He turned to the bell beside him and began to ring it with all of his might, warning the townspeople of the imminent danger. As he rang the bell, he could see small lights, candles, and torches lighting up the village, and could hear the men as they rushed into the streets, shouting instructions to one another, pulling on their boots as they rushed to the armoury. Those who already had weapons of their own rushed to the coast.
In the Admiral'squarters of one of His Majesty’s first rate ships hiding in the waters in a cove near Eastbourne, Admiral Croft inspected a map of the local coastline with his brother-in-law and comrade in arms, Captain Wentworth, whose third rate was nearby.
“If they come, it will be at night, and it will almost certainly be by Beachy Head.” Wentworth pointed out a particular stretch of coastline. “The moon is full, if there is to be a drop, it will certainly be tonight.”
“From Fitzwilliam’s words, I sense that Eastbourne is expecting more than a smuggler’s drop,” replied Admiral Croft. “You should return to your vessel, if it is to happen tonight, it will happen soon.”
Almost as if his words had conjured it, there was suddenly a great commotion on deck. The door opened, and a midshipman rushed in, his expression one of disbelief and great excitement. The men had been on alert since one solitary firework had gone off in the sky some minutes ago.
“Sir!” The young man remembered himself and saluted the two senior officers. “The beacons are lit! Eastbourne calls for aid!” The young sailor turned and rushed back out, followed by Admiral Croft and Captain Wentworth.
Sailors milled about, waiting for orders as Wentworth and Croft gazed upon a never before seen sight. The beacons of the Martello Towers were lit along the coast in both directions.
“Man your positions!” boomed Admiral Croft as Wentworth rushed with all haste to the rowboat that would return him to his ship.
CHAPTER 53
The man known in England as Huggins, more accurately known on the continent as Huguenin, led an enormous company of invaders across Eastbourne, advancing towards the castle. The rest of the men from the first and only ship to land attacked the town and its residents, distracting them from following the other company. Huguenin had planned this for months, the best route to get them to the castle without a great deal of resistance. The route they took was not perhaps the most direct, but it was the one that was more rural and isolated in nature.
After perhaps a half hour, the mob of French invaders reached the castle, which was entirely dark. There was no need to break in the door, it was standing open, and there were no candles to be found as perhaps twenty preselected men entered the house and began ransacking it without mercy. It was obvious that the residents of the house had escaped them, though Huguenin knew they had been in residence as recently as that morning.
The house was plundered thoroughly, though with the flight of the previous occupants, there was little point. Huguenin could hardly believe it had come to this. He had tracked the old womanfor years. He knew she was here. Every bit of evidence pointed to the old woman as having fled with the artefact he had come to steal back to France for the Emperor. There would never be another opportunity like this. So much had been expended on this endeavour, because he had assured the Emperor that it would succeed.
The Emperor was not a forgiving man, but Huguenin’s chances were better in France than in England. If he remained, he would be caught. His only chance was to return to the coast and escape to the ships in the small boat he and his nephew had prepared. His next action was to abandon the men still tearing apart the castle, and the others outside, and to return to the shore. Again, he took a roundabout way to get there, skirting around the fighting.
The revellersat the Amesbury’s ball were disappointed. What had happened to prevent the promised fireworks display? Lord Amesbury and Colonel Allen looked troubled, promising to find out what had happened. The guests returned indoors, and the dancing resumed in the ballroom. Lord Amesbury and Colonel Allen retreated deep into the garden.
“What do you think has prevented the fireworks? Will they land?” hissed Amesbury.
“I have no idea what could have happened. There is no way to find out without going out to the cliffs,” answered Allen.
“Colonel! Reporting for duty, sir!” one of the privates who had been assigned the task of setting off the explosives exclaimed as he rushed to his senior officer in the garden, where they had been directed by the officers inside who were guests.
“What the hell happened to the damn display?” demanded the colonel.
The young private’s jaw dropped. “One of the guests from the ball, sir! He came to tell us that there was an emergency, and we were to report to you directly!”
Allen swore savagely. “What guest from the ball?”
“One of the ones from Bourne House we have been following, sir,” answered the other private. “The clergyman.”
“Return to camp!” Allen shouted at the two privates. Before they could obey him, they began to hear a bell ringing from far away. The Martello Tower bell.
Suddenly, one of his lieutenants rushed out into the garden. “Colonel! A local man has just run here to say that a great number of Frenchman have just come up from the shore and attacked the village! Hundreds of Frenchmen, sir!”
Allen had no choice but to fall into his usual role. Whatever failures had occurred, he could not be seen now to have done anything but his duty. He immediately reverted to his booming militant voice, entering the ballroom and loudly commanding his men to follow him. The militia had no weapons but their swords, but they marched into the village, and began fighting the French alongside the residents of the town.
The guests of the ball were in a panic; ladies screaming hysterically and swooning. None could leave to protect their homes, or even their children who were at home with their servants, else they would be murdered in the streets. The ladies were herded upstairs. All of the male servants who had accompanied their employers to the ball, grooms and footmen alike were stationed outside to protect the house, while the men stayed on the ground floor with whatever they could find for weapons, determined that no French would climb the stairs to harm their women. Strangely, it seemed that the Frenchmen were not attacking in this direction, though everyone could hearthe loud, rough voices of the Frenchmen as they moved around the area.
After the bellhad rung for some minutes, William Bennet shouted up to Tom Tyler. “Tom! Tom! Can you hear me?” The bell stopped ringing, and the boy’s face appeared. “Stay up there, Tom! Until someone comes to tell you it is safe! Keep ringing the bell!”
William heard Tom follow his direction by returning to the bell, as he turned and began to run towards the caves. When he neared the beaches, he saw Mr Darcy and Richard near the edge of the water, fighting for their lives, and to prevent as many invaders from leaving the beach. There were far fewer invaders left near the shore; most had already headed for the village, and were fighting in the streets with the locals.
William pondered how he could be of use before rushing in. He had no sword, and was no fighter. He continued on, and eventually came upon a villager, a workman that he had seen on the streets of Eastbourne before, he thought. The poor man was dead, having been run through by a sword. By his hand was a mace. William wondered where the man would have come by such a mediaeval weapon. Surely not the armoury? Perhaps it was a family heirloom?
He bent and lifted the mace in his hand. The weight felt right in his hands. He was a man of God. Could he harm or kill another? He looked down at the dead man before him. A proper hardworking Englishman. A man with a family. Murdered for protecting his home. Thinking of the people in the village coming to harm at the hands of these terrible invaders, he thought perhaps he could use a weapon against another, if hewas protecting someone innocent from harm. He would not use it otherwise.
Shortly after, he met Darcy and Richard, fighting their way into the village. He did not engage with any men, but covered the other two men’s backs, protecting them from attacks from behind.
