∞∞∞
Three sticks nestled into Lightcliffe’s hand, one short and two long, they prepared to determine who would take the task of spying out the land and which two would remain.
Richard had been first to volunteer, the other two insisting they ought to go instead, and though each of the men argued valiantly for being the one to take the risk, no one had been willing to back down in the first few minutes, and time, unfortunately, would mean a great deal.
Reaching for the far stick, Darcy pulled it out, the long twig prompting him to sigh unhappily.
Preferring his odds, Richard in turn took the stick to his left, the pull taking longer than he had hoped and confirming that he, along with Darcy, would remain.
A wry, half-grin pulling, Lightcliffe lifted his shoulders as he held out the short stick, “It looks like you ladies remain here while I enjoy a stroll. Give my greetings to Aldry and Peters when they arrive.” Checking his weapons before taking a quick drink of water, Lightcliffe’s expression grew serious. “If any shooting or scuffle takes place, you two will get Mary and Elizabeth out of here, yes? And… should anything happen to me, please, tell their sister Jane I love her.”
“Of course,” they agreed, though Richard knew neither man would leave him to die once the two sisters were safe.
Watching as Lightcliffe silently moved to the right and down, his passage swift and steady, Richard could not help but feel he should have been the one to go.After all, his shoulders held the blame, and his Mary was inside.
Slamming his fist into the earth, he snarled, “If only I had searched the wagon first; it is as if my brain were addled. I saw the danger, saw the man who may have been injured or lying in wait, and instead of risking a few moments to search it, I chose to attend to him. I… I have made nothing but mistakes since walking home that Tuesday night when that club came down on the back of my head. Surely, it knocked something loose–or perhaps I hope so, if only to find a reason for my idiocy."
“I know well the feeling,” Darcy frowned beside him. “From the moment I hired Mrs. Younge and allowed her and Georgiana to travel without me… well, given where we are today, my instincts in people are not altogether accurate. This question of Bingley being involved or not may well prove the same–that by misjudging another, I endanger someone I love most dearly.”
“We do not yet know about Bingley,” Richard eased, though his instincts held firm to the man’s guilt.
“My heart does,” Darcy said, “and my mistake may cost us both dearly.”
“Well, though I argue you innocent, I doubt either of us will know ease until Mary and her sister are with us, safe and forever.”
“No. Not until they are,” Darcy agreed, the pair growing silent as they awaited Lightcliffe.
∞∞∞
More than half an hour later, Richard’s weapon raised toward the trees, the soft voice of Lightcliffe allayed their worries. His form following moments later, he sat with them, the pair waiting impatiently as he pressed himself against the trunk of a tree in an effort to catch his breath.
“The lay is as we expected,” he began a minute later, “though it may be our route has been limited. The whole of the right back corner is still standing, as are parts of the right wall, and the slope dropping from the rear is steeper than I would have supposed; they may be able to escape that way, as dangerous as that would be, but there is no opportunity for us to use it in our approach. No. Either we move in from the front or the left side–there are no other options.”
“Fewer options, but better ones,” Richard remarked, “for neither require us to journey as long. Once Aldry and Peters arrive, we shall be five, that is a lot of men to move quietly through dead branches and leaves. Was there nothing else? Were there other men? Other features?”
Eyes drifting toward the distant ruins, Lightcliffe frowned, “There was a small, old well on the right side, but… I could have sworn I observed a figure walking near the base of the slope as I moved further back. At first I assumed it to be one of those who took Mary and Elizabeth, or another of their men placed inside before they arrived, only the ground leading down appeared undisturbed, and there is no way one of us would not have seen them leaving. With the high walls and our vantage, a figure scampering through openings or scaling walls would be easily spotted.”
“Then who do you think they are?” Darcy questioned, his eyes narrowed as he observed the ruins. “As you said, they could have had men here already, and while ascending the slope is not an option, they may have placed a man down there in any case.”
Nodding, Lightcliffe wiped his dirty hands on his breeches, “It is possible. Still, the way the man behaved, as though sneaking away from the area, did not lend the appearance of a patrol, and he never once looked back at me. I doubt my presence in particular would account for his behavior, and to my mind any man not involved in the kidnapping would have no reason to skulk away.”
“No. Unless a man from town were hoping to help free the ladies–and to arrive from below would be peculiar–then I agree,” Darcy said. “I only wish there was an explanation for it.”
“Agreed,” Richard added before turning to Lightcliffe, “Were you able to determine how many men are within the ruin?”
“I neared an opening after I had completed my examination of the external layout, and at least three men were inside; the sisters are tied and one man sits facing them, his weapon in hand as he waits. The other two I saw guarded the space, and there could well be more, for I startled a bird, drawing the attentionof the men my way, and though, after waiting several minutes pressed against a tree, no one fired a shot or went to investigate, I knew I had to return if we hoped to keep our presence here a secret.”
Forcing away the image of Mary bound and endangered, Richard mulled over the information they had.Three men, or even more, were not too large of numbers to be overcome… the issue was not knowing how those men would react. Would they fight back? Run? Or would they harm the sisters? Even using them as shields against the five of them?Gulping, the cold of the day seeped into his bones in one, sudden chill, his eyes wide as every wretched possibility flashed through his mind.
Ignore it,he warned himself as he took a slow, deep breath.You will be no good to either of them if you panic. Strategy. Logic. Use these to do what you have been trained to do.
A clopping of hooves sounding, Richard and Lightcliffe cocked their pistols as they turned around, their weapon lowering almost immediately as they awaited Aldry and Peters to tie their horses.
“Where have you two been?” Darcy asked, his hushed tone filled with irritation. “Already Lightcliffe has scouted the area.”
“Convincing Mr. Bennet and the townsfolk to wait proved no easy task; as soon as word spread, all of the men gathered up arms and were ready to march on this place. Four hours they promised, though I doubt we have that before they grow impatient–even two may prove a challenge.”
Rubbing his brow, Richard balked at the ache which formed. “That is all we require; an angry mob. Did you manage to bring more weapons, Darcy will need one, if nothing else.”
