Nizams Daughters

‘I do not know it,’ he replied, shaking his head.

‘ “Love is swift of foot; Love’s a man of war, And can shoot, And can hit from afar.” There, Captain Hervey: do you not think that apt?’

He smiled ruefully. ‘I think Captain Peto would heartily approve. All his philosophy seems but one vast naval allegory!’

‘Just so,’ she nodded. ‘And in speaking of shooting from afar, would you tell me what really happened in your battle?’

‘Well, madam,’ he began, thoughtfully, ‘we are obliged as always to the Royal Navy. It seems that Bonaparte once lamented that wherever there was a fathom of water, there you would find the British. When Mr Locke heard that the guns were gone from the border with Haidarabad he assumed at once that it was he who had betrayed our stratagem through careless talk with his… ahm—’

‘Paramour?’

‘Er, just so. Well, it seems that he thought the only recourse was to enlist the firepower of the Nisus standing off Guntoor. Perhaps there is not a single frigate captain in the Royal Navy who could then have resisted the challenge, but Peto of all men would have been determined to demonstrate the truth of Bonaparte’s lament. He took Nisus up the Godavari as far as he could, and when he could go no further he had six cannon dismounted and transferred to budgerows, and these he was able to bring into very timely action.’

‘But it was not Mr Locke’s fault that the stratagem was out?’

‘No, his… the native lady had said not a word, for she was given so big a draught of laudanum when he left that she lay insensate for two days. No, it seems that as soon as the nizam’s men heard that all the rajah’s forces were marching upon the border — as we had intended they should hear — they put their guns on the river. We do not know why — yet. Indeed, it may never be known. Everything in India seems unfathomable!’

‘Unfathomable? Perhaps. And how did Mr Locke die?’

Hervey fell silent. At length he sighed and raised his eyebrows slowly. ‘Bravely — though that hardly needs saying. He advanced with twenty marines, in their scarlet, against hundreds of the enemy, as steady as if on parade. A ball struck him in the throat, and he died almost at once. I cannot say more.’

Emma Lucie saw the moisture in his eye and turned towards Jessye, giving her another of the favours she had brought. A pair of hoopoes in the eaves was all there was to be heard: ‘Poo, poo, poo,’ called the male, his crest lowered. His mate answered — ‘Scharr.’ Hervey looked up; for an instant he was a boy in Horningsham again, stalking the jays in the churchyard.

The silence stretched a full five minutes. ‘There was much to admire in Mr Locke,’ said Emma Lucie softly. ‘His fortitude, his… simplesse.’

‘Indeed,’ coughed Hervey, wiping an eye.

She let him be for a while again. ‘But we may thank God that Cornet Templer is set fair for a full recovery.’

‘Yes… yes indeed,’ said Hervey, now recovering himself too. ‘He is the very best of fellows. And he loves India.’

After a few minutes more she asked what were his thoughts on being recalled.

He answered readily. ‘I must confess that, anxious though I am to return to England, I am myself more than a little intrigued by these lands.’

‘You are relieved, nevertheless, by your letter of recall? It does — does it not — permit a reunion with all whom you love?’

There could be no other conclusion, he replied, knowing he would have six full months to contemplate it. ‘We shall say farewell tomorrow, Miss Lucie. But let me say again how greatly in your debt I am. You have been kind beyond words.’

‘Let us just say that my brother — and Henrietta — would have had it no other way.’

‘So, Captain Hervey, you are to leave us — never, I suppose, to return to Chintal, or even to India, again?’ The rajah was disappointed but philosophical.

‘Your Highness will understand where my duty lies.’

‘And your heart.’

‘I am engaged to be married, sir, yes.’

‘We in India never see a British grey hair!’

Hervey smiled. ‘Oh, I think that Mr Somervile’s head will become white in these climes, sir. His will be a lengthy residency, I feel sure.’

‘I trust so, very much. And, I had hoped, Mr Locke’s too. The grant of jagirs on the plains would, I think, have been eminently to his liking. They shall, at least, provide some comfort for the Maharashtri dancer.’

‘I was not aware that you knew of the liaison, sir,’ replied Hervey with some embarrassment.

The rajah smiled. ‘Captain Hervey, this is my dominion.’

‘Yes, sir,’ he nodded sheepishly. ‘The Fates dealt ill with Mr Locke, Your Highness. I pray that they are not cruel to his memory now.’

‘Most delicately put, Captain Hervey. But the Fates?’ he smiled. ‘And you a Christian officer of most exemplary practice!’

Hervey smiled again. ‘I believe you know that I was speaking figuratively, sir.’

‘Just so, just so. And your own jagirs: you are content for them to rest in Mr Somervile’s stewardship?’

‘I am, sir. You have been more generous than could be imagined. There was no need, as I have already said: I could have done no other but what I did.’

‘And now you will return to your Duke of Wellington and continue upon advancement to high rank.’

‘That is every soldier’s intent, sir; though not all are permitted to achieve it.’

‘Just so, just so. And I have been unable to persuade you to remain in Chintal for a colonelcy and command of all my sepoys and sowars.’

‘I am a King’s officer, Your Highness. And your princely state is now secured by the subsidiary force — and an admirable officer in Colonel Bell.’

‘Perhaps, perhaps,’ smiled the rajah, ‘though I can understand but little of what he says. He speaks very ill — Scotch, you say?’

‘Your Highness, I happen to know that his Urdu is faultless!’

‘Urdu? Yes, though I had rather wished we might discourse in English — read poetry, scripture and the like — as you and I have, Captain Hervey.’

The Englishman bowed, acknowledging the compliment.

‘Well, I take my leave of you for the time being,’ said the rajah. ‘Do you have further business today, or may we have the pleasure of your company once more this evening?’

‘I shall do my utmost to be there, Your Highness, but first I must seek Captain Peto. He, too, has letters of recall, but he cannot wait and we must make our arrangements directly.’

The rajah nodded; he understood. ‘ “And the gilded car of day, His glowing axle doth allay, In the steep Atlantic stream.” ’

‘You quote one of my favourite works, sir.’

‘Yes, I know it — the masque at Ludlow Castle. Near Shrewsbury, is it not?’

Hervey smiled even wider: truly this rajah was a man of uncommon learning and sensibility. ‘I hope, one day, you will visit England, sir. It cannot compare with Italy in the magnificence of its past beauty, but I believe you would be excessively diverted.’

‘Thank you, Captain Hervey. Let us pray that it may come about. Now to one last matter — the raj kumari. It is, perhaps, not possible for you to judge anything but the gravest ill of her. What she did, however, was for no baser reason than out of love for me and for Chintal. In time she will return to the palace, but not yet, not yet.’

Hervey shifted awkwardly. There was immense sadness in the rajah’s voice.

‘You know all, I suppose?’

‘I cannot tell, sir,’ he replied, for how much there was in this most convoluted of stories he could not hazard.

‘This land is made of spies, Captain Hervey. It was perhaps destined that one day the secret I have borne for