Even though England was at war, her army was small and dispersed across the world and there were few opportunities to win swift promotion and fame. The situation of his rivals in France was very different, Arthur reflected. With the aristocrats swept away the field was open for men of talent. Like that fellow Arthur had read of in a newspaper account of the siege of Toulon. He frowned for a moment and then recalled the name of the artillery officer who had masterminded the French victory. Bonaparte. A man of the same age as Arthur, and already a brigadier. If their situations had been reversed Arthur felt certain he would have achieved as much, and for a moment he was aware of a bitter resentment of the enemy officer’s good fortune. Then he pulled his heavy army coat more tightly round his shoulders, and exchanged a salute with the sentries guarding the castle entrance, as he trudged inside.
In addition to his light duties as an aide to the Lord Lieutenant, Arthur had resumed his seat as member of parliament for Trim, and was resolved to make something of a political career for himself, since the army provided little opportunity of advancement for the moment. He had requested this interview with Lord Camden with a view to being given a prominent office in the Irish parliament. It would be an opportunity to gain the experience he would need when he followed his older brother Richard into the English parliament and on to the first rung of the political ladder at Westminster. In the shorter term it would also lead to a significant increase in his income, enough perhaps to impress Tom Pakenham.
Making his way into Lord Camden’s suite of offices, Arthur presented himself to the Lord Lieutenant’s duty aide, a young cavalry lieutenant in a smartly cut jacket and long, gleaming boots. His face, thin and fresh, was unfamiliar and Arthur realised that he must be a recent appointment, enjoying his first posting. For a moment Arthur felt a twinge of envy as he saw himself several years earlier - free of the burdens of mounting debt and anxiety over the dwindling prospects of a worthy career.
‘Sir?’ The lieutenant addressed him. ‘May I help you?’
‘I have an appointment with his lordship. Lieutenant Colonel Wesley.’
The aide bent over the diary on his desk and ran a finger down the entries until he found the name, and the note beside it. ‘Ah, yes. Please follow me, sir.’ He rose from his chair, crossed to a door and knocked sharply before opening it. ‘Lieutenant Colonel Wesley, my lord.’
‘Send him in.’
Lord Camden was standing at the window, gazing down into the courtyard and sipping from a brandy glass. He turned as Arthur entered and frowned.
‘Let me guess. You want me to find you some lucrative employment. Well? Since I’ve arrived here I’ve been deluged with office-seekers. So what’s your claim on me, eh?’
Arthur was taken aback by the instant incivility of the man. ‘My lord, I merely wish to serve my country in some capacity that will be mutually rewarding. I see no wrong in that.’
‘You wouldn’t. I’m the one who has to field all the requests from ambitious young men like you. If that wasn’t bad enough, I’m bombarded with letters of recommendation from mothers, brothers, fathers, friends of fathers and fathers of friends and so on and so on, caught like a fly in a web of nepotism. No laughing matter, I can assure you.’
‘I can imagine,’ Arthur replied tactfully.
Lord Camden fixed him with narrowed eyes. ‘Oh really? I shouldn’t think you would have to exert your imagination.Your brother has already written to humbly request an office worthy of your qualities of . . . of . . .’ He paused, paced over to his desk and fanned through a pile of letters until he found the one he wanted. ‘Ah! Here it is . . . your qualities of industry and integrity. Hardly a ringing endorsement, is it? But since your brother is racing up through the political ranks in London and I may well have need of his patronage for my own family and friends one day, I’ll see what I can do for you, Wesley. Did you have a position in mind?’
‘Yes, my lord,’ Arthur replied evenly. But inside his heart was beating swiftly and he felt the anxious excitement of any man about to request the most generous of favours.
‘Well, spit it out, man.’
‘My lord, since the office of Secretary at War is not yet filled, I would like to be considered for it.’
Lord Camden raised his eyebrows and stared at Arthur for a moment before he recovered from his surprise enough to reply. ‘Upon my soul, you don’t ask for much, do you? Secretary at War? What on earth makes you think I should consider you for such an important position?’
It was Arthur’s turn to be shocked by open candour. ‘I believe I am well matched to the duties and responsibilities of the post, my lord. I have several years of military experience.’
Lord Camden wagged a finger at him.‘You have several years’ experience as an aide. Drinking, dancing, gambling and whoring. What bloody good is that?’
‘I served under the Duke ofYork in the Low Countries. I have been under fire, my lord, and led my men to safety in the following retreat.’
‘So you were roundly thrashed? And you think that is supposed to support your application? I’m looking for a Secretary at War, not a Secretary at Retreat, Wesley. Face facts, man. You are too young and too inexperienced for the job. Besides, even if you were the best soldier in Ireland it still wouldn’t matter. I need an experienced politician, not a soldier. Bloody country is on the verge of revolt. I have Grattan and his cronies pushing for reform on one side and the rump of the Tories pressing me to stamp down on the reformers on the other. I have to find a man who can handle both camps with aplomb. Do you really think you could do that?’
He stared hard at Arthur and the latter knew that his bluff had been called. And it wounded his pride painfully to accept that Lord Camden was right in his judgement of him.
‘I see that you understand me, Wesley. Don’t take it badly. Besides, it’s not as if you’re the first man to apply for the post. Half these letters are in support of far better candidates than you, and many of their sponsors are much better connected than your brother Richard.’
Arthur felt a pit of despair open inside as he took in the implications of what Lord Camden was saying. Arthur lacked the connections that would give him a chance to secure the position, and he was dismayed, not just by this rebuff, but by his longer term prospects within a system so bound up with mutual favours exchanged between powerful families. It was not fair, but he forced his expression to remain composed. Even though there was no justice or logic to the system, there was no profit in protesting against it. Arthur needed employment now. He cleared his throat.
‘Very well, my lord, if I am not to be Secretary at War, then perhaps I might be considered for another position. A seat on the treasury or revenue boards would be well within my capabilities.’
‘I’m sure it would,’ Lord Camden agreed.‘I will see what I can find for you. As a favour to Richard. I’ll let you know the instant I have anything.’ He stood to one side and stretched his arm out loosely in the direction of the door, and Arthur took the hint and bowed his head in farewell.
‘My thanks to you for seeing me at such a busy time, my lord.’
‘My pleasure,Wesley,’ Lord Camden replied automatically.‘Do please pass on my very best wishes to your brother when you next write to him.’
‘Yes, my lord.’ Arthur nodded and turned to leave the office. He marched out stiffly.
As he left the castle it began to rain and Arthur pulled up his collar and wedged his bicorn down tightly over his head. It was time, he told himself, to speak to Kitty. He had not seen her since he had left for the ill-starred campaign in the Low Countries. Even if her brother had refused to let them marry, he could at least find out if her heart was still his.