After Action for Sharp Practice: The Bastard at Bay
The advance of the French was initially slow and Captain Hawkesworthe's
riflemen were deployed in depth, not knowing where the threat would first
develop. As it turned out, only a single light artillery piece had used the road
and the two French adventurers had massed on the other side of the river.
Captain Hawkesworthe and his trusty hornist Nigel awaited developments in the center of the village while Alejandro Calatrava was left in the care of Brothers Miguel and Paolo.
The wily bastard did manage to get a few moments alone with Lady d'Hiver but his seduction attempts were strongly rebuffed. Still, he had proven that the priests could be outmanoeuvred if another opportunity should present itself. Captain Hawkesworthe was aggressively occupied conducting a battle though and could not apply himself to the Lady's protection.
Impatient, reckless, and decisive, Henri Darlon (the Greatest Swordsman in all of France) suddenly broke from the trees and headed at full gallop into the center of the village. There in his path stood only Hawkesworthe and Nigel. Too busy firing at the advancing lines of formed infantry, no accurate rifle fire could be spared to be turned against the French adventurer. It should be noted that subsequent to Marechal-des-Logis Darlon's ride into Glory, his platoon of Hussars would take no further part in the battle, refusing to acknowledge the orders of any others.
Would Hawkesworthe endeavour to deter the Hussar? At the very instant though a shriek of outrage erupted from Brother Paolo. Alejandro 'The Bastard' Calatrava had been caught behaving diabolically with the unfortunate Lady D'Hiver. The chivalrous Hawkesworthe, instead of challenging Darlon, sprinted to the scene of the outrage, determined to rescue the Lady.
Just as the Englishman was preparing to open the door, Henri dismounted from Rivoli and challenged the Officer to a duel. Now, it should be explained that Hawkesworthe was a giant of a man and very capable with a sword. For a good while the two fencers did battle but the brute Briton was too much for Henri and finally the Frenchman was obliged to surrender his sword. He gave his word that he would not escape and proceeded then to follow after Hawkesworthe. A Lady required saving.
Indeed, the bastard had taken the offended damosel by the wrist and was making off with her. Captain Hawkesworthe was only able to catch up to Calatrava just before the fiend could make his escape and for the second time that day, he entered into a mortal duel. In the first pass, the Englishman took a slight wound but he redoubled his efforts and in an amazing display of resilience and swordsmanship, he struck the Spaniard dead.
Paulette d'Hiver was, indeed, very impressed by the dashing Hawkesworthe's exploits and very nearly succumbed to his charms but the captain's coarse face cursed him again. She was not won by him. Henri Darlon though, offering the lady his jacket to wear, did much to attract the attentions of the Lady. The prisoner had, it seemed, wholly captured her heart. Good to his word, Henri though was a captive and made no efforts to exploit his advantage. He had toyed briefly with the notion of using the frightened cattle that were rampaging through the village as a decoy for his escape but he had given his parole. Indeed, he encouraged Captain Hawkesworthe to tend to the battle ere it be lost. Musket fire could be heard to be escalating and the French drums had beat the pas de charge.
The English Officer asked Henri Darlon to take the lady, and in the company of the two priests, remain secure while he rushed to the fight. Already French voltigeurs had broken into the bottom floors of the strongly held house and driven the defenders to the upper floor. Nigel sounded the assembly and a group was formed in the center of the village to attempt to retake it. Hawkesworthe would lead the attack himself. Now was the critical moment.
The riflemen fired a volley and then, with a cheer, charged. It was an epic and bloodthirsty fight, with many deaths on each side but Hawkesworthe's group got the worst of it and were repulsed, shaken. The men began to retire with the French pursuing them into the streets. Behind them, the rest of the light company stormed the upper stories of the house and took the remaining riflemen there prisoner.
These last losses were too much for the small band of riflemen that remained and Hawkesworthe was obliged to quit the field.
Captain Anatole de Montesquiou had taken the village and driven out the Englishmen. When finally Montesquiou got forward, brushed past the frightened priests and kicked in the cellar door, Henri Darlon was found there, enjoying the delights of a bottle of wine and the love of Lady d'Hiver as she 'dressed his wounds'. It certainly did not feel like a rescue for Anatole as Henri insisted that he had won the wager.
The unfortunate Lieutenant Marat limped into the village long after the fight was ended, complaining of a twisted ankle but ensuring that it was noted that he did not miss the fight entirely for lack of trying.