About two hours into the journey, Collins saw columns of marching soldiers, waggons, carriages, and officers on horses as his carriage passed them. He guessed correctly that it was Lieutenant Wickham’s regiment on their way to Meryton.
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
George Wickham was handed an express on Monday morning just after he had broken his fast at the Red Lion Inn.
He recognised the script as belonging to the idiot parson who had written the instructions he would use as leverage. He found a quiet spot and broke the seal on the missive and began to read.
2 November 1811
Crown and Garter Inn
Reading
Berkshire
The funds have arrived.
I will have them on Monday morning the 4th of this month and depart for the inn in the town I named in my written instructions. I will be there by Monday evening.
As I have what I need, I expect you to execute your side of the deal without delay.
I demand your swift compliance.
Reverend William Collins
Wickham smirked when he saw how the jackanapes signed his letter. He had heard how Collins tried to stop the wedding of this Bennet man and had been defrocked for his trouble. He was no more a clergyman than Wickham was.
He tucked the epistle into his coat pocket and made his way to the encampment.
Thankfully, there was little or nothing to do today. Captain Carter wanted to inspect everything that morning to make sure there was nothing deficient. As long as there was not, the officers and men would be free to do as they wished, except for a few who would be left to watch the encampment.
By a little after ten, the encampment was declared ready, and the officers and most of the soldiers were dismissed.
This was perfect for Wickham; he would begin to gather information so he would be ready to earn his blunt. He knew he could not ask about Mrs Bennet directly because that would point the finger of suspicion at him. The last thing he needed was to be arrested, because it would somehow get back to Darcy and his family, and they would add the old charge of theft to that of murder.
He had to be subtle about his investigation.
From the encampment, he ambled back into the centreof town. He was still not sanguine with the fact that they would not give him credit, but it was a worry for another time.
He saw two enormous men, bigger than he had ever seen before, standing near the solicitor’s office. He wondered if there was a swell inside. He kept moving.
The question now was, where to begin?
~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~
The coach conveying Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary arrived at Charlotte and Uncle Frank’s house a few minutes before ten.
In addition to John and Brian on the back bench, one guard sat on the box with the coachmen, and two others were on horses, giving the impression that they had nothing to do with the others. John had told them that due to the soldiers and officers in the town ahead of the main body of the regiment, he had decided to step up the number of guards when the Misses Bennet came into Meryton.
The man sitting on the box remained where he was and the two men on the horses dismounted, one on either side of the street, one before the law office and the other after it.
Rather than go directly to the residence, which was behind and above the offices, the three Bennet sisters entered the offices.
“Is our uncle able to greet us?” Jane asked the clerk.
“Of course, he is,” Phillips boomed as he exited his office. “When have I ever not had time to greet any of you?” He offered his cheek.
The sisters kissed their uncle’s cheek in descending age order.
