Chapter Twenty-Nine

Darcy heard the sounds of battle on the other side of the house. A quick perusal of the yard showed everything in the control of his allies. Thinking of Miss Elizabeth, he soared over the burning roof. He found her struggling to rise from the paving stones. Her youngest sister was there for some reason, covered in debris, helping her sister to her feet. He watched as Sir John checked the condition of Captain Cleveland, then called for Miss Elizabeth. She rushed to the blood-soaked man and laid her hands on his throat. Darcy could see that she had been wounded several times herself, but her gift had already mostly healed them.

Seeing her well was enough for him to breathe a sigh of relief. But he was not yet ready to address her with any semblance of equanimity. Instead, he flew around the boundary of the estate. He found the rest of the militia squads were either escorting the column of civilians through the woods to Meryton, led by Major Francis, or were setting up a new perimeter around the house. Several men were digging the survivors out of the burning tent. There was no sign of further attackers or escapees. He landed beside his friend. “I think that is all of them.”

“What of the others?” Bingley asked quietly. He had taken off his frock coat and wrapped it around Miss Bennet’s shoulders.

“Miss Elizabeth and Miss Lydia are on the other side of the house. While it looks like they have been active in the fighting, they appear to be without any significant injuries.” Darcy said. “The rest of your families are on the way to Meryton, guarded by a squad from the militia. While I am sure they are uncomfortable, unhappy, and most likely concerned about your welfare, I saw no signs they had been attacked.”

“What of my family, Mr. Darcy?’ asked Sir William?

He stopped for a moment, wondering if he would be able to pick the Mayor’s family out of the crowd. “I have no reason to think any in the column were injured. It might be best if you were to go to Meryton to organize shelter for them until transportation, or at least escorts, can be arranged to return them to their various homes.”

“If I’m not needed here, that might be for the best.” Sir William’s relief was clear. He started jogging towards the nearby town.

“Oh dear,” Miss Bennet said sadly, “the house … perhaps I can help.” She was pointing to where the upper floors were burning steadily.

“You cannot take any more risks,” Bingley said. “You should never have followed out us here.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I will not stand by when I can do something. I can fight fire”.

“Then go,” Bingley said. “I will see what there is to salvage in the stables. With so many guests, there were many more horses and carriages. Perhaps some remain undamaged.”

“Darcy!” Sir John’s voice carried over the yard. He jogged towards them. “Do we have any prisoners?”

“Four, including one who is an old friend.” Darcy gestured to the scruffy strongman. “He surrendered.”

“And I’m willing to tell you everything I know. I just don’t want to swing.” The man sounded much more comfortable than he should have, given his precarious position. Darcy wondered just how many times he had faced arrest and trial.

“Bingley, would you please examine the outbuildings to determine if there is a suitable location where we might speak with the prisoner …”

“Reilly. M’name’s Reilly. It’s easier if ya got something to call me other than that guy or the prisoner.”

“Someplace we can speak with Reilly.”

“I shall return momentarily … The steward’s house is still unoccupied and seems to have escaped attack.” Bingley had disappeared momentarily, leaving a whirlwind in his wake. Darcy was happy to see the grin on his face illustrate the pleasure he took from such an innocent use of his gift.

“One moment,” Sir John said, then raised his voice to be heard throughout the yard. “Captain Denny, are you dead?”

“Um…No, sir. Just momentarily indisposed.”

“Well, get yourself disposed. Get a runner to the battalion, we need reinforcements and wagons to carry the wounded to the Red Lion. I also want ten men to guard the prisoners. No one but me takes them anywhere. Understood?”

“Yes sir!”

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“We have two in back, secure them and bring them to the steward’s house. Mr. Darcy, will you please bring Reilly with us?”

“I can walk.”

One they had arranged themselves in the borrowed abode, Darcy asked the Colonel “Should we not wait for Miss Elizabeth?” He would rather not subject himself to her presence but knew she had more than earned her place in this room.

“She has gone to the Red Lion to treat the wounded,” Sir John answered. “I am sure that not all our prisoners will be so cooperative. I felt she need not be subjected to such unpleasantness.”

“Very well,” He looked at his blistered hand. He knew Miss Elizabeth could heal the burn in seconds. But he could not risk opening himself to her touch. He feared he would disgrace himself by admitting to her just how much she meant to him. Worse he would, he was certain, beg her to give up her engagement and elope with him. But he could not do that to her, who he loved, or to her father, who he had grown to respect, or to Bingley, who he was certain was ready to tie himself to her family. He had to let her go.

They found that their erstwhile enemy was in a talkative mood. “I really do believe that the gifted have done a rotten job of running the world. From the bottom looking up, all we see is crap falling like rain. Personally, I have had the benefit of you magistrate’s special attention since I was a boy. All I ever did was try to feed myself and my family, but … you don’t want to hear about that.”

“I was enjoying his Majesty’s hospitality about a year ago, when I was approached by a guard that said he could get me out if I was willing to talk with a man about a job. Turns out I had been running my mouth about my beliefs and someone had heard. I agreed readily enough. So that night I died in custody, and he slipped my body out. He took me to a Frenchman who laid his hand on me like some sort of faith healer. After a minute he got really happy and told me ‘I’d do’. Turns out he was looking for Ordinaries that had some special nature that allowed him to manifest temporary gifts. All we had to do was do our best to break the world for him. I was all for getting a gift, even if it only lasted three or four weeks at a time, and left you sick as a dog for days afterwards. So, here I am.”

“Who is the Frenchman?”

“He calls himself LaFontaine. No idea if that’s his real name.”

“The fountain?” the Colonel mused.

“Or the font. As in the origin of gifts maybe?” Darcy suggested. The idea of an individual that could instill gifts in nulls was revolutionary indeed. A danger to the social order. And if he were a supporter of Bonaparte, it might mean a massive shift in the prosecution of the war.

“Where is he?”

“Been a different place every time we meet. The last was a house near Wood Green. We were there since the last attack, planning this one.”

“Who is we?” the Colonel asked. Reilly named the others in his group. The woman Darcy had executed was called Jenny Red. The six-armed man was a former soldier called Mansfield. The other ExtraOrdinaries, as LaFontaine had named his creations, that had been taken alive were Grace and Fielding, newly joined for the final attack.

The questions continued for more than an hour. Reilly was a cooperative as he promised, though Darcy realized that his cooperation made it easier for him to hide things by simply leaving them out of the volume of information he did confess. At the end of the hour Sir John pulled Darcy aside.

“This is more important than I had imagined. The Home Office and the War Office both need to be informed of the threat as soon as possible.” His voice was low and serious.

“I agree.”

“Then will you take the message, immediately. Even an hour’s delay may allow this LaFontaine to escape. I would send Mr. Bingley, but not only does he have a ruined home to occupy him, but he is not known in the halls of power. You are.”

Darcy hesitated. Leaving Hertfordshire at this time would lose him any opportunity to stop Miss Elizabeth before she married the wrong man and convince her that she should spend her life with him. But it was necessary. For Darcy duty had always come first, no matter what the cost. It was also the right thing to do, for Elizabeth’s happiness required Longbourn. “I’ll leave within the hour.”

He went to find Bingley. He owed him an explanation, at least. He walked into a gentle rain that had soaked the property. There were still spots where smoke spiraled lazily up into the night sky, but the roaring flames were doused. He found Bingley and Miss Bennet examining the damage done to the house. Rather than being made downcast by the damage, they were discussing improvements they could imagine in the future. He saw they were walking with her arm in his.

Darcy knocked on the wall to get their attention. “Bingley, may I have a word?”

“Darcy, old man! You must felicitate me. My dearest Miss Bennet has consented to be my bride.” Bingley’s face almost split from his smile. His lady love was blushing most becomingly. Darcy felt their happiness stab into him.

“You have my most sincere congratulations. I’m sure you will suit very well.” He offered the lady a bow then beckoned for his friend. “I still need a few minutes of your time.” They stepped into the next room.

“What is it?” Bingley’s voice held concern.

“I must go to London tonight, almost this very moment. But first I needed to let you know I am going to report to the Home and War Offices.”

“It is that serious?”

“There is a French agent in England that can grant temporary gifts to nulls. He is the one behind these attacks. It is essential that he is captured, before he can duplicate this horror across the whole nation.”

“I understand. Can I ask a favor of you?”

“Of course. What can I do?”

“Can you send a coach to fetch Caroline and the Hursts back to town? There is no way they can stay here now. And I must speak to Mr. Bennet as soon as I may.”

“You plan on staying here?”

“I plan on buying the place and rebuilding. We have paid for this land in blood. I am not willing to just give it back.”

“Then I wish you well and we must part ways for a time.” Darcy offered his hand. Bingley took it. “I’ll send my coach as soon as I arrive. A second for servants and luggage will follow. Write for anything else you may need. Or you can always just stop by.” The last was said with the hint of a smile. Bingley laughed and returned to his lady.

Darcy took a last look at the place. In some ways he hoped his friend’s plans did not succeed, as he thought he would never be comfortable visiting this close to Longbourn. He closed his eyes and flung himself into the air, speeding towards the great metropolis.