Rumours Of War

‘A note from Senhora Delgado just came by messenger,’ began Hervey, as Johnson lit an oil lamp. ‘Her father has received word from the bishop in Elvas, intelligence that the rebels will try to cross the frontier again in a week’s time.’

‘What’s tha gooin to do?’

‘I told him I would come to the baron’s house at once.’

‘Does tha want me to come an’ all?’

‘No; I want you to stay here. Lady Katherine said she would come by when the Forbeses’ party is ended.’

Johnson merely nodded.

‘To tell me what she learned,’ he added quickly. ‘If she does come, then please give her my greatest compliments, and explain that I have been called away.’

Johnson said nothing as he adjusted the flame in the oil lamp.

Hervey hesitated. ‘There is no need to say where exactly I am gone.’

Johnson stepped back from the lamp and wiped his hands on his apron. ‘Right.’

‘And perhaps while you’re waiting you might assemble my kit. We may need to leave for Elvas again.’

Johnson kept his eye on the lamp. ‘And to say nothing about that either?’

Hervey cleared his throat. ‘I think not.’

*

When he arrived at the house in Belem, a little after one o’clock, Hervey found both Isabella and her father awake, and in some agitation.

‘Major Hervey, how good it is that you come,’ said the barao, beckoning a footman to take his cloak, and pressing a glass of warm punch on him. ‘And how very relieved I feel at seeing you.’

The barao did indeed look troubled, thought Hervey; Isabella not quite so dismayed. Her eyes shone, and she had a defiant air, her head raised, as a fighter tempts with the chin.

Hervey bowed to them both. ‘I am flattered, barao.’

‘That is surely not my intention, sir. If the intelligence we have is true, then I am very fearful.’

Isabella whispered something to her father.

‘Ah, forgive me, Major Hervey. Please take your ease. What would you have me send for?’

Hervey smiled as he took a high-backed chair, as near to the fire as he could manage without appearing to suggest he was excessively cold. ‘Coffee, barao, would be most restorative.’

And warming too. It was not as cold a night as many he had spent in these parts, but he believed his blood was thinned by seven years in the tropics, and this north wind went ill with him.

Isabella gave instructions to the footman.

‘Captain Mateo de Braganca,’ continued the barao, pulling his chair closer to Hervey’s, ’is made brigadier- general now.’

Hervey raised his eyebrows involuntarily at the remarkable acceleration in promotion. The most unscrupulous regimental agent could hardly contrive as much with the Horse Guards; not without an indecent amount of money, at least (that was if the grand old Duke of York’s mistress was still in the business).

‘Ah, yes; you are surprised by such a thing,’ replied the barao, raising his hands. ‘But if such a thing is necessary then I am proud that my country finds the means of accomplishing it.’

Hervey felt humbled at the simple logic. ‘Forgive me, sir; it did surprise me, yes.’

‘I know it would not be so in your army.’

‘Sir, it is no matter.’

A footman brought him coffee, a useful punctuation point to an awkward line of discussion.

The barao collected his thoughts. ‘And so, Captain Mateo – General Mateo – de Braganca is now governor of the fortress of Elvas. He asks that you join him there at once. My brother, the bishop, has received word from certain . . . conventuals, in Spain, and he is certain the rebels will attack within the week, the moon being favourable. Perhaps even with Spanish regulars. He writes that the previous incursion was how do you say? a reconnaissance in force, to test the garrison. You, I think, Major Hervey, know perfectly well there is scarcely a sufficiency of men to hold the fortress against a determined attack.’

‘I do, sir. Forgive me; you have communicated this to the Negocios Estrangeiros e Guerra?’

‘My brother did so by the same hand that brought the intelligence on to me.’

Hervey wondered for a moment what the bishop’s purpose had been, other than the obvious. ‘Barao—’

Isabella sensed his misgiving. ‘Major Hervey, my uncle has long wished us to seek haven in Brazil.’

Hervey nodded. He turned back to the barao. ‘Do you know what are Dom Mateo’s intentions, sir?’

‘To call in every one of the militia and ordenanca who will answer. But of course, by so doing, the country thereabout would be free for the rebels to make their mischief in.’

‘His options are those of difficulties, it is to be sure,’ said Hervey, laying down his cup.

‘In Portugal we esteem greatly the bullfighter, Major Hervey, though not, as I think you know, in the brutish way of the Spaniards. At Elvas, General Mateo fights his bull too, but it is argumentum cornutum – you understand? The bull which will toss whichever horn is laid hold on.’

‘I understand, Barao,’ said Hervey, nodding. Then he smiled. ‘But I am no Hercules, I assure you.’

‘You will go to Elvas then, Major Hervey?’ asked the barao, brightening, and beckoning the footman to bring more coffee.

Hervey smiled again. ‘Sir, it is not for me to give such an undertaking. I must ask my colonel. And he, no doubt, shall have to ask His Majesty’s envoy.’

The barao looked disappointed. ‘Time does not permit of too lengthy a process, Major Hervey. When do you suppose that permission shall be forthcoming?’

When indeed, thought Hervey. His colonel would first need persuading that Forbes might approve; he was certain that Norris himself would not sanction it. ‘Barao, I cannot tell, but I believe I may say this: until such time as the government of my country decides to send troops, my work is largely done here, and if General Mateo considers that I can be of any use to your government then I am eager to place myself at his disposal.’

He rose and made to leave.

‘I thank you, sir,’ said the barao. He looked intensely relieved.

Isabella, too, looked as if she believed Elvas was already more secure. She rose and took her father’s hand. ‘I place myself at my country’s disposal too, Major Hervey. You shall need a faithful interpreter again. I shall leave for Elvas as soon as it is light.’

Hervey was at once troubled, for a dozen and more reasons, and doubtless many of them conflicting. ‘Madam, it may not become necessary that you fly to Brazil, but Elvas will scarcely be the place by these accounts to give your uncle peace of mind. I could not conceive of such a thing.’

The barao said nothing, placing a hand instead on his daughter’s, as if to close the matter.

Isabella bowed submissively.

Hervey forced himself to smile, knowing that his better judgement was foreign to his true instinct.

She smiled by return. Her eyes burned, indeed. For a moment Hervey wondered what fire they might raise if circumstances were different.

‘Very well, sir.’ Hervey bowed formally, replaced his forage cap and looked to the footman as he brought his cloak. ‘I shall inform my colonel of all we have spoken of. I will send you word just as soon as I have it.’

Hervey saw decency and honour in infinite measure as he took his leave of the Barao de Santarem and his daughter. And not a little courage too. It would not be difficult to steel himself to the fight with Colonel Norris with such exemplars.

When Johnson opened the door to him, a little before four o’clock, it was with a finger to his mouth.

‘Lady Greville’s ’ere,’ he whispered.

Hervey nodded towards his sitting room.

Johnson shook his head, pointing instead to the bedroom. ‘She said she were tired. I didn’t think it could do no ’arm.’

Hervey sighed. On the contrary, it could do all manner of harm. But there was no point in giving voice to any of it. In any case, he knew that Johnson would have had a hard time keeping Kat from laying down her head if that was what she had determined.

Four o’clock – another three hours, perhaps four, before he could decently approach Colonel Norris. Not that