Page 87 of Triumph at Pemberley

“For both of us,” Bingley said with a weak grin. “I did not know we were coming here until the night we left.” He paused to hand his wife out of the carriage that had followed him in.

Darcy turned to the former Jane Bennet. “Mrs. Bingley, welcome to Pemberley. Elizabeth is off the estate for the day, but I have already sent her news you are here. She will be beyond delighted to see you.” He had asked Coquelicot to pass along the message as soon as he heard the Bingleys were at the gatehouse. “Pray come inside. Dare I hope you will be staying?” Once he would have assumed as much for any arrival, but the last time he had seen Bingley, his friend had left Pemberley within two hours of his arrival.

“If you will have us! We are throwing ourselves on your mercy here.”

“Nothing could make us happier.” Darcy beckoned the groom. “Have their luggage brought inside.”

“There is not much of it,” Bingley said ruefully. “We left in a hurry.”

A shadow passed over them, despite the sunny day. Darcy glanced up. Cerridwen, unsurprisingly, with Elizabeth on her back. She circled once.

“Hold onto your hat,” he cautioned Bingley.

Puzzled, Bingley obeyed just in time for the wind to pick up from Cerridwen’s wings.

The dragon landed a short distance away, and Elizabeth scurried off her as soon as she detached her harness. “Jane!” she cried, running towards the sister she had not seen since leaving Longbourn.

Mrs. Bingley turned ashen and raised a trembling hand to her mouth.

Of course. Her sister did not know Elizabeth was a dragon companion. Cerridwen might be young and smaller than most dragons, but she was still an imposing sight. At least Bingley seemed to be taking it in stride.

“Dearest Jane!” Elizabeth threw her arms around her sister. “This is the best surprise ever. I cannot believe it is truly you!” As she took a step back, still holding Jane’s arms, happy tears rolled down her face.

“I…I…” Jane stuttered, and then pointed at Cerridwen. “What…?”

Elizabeth glanced behind her at the dragon. “Oh! I forget you did not know. I am so sorry I could not tell you; I have wanted to so much! After all the years we played dragons and dragon companions!”

Cerridwen transformed into her kestrel form and flew to land on Elizabeth’s shoulder. In her bird voice, she said, “Perhaps you will remember me better like this.”

Mrs. Bingley took a step backwards, and if possible, her eyes widened even further. Apparently a talking bird was not an improvement over a dragon. “Cerridwen?” she whispered in disbelief.

Elizabeth said gaily, “Yes, the same one you knew all those years at Longbourn! I did not discover her true nature until moving here. But she is still my beloved Cerridwen.” She held out her hand for the kestrel to jump down to. “How odd it seems now that we never guessed!”

Darcy smiled, remembering how upset he had been when Elizabeth had insisted on letting her falcon land on her wrist without a protective falconer’s glove. And that was before he even discovered her Talent! How much both their lives had changed since then.

“And now both William and I are dragon companions! I have another surprise for you, too. Granny is here! She will be so pleased to see you.”

Just then a plump woman carefully exited the carriage, a bright-eyed baby in her arms. About Jenny’s size, as near as Darcy could tell, even though Mrs. Bingley had delivered him several months later.

Elizabeth hurried to their side. “Is this my nephew? What a handsome fellow! How I have longed to meet you, little Thomas! Your mother has told me all about you in her letters.” She wiggled her fingers near his face.

Jane smiled. “He slept most of the way, fortunately. I am very sorry to impose upon you so suddenly, Lizzy, especially with an infant in tow, but we had no choice.”

“You are always welcome,” Elizabeth said firmly, but then she paled as her sister’s words seemed to sink in. “What is the matter? Is Longbourn under attack?”

When Jane hesitated, Bingley said, “We are seeking refuge. I received a warning the French troops were closing in on Meryton, with a special eye towards Longbourn. We drove half-way through the first night getting away from them.”

“In Meryton?” Darcy exclaimed. “But why?”

“We did not stop to ask questions,” Bingley said heavily. “For all I know, they may be invading every town.”

Why would the French come to Meryton, which was well inland? The Bennet family was the only possible draw. It was a chilling thought.

Unless they were invading to the north of London now. If they could not get past Jack in Kent, perhaps they were going around him.

“What of my parents? And Lydia?” Elizabeth had gone pale.

Bingley glanced out of the corner of his eye at Jane. “Your father refused to leave his land. He said he had some surprises in store for any invaders. I tried to persuade him, but nothing would move him.”