Page 40 of Till Death Us Do Part: Book 2
“Not a lot of words, that one,” the major opined while Darcy set about pouring the tea for both. He had long accustomed himself to such duties, though he could not be certain he had ever done so previously.
“I have never seen her before.”
“She is new. I met her yesterday. She is to begin a career as a nurse and quite looks forward to it. This is a training hospital, so they come through regularly,” the major added.
The two men enjoyed a companionable cup of tea for a few minutes, and their enjoyment was only mildly hampered when Darcy fell asleep in the chair, since the major followed him into slumber a few minutes later.
When Darcy awoke, he saw the major smoking a cigar and reading a newspaper. The sun was just setting, so there was still plenty of light, but it was not likely to last long.
The major once again spoke abruptly. “I understand you are looking for someone, M Darcy.”
Darcy saw no need to hide his mission, which he was certain every gossip in Toulouse was familiar with. “Yes sir. My cousin, Colonel Fitzwilliam.”
“Any particular reasonyouare here?”
“As I said, he is my cousin. He saved my life a couple of times, so it seems the least I can do.”
The major nodded and looked at the paper a few more minutes. “Those sorts of things make a bond, do they not?”
“They do,” Darcy added.
The major sat a minute. “Still, your duty might have been better served by sending someone else. They might even have been more effective, but I suppose we will never know.”
“I suppose we will not. Had I not fallen sick, who knows what would have happened.”
The major thought another minute. “Is thatallyour cousin means to you?” He looked around to ensure they were unheard. “I would ask you to be explicit, if you do not mind.”
Darcy did mind, but the major was the closest he had come to an ally since arriving, so he thought he should take what he could get.
“He is the youngest son of the Earl of Matlock.”
“Ah! I suppose the elder is sickly and he needs to fulfil his role of—what do your English call it—the spare?”
Darcy laughed. “Nothing gets by you.”
The major coughed a couple of times, but it did not dissuade him from taking a few more puffs on his cigar, though it had mostly gone out.
Looking crossly at the offending device, the major asked, “How badly do you want to rescue your cousin, M Darcy?”
“Very badly,” Darcy replied without thought. It was no time to quibble about price.
“Imaybe able to assist you.”
“I would be in your debt if you could do so.”
The major looked carefully at him. “I will collect.”
“And I will happily pay.”
“Let me see what I can do. I also believe you have not been able to contact your wife in quite some time.”
Darcy briefly wondered where the major got his information, then assumed it was common gossip. Enough people in the hospital knew about it to make it common knowledge.
“I have not.”
“As you are no doubt aware, there is no regular mail service. I could probably get a letter to her, but it would be slow.”
“I would be eternally in your debt, sir.”
