Chapter 35

35

B ennet had tidied his library as much as he could. He shook his head at his daughter.

"No, Lizzy. I need to speak to the gentlemen without any ladies present. This is a town matter, and, though it will involve all my daughters, I must first tell them."

She drew breath to speak, and he lifted a finger. "If you wish to find out, then I suggest you walk over to Lucas Lodge and speak to Miss Lucas. She can wheedle anything out of her father."

Elizabeth jumped to her feet. "I will go now."

"Make certain Stephens is with you as usual, my dear, and that he stays close to you." Bennet waved at her casually, and rang the bell to ensure that refreshments would be made available whenever the Netherfield gentlemen arrived.

He sat in his chair and tried to read his book while he waited. But he was concerned for his family. What precautions might he have to take for them? Undoubtedly it would involve a lot less time in this room. His gaze fell on the chessboard; Mr. Darcy had said his cousin appeared to be unbeatable. Bennet grinned. Perhaps there might be time for a match afterwards.

The party arrived promptly at three of the clock and Bennet nodded at them. "I thank you for your time this afternoon, gentlemen. Please take whatever seat you like, and refreshments will be arriving shortly." He was glad he had set out enough chairs; he was surprised, but not displeased, to see that even Mr. Hurst had troubled himself to attend.

Once they were all settled with coffee or tea, Bennet looked at his housekeeper. "Thank you, Hill. Please make sure we are not disturbed."

She curtsied. "Yes, sir."

He saw Mr. Darcy looked rather diverted, and raised his eyebrows. "You have had an amusing thought, sir?"

"I apologise, Mr. Bennet. I had only thought that Miss Elizabeth might have been curious enough to inveigle her way in here with us."

Bennet found himself rather surprisingly in charity with the man. "You are not wrong; and I have sent her off to Lucas Lodge. Her friend will undoubtedly have had the news from her father, so Lizzy will find out that way, and we will be undisturbed."

"We are curious to know how we may assist, sir." The colonel was sitting alertly in his chair.

"Then I will tell you." Bennet placed his cup down. "Over the years, we have had our share of being instructed to host troops of militia over their winter training months. Last year, we were fortunate enough to escape the duty, and I was pleased when that appeared to be the case this year, too."

He glanced around at the men. "You will understand that, with five unmarried daughters, several of them young and impressionable, I would be glad not to have the militia in the area."

The other men were nodding in understanding, and Bennet sighed. "However, I heard this morning that the Berkshire militia were moving here today." He looked up.

"To us here, it is unheard of for an overwintering militia to settle as late in the year as this, and with virtually no notice."

"Where were they stationed before this?" The colonel looked as suspicious as Bennet felt. He knew his voice was clipped with anger.

"They will not tell us. I wonder what has made them leave wherever it was that they were, with such haste and what must be much disruption."

Mr. Darcy was rubbing his jaw and looked at his cousin. "Are you able to find out, Richard?"

Then he turned to Bennet. "The Berkshires, I think you said. Have you been given the name of the colonel in charge?"

Bennet shook his head. "We have not. That is partly why I am so concerned. There has never been this level of secrecy before. What have they done to warrant this? If it was one or two men who have behaved badly, then they would have been court-martialled and sent to the continent. But that is no cause for secrecy. I am, like most of us in the area, concerned, not just for my daughters, but those of the tenants and the servants, too."

"I understand." Mr. Darcy nodded and turned again to his cousin.

"So how do we find the information we seek?"

Colonel Fitzwilliam leaned forward. "We cannot. At least, not before they arrive, if they are truly arriving today." He grimaced. "I suppose it might not be bad. They might have been given some sort of secret mission."

Bennet snorted. "Militia? A whole troop? Please, Colonel, I know you are trying to be reassuring, but I — if only it were summer, I might send the whole family to the seaside for the duration, but I cannot do that in January." He smiled over at Bingley. "And with the wedding being but two se'ennight away …"

Mr. Darcy nodded. "I am in full agreement with your suspicions, sir. I wonder what precautions you might have been considering over the last few hours?"

Bennet glanced at him. "I have not had much time. I am going to employ a few more footmen, if I can find any, to take over ordinary duties, so that my trusted servants can accompany my daughters when they go out. Stephens, of course, is already tasked with protecting Lizzy; but she may have to share him with the others. I believe I will have to restrict all the girls' activities outside the house, and we will not attend any gatherings and assemblies to which any of the militia have been invited." He gave a heavy sigh. "Sir William and I will call on all the tradesmen here and warn them regarding accepting credit, and the innkeeper as regards attempting to limit drinking and gambling on his premises."

Mr. Darcy nodded slowly. "You seem to have thought of most of what I would have suggested, sir." He turned to his friend.

"I know Netherfield is busy with preparations for your nuptials, Bingley, but might you be able to spare three or four footmen to assist Mr. Bennet to keep your betrothed and her family safe?"

Mr. Bingley's face was serious. "Consider it done, Mr. Bennet. I will be glad to help for as long as is necessary."

"I am grateful to you." Bennet knew he had done the right thing in asking the visitors for assistance. He turned to the colonel.

"I wonder if you might have any channels of information which might help us discover the past? I doubt any of the arriving militia will tell us."

Colonel Fitzwilliam nodded. "I was at first inclined to ride to town. But it seems the advance party may be here now, already, if the main party will arrive before dusk. So I will begin scouting round to see what I can discover. But I will write to Ponsonby this afternoon," he glanced at his cousin, who nodded. "My friend is in the War Office. He will be able to find out and will inform me as soon as possible."

"Mr. Bennet," Mr. Darcy had risen to his feet. "If the advance party are likely to be here already, pray permit me to ride to Lucas Lodge, to escort your daughter home. I mean no aspersions on your footman, but two escorts may be better than one, just until we know what we are up against."

Bennet nodded. "I thank you."

The colonel also rose. "I was looking forward to challenging you to a game of chess, sir. But perhaps it needs to wait until we know more. With your permission, I will ride into Meryton and see if there is anything yet to discover. Do you know where they will be setting up camp?"

Bennet shrugged. "We have not been informed, but I suspect they will be at the far side of the town. There is some common land there, not under the ownership of anyone here."

Bingley rose to his feet, as well. "Mr. Bennet, Hurst and I will ride back to Netherfield. You will have the extra footmen within the hour." He hesitated. "Have you accommodation for them, or would you like them to arrive each day before breakfast and then send them back once you are all at home in the evening?"

Bennet made a face. "That would be easier, certainly. I am very grateful to you, Mr. Bingley."