Battle of the Dragons Chapter 11, a pride and prejudice fanfic

~O~

Military Dragon

Jane and Elizabeth, accompanied by Jane's maid Rose and a footman, were on a shopping expedition in Cheapside.

They were on their own due to the simple expedient of having quietly left the house while Isabella was busy with her own business. The need for secrecy was not for any nefarious purpose but the fact that the sisters had discovered that the following day was Isabella's birthday, and the girls were hoping to buy a present for their aunt. Their endeavours were aided by the collusion of Mr Carter, who arranged for a carriage and a footman to ensure their safety.

Based on a recommendation by Mr Gardiner, they found the store which supplied the items Elizabeth had suggested. Since Isabella could afford everything which she wanted, Lizzy had cudgelled her brain to come up with something which their aunt would appreciate but which no one else in the family was likely to get for her. While Jane would have preferred something more conventional and ladylike, she eventually agreed to share the expense of a set of boot-knives with her sister.

At least, the set they selected had beautifully decorated handles which made them appear more feminine, although the blades were still razor-sharp.

Under the circumstances, Jane was only too pleased to hand off the well wrapped package to the footman to carry as she and Elizabeth strolled back to where the carriage waited for them.

Along the way they stopped several times to examine the wares in the shopwindows as Jane was still hoping to find another gift, or possibly a small item for herself.

They had just turned away from a shop to resume their walk when they heard a crash followed by a scream.

As they turned towards the sound, Jane was horrified to see a young boy lying trapped beneath a large crate. Based on his screams, he was obviously injured. Jane did not hesitate. A lifetime of living on an estate where minor or major accidents were a common occurrence, galvanised her into action.

'Find a doctor,' she ordered the footman as she ran towards the boy followed by Elizabeth and the maid.

Attempting to shift the crate, Jane discovered that it was too heavy for her to lift. For a moment she regretted sending the footman for the doctor before she realised that she needed help with the crate. Looking to the nearest bystander, she demanded, 'Help me shift this crate.'

'It looks too heavy for you to lift,' the man said. 'Let me get someone else to help.'

'Stop arguing and help me,' she snapped at him.

He gave a small shrug and stepped up to the opposite side from Jane and bent down to grasp his side.

Without even a glance at her sister she just said, 'Elizabeth, get ready.'

With a heave they managed to shift the crate enough that Elizabeth was able to pull the boy from underneath. As soon as he was clear, Jane dropped her side of the crate and fell to her knees beside the boy.

Examining the boy, she glanced up. 'I need a bandage and some splints.'

'Use my petticoat,' offered Elizabeth only to be countered by their maid.

'No, use mine. It's not as fine,' she offered.

Since Jane did not need her to get the bandage, Elizabeth dashed into the nearest shop, requesting something to use as splints, and returned with a couple of pieces of kindling and some clean rags in which to wrap them to protect the boy from splinters.

Jane looked around and noticed that the man who had helped shift the crate was still nearby and dressed in an officer's uniform… with boot-knives stuck in his Hessians. She held out her hand as she looked up at him and said, 'I need your knife.'

He briefly raised a brow as he complied and handed the knife to Jane, who used it to cut a strip off the bottom of the maid's petticoat.

~O~

Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam was in Cheapside to make some purchases when he saw a crate fall off the back of a wagon as it went over a bump and knock over a young boy who was trapped underneath.

He rushed over to help and was surprised when a young lady arrived at the scene before him. He was even more astonished when she immediately took charge and set about dealing with the situation in a most professional manner.

As he assisted her in lifting the crate off the boy, he thought that she was much stronger than she looked. Unused to elegant and delicate looking young ladies who could act in such a decisive manner, he watched in perplexity as she examined the boy. He was still distracted when she demanded his knife.

He came out of his bemusement after he handed over the knife from his boot. Normally he could have, and would have, dealt with the injury, but he decided not to interfere with the young lady who was so obviously competent in dealing with the situation. He felt that such interference would have been disrespectful.

She stopped the bleeding and was applying the bandage when the doctor arrived with a small cart. The Colonel listened to the concise explanation of what she had done as she stepped aside to let the doctor take over.

As she rose to her feet, she picked up Fitzwilliam's knife and turned to hand it back to him. 'Thank you, sir,' she said with a slight smile and with perfect propriety she curtsied. 'My apologies for being so brusque.'

'Think nothing of it,' Fitzwilliam replied. Before he could say anything else or request an introduction, the two ladies and their maid, who had now been joined by a footman, all nodded politely and walked away.

The last he saw of them was the dark-haired lady handing a handkerchief to her companion to wipe her hands before entering a plain carriage with their maid. The footman climbed onto the back, and they drove off.

~O~

Once they were in the safety of their carriage, Jane started to shake and was grateful when Elizabeth enfolded her in a fierce embrace.

'You were wonderful, dealing with… that,' Elizabeth complimented Jane.

'All those times when we helped with mishaps at Longbourn certainly came in useful today.'

Elizabeth gave a weak chuckle as she tried to lighten the mood. 'Just think of what mama would have had to say if she ever found out that you made not only perfumes and face creams in the stillroom, but also salves and medicines which you used to help our tenants.'

'Those salves are certainly more useful than the perfumes. I only wished I had some with me today.'

'You did well with what you had to hand.' Seeing that Jane was starting to feel better, Elizabeth could not resist to tease. 'I confess that I was still impressed, and I was not the only one. That Colonel you ordered about so casually could not keep his eyes off you.'

Jane blushed as she protested, 'I just hope I did not offend him,' but she would not comment further.

The distraction helped her to relax a little more and she turned to the maid. 'I am grateful that you were willing to sacrifice your petticoat. I will get you a replacement when we get home.' She looked down on her hands which still held traces of blood, as did her dress. 'I am afraid that I could not walk into a shop in this state.'

'You are most kind,' the maid said. 'I just hope her Grace will not be too upset.'

'Oh, my lord. I completely forgot about Aunt Isabella,' exclaimed Elizabeth. 'What happened to her present?'

Rose smiled and held up the package which the footman had handed to her on entering the carriage. 'Is this what you are looking for?'

Jane and Elizabeth both heaved a sigh of relief.

~O~

Luck was with the sisters when they returned to Deveril House. They managed to get to their rooms without anyone other than Mr Carter noticing Jane's dishevelled state.

A quick comment, 'There was an accident and we stopped to help,' was all that was necessary for the butler to clear the way for them.

As a result, Jane and Elizabeth were washed up and changed when they saw Isabella a short while later, and their surprise remained intact until the next morning when they handed the present to their aunt.

'Happy birthday, Aunt Isabella,' they said as Elizabeth handed over the package.

Elizabeth felt vindicated and Jane relieved when Isabella laughed with delight upon opening her present. 'There is only one problem. I usually wear a coat or a dress over my breeches and boots, which will hide the knives. But they are so very pretty and should be displayed.'

Isabella's eyes twinkled as she mused, 'Perhaps it is time to shock society…'

~O~

Lady Matlock also received a pleasant surprise that morning as she came down to breakfast.

'Richard, what a wonderful surprise to see you,' she cried as she embraced her son and offered her cheek for a kiss. 'When did you get here?'

'Good morning, mother. I am pleased to see you too and I arrived last night after you had gone out. I took the opportunity to have an early night.'

Lady Matlock fixed herself a plate and sat down at the table. I am glad to hear that. In that case you should be well rested to join us at the dinner which I am hosting tonight.'

Richard looked a little dubious as he said cautiously, 'I know that the food will be excellent but what will the company be like?'

'Do you remember the Duchess of Markham?'

Richard's face lit up. 'Kilmington's mother? How could anyone forget her. One night when he was in his cups, I remember him complaining that she had trounced him in a fencing bout… again.' His grin became wider as he reminisced. 'Some of the other fellows teased him about being outmanoeuvred by a woman in skirts. His reply was that if she had been wearing skirts instead of breeches, he might have had a chance.'

'In that case, I should warn you that she has not slowed down in the last ten years. Also, the dinner is in her honour as it is her birthday today.'

'I suppose it is safe for me to attend. At least she only had sons. I should therefore be safe from your attempts at matchmaking.'

Not wanting to give her son to find an excuse to avoid dinner, Lady Matlock did not mention Isabella's nieces who would also attend. Changing the subject, she asked, 'Pleased as I am to see you, I had not expected you till next week.'

She was surprised when her innocent question caused her son to shift uncomfortably in his chair.

'I was going to spend a few days with Penthurst, but something came up and I need your help.'

When Richard hesitated, his mother prompted, 'You know I will help in any way that I can.'

Picking up his cup to take another sip of coffee to gain some time, Richard wondered if he was doing the right thing, but he could not think of a quicker way to achieve his objective. Squaring his shoulders, he confessed, 'I met a lady yesterday…'

Lady Matlock's face lit up. 'You met a lady? That is wonderful. Since you mention her, I gather that she has raised your interest. Who is she?' she gushed.

'That is the problem. I do not know who she is.'

'You do not know? How is that possible?'

'There was an accident in Cheapside. When I went over to help, this lady was there before me, and she took charge. Not only that, but despite being elegantly dressed, she also had no qualms about getting down on her knees in the dirt to help an injured boy and dealing with his wounds.' He gave his mother a rueful smile, 'The lady also had no qualms about ordering me about.'

'I had not thought you would like a woman who ordered you about. You object enough when I try to do so,' Lady Matlock teased as she already started to think who amongst her acquaintances might be better suited than the heiresses she had introduced to her son in the past.

'It was not that she ordered me about, it was simply that she was exceedingly competent. I even wondered if she was a nurse as she appeared completely unperturbed by the boy's wonds. Yet, once the doctor arrived, she reverted back to being a very proper young lady. I was just trying to think how to affect an introduction when she handed me back my knife, curtsied, an entered a carriage and drove away.'

'I gather there was no crest on the carriage or any other way to distinguish it?'

'There was not, or I would already have tracked it down.' Richard sighed. 'If I could have found her by ordinary means, I would not now be asking for your help. You know everyone in town. I am hoping that you know this lady.'

'Apart from being very proper and competent, what else can you tell me about her? What does she look like?' Lady Matlock hesitated a moment as a thought struck her. 'Considering you saw her in Cheapside…'

'Do not concern yourself. Judging by the dress she was wearing, she is not poor and her manners, when not dealing with an emergency, were as good as yours. But as to her looks…' Richard's eyes took on a dreamy look as he remembered the lady who had so impressed him.

'Go on. What about her looks?'

Richard shook himself and with a somewhat embarrassed smile said, 'She is tall and willowy but with curves in all the right places; blonde and blue eyed. And she is stunningly beautiful.'

Considering the guests she was expecting that night, Jane Bennet came to mind, but the Countess did not think the young lady would have the temperament to order a Colonel of his Majesty's army about. She therefore said, 'Offhand, I cannot think of any lady such as you described. But I will make you a deal. Because of tonight's dinner, I will not have time to look for your lady today. But if you attend the dinner and be your usual charming self, tomorrow I will give the matter my full attention.'

Relieved to have his mother's assistance without any teasing comments, Richard agreed.

~O~

Isabella, her sons and nieces arrived at Matlock House punctually at the time agreed.

Lady Matlock was ready to greet her guest in the foyer. 'Ah, our guest of honour. I am pleased that you agreed to accept my invitation.'

'How could I refuse to accept.'

Once they completed all their greetings, the Countess led them into the drawing room where her family and a few guest were already gathered. 'As the walked, Lady Matlock told her friend, 'I had a lovely surprise this morning. Richard has come home early and is joining us for dinner.'

'I am pleased for you. It must be difficult when you always have to worry about his safety.'

'Indeed. I must introduce him to your nieces.' Lady Matlock looked around and gestured for her son to join her group. As she stepped aside so that she could make the introduction, she was startled when Richard stared at Jane Bennet and exclaimed, 'You!'

~O~