• Maxims and Rules for the Conduct of Women

Peek into Elizabeth Bennet’s world of dragons through her commonplace book of dragon experiences.

 If you missed the start of grown up Elizabeth’s adventure with dragons, check out this post . If you missed the first installment in Elizabeth’s Commonplace Book, you can find it here.

 

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June 1801

Mama is not happy with me. Not at all.

She does not like dragons. I suppose it is because she cannot hear them that she finds them tiresome. But perhaps if she would only stop talking, and listen, for just a few moments, then it is entirely possible that she might hear them too.

But that is not likely to happen any time soon.

Papa would not want me to say that, but it is true.

She overheard me telling Kitty and Lydia a story about fairy dragons today. It was a very sweet little story that I liked very much.

I did not think I was doing anything wrong. Lydia liked it very much, but Kitty did not. I do not understand why, but she thought it was frightening and told mama I was trying to scare her.

That made Mama angry.

She scolded me.

I do not like it when she scolds. How can she keep up ever so long and loud? She said it was not ladylike to tell frightening stories andthat all my talk of dragons is unladylike.

I hardly ever talk about them at all. Only the occasional story and only when I am asked.

Truly it is not fair. They asked for the story, I did not even offer it.

Now, I must sit here and copy passages from one of Mama’s etiquette books to remind me of how a lady behaves.

At least some of it even seems like good advice.

Maxims and Rules for the Conduct of Women

• It is unjust as well as ill-natured to take advantage of the weakness of others.

This is one of the prime injunctions to dragonkind in the Pendragon Accords. It must be good advice.

• Sincerity is the groundwork of all that is good and valuable.

This seems sensible as well. Certainly it worked when King Uther met with the dragon brenin to create the accords.

• Civility is never a losing game; courtesy will always reproduce itself in others, and the original exhibitor gets at least as much as he gives.

Brenin Buckingham and King Uther exchanged civilities and everyone benefited for eight centuries. Civility must be very, very important.

• Never suffer anyone, under the presence of friendship, to take unbecoming liberties with you.

It is dangerous to take liberties with a creature who might easily eat you, even if they are Dragon Friends.

• The character of a toad-eater, flatterer, or sycophant is truly detestable;

Dragons, I am told detest flattery of all sorts. Compliments of the genuine sort are entirely acceptable though.

• To lose without any exhibition of ill-humor, and to win without any symptom of exultation, are deemed characteristic of high breeding. Those who cannot always remember this, would do well to give up play.

According to the Blue Order’s lore, dragons are very poor losers. Perhaps it is best not to play with them at all.

• Nothing indicates a well-bred man more than a proper mode of eating his dinner

If this is true, then I am certain all dragons are brutes. Rumblkins is horrid when he eats. When he has a rat, I am forced to leave rather than watch, even though he is polite enough to offer me a share.

• Remember that if you are quiet in society you will, at least, have credit for discretion.

Or stupidity, I am not certain which is true, and I am not certain how I will ever find out.

• Women in every country have a greater influence than men choose to confess.

This I am certain is true. The Blue Order even acknowledges women are as important as Dragon Friends and Keepers as Men. It is a wonder that the dragons recognize it so easily, but society does not.

Perhaps that is another reason why I like dragons very much.

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