SHARPE’S REGIMENT

When the tale was told Lawford put his cigar down and sipped at some brandy. He swirled the liquid in his glass and stared at Sharpe. ‘So what’s your private interest, Richard?’

‘Private?’ Sharpe was puzzled.

Lawford retrieved his cigar and sketched a gesture in the air, leaving a trail of smoke. ‘What do you personally want out of it?’

Sharpe paused. This was not the moment to talk of Jane Gibbons, or his wish to save her from an odious marriage. ‘I just want men to take to Spain. I want a Battalion to fight into France.’

‘Ah!’ Lawford seemed surprised that Sharpe should want nothing more. ‘I see, I see. Who else have you told?’

‘No one.’

‘Except your Sergeant, of course. He’s well, is he?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Do tell him I asked. Splendid fellow, for an Irishman.’ Lawford frowned. ‘You say he killed a militia man?’

‘We killed one.’

Lawford smiled at the “we”. ‘A trifle clumsy, perhaps? Better not to have done it.’

‘They were trying to kill us!’

‘Bound to be questions asked, Richard, bound to be! Fellows will be up on their hind legs embarrassing the government. It’s really too bad.’

‘Say they were chasing smugglers!’ Sharpe could not understand this concern for a dead militia man that did not seem extended to Sir Henry’s peculations.

‘Brilliant! Smugglers! Very good, Richard. We’ll do that.’ He leaned forward and laid the stub of his cigar on a silver plate. ‘You do have some proof of these auctions, Richard, of course? Account books, records, tedious paperwork?’ He smiled.

‘Accounts?’

‘Proof, Richard, proof.’

‘I saw it!’

Sir William shook his head slowly, then sipped his brandy. ‘My dear Sharpe! All you saw were some soldiers on Simmerson’s lawn! The rest is surmise!’ Sharpe had said nothing about Jane Gibbons or what she had told him, though now, facing Lawford’s sceptical face, he doubted whether her testimony would add any weight to his argument.

‘I saw . . .’

‘I know what you say,’ Lawford smiled to take the sharpness from his words, ‘but we shall want proof.’

Sharpe leaned back. He felt uncomfortable in this lavish room among these fat men whose chins bulged and wobbled over their silk stocks. ‘I heard Lord Fenner say there was no Second Battalion, except as a paper convenience, and I’ve proved him wrong.’

‘There is that,’ Lawford smiled. ‘A greedy man, Fenner. Seems as rich as Croesus, but always eager for more. Not a fellow I’d choose as an enemy, at least not without proof, eh?’

‘The proof is at Foulness. A day’s march away!’

‘I’m sure it is.’ Lawford held up his one hand in a placatory gesture. His other sleeve was pinned across his coat. ‘The nub is York.’

‘York?’

‘The Duke. Foolish Freddie.’ Lawford smiled again. ‘Doesn’t want another scandal, that’s for sure! He had to resign for two years as it was. My dear fellow, thank you.’ Sharpe had poured more brandy as Lawford cut another cigar. ‘I think you’d better leave it to me, Richard.’ Sharpe said nothing, and Lawford leaned forward persuasively. ‘Let me patrol around it, eh? Will you let me do that, Richard? Say to the end of next week?’ He laughed. ‘That’ll give you a chance to watch Prinny’s battle of Vitoria, yes? You’ll enjoy that!’

Sharpe was not happy with the suggestion, but he accepted that Sir William moved in circles that understood these matters, while he was a friendless soldier in a capital city where no one cared about him. ‘Why don’t I just see the Duke of York?’

‘Richard!’ Lawford said in a pained voice. ‘You’ll only upset him, and you know how liverish that damned family is! My dear Sharpe! If I was facing a French army I’d be delighted to have your help, can’t you see you need mine now? You want your men, yes?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then I shall do my damnedest! I can’t promise anything, of course, but I think I can extricate you. Where are you lodging, Richard?’

‘Rose Tavern. It’s in Drury Lane.’

‘I do know where the Rose is, Richard,’ Lawford said testily, then noted the name in a silver bound notebook. ‘Give me two days, then meet me here for luncheon. You can do that? And don’t worry about disobeying those orders to go back to Spain, I’ll make sure there’s no undue fuss there.’

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