Hervey 07 - An Act Of Courage (47 page)

‘All dismounted, Colonel, standing duty for the Guards.’

Lord George shook his head as he looked at the two members of parliament. ‘It astonishes me how rapidly that great machine we had at Waterloo has been dismantled!’

The sentiment was shared by all the males present. The dowager Lady — complained that soon there would be too few soldiers to keep the Catholics from her door (by which Hervey understood she had estate in Ireland), and now that the Duke of York was dead there would be ‘no one to gainsay the wretched Emancipators’.

Hervey said nothing, and prayed he would not be seated next to her, either.

In fact, Hervey was very agreeably placed at dinner. On his right was the wife of the Honourable and Gallant Member for North Elmham, a constituency in not too great need of reform, and she was an easy interlocutor, principally upon the subject of Greek independence, of which she seemed to know a good deal. Their conversation was without interruption until the entrées, when convention required that Hervey turn to the place on his left.

In the best part of twenty minutes, he had been unable to think how he might adequately begin. ‘Lady Lankester, may I enquire of your situation?’

He cursed himself for the ambiguity. But Lady Lankester was an intelligent woman and, as he had observed on first acquaintance, as well as again this evening, remarkably self-possessed for someone ten years his junior (as he understood from the Calcutta drawing rooms).

‘Both my daughter and I are well, Major Hervey. And for the moment we are living in Hertfordshire.’

The Lankester estate he knew to be in that county. ‘My congratulations, ma’am, on the birth of your daughter. When was it, may I enquire?’ In truth he had no interest whatsoever in the answer, but he fancied it was a safe line – except, he now realized, her condition being what it had been in Calcutta, she could not have sailed for home at once without some peril.

‘June.’

She said it with some finality, so that Hervey found himself without a sequential question or remark, and much to his dismay. However, she appeared then to make a decided effort, even turning a little towards him.

‘June: I never thought anything so hot as then, the air so heavy. And then the monsoon – such a great relief when it came. I confess I was very afraid of the fever and all the other pestilences. Not so much for myself as . . . I suppose you became used to it, Major Hervey?’

They were speaking of the weather, he observed, but she did so easily, and he enjoyed her apparent engagement. ‘I suppose we did, though the time
before
the monsoon tried us sorely too. The horses bore it surprisingly well. When did you return?’

‘We sailed in July, towards the middle. The sea air was most wonderfully welcome.’

Passage to and from the Indies was a subject on which Hervey felt assured. ‘You did not encounter too many storms, I trust? The worst, I think, would have passed by then.’

‘Only once, off Madagascar. For the rest we had pleasant sailing, even in the Atlantic, and very fair winds. We made a fast time, only a little over sixteen weeks.’

‘
Very
fast, I should say. Ours was twenty-two! But that was rather earlier in the year.’

Lady Lankester picked up her wineglass and turned from him to take a sip. ‘But I understand that
you
have a daughter, Major Hervey?’

He was surprised by her knowing. ‘I do, Lady Lankester, though I own she has never taken so long a cruise.’

‘She has a governess, I presume. Does she then not live with you?’

Hervey felt the merest challenge. He answered cautiously. ‘My sister is guardian, and so far, I have not thought my postings suitable for them to accompany me.’ As he said it, he realized that it might imply disapproval of her own intrepidity – the very furthest from his mind. Indeed, he had always admired the willingness of Sir Ivo’s bride to risk herself in the Indies. And he had admired her husband equally in this regard, for a man of his means and station frequently sold out of a regiment on posting abroad and paid twice the sum to take up the same appointment in one on the home establishment.

But he need not have feared. Lady Lankester took no offence. ‘Perhaps, when she is a little older, your postings may be more conducive. How old is she now, Major Hervey?’

‘Nine . . .
rising
nine.’

‘What a delight she must be to you.’

Lady Lankester did not smile, her remark almost mechanical; but Hervey did not notice. Speaking of Georgiana he never found easy – the feelings of guilt and regret, and great sadness still. Instead he was concentrating hard on his responses. ‘Oh, yes, indeed, ma’am.’ He took a sip of his wine by way of reprieve. ‘May I ask what brings you to London?’

‘I was about to ask you the same, Major Hervey,’ she replied, this time with a warming smile.

‘I, ma’am? I am just returned from Portugal. I had business with the Horse Guards. I return to the regiment in a week or so. They are at Hounslow, as you may know.’

‘No, I did not know. I thought them somewhere in Sussex.’

‘That was where we formed a depot for India. And you are in London . . .?’

‘My father was to have attended a levee, and I accompanied him. My mother is presently in Devon visiting my grandmother.’

‘And shall you remain long . . . now that the court is in mourning, I mean?’

She smiled again. ‘Two or three weeks, perhaps. My father was glad of respite: his birds have not obliged him much this season!’

Hervey was intrigued by the change in his table companion in the space of an hour. When they had been introduced he had observed a stiffness, a remoteness, as if she were of a world very distant from his own. Henrietta had never been stiff or remote, even during the years of waiting, when he fancied she thought him but a dull country son without the refinements of high society. Henrietta had teased him with mock haughtiness, and when they had met again, after an absence of seven years, she had teased him greater still, until he had been man enough to defy her and declare his passion. Then she had returned it, and it had grown ever stronger during the brief span of their marriage. But Kezia Lankester he did not imagine was of the same fire. Perhaps it was her situation as widow and mother; perhaps it was her position (the county gentry frequently had a more elevated view of it than did the Whiggish nobles). Perhaps it was nothing at all. Perhaps he himself had been absent from English society for too long. Was not Lady Lankester smiling easily now, and making jokes at her father’s expense? He
had
been away too long: Kezia Lankester was a fine woman. She had enchanted Sir Ivo Lankester, and that was recommendation enough.

When the ladies had withdrawn, there was a quarter of an hour’s conversation – mainly on the Corn Law bill and who would be next commander-in-chief – and then, when the gentlemen in their turn withdrew, Strickland took Hervey to one side, the first opportunity of the evening.

‘It is very good to see you, Hervey. What a trial it must all have been. I am grateful for your communicating with my sister; she writes that you managed to visit twice.’

‘I wish it had been more, I assure you. Your sister was the most engaging of company, and the convent a pleasant place. I’m sorry not to have been able to carry back any correspondence, but my last days in Lisbon were . . . shall I say,
constrained
.’

‘Quite. Think nothing of it. Now see here, when do you return to Hounslow? I should be much obliged for your support.’

Hervey shook his head. ‘My dear Strickland, I should return tomorrow were it my decision. Lord George has told me to take leave for one week. He wishes the business of the court martial to be settled. Settled publicly, as it were.’

Strickland nodded. ‘I can see his reasoning, though I think it not necessary. However, if I may count on your coming in a week’s time then I am content. The Duke of York’s funeral will be over, and there’s much to do before the season’s drills.’

‘You may count on it.’

Strickland drained his glass and looked left and right before beginning again, his voice lowered. ‘I tell you, I shall be deuced glad when this funeral is done. There isn’t a moment’s peace between the castle and the Horse Guards. I didn’t think I would be able to attend in time this evening. I shan’t stay long, forgive me. The weather’s damnable.’

‘I have a short walk only, I’m glad to say.’

Strickland took a glass of brandy and seltzer from a footman’s tray, and lowered his voice another degree. ‘What did you make of the widow Lankester?’

Hervey glanced at the door. ‘I was thinking how very different things were since the meeting in Calcutta. Had you seen her before this evening?’

‘Yes, a month ago. I took some of Lankester’s effects come up from the depot to her in Hertfordshire. I thought her one of the coldest women I’d ever met – in Calcutta, and the same in Hertfordshire. I’d thought to invite her to dine at Hounslow, but it would be the sorest trial.’

Hervey frowned. Strickland was not given to quick judgement, but . . . ‘My dear fellow, considering what she had just learned when we met her in Calcutta it’s hardly surprising. And she could not have been long returned when you went to Hertfordshire. I confess I found her agreeable enough.
Very
agreeable.’

‘I could understand it, perhaps, if she were my senior, but she’s a full ten years younger!’

Hervey smiled. ‘I confess I found that fact rather appealing! She warmed very markedly during dinner. Perhaps she is shy. Did you meet her people?’

‘Yes, and they were agreeable enough. It took half an hour to drive through their park, and the house was as big as Blenheim – well, perhaps a little smaller. Sir Delaval Rumsey is of some consequence in that county. But I was not greatly at my ease, I tell you.’

Hervey smiled again. ‘Perhaps they smelled the papist!’

Strickland’s eyes widened. ‘Do not joke of it, Hervey: Emancipation’s flushing out Tory bigots faster than a spaniel springs partridges!’

‘You will admit, I suppose, she is a very handsome woman?’

‘If you like that cold sort of countenance.’

Hervey placed a hand on his old friend’s shoulder, his smile turning wry. ‘Strickland, I am wondering if you protest too much. You have not been rebuffed, have you?’

Strickland would not take the bait. ‘Hervey, mark my words; that is all. And now I think we should attend on our hostess.’

Hervey left Berkeley Square at eleven with Strickland, who was posting back to Hounslow and who took him in his chaise to the United Service Club en route. It was a cold, foggy night, and they both agreed that, whatever the vexations, Calcutta was infinitely to be preferred to London in a month such as this. When Hervey alighted, Strickland was already swaddled in travelling blankets and fortifying himself with brandy. ‘One week, Hervey, and then I shall have your best support!’

‘You may depend upon it, Strickland,’ he replied, raising his hat and smiling at what he saw. ‘One week! I bid you goodnight, then!’

Strickland raised his flask, Hervey closed the door, and the chaise pulled away.

Hervey felt strangely invigorated, despite the damp night air. He knew he had drunk too much coffee, but as a rule that was little but a hindrance to sleep. He fancied he had found the company of Lady Lankester really quite agreeable. Despite being ten years his junior she had given every suggestion of being his equal. Sir Ivo must have fancied the same, for he had been his age too, and Hervey did not suppose that such composure as he had seen this evening was acquired in the space of eighteen months – not even with motherhood and widowhood. As he entered the United Service he was turning over in his mind what occasion there might be for further acquaintance.

‘A message for you, Major Hervey, sir,’ said the hall porter, more than usually sombre in his black-buttoned mourning coat, handing him an envelope.

Hervey recognized the handwriting at once. His stomach churned. ‘Thank you, Charles. Is there brandy?’

‘The Coffee Room waiter is still there, sir.’

Hervey found a chair between two good oil lamps in the corner of the Coffee Room, ordered his brandy, and opened the letter.

Holland-park,
14th January

My dearest Matthew
,

I heard from Lord Palmerston this very day that you are returned and in great good spirits. I am myself returned these several weeks past, for Madeira was not so agreeable as I had supposed, and there is so much to be done here. I have dined with the Duke on three occasions alone, and even with the Duke of Cambridge, though the Court’s mourning has moderated such parties of late somewhat. We all wonder who shall be the new Commander in Chief, though it surely must be the Duke, think you not? I greatly hope so, for I have always found his company the most vigorous, and I fancy he is of the same mind as mine. I long to see you and to hear your news, though I believe I know it in great part already from Lord P and the Duke. Please call on me without delay. If you are dining this evening please come on to Holland-park afterwards, for there is music and cards until late
.

Your ever affectionate Kat

He read the letter a second time. He could only marvel at Kat’s art. In the space of a few lines she had reminded him of her intimate connection with the Secretary at War (the acting commander-in-chief), the Master General of the Ordnance (the commander-in-chief apparent), and the royal duke, the only rival to Wellington for the appointment. Could there be any more complete prospectus? And then there was the music and cards – the perfect, decorous invitation to arrive late. Except that Holland Park was not around the corner, and on a night like this it might be long past midnight before he arrived – even if he could engage a carriage.

He rose and went back into the hall. ‘Charles, do you know how may be had one of these hackney cabs?’

‘Certainly, sir. At this hour there will be a line of them just around the corner in Regent’s Street. Shall I send for one, sir?’