Page 70 of Shields and Roses

"We heard the hoofbeats from behind us and every man took heart. Once we thought we had the superior numbers, we did not hesitate to charge the enemy ranks," Richard said as he neared the end of the story. "We surprised them with what must have seemed an insane tactic and carried the day. Then, of course, when we turned to thank our supporters, all we saw were the backsides of the cattle as they raced away in the landscape behind us." He laughed and added, "Most of them anyway. We had a few of the stragglers for dinner that night. It was a welcome change from the salt pork we had been carrying."

"I take it the food was not usually very good?" Darcy asked.

Richard shrugged. "It depended on where we were and when. Sometimes we were lucky to get hard tack and muddy water. Others, we feasted. I ate plenty of meals I never would have considered when we were younger and often surprised myself by enjoying them. As they say, hunger is the best sauce."

He launched into another tale about an unexpected feast that soon had Darcy helpless with laughter. The ridiculous stories and Darcy's sometimes equally ridiculous questions kept them occupied for the rest of their travel that day.

Chapter 37: Longbourn

As they had planned, Darcy, his cousin and his three servants had risen before dawn to make their preparations and get back out on the road. At least the horses were well-rested, even if no one else was.

The inn was not a bad one. Hadley's instinct in choosing a place had proven true even with limited options after dark at the end of a long day of travel. The rooms were moderately clean and the food moderately good. It was just that the men would all have preferred a few more hours of sleep before setting off again.

They would also have preferred a little less road dust with which to contend, but that was the price of another clear, dry day, so they accepted it without much complaint. Darcy did firmly secure all the carriage windows after Richard claimed the backward-facing bench, the one less vulnerable to showers of dust coming through the door and window frames.

Despite the remaining distance being greater than Richard had estimated, they made good time on their way. It was still a little while before noon as they passed through a village that Richard identified as Meryton. From the looks and layout, Darcy thought it could just as easily be Lambton, Kympton or any of the other country villages with which he was familiar. He chided himself for still holding the expectations, instilled by Lady Catherine, that the village was some barbaric backwater composed of broken-down grass huts and filled with dancing savages, or something of the sort.

He had to chide himself again after Richard directed Hadley to turn down a side lane that led them through neatly tended fields accented by a well-maintained tenant farmhouse off to the side that sported a paddock nearby filled with healthy-looking sheep.

"This is Longbourn land," Richard said, looking around with a fond smile. "The main house is beyond those trees on the other side of the hill."

Seeing Darcy's expression of surprise, Richard tapped his cousin's leg with the toe of his boot and added, "Admit it, Will. You were expecting fields filled with weeds, broken down buildings and livestock so ill and weak that death would be a blessing to them."

Darcy sighed. "I know better, Richard, but years of Aunt Catherine's poisonous rants are hard to overcome. Of course, I can see that this is a fine-looking estate that speaks to years of good management."

"And do not dare forget it," Richard warned him. "Aunt Catherine has always seen the world through smoke and ill-temper. That is no reason you should."

"I know that now," Darcy said. "How did you figure it out so early?"

"I honestly have no idea. It feels like I always knew she was not to be trusted." He thought for a second before continuing. "It was probably Father's doing, or perhaps Mother's. I know they were both disgusted by the way James fawned on her whenever she would visit."

"Do you think she was paying for his affection even then?"

With an amused snort, Richard replied, "The appearance of affection, at least, which was all that seemed to matter to our aunt. She attempted to bribe me several times, but whatever she offered always struck me as being like poisoned apples, so I refused."

By this time the carriage had traveled over the wooded hill and was now on a lane curving gently down the face of the slope. Richard pointed off through the side window to what was obviously the manor house. Golden-brown stonework on the substantial building gleamed in the sun along with a surprising number of generously sized windows. Darcy saw a neatly tended formal garden off to one side with what appeared to be several healthy rosebushes, although they were not yet in bloom.

"It may not be Pemberley, but the house is a fine one," Richard said. He raised an eyebrow as if challenging his cousin to disagree.

Darcy raised his hands in mock surrender. "You will hear no argument from me," he said, "and no disparagement of anyone or anything inside. Consider me a new man with all my old prejudices swept under the carpet even if they are not quite forgotten and disposed of yet."

"Well then," Richard said with satisfaction, "I think it is time you finally met my godfather."

~o~

Darcy entered the house determined to look on it as if it were a new locale about which he had never before heard. He would judge it and the occupants on their merits, not gossip.

The entryway was clean and welcoming enough to have met the standards of his own housekeepers at Pemberley and Darcy House. The Longbourn housekeeper, Mrs. Hill, sounded genuinely delighted to see Richard and the door and she greeted him with familiar fondness. Darcy remembered she had known Richard since he was a small boy and her manner made sense.

"Oh, Colonel Fitzwilliam! Welcome back, sir! It is a joy to see you returned safely from the war."

Briefly, Darcy wondered if she might greet Richard with a hug, but the moment passed. She greeted him with perfect courtesy instead.

"It is a joy to be back," Richard said. "My cousin, Mr. Darcy, and I would like to see Mr. Bennet if we may. Is he available to visitors?"

Mrs. Hill smiled kindly. "I know he is available to you, Colonel. He is in his study, sir, and will be happy to see you. He left word that if either of you arrived, you were to be shown right in. Will you and Mr. Darcy be staying the night?"

"I expect we probably will," Richard confirmed. "My cousin has three servants with him, a coachman and two footmen. They will need food and places to sleep as well. I can show myself to the study if you need to go make arrangements for us all."