“Spoon! Miss Spoon.”
My heart froze. “I know her.” Not only as a marcher for women’s rights, but as a composer of beautiful melodies for the clavichord. She was my good friend, one of the founders of our ladies’ musical salon, and now a captive to these monsters.
30
FANG, SCALE, AND CLAW
LIZZY
“Welcome back, Mrs. Darcy.”Mrs. Reynolds curtsied, her head bowed and her back pole-straight, her black gown brushing the granite steps of the main entrance to Pemberley House.
She had not batted an eyelash when I arrived alone and on foot. She simply summoned the staff, now arrayed in two angled wings. Their curtsies and bows followed hers in rank order.
Pemberley was without a butler, so Mrs. Reynolds led the household. When Darcy and I married, there were sixteen servants. That was skeletal for a house this size, but Darcy had blocked hiring for three years while he interviewed butlers and found fault with every applicant. That amused me when I heard—we never had a butler at Longbourn, a vastly smaller house, so the idea was a novelty—and it was irrelevant while we spent time in London. Now, though, I regretted it. A royal visit was a tremendous burden for Mrs. Reynolds alone.
Mrs. Reynolds permitted herself a glance down the empty road. “Will the master be joining you?”
“Shortly,” I said. “He is enmeshed in a fuss with the coaches a mile back. The delay is deliberate so I may address the staff.” I smiled at Lucy, now officially my lady’s maid, so she stood at Mrs. Reynolds’s right. Lucy gave me a fleeting grin, but the rest of the staff were stiff and uneasy, their gazes fixed onthe horizon. Except for one footman studying the clouds. I watched Mrs. Reynolds eye him, her lips compressing. He would hear about that.
“What have they been told?” I said.
“To prepare for a large party of guests, madam. Only that. As you directed.”
Was that the cause of their mood? We did not entertain heavily, but guests were hardly unusual. Anonymous guests, though, were strange. Or was it the war? Every newspaper screamed of the invasion of south England.
Or was their discomfort nearer?
I addressed the group. “Good afternoon. I am certain you all long since discovered that Mr. Darcy and I are bound to a dragon. His name, if that information has not yet spread to every ear, is Yuánchi. Mr. Darcy has appreciated your polite silence and discretion on your master’s behalf. However, I must now speak openly.”
Tense expressions relaxed. Eyes dared curious glances, both at me and the sky. That confirmed my theory for the source of their tension.
Mrs. Reynolds said firmly, “The staff’s discretion is onyourbehalf, madam. Pemberley’s wyves are her jewels.”
There were many nods. Most of this staff had served Lady Anne. Now that I had seen Emma’s struggle, they must have kept many secrets. Not to mention concealing Georgiana’s abilities.
“Then I thank you, myself,” I said. “I know you have also heard of terrible destruction caused by a dragon. That was not Yuánchi. Another dragon is loose in the world, and she fights for England’s enemies. The war, distant for so many years, has invaded our shores.” The gazes converged on me. I chose my next words carefully. “Pemberley has a service to perform. We will shelter His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, His Majesty the King, members of the royal family, and members of the royal court.” I expected exclamations, but there was disciplined silence. “Whatever secrecy you practiced before must be doubled. The enemy seeks to strike the monarchy. If any rumor escapes, the enemy will come here.” I paused, then words I had not intended came to my lips. “We are not soldiers. I do not seek war. But if war comes to Pemberley, I will defend it.”
I nodded to Mrs. Reynolds, and she dismissed the staff. Lucy waited with her while the rest hurried to work, resolute.
When we were alone, I said, “When did you two arrive?”
“Four days ago,” Mrs. Reynolds said, then added dryly, “It seems your troop was slow.” We had departed London at the same time.
“You cannot imagine the inanity of the courtiers,” I said feelingly. “I woulddespair for England if not for a few bright minds in the mix. But most of our delay was due to Lord Wellington’s stealth. We could hardly stop at town inns. Are the kitchens open? Larder stocked?”
“All as ready as can be. Pemberley will not fail you.”
“The Prince has brought a head of household, and an annoying man who obsesses over protocol, and a head of court who noses into everything. You shall have your hands full. Let me know when it becomes impossible, and I will attempt to intervene.”
“Certainly, Mrs. Darcy.” Mrs. Reynolds’s eye had a steely glint. I suspected she would need little help. “Rooms and meals are well enough, but I am concerned for entertainment.”
“Entertainment?” I echoed, rather densely.
“Guests of rank expect to be entertained.” Primly, she added, “From what I have read, the Prince is easily bored. Bored guests make trouble. Or do foolish things. Ride off and be seen.”
“You are very wise. I did not consider it. See what you can invent.” She nodded. A shiver climbed my spine. “But nothing frivolous, please. London ended horribly. I could not stand an endless ball.”
Lucy had listened. Now she said, “You look tired. Shall I call for tea?”
