'Johnson, I don't think I make myself plain. Sar'nt-Major Armstrong's prospects are not diminished. He will return here on long leave of absence, and in due course he will return to his troop – our troop.'
'Bet 'e won't if 'e comes back from t'Cape. Them kinder of 'is—'
'He'll return, I tell you.'
'Who's gooin' to do 'is duty at t'Cape – Quilter?'
'Serjeant Quilter.'
Johnson huffed, not so decidedly as to require a rebuke, but sufficient to register his opinion.
But Hervey had no need to check the delinquency, not when he could pretend he had not heard, and it was not anyway to be Quilter. 'Sar'nt-Major Collins will do duty.'
Johnson sucked in air sharply. 'That'll go bad wi' t'sar'nt-major. Them's rivals an' all.'
'Rivals? Collins—' (he checked himself, crossly) 'Sar'nt-Major Collins is his junior. If you're thinking which of them would replace the regimental sar'nt-major there would be no question but that it would be Armstro— Sar'nt-Major Armstrong.'
'That's not what they says in t'canteen.'
'The canteen!'
'One o' t'clerks from t'ord'ly room—'
'Damn the clerks! Enough of it!'
Johnson made a 'please yourself' face.
Hervey said nothing.
They sat for some time, the silence broken only by the ticking of the long-case clock in the otherwise empty headquarters room to which they had retreated while the chariot was fetched.
'T'adjutant 'ad a lot o' letters for thee, sir,' tried Johnson, softer, after a while.
Hervey reached into his pocket. 'I have them.' He began sorting through the bundle absently.
There were a dozen and more, some in unfamiliar hands (he would attend to those later). But one, he noted, was from Kat, which pleased him unexpectedly.
'Shall ah be gooin, sir?'
Hervey hesitated. 'No. Stay, if you would.' He opened the letter.
Holland-park, 19th June
My dear Matthew,
(It was written the day after his wedding, and Kat had moderated her salutation, as was only appropriate to his new state. He supposed, too, that it was the correct form for an erstwhile lover to adopt if she were to continue in correspondence.)
I write with news that I am confident you will find most welcome. Today I had occasion to visit with Captain Peto at Greenwich. I found him in the most excellent spirits, despite his most cruel injuries, and I perfectly see why you are so particularly attached to him. He received me with the greatest civility, and when I spoke to him of our acquaintance he was at once all solicitude on your behalf, asking how was the marriage service and expressing his deepest regrets that his situation had not permitted him to attend. I told him that it had been the most perfect occasion and your bride the most perfect picture of contentment, as indeed was the bridegroom. He was, of course, much cheered to hear this, and I was only grateful to have been the envoy of such joyful news. Of his own disappointment he spoke very freely, and of his wish that your sister enjoys the happiness that has lately come to you. In this, I confess, I was truly most moved, for such a sentiment, of the very deepest selflessness, is not commonly to be found, and I resolved at once to tell him of the offer which I had secured of George Cholmondeley. Captain Peto was instantly delighted, for he knows Houghton and admires it, and he declared that he already felt himself bettering for the news. And so it has been arranged that at the end of the month I shall engage a dormeuse for him and convoy with my own chariot to Houghton, where I shall remain for a week or such time as there is need of me, and I tell you this for I know that you shall return to the Cape Colony before long and that you might wish to see the place in which your friend will be so agreeably settled, even perhaps to accompany him thither . . .
Hervey smiled in the knowledge that his old friend Sir Laughton Peto, so grievously wounded at the Battle of Navarino Bay nine months before, was raised in his spirits. It had, indeed, been a most handsome scheme of Kat's. She had, without a word from him save a description of his old friend's situation (an invalid, of what permanence the doctors could not tell, at the naval hospital at Greenwich), sought out a protecting billet at Houghton Hall in Peto's own county of Norfolk – near where he had taken a lease on a house (in which he would have lived with Elizabeth if only she . . .). And Kat had brought the happy news to the wedding, seeking him out at the breakfast to complete his own joy that day: 'And George' (the new, young Marquess of Cholmondeley) 'has most eagerly contracted to attend to all dear Captain Peto's needs until such time as he is able to return to his own house. Such is dear George's patriotic admiration of his service.'
It had indeed greatly increased his joy, and he had thanked her prodigiously. Indeed, he had declared that he was ever in Kat's debt. And most certainly, if there was the least opportunity, he would go to Norfolk to see his old friend settled. He read on.
Perhaps you will communicate with me as soon as may be, so that I might make the arrangements. I shall be at Holland-park, and quite at home to visitors should you find it more convenient to close the matter directly. I write to you c/o Hounslow since of course I have no knowledge of where you shall be until you and your bride depart for the Cape . . .
Hervey sighed, delight and discontent mixed in equal measure. It was, of course, quite impossible that he should go to Holland Park, although it would certainly be most expeditious – and, indeed, a good sight more economical than sending messengers and expresses back and forth. He resolved to write immediately on arriving at Hanover Square, proposing that they tea together at, say, Grillon's, or even that she call on them at Kezia's aunt's (though probably, on reflection, this latter would not be exactly felicitous . . .).
'Good!' he declared, emphatically.
'What is, sir?' asked Johnson, feeling his presence of no great purpose.
'Captain Peto,' replied Hervey, not very helpfully, turning his attention instead to the despatch with the Horse Guards' stamp.
His face fell.
'What's up, sir?'
Hervey handed him the letter.
The Horse Guards
19th June 1828
Major (Actg. Lt-Colnl.) M. P. Hervey
H.M. 6th Light Dragoons
Sir,
I am commanded by the Military Secretary to inform you that the Commander in Chief has been pleased to advance you to the substantive rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, without purchase, and to command of the First Battalion of His Majesty's Eighty-first Regiment of Foot, effective from the First of January next.
I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
Henry Upton,
Colonel.
'That's very nice!'
Hervey made no reply.
'Why's 'e call thee "sir" when 'e's a proper colonel?'