Hervey 07 - An Act Of Courage (45 page)

Despite Johnson’s coaxing, Hervey lapsed into a long silence. In his resolution to put his affairs in order, and to ‘lead a new life’, he had allowed himself to imagine that Isabella Delgado might somehow play a part in it. Indeed, in the hours before his release he had begun to imagine her playing a very decided part. She would be mother to his daughter (she was loving and well practised in motherhood already); she would be an agreeable companion in every way (and, he imagined, a zealous lover); and she would be his strength through the public degradation that would follow from the Horse Guards’ discipline.

She would be none of these, now, and he could see no prospect of any other who would take her place.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

A GRAND OLD DUKE

Gravesend, 13 January 1827

Hervey came down the gangway of the steam packet into the bustle of the Peninsula quay and began making his way through the crowd of hawkers and porters to the Duke of York Inn, where he intended buying a ticket on the first mail to London. As he rounded the corner into the high street, he stopped sharp in his tracks. The inn sign was draped in black.

‘The Duke of York, is he dead?’ he asked one of the ostlers in the forecourt.

‘Ay, sir. A week ago and more. Dead, but not yet buried!’ The man might have been surprised by the enquiry had not Hervey been so evidently new-arrived in the country.

‘Not yet buried?’

The man smiled dryly. ‘They says as they can’t bury ’im since they can’t find enough sodjers!’

Not enough soldiers! Hervey shook his head in despair. But then, he was hardly surprised when the country had had to send a battalion of Guards to Lisbon, and call on the garrison at Gibraltar too. England was at peace, but she hadn’t enough soldiers to send to Portugal
and
to bury a field marshal! But what should he care? Was the commander-in-chief ’s demise not a merciful release for them all? He may have been ‘the soldier’s friend’, but the army was not prospering. And it might mean –
might
– that the convening order for his court martial would be rescinded. An ignoble thought, he chided himself: a field marshal was a field marshal.

But what, in truth,
did
he care now? He cared, certainly, about being cashiered! He would be defiant if it did come to defending his actions, but a court martial would find against him if that was what the convening officer wanted. It was the way. He could not count on a last-minute surrender to conscience and honour, as had happened at Badajoz (if that had indeed been the impulse for Cornet Daly’s action). At best he might hope for a commission elsewhere – black infantry in the tropics, perhaps, the white man’s grave. He could not afford to go on half pay; that was certain. Would that be the court’s offer – the fever colonies or the Inactive List? He shuddered at the thought. And would Isabella Delgado have come with him, if she had accepted his offer of marriage? Would her father, the baron, have permitted it? No father ought to! How could he have even contemplated asking her, or taking Georgiana?

He shuddered again. He shuddered at the disarray which was his life, things more disordered than ever – and only a fortnight ago he had been full of resolution to put all to right! A black-draped name was a powerful
memento mori
: he did not have for ever to master his life.
Memento vivere
had been Cornet Laming’s dictum all those years ago, and
Colonel
Laming was certainly grasping life to advantage now! Hervey knew his duty (or thought he knew) – to family and to those he counted his friends (which in a sense included every man of the regiment). And to himself, too: duty was not a matter of mere abasement. That, however, was the order of his priorities now, and he must keep it thus until he could truly declare his affairs in order.

Nothing was possible, however, unless the charges against him failed.
That
was his immediate objective; the rest might then just follow.

He managed to get an outside seat on the three o’clock up-mail, and settled as best he could for the four-hour journey to the General Post Office in Lombard Street, his thoughts on nothing but the tactics of his grand, improving design. When he arrived, and had himself and his travelling baggage transferred to the United Service Club in Charles Street, he wrote at once to Lord John Howard and sent the letter by messenger to White’s Club. By return he received a reply saying that Howard was dining with Lord Palmerston and would be pleased if he would come at nine.

Hervey bathed and put on undress, leaving the United Service on foot at ten minutes to nine, and reaching St James’s Street as the watchmen were calling the hour. Inside, he was shown to a small ante-room, where, ten minutes later, Lord John Howard and his party came, all wearing mourning bands, including Lord Palmerston.

Palmerston, though seven years his senior and Secretary at War for almost twenty, had to Hervey all the appearance of a blade, of a man not yet tired of the diversions of mess, dance or field. He was tall and uncommonly handsome, even by the standards of the army’s fashionables, and there was something about his eyes that spoke of a certain waywardness, as well as of high intellect. Hervey could not help but warm to him at once. He knew right enough of the quarrels and petty jealousies that had subsisted between the Horse Guards and the War Office, but he imagined that the fault lay at least half-way with the Duke of York, for it could not have been easy for the old field marshal to defer to an independentminded and brilliant young politician – all be he a Tory one.

Palmerston nodded upon Lord John Howard’s introduction, and with an easy expression. ‘You are well, I trust, in spite of your ordeal?’

Hervey knew he should not have been surprised by the Secretary at War’s knowledge of his ‘ordeal’, yet he had not actually imagined his name spoken of in Whitehall, certainly not outside the Horse Guards.

‘Perfectly well, sir.’

Palmerston saw his confusion, and enjoyed the tease. ‘I have been very well informed of events. You have most zealous friends at court.’

Hervey glanced at Lord John Howard, who shook his head, denying the honours.

‘Lady Katherine Greville has been a most assiduous agent, Major Hervey. I believe I may have learned as much from her as from any official source.’

Hervey coloured slightly. Lord John Howard smiled.

‘Do sit down,’ said Palmerston, as he perched on the arm of a chair.

Hervey was, indeed, wholly taken aback by the revelation of Kat’s unimagined intervention. Did he owe, therefore, these benevolent circumstances to her? He could only wonder at the change in them. On the Gravesend coach he could imagine only a frosty interview with the adjutant-general at the Horse Guards.

‘Tell me first’ – Hervey’s ears pricked at ‘first’, the promise there would be more – ‘how were the troops received at Lisbon?’

‘I did not see them arrive, Lord Palmerston, for I was at the frontier as they did so, but what little I was able to observe on return was perhaps disappointing. There was something of a sullenness, I should say, though that may well have been as much a reflection of the unhappy situation in Portugal as of anything else.’

‘But no flags were put out for us, so to speak?’

‘I would say not.’

Palmerston nodded thoughtfully. ‘Mm. But few of us expected any different. These things are never quite as ambassadors’ eloquent entreaties have it. Well, Major Hervey, I am sorry not to be able to examine you more on the expedition, but the House sits late this evening and I am required there directly. However, I would know one thing. In your happy escape, was any countryman of ours left for dead?’

‘No.’

Lord Palmerston inclined his head. ‘You are certain of it?’

‘Yes. A Portuguese officer was killed, no other.’

Lord Palmerston turned to Lord John Howard.

‘Colonel Norris’s despatch spoke of a corporal, Hervey,’ said his friend.

Hervey was at once angered. ‘My covering corporal was lost for a day after he made his escape jumping into a river, but he is perfectly well, and on his way to Hounslow barracks as we speak.’

Lord Palmerston looked at him intently. ‘I am relieved to hear it. It would not serve to have a soldier killed by the Spaniards. It would give rise to a very proper indignation.’ He rose.

The rest of the party followed, Hervey wondering where might be this indignation (the death of a soldier was not usually cause for much notice).

‘On the basis of what you have informed me, Major Hervey, I shall issue instructions to rescind the convening order for general court martial.’

Hervey bowed. ‘I am very much obliged, Lord Palmerston.’

‘Very well, I hope there may be opportunity to speak further with you on the situation in Portugal, but for the present I bid you good evening.’

Hervey bowed again. ‘Goodnight, Lord Palmerston.’

Lord John Howard motioned him to wait as he accompanied the Secretary at War to his carriage.

When he returned it was with a distinctly breezy air. ‘Hervey, it is uncommonly good to see you! What an affair it has all been; I was very glad to have your account of it. Norris has been writing in vitriol. But he’s a fool. He doesn’t understand there could be communication other than official.’

‘But he was the Duke of Wellington’s man,’ replied Hervey, eyebrows raised. ‘It is very strange.’

‘I cannot explain it, but so is Sir William Clinton the duke’s man. And his despatches have not been favourable in regard to Norris’s mission, I assure you.’

Hervey accepted a second glass of champagne, though his stomach was very empty.

‘In truth, the Duke of York was vexed by the whole enterprise. He was set against sending troops in the first instance, as at heart was the Duke of Wellington.’

‘The duke
will
be commander-in-chief ?’

Howard raised his hands. ‘There are all sorts of rumours. The King is supposed to be of a mind that he himself should be, or failing that the Duke of Cambridge.’

Hervey’s jaw dropped.

‘I know, the notion is absurd. They are rumours, that is all. Nothing is decided.’

‘But how, then, may Palmerston give instructions to the Horse Guards in respect of me?’

Howard sat back. ‘Ah, perhaps I should have explained. Until the King appoints a new commander-in-chief, the Secretary at War assumes the position.’

‘That is very singular.’

‘Yes. I think no one was more surprised to discover it than Palmerston himself.’ He smiled. ‘But he is greatly diverted by it.’

‘
I
am only surprised he should be acquainted with so trivial a thing as a major’s court martial, let alone that he should presume to act so decidedly in the matter.’

‘Oh, I would not say it was trivial, not in the circumstances – sending troops to Lisbon, I mean. Palmerston works prodigiously hard, too, for all his casual air. And
The Times
has it, of course. Portugal is of great moment, indeed.’ He smiled again. ‘Nor would I underestimate the influence of Lady Katherine Greville.’

Hervey shifted uncomfortably. ‘Just so.’ He wondered who else Kat had written to. These things could not always work to his advantage.

‘And I think, in a month or so, when we are coming out of mourning, I shall ask you to dine here with Palmerston. He may have no prospects in government, but I would not say he will be without influence.’

Hervey nodded politely. He would not be too fastidious if it were to bring him a little favour. ‘If Palmerston
does
rescind the convening order, shall that decision be final do you think?’

Lord John Howard pondered the question. ‘The warrant bore the late Duke’s signature: he insisted on signing everything to the last, as if to show he retained his faculties. The adjutant-general had already ordered the warrant be held in abeyance until the new commander-in-chief took office. If it is Wellington, I think you may be assured you will have heard the last of it. If it is Cambridge, then I believe the warrant might go forward, for he would not likely contradict his late brother. There again, if Palmerston dismisses the charges quickly, then I do not see by what instrument they
could
come before the Duke.’ He sat forward again, as if to reassure. ‘But it would be by no means certain that a prosecution would succeed. Not from the papers which I have seen.’

‘The humiliation would be the same!’

‘Oh, come, Hervey! Half the country, at least, would consider you hero!
Does
, I should say.’

Hervey started. ‘What do you mean?’

Howard saw that he had presumed too much. ‘Then you have not seen
The Times
?’

‘No!’

‘Two days ago.’

‘Did it say I was made prisoner?’

‘Yes.’

Hervey sprang up. ‘I must send an express. May I do so from here?’

‘Of course. To where?’

‘To Wiltshire, naturally!’

At breakfast the following morning, Hervey received a message from Lieutenant-General Lord George Irvine, colonel of the 6th Light Dragoons, wishing him to call at once at Berkeley Square. He therefore adjourned his scrutiny of the morning newspapers to the United Service’s hairdresser, and an hour later, at ten-thirty, presented himself at Lord George’s London house, expecting censure and worse, and an invitation to contemplate service in another corps. In his choppy progress to Gravesend, and his cold but more agreeable one to London, he had not thought of this possibility, that his own colonel would request his resignation. He should have, and as he walked to Berkeley Square he could not imagine why he had not, for although the most public humiliation would come from the Horse Guards, even official absolution from that quarter might not be enough as far as regimental propriety was concerned. He had not imagined that Lord George Irvine would know of matters at this time, but he ought to have, for as soon as a convening order for a court martial was signed the business would have been as good as gazetted. He believed that Lord George held him in high regard: Spain and Portugal, and then Waterloo, were trials not shared by many. But the colonel of a regiment could afford no excess of sentiment, and only a very little favouritism.