Battle of the Dragons Chapter 2, a pride and prejudice fanfic

~O~

First Dragon

Elizabeth Bennet sought escape from her home, and in particular her mother.

The last six days had been well-nigh unbearable at Longbourn.

Although things had started quite well exactly one week ago with the ball at Netherfield which was hosted by Mr Charles Bingley. He was a young man of large fortune who had leased the estate as a trial to see if country life would suit him before committing to a purchase.

It had surprised no one when he had singled out Jane Bennet, the oldest Bennet sister for his marked attention during the two months of his residence at Netherfield. Most people in the neighbourhood, especially Mrs Bennet, expected a proposal from Bingley to Jane immediately following the ball.

Yet on the day after the ball, things had started to go awry.

Instead of proposing, Mr Bingley left for London and the only proposal had come from Mr William Collins, the heir presumptive to Longbourn, the Bennet's family estate. His intended bride was Elizabeth Bennet.

Mrs Bennet was furious when Elizabeth had had the temerity to reject the proposal. While Mrs Bennet had tried to insist that Elizabeth accept the man, Lizzy counted it a blessing that Mr Bennet had supported her in her refusal. Which, of course, vexed Mrs Bennet even more.

The day afterwards, Netherfield was closed by Mr Bingley's sister and the family, and their guest removed to London. Miss Bingley sent a letter to Jane informing her that they were never to return. That letter also intimated that Bingley was courting Miss Georgiana Darcy, the sister of their guest who had made a bad impression on the whole neighbourhood.

If that was not bad enough, in the meantime Mr Collins had offered for Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth's best friend, and been accepted.

While Mrs Bennet was up in arms that Charlotte would be the next mistress of Longbourn, Elizabeth was more concerned that her intelligent friend would be stuck with a man for whom Elizabeth had no respect.

~O~

Elizabeth was brooding about the various calamities and was not paying attention to her surroundings. She had picked up a stick and was taking out her frustration by hitting trees as she walked.

As she stepped into the lane to cross over into the lands belonging to Lucas Lodge, she gave the tree nearest to her a final whack with the stick, and that slight turn brought into her field of vision a rider who was coming along the lane at a gallop.

With a startled and very undignified squeak Elizabeth jumped back, and losing her footing she took an even more undignified tumble. She was fortunate that the fall carried her out of the way of the horse. The shock kept her immobile for a moment, but the cold and damp ground encouraged her to scramble back to her feet.

By the time she was upright, the rider had stopped the horse and dismounted. Elizabeth found herself looking into a pair of very blue but worried eyes as the woman asked, 'Are you hurt?'

The shock, coming on top of a week of upsets caused Elizabeth to snap, 'I am well enough… no thanks to you. What were you thinking, going along at such breakneck speed.'

'I was thinking what a beautiful day this is, while watching where I was going and keeping an eye out for anyone else who was using the lane,' the woman replied as she lifted a brow and tilted her head.

The implied rebuke caused Elizabeth to bristle. She was about to sharply reproach the woman when she realised that the rider was an exceptionally elegant woman of middle years. Not only that, but the woman's first reaction had been to enquire about Elizabeth's wellbeing.

Recognising her own actions to have been at fault, good manners reasserted themselves and she sighed as she said, 'I am afraid I cannot claim the same. I should have paid attention to where I was going.'

'It appears that no real harm has come to either of us.' Suddenly the woman smiled impishly. 'I have read about men tilting at windmills, but I was not aware that trees hereabouts had become dangerous and needed to be beaten into submission.'

The incongruous statement caused a small giggle to escape Elizabeth's lips. 'Since the windmills have all been driven off by Don Quixote, the trees have become rather frisky of late.'

That reply occasioned a chuckle from the woman. 'I am pleased to discover another bibliophile in this area. I have only just arrived in this neighbourhood, so I hope you will permit me to introduce myself. I am Isabella Deveril,' she said with a nod.

'I am pleased to meet you. I am Elizabeth Bennet of Longbourn.' Elizabeth curtsied before she tilted her head quizzically. 'Are you the lady who has taken Hayes House?'

'Indeed.' Isabella carefully observed Elizabeth. Despite her having regained her composure, there was something restless about her. Curious why she would feel the need to take her frustration out on trees, Isabella came to a decision. 'Perhaps if you are not too busy, you would care to accompany me to my new home and take tea with me? It would be pleasant to have some young company.'

Feeling equally as curious and unwilling to brave the criticisms from her mother at home, Elizabeth was only too happy to acquiesce.

~O~

As they set off to walk the mile to Hayes House, Elizabeth managed to get a good look at her companion who was leading her horse.

The woman was probably past fifty, but she moved like someone much younger. There was something about her features which reminded her of Jane. While her sister's eyes were a much softer blue, Elizabeth could imagine Jane looking a little like that in about thirty years.

Her musings were diverted when the horse moved forward slightly and she noticed the saddle, which by no stretch of the imagination could be used by a lady in a side-saddle position.

That realisation caused her to examine the outfit Isabella Deveril was wearing. Instead of being a riding habit where the skirt was extra-long to provide the lady with modest coverage while perched on a horse, the skirt came no further than her ankles and gave a view of boots. Elizabeth would swear those were not the kind of laced half-boots which ladies commonly wore.

Isabella noticed the direction of Elizabeth's gaze and with a small chuckle she grasped the side of her skirt and pulled it back slightly. What had appeared to be a dress was actually a light coat.

As Elizabeth gasped, Isabella said, 'Yes, I prefer to wear breeches and hessians as they make for much more comfortable and sensible riding wear.'

'But it is improper for ladies to ride astride.'

'I refuse to get myself killed for the sake of propriety. And if you are riding side-saddle, you take your life in your hands at anything faster than a brisk walk. Do you not agree?'

Elizabeth felt torn between discomfort at a lady flouting conventions and admiration that the lady had the courage to do so. 'I suppose that I do agree, since I refuse to ride because I consider it highly unsafe.'

'As it happens, I enjoy riding and I enjoy speed. I simply refuse to be restricted in my enjoyment because of silly rules made by silly men.'

Unwilling to debate that subject until she became better acquainted with the lady, Elizabeth changed the topic. 'Are you planning to settle here permanently?'

'Probably. Now that my sons are all grown up, I thought it best to get an establishment of my own. This way I can please myself and do not have to endure their solicitude for my wellbeing. Or their discomfiture for what they consider my eccentricities.'

'Like riding astride?'

'Amongst other things. It did not bother my husbands; therefore, it should be none of their concern.' At Elizabeth's questioning look, she added with a small smile, 'I lost three husbands to accident, illness and age respectively.'

'I am sorry for your losses.'

'Thank you, but it has been several years, and I prefer to remember the good times rather than the bad.'

Elizabeth beamed, 'That is my philosophy also. Remember the past only as its remembrance gives you pleasure.'

Isabella smiled as she said, 'I thought I might have found a kindred spirit.'

~O~

When they arrived at Hayes House, a groom rushed out to take charge of the horse, and asked, 'Is everything well?'

'Indeed, John. I only dismounted to walk with my new friend. But give him a good rubdown.'

'Of course, my lady.'

'My lady?' Elizabeth repeated in a questioning tone as they walked up the stairs where the butler was already opening the door.

He bowed and he too addressed Isabella as, 'My lady.'

'Oh, well. I had better own up. I am the Duchess of Markham. As my father did not have a title I cannot be addressed as Lady Isabella, but I am quite happy to be called Lady Deveril by most people,' she explained with a grin as she unbuttoned her coat.

Her staff were obviously well-trained as a maid was already approaching with a garment which looked like a housedress, which Isabella exchanged for her coat to go over her shirt, breeches and boots.

After requesting tea to be served, Isabella led the way into a comfortable parlour and went on to explain. 'I hate being called Your Grace, especially as I never intended or expected to marry anyone with a title, despite ending up being married first to a Viscount, then an Earl and finally a Duke.'

Elizabeth was grateful that the efficient staff were already bringing in the tea service, giving her a few moments to get used to the idea that she was about to have tea with a Dowager Viscountess, a Dowager Countess and a Duchess… all in one person.

As Isabella handed Elizabeth her cup, she said, 'I am pleased that the first person I have met here is you.'

'I am flattered that you should think so, but I cannot think why that should be so, Lady Deveril,' Elizabeth said with a nod of thanks as she put down the cup.

'Perhaps if I give you some family history, you will be able to understand,' Isabella said with an amused smile. 'I was the black sheep in my family because at the age of seventeen I eloped and married a man whom I loved deeply. After that, my family refused to acknowledge me. Since you obviously have not heard of me you are unaware that I am your great-aunt, so you might as well call me Aunt Isabella.'

Elizabeth gaped for a moment, shocked that she could be related to this formidable woman. But preferring to ignore the relationship for the moment she said, 'You are correct. Papa never mentioned an aunt who eloped, especially not with a Viscount.'

'I have to correct you on two points, my dear. Alistair, my first husband was not a Viscount or even the heir at the time we eloped, that happened later. The other point is that my family are not the Bennets but the Gardiners. I am your mother's aunt.'

Elizabeth stared at her aunt in open mouthed shock for several moments before she buried her face in her hands and muttered, 'Oh no. Mama will be utterly unbearable when she discovers that she has an aunt who is a duchess.'

'Is that something that is truly important to her?'

Elizabeth sighed and raised her head again. 'I am afraid so. Especially at the moment.'

'Why now?'

Sitting up Elizabeth considered her answer. In the end she said, 'I expect you will hear about this one way or another. We had visitors recently…' She went on to explain about the party at Netherfield, their various personalities, how Mr Bingley had singled out Jane for his marked attention and how the whole party had decamped with only one nasty letter as explanation.

Isabella nibbled at a biscuit while she listened to Elizabeth's tale of woe. 'Was that the reason why you were attacking defenceless trees?' she asked when Elizabeth stopped speaking.

Elizabeth coloured as she said, 'I am afraid that is the case since I could not chastise the people who deserved it.' She took a sip of her tea before she sighed. 'I am certain if Miss Bingley and Mr Darcy had known about you, they would have encouraged Mr Bingley to propose to Jane instead of influencing him into discarding her.'

'Are you really certain that it was not Mr Bingley's own decision to abandon your sister?'

'You should have seen them together. He was utterly besotted with her and I cannot imagine that he would have remained in town without the influence of his family and friend. He had promised to return in a few days.'

'Since he has not returned, would you really wish Mr Bingley on your sister?'

'He is a most amiable man and Jane loves him most dearly.'

'But does he love her well enough to stand up to his sisters and friend for her? If not, would you really want her married to a man who values her so little? Or who has so little fortitude?'

That comment shocked Elizabeth, but she gave it due consideration. 'I had not considered it from that point of view,' she answered with a grimace.

Isabella smiled pleasantly as she said, 'It does you credit that you want what is best for your sister and that you wish for her to be happy. But you need to consider all aspects.'

'They have only been gone for less than a week. Perhaps he will return.'

'If he does, well and good. If not, it is not the end of the world. I can introduce you and your sisters to any number of eligible and deserving men.'

Isabella poured some more tea and changed the subject. 'I confess that I am surprised how quickly you believed me when I mentioned our relationship.'

That comment caused Elizabeth to grin. 'As soon as you meet Jane you will understand. The similarity in looks between you is remarkable. I expect that she will look very much like you when she reaches your age.'

'In that case, I had better call on your family and see for myself. Will tomorrow morning be convenient?'

'I am certain that mama will be delighted.'

'Now, tell me about your family. When I sent out the investigators to find you, they provided me with reports about your family. But I would like to hear more about them as individuals.'

Elizabeth was happy to provide her aunt with detailed sketches of the characters of her parents and sisters. By the time Elizabeth made her way back to Longbourn, she was in much better spirits.

Isabella thought that she had timed her arrival at Meryton to perfection. This family needed all the help it could get.

~O~

A/N: Just as an aside - when I started to post my previous story (Checkmate, Mr Darcy) I expected to get slammed for not matching E&D. Yet I was surprised by how well received the story was on FF.

Even more surprising is that it is now the highest rated of my books on Goodreads. Riddle me that... Although I am not complaining. Thank you for your support.

~O~