True Soldier Gentlemen (Napoleonic War 1) Read Free Page B

survived when you were in charge.’
    ‘I do like to be thorough,’ said Derryck. He was just sixteen, but was no more than five foot two inches tall and thin as a rake in spite of the vast quantities of food he devoured whenever he got the chance. He looked about twelve, and managed to give off an air of innocence utterly out of keeping with his character. Williams liked him. Most people did.
    ‘I fear doing just a little better than Mr Derryck is not quite sufficient,’ put in Truscott. ‘Thhair egiment expects somewhat more than the survival of one hundred men out of a thousand. Especially before any of them have had a chance to fire a shot. His Majesty’s government has invested considerable money in raising, feeding and training this battalion. Think of all those poor rich people having to pay their taxes.’
    The lieutenant could see that the young gentlemen wereunmoved by the plight of the wealthy. He could not blame them. None of the officers of the regiment was titled, and only the new colonel had any real claim to wealth. The 106th Foot was the most junior regiment of the line and was not fashionable. Truscott’s own family’s moderate income was stretched very thin to support seven children. He reached for a battered copy of the drill manual approved for the entire army by the Duke of York. It was written by General Dundas and detailed the manoeuvres to be performed by a battalion on parade and in the field. He flung the book at Williams, who instinctively swayed back and only just caught it.
    ‘Both of you study “Old Pivot”. You know, study – something Billy never had to do at his pitiful place of education.’
    ‘Too true,’ said Pringle, without taking his eye from the telescope. ‘It wasted valuable time when a fellow could be dining and drinking.’
    ‘And whoring, no doubt,’ said Anstey.
    ‘An Oxford gentleman does not speak of such things in polite conversation.’
    Anstey scoffed at this statement so out of keeping with Billy Pringle’s normal talk. Most of the others laughed, although Williams just looked solemn. Truscott shook his head.
    ‘What the Church lost in you, Billy! Still, sending you to Magdalen was probably a bad idea.’
    Pringle looked back at him for a moment. ‘A scriptural joke. Is that the best Clare College can come up with?’ He resumed his intent observation through the window. ‘Now if they had let me study Molly Hackett at Oxford I would have been the most avid of students.’
    ‘Who is Molly Hackett?’ asked young Derryck rather nervously.
    Truscott had no wish to discuss Mrs Wickham’s maid with the pink-cheeked ensign. ‘She is not Sir David Dundas, and he alone should consume your attention at present,’ he said sharply.
    ‘She is an indiscreet young lady,’ Pringle replied, ignoring his fellow lieutenant. ‘Very, very indiscreet, who has not closed the shutters on the window of her chamber.’ He clearly had theattention of Derryck, and several of the other officers were listening more intently. Williams blushed, realised that he had done so, and the consciousness of this only made things worse. He thought Truscott had noticed.
    ‘I strongly suspect that Mr Williams’ good mother did not present him with such a fine telescope in order to allow you to spy upon innocent young girls,’ said the lieutenant.
    ‘Nonsense, I have no doubt she would thank me for keeping temptation away from her son. It is an excellent glass and no doubt will aid her boy in smiting the King’s enemies. We do not want him distracted from that task, so I will look after the thing until those enemies appear.’
    ‘Damnation to them all!’ cried Derryck, his voice cracking midway through and rather ruining the effect of this statement of patriotic zeal. The others ignored him anyway.
    Williams found himself staring at the scattered blocks. He tried to imagine the wreckage of a battalion caught unformed by enemy cavalry. The war with France Now if tbeen going on for