Page 142 of Triumph at Pemberley

“I would have done the same. It seems wrong that I was left untouched when I failed our soldiers so badly.”

“You saved my life, which is worth something,” Richard said.

Darcy said, “A great deal, if you ask me.”

“Enough of this!” Jack cried. “I want to hear how you managed to kill Napoleon. You skipped that part of the story.”

Elizabeth said ruefully, “It did get rather overshadowed by the death of the Wicked King. I was supposed to take care of Napoleon, but my methods failed, and then Darcy had to come to my rescue.”

“With help,” Darcy said firmly. He explained the details, with help from Elizabeth and Coquelicot.

Jack, after the appropriate congratulations, said, “So the mad dragon did not have a companion after all. I wonder how he managed it.”

Elizabeth replied, “Rana Akshaya solved that mystery when she met with him. He carried an anchor inside him, just as she does. Apparently it is a simple process, though no one does it as it usually drives dragons mad. She said, ‘I would never have attempted it before I was at least five centuries old. He foolishly did it as a young dragon, and we have seen the results.’” She used her best imitation of Rana Akshaya’s autocratic tones.

Darcy laughed. “So, what have you been doing since you vanished from view, Jack? Frederica and the dragons insisted you were still alive, and the sudden rash of earthquakes and landslides in the vicinity of the French troops had to be you.”

“I spent a few days harrying them into retreating,” Jack said easily. “Then I secretly returned to London and met with the king. We agreed it would be best if Captain Jack disappeared. I wanted to be declared dead, just to be safe, but the prime minister thought it would be better if I seemed to vanish into the hollow hills.” He snorted. “He had some idea of presenting me as King Arthur returned to fight for England in its time of need.”

“You should have received honors,” Darcy said fiercely.

Jack shook his head. “Not while Prinny still has ideas about declaring me his heir. It meant that one way or another, my time as Jack Darcy was ending. Otherwise, when he becomes king, no one can stop him from disinheriting Princess Charlotte in my favor.”

“Will he not discover you are here?”

“This is my last appearance under my name, and I already told Mrs. Reynolds and Hobbes it should be kept quiet.”

So Jack would be leaving again. Would he ever see him again? “Where will you go?”

Jack crossed his ankles. “I wanted to go abroad, but the king made me promise to remain in Britain in case the King’s Bond is needed again. I will follow Gentiane to whatever British Nest he chooses.”

Cerridwen’s wings rustled. “Not the Pemberley Nest?”

“Too many people know me here.” Jack sounded regretful. “I have been encouraging Gentiane to consider the Nest in the Lakes rather than Scotland, so I would not be as far.”

Cerridwen cocked her head. “There are six new dragons and companions at our Nest, with at least two more on the way. Three from India, two from Scotland, and one from Norway. If you changed your name, you could easily slip in among them.”

Gentiane growled, “That is rapid growth for a new Nest.”

Cerridwen preened. “Many dragons are interested in living among mortals once again, rather than hiding from them. They want to prevent wars, rather than fleeing them. Napoleon has taught us a harsh lesson about the price of concealment.”

“You could try it,” Darcy urged. “If Prinny somehow gets wind of your presence, you could always leave. With your Talent and Gentiane, it is not as if he could have you carried off.”

“We would be safer elsewhere,” Jack said regretfully.

A small voice chirped, “But you must stay here. You spilled your blood on our anchor.”

Darcy looked down. Of course it was Topaz, the little hatchling who insisted on being his shadow.

“What?” Jack asked incredulously.

“On the Dragon Stones,” Topaz explained. “I was hatched under them, so I recognize your scent.”

Darcy laughed, earning a glare from Jack. “That was an accident, Topaz. He was climbing on them and fell, cutting his arm. He was not trying to offer himself as a companion.” The traditional route to becoming a dragon companion involved spilling blood on the Dragon Stones, so the dragons could see if the candidate was a match for them.

The hatchling cocked his head. “What does that matter? He spilled his blood!”

“Is this true?” Gentiane growled at Jack.