Retaliation - 6

Part of the Dragons, Deceit, and Desire collection

Hi Everyone!

Trigger Warning: There is some sexual content in this chapter of Retaliation

As a point of interest, most of the dragon names come from the various mythological gods of old. The dragons are not gods, but in ancient times were venerated by mortals in ways that could explain their functions by humans who were not hosts.

I’m trying to get the footnotes aligned with the Substack editor, but I haven’t gotten the hang of it yet. I’m probably going to make a glossary… sigh.

The back story of the dragons is found at the beginning of Born to Serve. It is rather boring, but a relatively brief chapter that you can read using the preview function of most online bookstores.

As always, your comments and likes will be appreciated! The likes really help. ;o)

---

Chapter 6

The guests arrived at Longbourn the following evening expecting dancing, refreshments, and entertainment. Expectations became reality. Conversation flowed easily among friends. Lydia Bennet overheard snippets of gossip about Miss Bingley and Mr. Wickham. She dismissed it all as spiteful lies until she stepped onto the rear patio with John Lucas for a bit of fun.

While a playful John Lucas pulled her behind a nearby hedge for a kiss, Lydia overheard Mrs. Goulding speaking to Mrs. Long through an open window.

“Well, that handsome soldier, Mr. Wickham, has deserted his post and run off, possibly to London. They say he has an arrangement with Caroline Bingley to marry her when she returns to town,” tittered Mrs. Goulding.

Mrs. Long gave a hearty laugh and said, “That’s not the best part. The servants claim her maid saw them meeting in the woods, and the woman gave him a purse full of gold coins. Caroline Bingley must be desperate for a husband if she must pay a scapegrace like Wickham in advance of the marriage ceremony.”

Distracted by the conversation, John Lucas whispered into Lydia’s ear, “That Caroline Bingley is a viper. Her twenty thousand pounds are not enough to tempt any gentleman to wed her. It is not surprising she must pay for a man like Wickham. Poor Wickham. Even a card cheat and dissolute rake like him doesn’t deserve to be leg-shackled to Miss Bingley.”

“How can you call Mr. Wickham a cheat or a rake?” demanded an outraged Lydia. She pushed John Lucas away and ran further into the garden. The young man followed her to a secluded section where Lydia flung herself down on a stone bench. He sat next to her and pulled her into an embrace.

“No worries, little vixen. There’s plenty of your admirers still around to keep you happy.” He whispered into her ear. He reached for her breast with one hand and placed the other on her thigh, knowing that she craved physical pleasure. He lowered his head and kissed her deeply until she moaned. The hand on her thigh moved to reach under her gown to stroke her. The girl was always up for a bit of fun after a short cuddle. John intended to take a few pleasurable kisses for himself before returning to the party, but his dragon wanted more than kisses. Larkos took control.

He lifted Lydia and placed her on his lap, ensuring her gown was arranged to allow better access to her core. After releasing himself from his breeches, his passion rose and slid straight into her core. There was no maidenhead to breach. He stifled her cries of surprise by invading her mouth with his tongue. He held her in place until his body was satisfied and hers limp in his arms.

“Such a little whore, aren’t you? Did you think it possible to fool me into believing you are a virgin? Every man in the area knows what you do in the barn at the deserted Craigmore homestead after dark with the officers. They say you allow several to play with you each evening. They take turns and cheer each other on as you scream in pleasure. Did you know that Miss Bingley pays them to do that? She hopes to ruin your whole family by destroying your reputation. Zounds, is there any man in the area who has not tupped you? I would not be surprised to learn that the foot soldiers have taken you, too.” Lucas snickered and pulled her bodice down to her waist.

He tightened his grip on her and lowered his head to suckle a breast before biting down on the hardened nipple. Lydia whimpered as her back arched against him.

Lucas felt his passion rise and took his pleasure again. He told her what the soldiers said about her activities. How they laughed at her inability to do anything but lie still like a lump while fornicating. How they took Miss Bingley’s money and bought ale and tavern girls to give them a really good time later.

Lydia heard everything. She wanted to cry. She wanted to rage against her mother for telling her to flirt with men, and because they expect a lady to lie still and do whatever they ask, it was required to grant their wishes. She wanted Miss Bingley to die.

An hour later, John left her and walked home. In the morning, he woke up in his bed and couldn’t remember anything about the fete after following Lydia into the garden. His dragon, Larkos[8], refused to answer questions regarding it. The young man hoped that he’d done nothing terrible to Lydia. John knew answers would only make life worse. He stopped asking.

The ball at Netherfield was a failure. None of the gentry attended. Several of the most disreputable militia officers arrived, drank the punch, and ate the food until Mr. Bingley called an early end to the debacle. Charles Bingley was shocked that the gentry didn’t come to the ball. He had no idea that the Bennets held a fete on the same evening or that Caroline received the cut direct in Meryton by Colonel Fitzwilliam and the Bennet sisters. He decided to visit Sir William Lucas for information.

The next day, during visiting hours, Sir William was surprised when the butler escorted Mr. Bingley into the parlor, where he sat with his wife and children discussing the Bennet’s fete. Once Bingley sat, the conversation about the fete continued. Bingley learned about the decorations, the music, the refreshments, the attendees, Mr. Bennet’s surprise announcement that Elizabeth was married to Mr. Darcy, and that Jane was engaged to Colonel Fitzwilliam.

Mr. Bingley choked on his tea. Sir William took pity on the man and invited Bingley to join him in the study for a private chat. Bingley learned about the public cut, the Bennet fete, and the gossip regarding Caroline and Wickham. It was too much. Charles Bingley rose, took a proper leave, and left the house.

Bingley collected his horse and continued to Meryton, where he rode down Main Street towards the general store. He noted the whispers that followed in his wake, the turned heads, the lack of greetings from acquaintances, and the way his neighbors crossed the street to avoid him entirely. Damnation! All his hopes of joining the gentry and marrying Jane Bennet were gone. Caroline’s selfish, vile actions brought shame to the entire family.

Bingley went to the local inn, dismounted, tied his reins to the post, and strode inside. He took a seat in the public parlour and ordered coffee and a cold collation of meat and cheese. He must think—and he would not leave the matter unresolved. Caroline’s constant encroachments upon his purse must end.

He ate without tasting a bite, drank four bracing cups of coffee, and at last settled his reckoning. Then he walked directly to Mr. Phillips’s office. Who better than a solicitor to advise him on the most decisive means of severing every unnecessary financial tie to his sister’s extravagance?

---

8 Larkos is a lesser dragon whose influence is felt not in grand cosmic matters but in the small, exasperating disruptions of daily life. He is petulant when ignored, vain about his limited powers, easily offended, easily distracted, and fond of inserting himself into conversations and females where he is neither needed nor wanted. He is not malicious, merely inconvenient, like a draft that snuffs out a candle at the worst possible moment.

---

---