Love Among the Gifted - A Pride & Prejudice Alternative

Chapter Eight

Several hours earlier Darcy and Bingley were enjoying a light nuncheon with the officers and Sir William in the private parlor of the Red Lion. The conversation was agreeable enough, though the young gentlemen were a bit rambunctious for Darcy's taste. Bingley was enthralled by the tales of audacious exploits from the subalterns, though he privately doubted their complete authenticity. Sir William spent half the meal looking for acquaintances from his days in uniform that might be shared with the more senior officers and, finding none, spent the other half commiserating on the hardships common to all military men. The militia regiment was raised in Derbyshire and Darcy was familiar with some of the families represented. His father and Colonel Forster had been acquainted some years before, though Darcy had never met the man prior to their common arrival in Hertfordshire.

At around a quarter before one o'clock, a young man in the uniform of a private soldier came breathless into the room. He passed a whispered message to Captain Carter, who in turn desired a moment of the Colonel's time.

"Sir! There has been an attack on the road to Hatfield. Mr. William Goulding is murdered." Captain Carter reported excitedly.

"What!" "How?" and other exclamations and less savory expostulations filled the room.

"Major, have the lieutenants prepare the men for patrols. Captain Carter, please take me to the attack site. Captain Hawthorne, Sir William if you will accompany me."

"We shall accompany you as well," Darcy interjected. The Colonel considered him for a moment then nodded his acquiescence.

Eschewing their horses, the group walked quickly to the grisly scene. Darcy had seen worse. There was only one man and his mount lying dead by the side of the road. The harsh smell of burnt flesh and the copper tang of spilt blood was deadened only somewhat by the light rain. Captain Hawthorne, the regimental surgeon, moved to examine the young man's body.

"Three shots, two to the upper thorax and one to the left leg. He also has severe burns on his left arm, shoulder, neck, and face." The surgeon pointed to each wound as he cataloged them.

"His horse has been burned as well, but it looks odd," Captain Carter observed.

"That is an electrical burn," Darcy explained.

"But there's been no lightning?" Bingley questioned. His countenance was noticeably ashen as he assiduously avoided looking too closely at the macabre tableau. Darcy thought this might be his friend's first experience of bloody death.

"This is not natural. It is an elemental attack." Darcy stated. "This was the work of gifted assailants."

"We should send for Mr. Jones ... and for Mr. Goulding," Sir William said, his face as somber as Darcy had ever seen it. "Poor lad." The private soldier was once again sent to Meryton, this time to fetch the apothecary who had treated the deceased for most of his tragically truncated life.

Darcy began examining the scene, looking for evidence of the attackers. He suspected there was more than one. The differing types of powers used, as well as the number of shots fired, made it highly unlikely that a single assassin could have executed the assault.

The attack had taken place on a narrow lane crowded on one side by trees and thick undergrowth and on the other by a low stone fence separating the lane from fallow fields. He found the burnt remnants of several paper cartridges in the grass on the lane side of the fence. The thick wet growth made it hard to find specific tracks, though there was evidence of several people waiting in ambush.

Before he could investigate too deeply, the private soldier returned with a most distressing report. Miss Bennet had been attacked on her way to Netherfield and the apothecary had gone to treat her.