All in Scarlet Uniform (Napoleonic War 4) Read Free Page A

smile.
    ‘I beg your pardon?’ asked Hanley, who had brought the pistols.
    ‘Nothing of importance,’ said Pringle.
    ‘I believe you will need these.’ Hanley spoke almost casually, and Billy wondered whether he too was becoming tense. He took the first of the pistols in his left hand, holding it by the middle of the barrel with the muzzle pointing behind him and away from Garland. He glanced down to see that it was already drawn back to full cock, shifted his grip to grasp it properly and then held it down against his leg.
    ‘Stop!’ A feminine voice broke the tense silence. Pringle turned to see a dishevelled and pale-faced Miss Williams emerge from the grove of trees behind them. There was mud spattered liberally on her dress and several tears in its hem, while her bonnet was so wet that it had partly collapsed on one side. The promise that Kitty would stay in her room at the Cock Horse had evidently lasted less than a hour, and she must have lost her way, for the path to this quiet spot was hard to follow.
    ‘Madam, you have no place here!’ The only time Billy had ever heard Truscott shout so loud was when he had ordered the battalion forward at Talavera – a captain in command because all the senior officers had fallen. ‘Hanley, see to the lady and keep her out of the way.’
    Major Tilney looked angry. Pringle thought that Garland was confused, and the boy’s cheeks flushed in spite of the cold. Hanley gave him the other pistol with even less ceremony and lurched off towards the girl. After more than a year in the army he still seemed incapable of standing straight.
    ‘Come, sir, we must proceed,’ ordered Tilney.
    ‘In a moment, sir; I shall not be rushed,’ Truscott replied, smarting at his tone. ‘Mr Hanley, kindly keep Miss Williams back.’
    The girl was breathless, unable to do more than stammer incoherently. Hanley took her gently by the shoulders and urged her back to the top of a grassy bank.
    ‘It is too late to change anything,’ he said firmly, and the sadness in his voice moved her more than its force.
    ‘But he might die,’ the girl said feebly. It was unclear who ‘he’ was.
    ‘Gentlemen, make ready,’ called Truscott. Pringle turned so that his right shoulder pointed towards Garland, who matched the movement. It offered the smallest target to an adversary, although Billy Pringle could not help thinking that his greater height and broad stomach made him a far better mark than the slim light dragoon.
    ‘Now that you are ready, Major Tilney will give the orders to fire,’ said Truscott.
    Miss Williams stood close beside Hanley, his arm round her shoulder. She was breathing heavily and he knew that this was no longer mere fatigue.
    ‘I cannot watch,’ she gasped, but when he glanced down her eyes were open and as excited as they were fearful.
    ‘Gentlemen.’ Hanley would not have thought that someone could shout and drawl at the same time, and yet somehow Tilney managed it. ‘I shall call your name in turn, and give you leave to fire. You will then present and as promptly fire. Do you understand?’
    Pringle nodded. Garland said nothing and made no gesture.
    ‘Do you understand, Mr Garland?’ asked Tilney.
    ‘I understand,’ said the lieutenant, his voice higher than normal.
    ‘Good, then we shall begin.’ He paused, standing at attention and in silence. Miss Williams reached up with both hands and pressed Hanley’s fingers tightly as they rested on her shoulder.
    ‘Mr Pringle,’ Tilney ordered, ‘you may give fire.’
    Billy raised his arm, the pistol feeling suddenly heavy, and levelled it at Garland, whose eyes were closed. A gentleman did not pause to aim and so without hesitation Pringle squeezed the trigger so that the hammer slammed down and the flint sparked.
    Nothing happened. Either the powder had shaken out or the earlier drizzle had left it too damp to flare.
    ‘Bugger,’ hissed Billy Pringle to himself, and he could not help wishing that the