Dragons at Lands End (Jane Austen's Dragons: A Regency gaslamp dragon fantasy adventure Book 14) by Maria Grace

Author:Maria Grace [Grace, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Gaslamp Fantasy, Persuasion - Jane Austen, Fantasy, Dragons
Goodreads: 213901603
Publisher: RBF Books
Published: 2024-06-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

November 15, 1815

Anne closed her eyes and pressed them with her thumb and forefinger. At this pace, she would need glasses by year’s end. Father would no doubt criticize her for it—dreadfully common for a woman to wear glasses, he would say. And Elizabeth—shudder to think what inane words would drop from her mouth. Pray they were not still lurking about Lyme by year’s end.

Yes, it was uncharitable to think that way, maybe even unkind. But it was true and pretending that it was not only magnified the frustration.

She would have to return to them today and inevitably listen to why every house that Mr. Harville presented to them was insufficient. No, that was not fair. They had not said that, not yet. But they would, and she would have to argue with them over each complaint, many times, to get them to condescend to accept something.

Dragon’s bones! The game had gotten old!

She leaned back in her chair and stared at her office ceiling. The ornate plaster ceiling rose, a symbol of a place to speak plainly, without repercussion. Her thoughts were certainly doing that today. Closing her eyes, she pressed into the soft upholstery. Balen had been right. She did need a comfortable chair in this space. It made these thoughts slightly less awful.

Perhaps Wentworth had a point. It was time to be done with them. It seemed so wrong, though, to abandon her family, but, on the other hand, all things considered, what did she really owe them?

She opened her eyes again and blinked the blurriness back. Mr. Harville’s draft of the new charter, neatly arranged on her desk, slowly came into focus. Yes, all the new provisions seemed correct, it only needed to be signed. And for that, she needed Mr. Wynn. Such another joyful soul in her life that—if she had her way right now—she could do without.

Heavens, it felt like far too many people in her world were finding a place on that list right now. She really should not permit Kellynch’s grumpiness to so influence her own mood.

A face tapped at Anne’s window—Jasper. How did such a lovely, even-tempered dragon become friends with such a curmudgeon as Wynn? Perhaps that was a question better not asked. Anne opened the window and leaned out into the crisp morning air. “Is Mr. Wynn available?”

“It was a good idea to give him a day to recover from his travels. He is in a much better humor this morning. I told him of your need, and he will receive you,” Jasper said.

Oh, how very good of him to deign to do his job. Anne bit her tongue. Jasper probably had little understanding of exactly how condescending that all sounded. “Tell him I will be at the cottage soon.”

“Yes, Lady Wentworth.” Jasper bobbed her head and scurried off. She might have stayed to chat a bit. She so often did. But minor dragons tended to be perceptive and made themselves scarce when dominant creatures were cranky.

Heavens, was she becoming like Kellynch?

Anne glanced back at the imposing stack of books and writings on her desk.

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