‘The two are horribly of a piece. Have you spoken to the adjutant so?’
‘I have. He has given orders, I understand, for exercise at different times.’
They looked at the other occupants of the infirmary in turn, and then parted respectfully, though Hervey left the lines by no means certain they were following the right course. Destroying three troop horses which might perfectly well recover, which might indeed have nothing worse than a cold, was not something to be ordered lightly; but the well-being of four hundred more was his principal responsibility. What was certain was that his reputation would never recover if his troopers did not. He would consider it carefully and speak with the veterinarian again in the morning.
By the time he reached his quarters in the officers’ house, the picket had alerted Private Johnson, and a good fire was taking hold in the hearth in his sitting room.
‘Ah thought tha were comin back afore now, sir. Ah didn’t know what to do.’
Perhaps it was the separation – Hervey was not usually without his groom for more than a day or so – but the vowels of Johnson’s native county sounded particularly alien. It was curious: Johnson had left those parts twenty years ago and more, had never returned save once, and very briefly, and heard them only in the speech of Corporal Stray and a few others, yet they had not moderated in the slightest. Indeed, Hervey was quite convinced that they had become more pro-nounced of late, as if Johnson took some sort of perverse refuge in them.
‘I was caught by the fever again, I’m afraid. Nor was I sure you would be still here.’
Johnson’s brow furrowed. ‘What’s tha mean, sir?’
‘The Bow-street men.’
Johnson muttered indistinctly and began poking the fire.
‘Well?’
He stood up, though his shoulders remained hunched. ‘T’serjeant-major says ah’ve got to go there in t’mornin, to Bow-street, ah mean.’
‘What for?’
‘Don’t know, sir.’
‘What do you mean you “don’t know”? They must have given a reason.’
‘Ah’ve got to see t’magistrate.’
‘What for?’
‘Don’t know.’
Hervey sighed. Long experience told him that when Johnson was in such a mood it was better to drop the subject. He would speak with the sarn’t-major in the morning. Even before the veterinarian.
‘Will tha be eating in t’mess, sir?’
‘I think, very probably, yes.’ But he had not yet read Lord George’s letter; and there was Peto’s to reply to … and Kat’s. ‘There again … I’ve work to do, and it was a hard drive. Come back at five with tea, would you? I’ll decide then.’
It was ten minutes before Johnson was satisfied that the fire had taken a good hold and the lamps were properly trimmed. He opened a bottle of claret, decanted it, poured a glass and set it down on the wine table beside the fire. He cleared a space on the writing table, muttered something about hot water, made to leave, and then remembered something. ‘Oh, ah’m sorry, sir. This express came for thee about an ’our ago.’
Hervey stifled a curse. But he was easier when he saw the hand: Somervile’s – most welcome. He nodded. ‘You might fetch me cake, or some such?’
When Johnson was gone, Hervey sat in the leather armchair by the fire, took a long draught of the claret, and broke the express’s seal.
Bedford-square
18th March
My dear Hervey,Would you come and dine with us this evening, whatever the hour? I have a commission of which I would have you know at once, and a proposal.Also, I go to Gloucestershire five days hence, and it would be advantageous, as well as agreeable to both Emma and me, were you to join us there too, for we are to make a party at the house of Sir Charles Cockerell whose name you will know from Calcutta. He keeps a fine establishment, in the Indian manner, and is sure to be appointed to the Board of Control erelong. I should say that accompanying us, at Emma’s invitation, will be Lady Lankester.Send word if you are unable to attend this evening and propose yourself for any other as soon as may be.Ever yours &c,Eyre Somervile.
That settled the business of the mess. He would go to Bedford Square; indeed he would spend the night there, or at the United Service, and call on Lord George or the Horse Guards in the morning – whichever seemed most expedient. His decision regarding the quarantine would be all the better for measured thought in the regimental chariot. And as to Gloucestershire and the presence of Kezia Lankester, he might have detected the hand of the Almighty Himself.
It remained only for him to open the letter from his colonel.
He noted the form of address again, as if it might reveal the letter’s contents:
Major M. P. Hervey,
Officer Cmdg H. M. Sixth Light Dragoons,
The Cavalry-bks,
Hounslow.
It revealed nothing, however. It was the correct form; he would have expected no other. There was nothing for it but to break the seal and read.
He opened it hoping to see not too many words, for many words would assuredly be of explanation, and the only explanation needed would be of a negative. He was relieved: there were but a dozen lines.
Berkeley-square
17th March
My dear Hervey,Nothing could have cheered me more than to receive yours of the 16th instant and its signifying your willingness to purchase. I have sent word to the Military Secretary and I hope profoundly that we may have it, though I wish I had had the letter but two days ago, for only yesterday I approved a list of bidders. I am travelling north this day for one week, but ere I go I shall write to Wellington, whom we may trust shall act favourably, and shall suffer you to call upon me the instant I return tomorrow seven days.Believe me &tc,Geo. Irvine.
Hervey folded the letter carefully. He was greatly encouraged, though annoyed that two days’ fever could occasion such a turn. But it was not to be helped, and he was confident that Lord George would be able to see the business through. He had always been able to.
Johnson returned with two slices of seed cake. Hervey took one and offered him the other. ‘Johnson, if you will, have Corporal Denny bring the chariot in an hour. And then present my compliments to the adjutant and ask him to arrange for the captain of the week to take tomorrow’s field day.’
VI
A DISTANT PROSPECT
Early evening
The chariot turned into Bedford Square a little fast, so that Corporal Denny had to pull hard on the leader’s reins to avoid colliding with a removals van near half as big as the house it was drawn up outside. In the gaslight, Hervey could see the bold red lettering on the rear doors:
John Durham
Manufacturer
Successor to Morgan & Co
16 Catherine-st, Strand
London