Man Of War

What had saddened him most, besides the business itself, was Georgiana’s opinion. Perhaps he ought to have known that she would side instinctively with Elizabeth, who had stood in loco matris for so long; at ten years she could hardly be expected to make any informed judgement of her own in these matters. Except that he had rather hoped she might. Was it really so very difficult to see? If his mother and he saw with perfect clarity, then why not Georgiana? He was angry that Elizabeth had taken her to meet this Heinrici in the first place: it was, to say the least, indelicate – disloyal, indeed. But he wondered, too, if there were not some other consideration – if Georgiana’s attitude were not somehow connected with a reluctance to leave Horningsham for a new home. After all, he had not been able to tell her where that might be: Hounslow, he imagined, if he were to return to his regiment, or the Cape if he were not; perhaps, and worst of all, for even he saw that it might be uncomfortably alien, to Hertfordshire until the question was settled.

No, he must not allow that, Hertfordshire. Not, at least, without his company. It was time to follow the drum, though it had been Henrietta’s determination to do so that had led to her death (but could they in truth have lived any other way?). Besides, had not Kezia Lankester gone to India with her new husband, when most wives did not? Was that not a sure sign of her true and doughty nature? Kezia Hervey would not be content to sit in Hertfordshire, or even Hounslow, while her husband sailed abroad. Of that he was certain.

It was after nine when they got to the United Service Club, and the dining room had closed. There was no water for a hot bath (how Hervey was looking forward to the move to the new club house: he had become quite used to ready hot water in India), and so while bowls were got up for their rooms, the two friends sank into the leather tubs of the smoking room with brandy and soda. The porter brought Hervey his letters. One bore the stamp of the commander-in-chief ’s headquarters. He opened it at once.

The Horse Guards

23rd AprilMy dear Hervey,I send you the briefest word to say that I have just seen the casualty lists for the battle at Navarin and may assure you that Captain Sir Laughton Peto’s name is not contained therein. You will be saddened to know that Captain Bathurst of the Genoa was killed, for I believe you said you met him once, as well as several captains of Marines, which Service seems to have borne the most considerable losses, ten of them on the Genoa alone. I confess I had not perhaps given the affair the greatest attention before, for I saw the official returns only in the New Year, by which time other matters were pressing. I may direct your attention to a full account of the battle, by Codrington’s own hand (whose own son, a midshipman on the flagship, was most grievously wounded), in the London Gazette Extraordinary of November 10, last, which, if not to be found in the United Service Club, you are at liberty to read here when you will.I hope this allays your very evident, and proper, apprehension on account of your friend.Believe me &c,

Howard

Hervey sighed with deep satisfaction: allay his apprehension it most certainly did. He held up the letter as if it were material evidence in the case of Peto vs Heinrici. ‘It is from John Howard. He confirms that Peto was unharmed in the affair at Navarino.’

‘Deo gratias,’ said Fairbrother, and looking as if he meant it (a jilted, wounded hero would have been too much for any of them to deal with).

‘I must write to Elizabeth, express, tomorrow.’

‘That it may bring her to her senses?’ he asked, in a tone that suggested irony.

Hervey looked at his friend suspiciously. ‘That she may know her affianced is well.’