Page 41 of Till Death Us Do Part: Book 2
The major chuckled. “I will collect that one as well. Write three copies, and I will send them out. It will not be a fast process. There are always people hunting for spies, so discretion is called for. She should receive it by June, though, so it should not be a big problem. My wife waited longer than that for word from me many times.”
Darcy looked somewhat embarrassed. “I would not worry, but I did not leave my marriage in very good condition.”
The major seemed just as embarrassed, but finally said, “I did not either, but my wife stuck by me either through love orstubbornness, which I sometimes think are the same thing. She is gone now, but the last dozen years were much better than the first.”
“I hope I can follow your example, Major.”
The next fortnight went by uneasily, with Darcy checking in with the major every day. He had gained enough strength to start dragging the major up and down the ward at first, and by the start of June they were both walking about the courtyard in relatively good spirits when M Barbeau came to the major with a letter.
Both men sat down on a bench as the major opened the letter. “Ah, good!”
Darcy just looked on, not feeling any need to reply.
“I found your colonel, M Darcy, and he appears to be healthy and being well taken care of. I believe this was not much worse than a long luxury holiday for him.”
Darcy breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Can you tell me where he is, and who I can negotiate with to get him out?”
The major paused for quite a while, then chuckled. “Me.”
Not entirely surprised, Darcy said, “Name your price.”
“What if I ask for one hundred thousand pounds?”
Darcy looked at him to see if he was serious. “It would take a few months, but it could be done.”
The major chuckled. “You look like a man sucking on a lemon.”
Darcy just chuckled, though he could not really tell if the major was joking or not.
The major apparently decided to take pity on him. “I jest with you. I need nothing so dear, I can assure you.”
Undaunted, Darcy said, “Ask what you wish, and if I can provide it, I will.”
The major sat still, staring at a few children playing in the courtyard a dozen yards away. “My price will not be onerous. In fact, it will not be at all difficult for a man like you. I want you to take my niece away from the pain and death I feel is coming.”
“How so?”
The major stilled even more. “Have you heard that Napoleon has turned the Grande Armée towards Russia? He will cross the Neman River sometime this month with nearly four hundred thousand troops.”
Darcy gasped, unable to comprehend the size of such an undertaking. England had enough trouble with soldiers in the tens of thousands, and the scale and scope of the invasion were breath-taking.
He finally asked, “I take it you do not think it will be over in a month or two?”
“No, it will not. I think it will be a disaster. Frenchmen do not know a single thing about cold or snow, but we are about to be taught a hard lesson. Everything gets inordinately difficult in cold weather. Horseshoes, leather, guns, artillery—all fail when it gets very cold, and things could endverybadly.”
Darcy nodded. “Would you be on your way to Russia, absent your illness?”
“Probably not—too old.”
Darcy nodded, not especially surprised.
“My children are grown. My son is in that army, and I doubt I shall ever see him again. My daughter married well and lives in Paris. I may go live with her eventually.”
“I see,” Darcy answered, though he really did not.
The major sat thoughtfully for a bit. “I can get your cousin out with minimal risk using the same trick that put you here. I will order him from one unit to another until the trail is lost. He is only one hundred km away. I can have him here in a fortnight, if you are so inclined.”
“I am, and once again, I am at your service for repayment. What would you have me do?”
