a few years. I think she would do well managing a young crew and serving a new captain."

"Oh, how nice," said Florenzia, having dismissed her crew. "I should like to have more women around me. I am sure that some men may be very nice, and we can scarcely do without them, but they smell so!" She looked around and seemed comforted that only women remained in the pavilion. "Of course, I would not be so unkind as to tell them so. The boys are bearable, but only imagine a man as your captain, in the closest association—oh, every feeling offends!"

The Lord Admiral laughed. "Is that why Xenicas won't have a male captain? I wonder if the Longwings feel likewise."

"Of course," said Florenzia, surprised.

"Well, I am sure you think humans are unreasonable on some points too." She continued over Florenzia's apparent willingness to enumerate those points. "Captain Blakeney, report to me in the morning." She acknowledged the salute and looked up at Florenzia. "Thank you for your hospitality, Florenzia. I am glad that you had the spirits for it, and I look forward to being in the air with you as soon as the surgeons release you. You are being very sensible to follow their advice, and I commend you for it, though of course we are very happy that your efforts led to capturing a French ship."

"My dear captain's daughter deserves the credit for that success, for she saw the signal." Florenzia shook her injured wing and sighed in the direction of the Countess of Wexley's portrait. "You do not know how I long to be in the skies. It is too hard to both lose my captain and be confined to the ground. But my captain's daughter is teaching me how humans adjust to tragedy, with faith, music, and sewing. I hope I do her credit." She picked up her embroidery frame and held it out for the admiral's inspection.

Admiral Roland's eyes widened at the gigantic embroidery. "Very nice, as is the music you offered. Humans have worse ways of accommodating tragedy. You are fortunate and wise in your advice. I am sure that we are all happy to have the benefit of Lady Rose's presence."

"Not all," said Rose in a low voice, as she thought of Martin.

"One cannot be concerning oneself with the rabid blether of jealousy," Admiral Roland in austere tones. "Nevertheless, to make all comfortable, I propose to hire you at the rate of 10 pounds per year as Mistress of Music to the Dragons and Assistant Schoolmistress (for we must consider Mrs. Pemberton). The captains may contribute a shilling per month for each of their crew. It is a captain's duty, after all, to educate the youngsters."

Florenzia snorted. "What an insult! Pay my captain's daughter like a kitchen maid? She is ever so accomplished, speaking French and Italian and Latin and the beginnings of Greek—I have heard her work with Sipho—and more than proficient at singing, the pianoforte, and the harp, very clever with the needle, drawing pencil, globes, and any other area of education. She deserves at least 200 pounds per year."

"Then you pay her that. Or have the dragons contribute for their music instruction," said Admiral Roland with good humor. "The Corps can afford no more than 10 pounds for an unexpected expense of this nature. Will you give up any cows to contribute to her salary?"

"Yes! I will eat porridge for a month to see her properly honored! And I will further pay her myself!" Florenzia's tail twitched in small, angry jerks. "Though having the other dragons contribute is a very good idea."

"The furniture, Flossie," cautioned Lil. "You won't have any money for salaries if you reduce all the chairs to kindling."

"Please," begged Rose. "I do not need a salary."

"No, you need legitimacy," said Admiral Roland. "A salary of any amount gives you that, like when we had to make Perschitia's men her ground crew, to stop the murmuring about people leeching off the Corps. They are paid much less, if you're interested, though I would rather have Perschitia and her inventions than the Royal Society."

"Just being my companion should be enough legitimacy," huffed Florenzia, tail twitching in place.

"Of course," agreed Admiral Roland. "But you know what humans are. They think titles and money confer authority."

"And hats," said Florenzia, gazing with plain envy at the Lord Admiral's plumes.

"Especially hats," agreed the admiral. "Lady Rose, will you do me the favor of accepting this commission? Certainly I understand if you would rather return to good society than muck about in the covert."

"Oh, she must stay for the opera! And the subscription dinner! And that tea with your ladies' society that you threatened me with," said Emily. "I cannot endure that alone."

With a grateful smile at Emily, Rose moved to Florenzia and stroked the soft nose. "Consulting my own inclination, I would gladly remain. But my aunt's letter of today commands me to return to Wexley, which reminds me that I am not of age. I have written to my aunt saying that I will consult with my guardian, and I have written to my mother's solicitor to ask who that may be, for my sister and I have not the least idea."

Admiral Roland nodded. "I can solve that riddle for you. Like 90% of the aviators, she left her minor children to the guardianship of the Lord Admiral of the Aerial Corps, and unlike 80% of them, she told me herself. As I recall, I have another ward, your brother. Should he be interested in joining the Corps, do you think?"

Rose answered, "No doubt he would be, for he insisted on riding Requiescat at an age when Meggy-my nurse—Miss Meggars-had to threaten to throw me in the duck pond if I cowered when Florenzia and Mama visited. But he is the Earl of Wexley and must assume those duties."

"Sukey Meggars is your nurse? I wondered what happened to her when she left the Corps," said the admiral.

Rose concurred. "Her Christian name is Susan. I have wondered very much who she was and why she taught me signals, fencing, dragon chess, and a host of other things that young ladies don't know."

"Rose shot a highwayman in the head," said Florenzia with pride.

"Good heavens! Why?" asked the admiral, apparently not in Excidium's confidence.

"The pistols in the carriage throw off," Emily explained. "I shot a horse because of them."

Lil said, "Sukey Meggars was Ma's best friend, captain of Papilio."

"Shot down over the Channel," added the admiral. "Florenzia and Victoriatus helped him land and saved his crew. After he died, Meggars didn't care to be put to another dragon."

Lil continued, "But you were of an age to be weaned and sent to Wexley. Captain Meggars agreed to be your nurse until she decided what she wanted to do. I guess she liked it and gave satisfaction, for she's still with our brother, and Pa put it in his will that she was to stay. I thought you knew all that."

"Everyone thinks I know a number of things of which I have not the least idea," exclaimed Rose.

The admiral looked Rose up and down. "And no one has the least idea of everything you do know, which is apparently to be prepared for the Corps in an earl's house. If only—but no, you might have been educated for the Corps and for command—don't tell me you weren't the Countess of Wexley in your mother's place—you were not bred to the life. You and your brother must ornament the peerage and will no doubt be firm friends to the Corps in those high places. As for now, as your guardian, I command you to do whatever you please."

"Well, I like that!" exclaimed Emily. "You always tell me to obey my captain."

"If Lady Rose had a captain, I should command her likewise." Admiral Roland turned to Lil. "Captain Blakeney."

The words hung heavy in the air. Florenzia bowed her head. Lil stiffened her spine. A muscle at the right corner of her mouth twitched, perhaps suppressing a cough.

"Captain Blakeney, report to me in the morning. Lady Rose, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Florenzia, thank you again for a truly pleasurable evening."

Rose and Lil stood in silence until the footsteps disappeared into the hushed night sounds.

"It was indeed the happiest evening I have spent since Mama died." Rose said to no one in particular. She headed for her bedroom to fetch her prayer book. Lil followed her and shut the door behind them.

"She'll ask me what I'm going to do. And I've decided." Lil swallowed and squared her shoulders. "She offers me Gardenley, to take command in the air while I sit on the ground and do paperwork. Very generous! But it would kill me in a month, if Gardenley and I didn't kill each other first. So I'm going to Gilbratar's covert to be part of the permanent ground crew there. The medicos say my lungs should improve in the warm clime of the Mediterranean. I know you want me to live with you somewhere in England, but I was born and bred to the Corps, and I can't see myself anywhere else. It's too late for me to be a lady. While I can work, I will."

As her dream, grown more distant daily, crumbled to ashes, Rose forced her lips up at the corners. "Gibraltar should be salubrious for you, but what about Florenzia?"

"I do intend to have a child for her, if I can, when I'm stronger, but I had this notion: Maybe she'll accept Lavvy as captain. Not right away. Flossie's still grieving and Lavvy's not ready to be captain, but she's from Wexley, and she was devoted to Mother as her patron. It might work, better than setting Gardenley to her. She's fond of Molly, but I expect her to set up as Madame Mollette of Bond Street shortly."

Rose gasped. "Lavvy Dane take our family dragon? How could you, Lil?"

"What the devil is Flossie supposed to do for the next 20 years, assuming you or I can pop out a girl for her right away?"

"Some dragons don't have a captain. Look at Perschitia."

"Perschitia doesn't fight. Are you thinking of the 81st Unharnassed? You've seen Flossie with her crew. Do you think she'd be happy without one?"

"When you're feeling better-"

"Oh, bugger it all, Rose. My lungs have been dicky all my life. Living in the sun might give me a few more years—which riding a dragon would then take away again. And we'd be back to where we are now—Flossie grieving, and not a captain in sight. I can't do that to her. She needs somebody she can count on for decades."

Rose pulled out the drawer of the little cabinet that contained her prayer book. Her fingers touched the wrapping around Lil's mourning brooch. She drew back as though burned when an impulse seized her to throw it through the window or in the fire. Instead she clutched her prayer book as she slumped on the bed. She picked at the worn corner of soft leather. "I do agree that you must go to Gibraltar. Beyond that—I don't seem to be able to see a solution."

Lil shook her shoulder as Rose had seen her do to fellow captains. "No need just yet to decide anything. Flossie can't do much until her wing heals, and she's happy as a lark with you as her secretary. And somebody's got to direct these musical spectacles the dragons have planned. Dragons singing opera! Lord, who'd've thought it?"

Rose looked up. "Florenzia is better than any soprano I've heard."

"I've always known that Temeraire was right, but Lord, it will twist people's heads quite off, to see a coloratura dragon!" Lil yawned. "This night was more fun than any night on the town—and just as exhausting. I will bid you good-night, and see you much later in the morning."

Rose mumbled through prayers quickly with Florenzia and fell into a heavy sleep. But habit once again proved strong, and Rose awakened at first light. She yawned a few times over her stitchery, but she finished the reticule for a pleased Florenzia in time to soak in the luxury of a bath and still be dressed when her escorts arrived.

She emerged from her bedroom when Florenzia called. When she stepped forward to greet them, her words died away when she noticed that they saw her not, their whole beings transfixed on Florenzia's glory.

They stared, open-mouthed, at the tremendous hat, a nest of black netting wound into a rose shape, glinting jet beads winking throughout, with nine enormous peacock feathers sprouting in all directions, the final one curling under Florenzia's chin. She held her reticule in her talons, dressed in black lace metal with pearls and diamonds dotting throughout. The whole effect would have been one of proportional dainty delicacy, except that they decorated a twelve-ton dragon.

Florenzia leaned over the edge of her pavilion to peer at her assembled crew, they being in very straight lines with very straight backs. She turned her head from side to side as dragons do when trying to focus on tiny human details. "Hm. I see that you all have done your best, though your best is not quite all I could wish. Kitty and Deb, you will shortly have gowns and bonnets to wear, like Lt. Dane's."

The two young officers gazed at Lt. Dane with awed dismay. But the fiercest scowl Lavinia could summon could not erase the impression that she had stuck her head in a luscious wedding cake and rolled in it.

Florenzia continued, "Those of you with frayed and yellow shirts—I shall name you if necessary—you will consult with my Keeper of the Robes, Cadet Meadows, and then report to me with your account books so that we can see why you cannot afford proper clothing. For today, you are dismissed to chapel, where I expect you to comport yourselves appropriately."

As they marched away behind Lt. Dane's fluttering mint and white ribbons, Florenzia turned to the two captains and Rose to inquire with some anxiety,"I am dressed respectably enough for chapel?" Florenzia picked up her mirror and dipped her head to peer into it, apparently trying to see all the feathers at once.

Rose swallowed at the full assault on gentility. She stammered, "Oh, how nice you look!"

The other captains made similar noises without committing themselves.

"My captain's daughter has helped me bedeck myself in mourning," Florenzia said, looking longingly at the Countess' portrait before spreading her talons to admire their sheaths.

"Stay!" cried Rose. She ran back to her room and emerged seconds later, her hands full. "Will you gentlemen help me? Florenzia needs a mourning ring."

In short order, the three were able to tie the second mourning brooch with ribbons to one of Florenzia's talon sheaths, hindered only by Florenzia's either raising her foreleg or dipping her head down to admire the brooch. Adjured to stand still, she caroled up and down her full range, trilling all the way, making the humans teeth hurt.

"Makes me happy to have only being scorched to worry about," muttered Granby.

"It is a very pleasant feeling and sound, except for perhaps the highest notes," said Rose.

Laurence said with only a slight tremor, "You look beautiful, Florenzia, a credit to your captain and her daughters, but you cannot fit inside the chapel building."

"Oh, I shall wait outside. If I am quiet, I can hear perfectly well." Florenzia clutched her reticule and gave a last shrieking trill. "Thank you, Rose. It is so beautiful. I have always admired it. To think that you bought one for me too!"

Sadly, it cannot be reported that the chapel services converted Captain Granby to piety or that even those confirmed Christians Captain Laurence and Lady Rose received any spiritual nourishment. They—and indeed, all worshippers and the chaplain—appeared much distracted by the constant sotto voce draconic commentary coming from outside the building. "Yes, my captain's daughter designed this frame and needle so that I may have the comfort of needlework. Is she not clever and generous? She bestowed on me this lovely mourning ring, so apposite to my situation, so very beautiful. I will wear it forever. Is this not a lovely hymn? I believe I will join in."

When the final amen sounded, a bemused Captain Laurence led Lady Rose to meet the chaplain and offer apologies, if necessary, for the distraction. "Lady Rose, may I present Reverend Edwards to you? He is new to our covert as chaplain since I was last in England. Reverend Edwards, may I present-"

Drawing a deep breath of air scented with altar flowers and dragon fragrance, Rose stuck out her hand and grabbed the surprised cleric's limp paw. "Captain Rose Blakeney."