On His Majesty's Service

York himself put when the bill was last before parliament.’

Kezia looked surprised. ‘You are well informed,’ she replied, more with curiosity than approval.

‘Well informed, but, I confess, scarcely by my own efforts. Captain Fairbrother told me of it. He takes a keen interest in affairs of state. He’s been to see Wilberforce on abolition matters.’

‘And you would support the Relief bill?’

‘If the Duke of Wellington does, I could scarcely gainsay him. Even Peel is now for it.’

Kezia smiled ironically. ‘Oh! Member for Oxford, you shuffle and wheel/ You have altered your name from R. Peel to Repeal!’

Hervey smiled too. ‘That is very droll.’

‘He’s said by one and all to have ratted on his oath of allegiance.’

‘And do you yourself believe it? I’ve always taken you to possess a broad and enquiring mind.’

Kezia put her coffee cup down on a side table and pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders. ‘I confess I have never to my knowledge met a Catholic, and so I have no prejudice in their favour or otherwise, but my father is of firm conviction in the matter.’

That seemed to be that. The conversation had taken a decidedly darker turn, and Hervey was relieved when Kezia then enquired almost breezily after his friend. ‘Where is Captain Fairbrother, by the way? Does he return with you from the Cape?’

‘He does indeed. I left him to savour the delights of London – at his own request, that is, for he had little chance before to see the sights. He’s to come with me to the East, and I hope very much to … to the regiment when I take command.’

The hesitation was not lost on her, and she looked at him quizzically enough to throw him from his stride. He had wished to choose his moment; but there could be no dissembling now.

‘I very much fear we are facing the same situation as before. Hol’ness is relinquishing command, and I am to have it, but it will likely be a hollow one, for the Horse Guards – or, rather, the War Office – is intent on reducing the regiment to a troop. Such is the parlous state of the army estimates. Lord Hill wants me to have command of his own regiment, the Fifty-third.’

Kezia looked at him with a degree of suspicion. ‘And where are the Fifty-third?’

Hervey tried hard to make his reply sound as if here were not the rub. ‘Gibraltar. Lord Hill says that it is a coming station.’

There was no immediate reply.

‘The climate is most agreeable.’

Kezia pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders again, which Hervey thought might induce her to think of the benefits of balmier weather – but not for long. ‘I should not wish to quit this country, Matthew. I … I have no desire to live a solitary life. India, though but a short time, was enough to persuade me that contentment is not to be had elsewhere.’

Hervey had more than half-expected this opinion of Gibraltar, but he was nevertheless disconcerted by Kezia’s reasoning. ‘It would hardly be solitary, my love. Gibraltar is a considerable garrison, and my duties would not take me more than a mile or so from you. Indeed, in many respects it is the most confined of postings.’

But as he said the word ‘confined’ he knew he was lost.

Next morning, before he had taken his bath, an express arrived. Kezia had risen before dawn, saying she must speak with the nursery maid (Hervey had woken with her, but she bid him stay abed), and had drawn the bolts of the doors herself to admit the letter. A footman who had come scurrying was put to looking after the expressman while she took the letter upstairs to see if it needed reply.

Hervey was shaving by very moderate candlelight as she came into the dressing room, and it was all he could do to read it without scorching the paper. Fortunately its contents were brief:

The United Service Club, Thursday, 15th

My dear Hervey,

Word has just come from the Horse Guards that there is passage in a frigate for St-Petersburg five days hence, on the twentieth instant, and Lord Hill wishes you to take it. Passeports and letters of introduction I am to take possession of tomorrow, also for Agar. Pray let me know by return what is to be done.

Ever yours,Edward Fairbrother.

Hervey swallowed hard. This was ill news. ‘Lord Hill wishes …’ A request from a superior officer must be taken as a command. There was no escaping it. Five days hence – five days from yesterday, indeed; there was no opportunity now of seeing his people, above all Georgiana; nor Peto, nor … And his renewed honeymoon (if that it could be called) would now be curtailed, as before. Was it so very important that he take passage in this frigate? Once before, not long after Waterloo, he had been sent with rude despatch from the Horse Guards to take passage east in a frigate. No, he would not dwell on that mission (the train of events which led to the snows of Canada was too hard a memory). This was very different. Oh, indeed, it was different! For Kezia would not follow him, as Henrietta had done. The news would be to her no cause for dismay.

‘What is it, Matthew? Nothing unwelcome, I trust?’

Hervey sighed (an express with good news was a rare thing, to be sure). ‘It is not what I would have wished. I am to leave for Russia on the twentieth.’

‘Oh,’ replied Kezia, rather flatly. ‘That is vexing for you. Why to Russia? I thought you said it was to Bulgaria?’

He shook his head absently (was ‘vexing for you’ merely an unselfish response?). ‘Since I am to join the Tsar’s forces, it follows I suppose that it is most expedient to do so via their own lines of communication.’ He quickened. ‘I must first send word to Fairbrother, and then … I must needs leave you, my love,’ he added, as if an afterthought, consoling himself just a little with the knowledge that he left at least for less chilly climes. ‘Is there pen and ink?’

‘There,’ she said, pointing to the writing table in the bedroom beyond. ‘I will bring coffee.’

But his instructions to Fairbrother – brief, terse almost – were complete before she returned:

My dear Fairbrother,Pray make all arrangements that you see fit, but in any event have Johnson stand ready, and send word if you will to Hounslow for Cpl Acton to join. And then go to Durham’s off the Strand and order upon my account at the Agent’s, Messrs Greenwood, Cox & Hammersley of Craigs-court, all that is requisite in camp furniture. I shall myself be returned by evening, but it is better that matters be placed in hand at once. And anything else that in yr judgement is seen fit.Ever Yrs,Hervey.

Kezia returned with a tray. She poured a cup as the footman withdrew. ‘Milk?’

Hervey shook his head (milk was a fashion he could not fathom). ‘Thank you, no,’ he said, dripping sealing wax less than artfully onto the fold of the letter.

‘At what hour will you leave?’

He stood up, the return-express at last sealed. ‘I … I think as soon as may be. I must write to Wiltshire, though perhaps that is better done from London.’ He hesitated, and then asked uncertainly, ‘Shall you come with me?’

Kezia said she could not: there were all manner of things to detain her at Walden. And in truth Hervey could not resent it, for he had come – if not unannounced – with little notice. Walden was a considerable estate, and her people were away … But, then, was there not a steward, and a housekeeper? He, Hervey, would be much occupied in the next few days, it was true, but if she were to come to London they would have time together … But he would not press the matter; not now, at least.

‘It is doubly a pity, your early leaving, for you shall not hear me play for Herr Mendelssohn, nor meet