Chapter 44

44

D arcy gazed bleakly ahead as he watched the company of soldiers under armed guard, digging twenty-two graves in the corner of the churchyard. Fifteen coffins lay beside the entrance to the church; the other bodies, both officers and enlisted men, were still blanketed in the canvas barracks, awaiting the carpenter and his apprentice to finish the coffins.

And more would be needed. Twelve men who had survived the revolt were shackled back in camp, awaiting the officers from London who would conduct their courts martial. Undoubtedly, they would be executed in short order this time.

He sighed. Richard had been right about the risks.

His cousin had hastily changed into uniform, and taken charge of the ineffectual attempts of the few remaining junior officers to regain control of the camp.

"Darcy." Richard strode up beside him, watching the progress in the graveyard, his expression unreadable.

"How goes it, cousin?" Darcy was exceedingly happy Richard had happened to be here; he wasn't at all sure what would have transpired otherwise.

His cousin sighed. "It is a messy business, Darcy. Colonel Forster has paid the ultimate price for not taking the risks seriously enough, and so have all these men!" He waved at the line of coffins. "And those poor girls. They might have been servants, but they were someone's family. Nobody deserved that."

Darcy winced. It was true. The two servant girls, who had been sent on a late errand by their mistress, had been the catalyst which had broken the fragile discipline of the camp, and the bloodshed had exploded from there.

"If I tell you something, do you promise not to act rashly?" Richard's voice was serious.

Darcy's eyebrows went up. "You think it the sort of news that I might?"

"I do. Two days ago, five more junior ensigns arrived at Colonel Forster's request — it seems he was becoming concerned — and it appears that one of them ignited the incident that set this whole affair off."

"And …?" Darcy wondered at Richard's expression.

"George Wickham."

If Darcy had not braced himself for bad news, he might have staggered. But he stiffened. "Where is he? Is he one of the dead?"

"No." Richard's voice was as tightly sprung as Darcy felt. "He has not been identified in the camp among the living or the dead."

"Richard!" Darcy lost whatever self-control he had. "Georgiana is at Longbourn with only Bingley to protect her! And Miss Elizabeth is there, too."

"I am aware, Darcy. But I need you to listen to me first. Bingley's six footmen that he sends to Longbourn each day are good men. I have sent my own batman on a fast horse not ten minutes ago with instructions that they arm themselves, and I have ordered horses for us. We will go there ourselves, just as soon as Sir William has caught up with what needs to be done. But I will have to return here once I have ascertained the state of affairs at Longbourn, and I will leave you there to protect the ladies — although it may be better if they all go to stay at Netherfield until this matter is dealt with. It is more easily protected."

Darcy turned away from the graveyard, his mind already on his ladies. He stopped. Ladies? When had he started thinking of Miss Elizabeth in the same way as Georgiana, as someone under his protection?

He shook his head; now was not the time.

"Darcy!" Richard's voice was sharp. "You are not listening."

"I beg pardon, Richard, but we need to be away."

"Very well, but you need to assure me that you have heard this. Wickham will be shot. To have stirred up a rebellious camp means he will be sentenced. Even if he is also posted as a deserter, this will follow him forever. You must not attempt to mete out your own justice. You must not. And it is unnecessary." He grabbed Darcy's arm. "But this is." He waved, and two armed officers rode up.

"What?" Darcy gazed at them, bemused.

"Wickham knows you are here, Darcy. I believe he started this in order to create enough confusion to search you out. You need protection, too."

Twenty minutes later, they drew their horses to a halt outside Longbourn. The place seemed quiet enough and the grooms who ran up to take the animals, while excited with the diversion to their usual days, seemed unafraid.

Darcy strode to the door, Richard close behind him. It opened before they knocked, and Mr. Hill bowed. "Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam. Mr. Bennet has been hoping you would be here soon." He led the way to Bennet's library, and Darcy glanced at the sitting room door as they went past. All seemed quiet, but Georgiana and Miss Elizabeth would be there, and he longed to speak to them; promise to protect them.

"Ah, Mr. Darcy, Colonel Fitzwilliam." Bennet rose to his feet as they entered. "Thank you for coming so soon after your man arrived, Colonel, with your instructions. I would welcome your explanation."

He looked tired, Darcy thought, and wondered what he had been doing earlier, while he and Miss Elizabeth were absent from Longbourn. He bowed.

"I hope your errand out with Miss Elizabeth this morning was completed satisfactorily, Mr. Bennet. You were obviously not aware of what had happened overnight in Meryton, although Bingley would have given you the information when you returned."

"He did, to the best of his knowledge; but a number of hours have passed since he had the news, and I would like to hear the current state of affairs, if you please." His gaze speared them. "I happened to be looking out of the window as you rode up, gentlemen. I saw you were protected by armed officers. Why is it necessary, and are they to be trusted?"

Darcy glanced at Richard, who nodded. "I can probably explain it more succinctly than you, Darcy. If Mr. Bennet permits, perhaps you could go to reassure the ladies."

Bennet nodded, and Darcy bowed before crossing the hall to join Bingley, Georgiana, and the ladies of Longbourn.

Darcy found the atmosphere there was subdued; but Miss Bennet looked at her mother. "Mama, I will order refreshments. I expect Mr. Darcy will welcome some coffee, and Papa and the colonel will soon join us, as well."

"Thank you, Miss Bennet." Darcy bowed his head at her, and was then free to look round the room. He saw at once that the two youngest girls were absent. Georgiana was sitting close to Miss Elizabeth, seeming to draw comfort from her presence. He smiled at her and crossed the room to sit near them.

"I hope, Miss Elizabeth, that your errand with your father was accomplished satisfactorily?" He still wondered what it was. Would she tell them? Or perhaps she had been told not to?

"It was, thank you, Mr. Darcy." Her calm tones seemed to know him. "I accompanied my father as we took my youngest sisters to school. He believes they will be safer there, given the presence of the militia in Meryton. I went with them, so I could remain in the coach with Kitty while Papa settled Lydia in at her school, and then we took Kitty on to hers."

Georgiana turned to her. "I hadn't realised they are at different schools, Elizabeth. Why did your father decide that?"

Darcy cleared his throat. "That is not an appropriate question, Georgiana."

After Georgiana apologised, Miss Elizabeth turned to her again. "It is not such a secret as all that, Georgiana, although your brother was right to say what he did. But my sisters have different talents, and Papa chose schools he thought would suit them best. Kitty, in particular, wishes to extend her artistic skills." She patted his sister's arm. "Not that there is much time, as they will be making a new gown each to wear at Jane's marriage, and they will come home for the occasion and then return to school until the militia are gone from here."

She looked over at her next younger sister. "Has Papa talked to you about going to stay with Uncle and Aunt Gardiner, Mary?"

The other girl nodded. "He said you were going, too, Lizzy."

Miss Elizabeth laughed. "I have disabused him of that notion only this morning, Mary. I am not leaving Jane for these final days before her marriage." She glanced affectionately over at her elder sister. "Papa knows there is nothing in this world that could do that."

Then she turned and looked challengingly at Darcy. His heart stuttered at her gaze, and he had to steel himself not to respond to his wishes but listen to her words.

"I expect there are new developments this morning over at the camp. We know only what Mr. Bingley told us this morning. Have you further news for us?"

Darcy nodded soberly. "I believe your father has the right of it, to move his daughters as far away as possible from danger." He looked at his sister. "I am also considering whether to escort you to town as well, Georgiana." He sighed. Perhaps if Wickham was located quickly, the whole incident would be resolved very soon. It was impossible to believe that the Berkshires would remain here.

He looked over at Miss Elizabeth. Her eyebrow was arched mutinously, knowing he had not actually told her what was happening. He smiled wryly.

"I will tell you what I know, madam." But as he drew breath to begin, Richard and Bennet entered the room, followed by the refreshment trays.

Once everyone was settled, Darcy spoke before Richard could. "I have not yet had the opportunity to explain to the ladies exactly why we feel it may be necessary to remove them to a place of safety."

Bennet nodded. "Very well. Perhaps your cousin can explain."

When his cousin glanced at Georgiana, Darcy met Richard's eye and shook his head slightly. Perhaps he wouldn't say Wickham's name.