Chapter 37

37

D arcy turned the glass round in his fingers. "It seems we were worrying rather more than we needed to."

"Hmm." Richard was still not completely happy. "It was good of Colonel Forster to see us this morning, though he was not very forthcoming."

Darcy leaned forward. "What did you think of him?"

Richard rolled his eyes. "For a man with a completely new command, and who has been told to keep every single man too busy to think, and too tired to do anything other than sleep at night — he seems not to be taking it seriously enough. There is no way he can provide the sort of discipline some of these spotty-faced youths will need!"

"At least half of them are from a different militia, though." Darcy tried to see the more welcome side.

"That's not good at all, Darcy. If the Berkshires have been split into two, and then the numbers made up with troops and officers from a dozen other militias, can you not see those commanding officers would take the opportunity to be rid of their lazy men and troublemakers?"

"I had not considered it," Darcy admitted. "I am happy you are here to see behind what we have been told."

"I got the impression the men weren't going to be permitted to leave the barracks," Bingley sounded hopeful. "So the young ladies will be safe, will they not?"

Richard shook his head. "What were you like as a young man, Bingley? These young officers will see it is a challenge during their free hours, and there will be no supervision of them because Forster will think they are all secure." He shook his head. "I am glad Ponsonby will be able to get me a list of all their names, and then I will go to town and look up the backgrounds of as many as I can."

Darcy shook his head. "I cannot believe that so many have escaped the noose. Mutiny! It is unbelievable."

"You know little of the military world, Darcy." Richard sighed and nodded at Bingley, who was offering to pour him another glass. "We have enough evil bullies as commanding officers; and that their colonel was hanged for his crimes is enough to make me think his cruelty must have been terrible." He shook his head. "Rebellions, uprisings, revolts — they're all part and parcel of men fighting for their own survival. These men may well eventually settle down with calm and fair discipline. But it will be hard at first, for they will have to be worked into shape as a new unit. All the officers are new to them, and many are completely inexperienced. It will only take one or two to buckle under the pressure of being tested from below, and order an overly harsh penalty, for the whole powder keg to go up again."

Darcy sat up. "I think I will write a note to Bennet and Sir William and suggest we might meet again at Longbourn this afternoon to discuss what we have discovered." And he might have the opportunity to see Miss Elizabeth, even if only briefly.

"Good idea." Richard was staring gloomily into his glass. "I will change out of uniform, and we will ride through the town and see what is to be seen on the way."

After an untoward ride, they convened in Mr. Bennet's study, Darcy having glanced at the closed sitting room door. He hoped Miss Elizabeth was safely within. Sir William had arrived a moment before them, and he was just accepting a drink from Bennet.

When the man waved the decanter at them, Richard, who was in front, shook his head. "Would it be too much trouble to ask for coffee, sir? I am hoping that after our discussion, I might have time to challenge you to a game of chess, and if that is the case, I believe I will need to have my wits about me!"

Bennet chuckled. "Not at all. I am looking forward to beating you soundly." He turned and rang the bell to order hot refreshments.

As soon as he was seated, he turned to Richard. "Are you able to tell us what you have discovered?"

Darcy sat back and listened as Richard concisely explained their findings, and his more worrisome conclusions. His words were followed by quite a silence, even, surprisingly, from Sir William, who eventually sat up straighter.

"Colonel Fitzwilliam, you may not know that I am currently the magistrate here. I see my duty as keeping the town safe, rather than waiting until something goes wrong and then punishing the wrongdoers. Of course, while that is inevitable upon occasion, I see it as a failure that I have not managed to prevent the crime." He drew a deep breath.

"I know we have no recourse to stop the militia being quartered here, but can you think of anything I may do to prevent any person living here coming to harm?"

Darcy looked at the man with increased respect. On the surface, this man appeared comical; but having taken Darcy to task at the time of his insult at the assembly, and now, in his care for the town, Darcy knew he should learn a lesson. He must never take people's likeness at their first impression. He shivered a bit, and exerted himself to listen.

Richard was rubbing his hands gleefully together. Bennet looked sardonically amused and almost uninterested, although Darcy had noted a quiet gleam in his eye. It was to be hoped that Richard did not underestimate the man.

Bingley had taken the opportunity to spend a little time with his betrothed and the rest of the family in the sitting room, and when Sir William had taken his leave of them, Miss Elizabeth had slipped quietly into the room, and sat in a chair against the wall, where Richard could not see her easily.

Darcy had risen to his feet, and turned to her, the words dying in his throat as she put her finger on her lips. He could barely take his eyes from them. Pink, plump and utterly enticing, he had to stifle those thoughts once and for all. He dragged his gaze away and indicated a chair closer to the chessboard, with his eyebrows raised questioningly.

She shook her head at him, and looked away, and he knew irritation. Why was she being so contrary? He wanted to show her that there was much of her that he admired; he wasn't the same as all the other men pursuing her only for her musical abilities.

He retook his seat and turned to watch his cousin. Richard had drawn the white pawn, and seemed to be considering even the first move. One of Bennet's eyebrows twitched, and Darcy grinned. This was going to be a battle of the minds as much as the actual play, and he glanced again at Miss Elizabeth, who also seemed amused.

Richard moved his king's pawn forward and the game commenced. Instead of matching the move, Bennet only moved his pawn one square, and Richard hesitated before moving the queen's pawn to stand beside his other one.

Then Bennet moved forward, and there was a quick exchange of pawns, clearing the centre of the board. Darcy could see that Richard was already rattled — he had had no option, and did not like such carnage early in the game.

The slightest huff of breath, and he looked at Miss Elizabeth out of the corner of his eye. She looked slightly amused, and he wondered how often she had been subject to that opening gambit.

Silently, he moved his chair back to place himself closer to her, and leaned over.

"Is that a familiar tactic from your father?" he breathed, almost silently.

She nodded. "Sometimes. Your cousin must not take the obvious response, or it will all be over quite quickly."

"Does the obvious one involve bringing both bishops out?"

She nodded, her eyes still on the board, but Richard only brought one of his bishops out, taking the rather more defensive position of working to be able to castle his king into safety.

"It is unlike Richard to play defensively," Darcy murmured, and Miss Elizabeth shook her head.

"He ought to stop and take time to think through the options instead of trying to fluster Papa."

Both players were oblivious to their audience, and Darcy seized the opportunity. "Miss Elizabeth, I am sorry that you seem to be uncomfortable with my attentions. Might you tell me where I have erred? I would wish to feel that you were not entirely against my presence."

While she did glance briefly at him, she soon returned her attention to the board, obviously thinking how to answer him.