He sighed and ran both hands through the springy brown hair to clutch his aching head. “What a mess! Stokes, if I ever kick you out again when I am not in command of myself, ignore my orders.”
“Yessir,” said Stokes in a long-suffering tone, knowing it would be more than his neck was worth to tangle with this officer if he ever took a mood such as he had suffered these past two days. “What shall I do about them dogs?” he repeated.
“Oh, God!” cried Hugo. “Do what you damn well please. Just get out there and quiet them before my skull splits open.”
“Very good, sir,” he said huffily. “And a Happy New Year to you, Captain Esterly.”
The door closed with forceful softness, and the barking of dogs grew fainter. Hugo groaned as he gingerly laid his head against a pile of pillows; they felt like boulders. The coffee grew cold beside him as he contemplated the ceiling. Recollection was returning. There was going to be hell to pay when Colonel Rayne returned at the end of the week. Hugo was no favorite of his commanding officer, who was one of the old school. They had clashed on several occasions over what the older man described as Hugo’s unsteadiness and lack of insight. Last night’s affair could bring about a request for his resignation from the regiment. For Jack, it could have more serious consequences. He had been on duty at the time.
He groaned and clutched his head again. The devil that had entered him three nights ago fled in the face of truth. With the first day of a new year had come clarity of thought and a return of strength, to show him that his real weakness lay not in his passion for his brother’s chosen bride but in his attempt to run away from it.
A love as deep as that he felt for Victoria ruled any man without consideration for time or place, pride or honor. Its grip made even a goliath weak. To be haunted by her eyes, a merry laugh, a youthful voice telling him her dearest wishes, to be filled with pain and desire so physical that it governed him entirely, should not make him a victim of guilt. Only by refusing to acknowledge that he must ride out the storm with no outward sign to betray him was he failing himself and Charles. He, who had sounded forth so often on the subject of battle tactics, was a coward; he, who prided himself on being so much of a man, went to pieces over emotions he could not control.
All the accusations that had ever been leveled at him now gained force. Old Rayne called him unwisely volatile; generals dubbed him hot-tempered and rash; Charles accused him of suffering the mild madness of military rebels who put action before reason. He had vindicated their claims with a vengeance. Only one of his actions would he still defend. The flight from Wychbourne had been essential for Victoria’s sake. Cowardice had not been the root cause for that decision; the recriminations from his family for his behavior still had to be faced without his being able to give the real reason.
During the next half hour he came to terms with himself and what he faced. Victoria was to become his sister, part of his family. It was impossible to avoid her, so he must learn to govern himself in her presence. The wedding would be the test. He would stand beside Charles as she pledged her life to his brother. After that, he must learn to accept that Charles would take his rights whenever he chose. It was a little while before the heat that flared in him at that thought could be controlled, and some hint of what was to come pressed down upon him.
She would bear Charles’s children. His brother had already spoken of the son he must provide. Hugo closed his eyes against the thought of that slender sensitive girl being torn by the birth of child after child until the requisite male lay in her husband’s arms. But he forced himself to face it. There was to be no more running away.
The need for more immediate resolution occupied him then. Somehow he must come out of this mess without being asked to leave the regiment. The cavalry was part of his life and, although forced resignation would not bar him from entry into another regiment, he had a fierce loyalty to the Hussars. In any case, he was well known in cavalry circles, and other colonels would hardly welcome a renegade into their hallowed unyielding ranks. Colonel Rayne would be back in three days; in that time he must make every effort to soften the man’s anger. There was also something of importance he must tackle immediately.
“Stokes!” he yelled. “My shaving things.”
Stokes hovered in the doorway.
“I shall not attack you, man,” Hugo said irritably. “A fine slur you put on my character when you hide behind a door rather than face me.” Hugo regarded the black-mustachioed face for several seconds before letting out his breath slowly. “And, Stokes…in reply to your concerned inquiries after the state of my health today, I am pleased to tell you I feel much more myself.”
A grin curled the ends of the thick mustache.
*
Shortly after luncheon the maid announced him to the Markhams, and he entered their parlor to be greeted by Letty looking very pretty in a silk dress in peppermint-green stripes.
“Hugo, how kind of you to call. A Happy New Year to you.”
He kissed her cheek. “And to you, my dear friend. May it continue to bring you your present happiness.”
“Sit by the fire,” she invited, as her eyes swept over the full-dress uniform, slung jacket and dangling sword he wore. “You look very formal. Is it a duty call on Jack? He is still abed after a heavy night.”
“He told you?”
She shook her head, bouncing her ringlets. “It was only too plain his head was ready to crack open when he arrived this morning. I will never cease to be amazed at the behavior of gentlemen. Is the pleasure worth the aftermath?”
He smiled fondly. “It has often occurred to me that ladies have so much more common sense than we, until I see them fit themselves into a gown that restricts their breathing and prevents their passing through a doorway with ease. Is the fashion worth the punishment?”
Letty laughed. “If you were not so charming I vow I should have given up on you long ago. Have you come for Jack?” she repeated.
“Not in the cause of duty, although I have several calls to make that demand formality of dress. I also wished to see you, Letty, to apologize for my behavior two nights ago.”
She was confused. “You were not well. I understood, Hugo.”
“There was no excuse for my casual manners in leaving the following morning with no word to you. If one descends to boorishness it should never be displayed to one’s dearest friends. Will you forgive me?”
She turned faintly pink. “Hugo, there is really no need for this. I cannot forgive something that needs no forgiveness. Promise me that you will use our friendship whenever you are in need of friends.”
He smiled. “I promise. Perhaps you and Jack will have dinner with me tonight.”
“I shall look forward to it.” She folded her hands on her silk skirts and took the opportunity to say something Jack would scold her for broaching. “You mentioned a young woman your mama fancied as a daughter — someone in Buckinghamshire.”
“Yes,” he replied warily. “The daughter of our neighbor.”
She bit the tip of her tongue delicately. “Shall I have the pleasure of meeting her soon?”
He looked at her quizzically. “I declare you are grown matronly at the tender age of twenty, Letty. If you are to start match-making you’ll have to wear a lace cap and adopt a lorgnette. Shall you be joining the mamas at the Pavilion?”
She was vexed with him. His reaction had disproved her theory. Letty had been convinced a mysterious female had been the cause of his abrupt departure from Wychbourne. She dearly wished to know the story behind it, but Jack maintained he knew no more than she. “It is no laughing matter, Hugo. I am waiting for you to provide me with a companion for the times you take my husband off with you.”
Hugo was spared answering as Jack entered. He was clad in rather gay, fashionable trousers and plain coat, but he looked strained and worried. Hugo rose as he came in.
“Oh, so it is you,” he greeted. “I wonder you can stand on your feet.”
“It is not
easy, believe me” was the heavy reply. “I had to see you. My sincere apologies. They won’t help the situation, but I offer them just the same.” He put out a hand and let it drop. “What can I say? Nobody could have persuaded me to listen to reason.”
Jack made a face. “Do I not know it? There is going to be the devil of a dust-up when Rayne returns.”
“I am on my way to see a carpenter. With luck, and the trappings of the regiment, I’ll have the paneling repaired before the end of the week. Replacing the goblets will not be as easy, I think. Copies of the plates that were smashed in the kitchens can be ordered from Glasshorn’s Emporium. At this time of year I would not care to wager on their arriving at barracks before Rayne, but I will press Glasshorn to expedite the order.”
“Gentlemen,” cried Letty, looking from one to the other. “Will you please explain this conversation? What is this talk of carpenters and smashed plates?”
Hugo cast a look at Jack. “It is the aftermath you mentioned that naturally follows upon gentlemen’s folly…my folly, in this case.” He moved to the door. “I will be on my way, if you will excuse me.”
“Hugo has invited us to dinner tonight, dearest,” Letty told her subdued husband. “I have already accepted.”
Jack gave his friend a wry look. “You will not be in company with your horse, I trust?”
Hugo gripped Jack’s shoulder. “Never again, believe me. That madness has passed.”
*
Colonel Rayne wasted no time. On the morning following his late-night return to duty, Hugo and Jack met in the adjutant’s office and exchanged significant looks. The next few minutes were going to prove harrowing.
“How is the old boy?” ventured Hugo of the adjutant.
“Do not ask” was the depressing answer. “He marched through here this morning looking like a blackamoor, and when I handed him your written account of your exploits I thought the Gods of Wrath had invaded the firmament.” A broad grin dawned on his face. “Damn sorry I missed it. Wouldn’t care to do it again for my benefit, would you, Hugo?”
“I doubt I shall ever be drunk enough to take such a risk again,” Hugo told him gloomily. “Why has he sent for Jack? I mentioned no one in that report.”
“The colonel is no fool. He asked for the duty roster right away. He wants two heads for this, believe me.”
Jack laughed mirthlessly. “Was it your optimistic outlook that recommended you to this job, Reggie?”
Lieutenant Reginald Wyckham Herrinforth, nephew of the Duke of Meade, gave him a sly look. “No, it was my innate capacity for diplomacy. Not fifteen minutes ago I was agreeing with the colonel that Captain Esterly was a disgrace to his noble family and an embarrassment to his brother.”
“There’s nothing like having friends in the right places,” said Hugo in disgust. “When I am thrown out of this regiment you can handle my application to join another. You will paint such a picture of lies they’ll receive me on their knees with reverence.”
The adjutant grew serious. “He will not throw you out, Hugo. Surely he will not?” The questioning afterthought sounded less confident.
“Of course he will not,” Jack declared firmly. “If anyone is to go, it will be me.”
“Mr. Herrinforth,” shouted Colonel Rayne from his office, and Reggie jumped to his feet.
“I shall announce you. He is in the worst of tempers, so keep the whole thing calm. Confess, then throw yourself on his mercy — silently. He will not stand argument this morning.”
Colonel Archibald Rayne was sitting behind his desk when they entered, and the slight movement of his facial muscles was more likely a nervous twitch than an attempt at a smile. A large sandy-haired man with a mustache to match, he had put the fear of God into many young men — and equally as many maidens. The men’s apprehension was justified; that of the ladies was not. He was an ineffectual lover, a failing he compensated for by an outward aggression and a tendency to come down hard on particularly virile or well-favored subordinates.
He had had a dreadful Christmas. His daughter had gone into a decline over a nincompoop in an inferior infantry regiment, his son had brought home a bad report from Eton and Mrs. Rayne had pestered him ceaselessly for a new carriage. Hugo Esterly’s account of his highly colored exploit had been the last straw. Pale eyes regarded the two specimens of youthful splendor before him and sent an angry message to his brain.
“Good morning, sir,” Hugo said.
“The only creditable adjective I can find to use about you is that you are honest — although there is some doubt over that,” snapped the colonel, annoyed by Hugo’s nerve. “Since I was bound to see the evidence of this disgraceful episode with my own eyes, you had no alternative but to own up.” He fixed Hugo with a disparaging glare. “You are nothing but a bloody nuisance to this regiment and everyone with whom you come into contact.” His eyes swung to Jack. “And you, sir, are unfit to wear that uniform.”
“Colonel Rayne, may I speak?” asked Hugo immediately.
“No, sir, you may not,” he roared. “The time for you to speak will be when you make a public apology before the officers of this mess.”
Hugo stiffened. Like it or not, he was going to intervene. Jack was not going to be made a whipping boy if he could prevent it.
“Sir, I wish to make an official protest at the presence of Mr. Markham.”
“This is not yet an official discussion” was the terse reply.
“Colonel, he did nothing in this affair,” he insisted.
“No, sir, that is just the point. He did nothing. In the absence of senior officers it was his responsibility as Officer of the Day to put a stop to such conduct. He quite plainly did not.”
“Could not, sir.”
“Could not. Could not? What do you mean, could not? Is he an officer of this regiment or not? Does he have authority or not? Has he any sense of duty or has he not? Those are the facts in question, Captain Esterly. I do not wish to hear any more of could not. And if you cannot remain silent, I shall oblige you to wait outside until I call you.”
Hugo was severely shaken. Colonel Rayne was scarlet with exploded anger, and cool reason was only making him worse. Admittedly, he had been drunkenly irresponsible that night, and two valuable presentation goblets had been smashed, but he was going to ruin himself in replacing them, and the oak paneling had already been undetectably repaired at his own expense. It was not as if he had done anything dishonorable or performed his insane jump in a public restaurant. The commanding officer was taking an unreasonable attitude over what was, after all, not the worst breach of mess discipline in the history of the regiment. But knowing further intervention would certainly worsen the case for Jack, he clamped his lips together and raged inwardly.
The senior officer turned his attention to the dark-haired lieutenant. “You have not yet ventured a word, Mr. Markham. I ask you now to give me a complete account of your part in this deplorable affair. I must, warn you that your friendship with Captain Esterly should not influence you in any way. You will relate it as through the eyes of the Officer of the Day. Do you understand? Bear in mind that your career is at stake.”
“Yes, sir.” With a straight face and a steady voice he related the facts. But he was very worried. A court-martial would be hard on Letty. They had no money in reserve. What would they live on if he should fall foul of this man’s temper? Then the colonel asked why he had not prevented the groom from bringing the horse to the mess. Jack hesitated for the first time. “I was improperly dressed.”
“What, sir?” Rayne was scandalized. “What if the guard had been called out?”
There was nothing to be gained by attempting an answer to that, so Jack went on to explain that once Captain Esterly was mounted on his famous charger it would have been more dangerous to try to prevent the jump than allow it.
“Nothing more would have occurred if it had not been for a fall of plates frightening the beast, Colonel. The jump itself was executed superbly, without damage.”
“The quality of the horsemanship is irrelevant. Captain Esterly has been at great pains to acquaint the British cavalry with his ideas on equestrian arts,” said Colonel Rayne bitterly. “The fact that he did not break his neck, or that of his mount, is sufficient description in this case. You are dismissed.”
Hugo remained standing in front of the desk while the older man looked him over with great deliberation. Six feet tall, athletically built, a law unto himself and a great success with fresh young females, this young captain embodied everything he himself could have been — and was not. He had never liked Hugo Esterly. There had been occasions in the past when guilty knowledge of his personal feelings had led the colonel to temper his judgment, but the young man himself had placed the ideal opportunity into his hands, at last.
“You, no doubt, feel secure in the knowledge that I can charge you with no military crime, as I can Mr. Markham. It is nowhere written that you cannot bring a horse into the mess — indeed, in some regiments tradition demands it on certain occasions. I also note your readiness to pay for and make good the damage you caused. As a gentleman you could not do otherwise.” He rose and walked around to stand before Hugo. “However, as commanding officer of this regiment I have a right to expect certain standards from my officers. You have never met them.”
Hugo blinked. “I beg your pardon, sir?”
“You have never conformed to the requirements of an officer of Hussars — this regiment of Hussars. I have bided my time for the sake of your brother, in the hope that you might acquire some of the same steadiness of character that makes him such an excellent officer, but you have made it impossible for me to keep quiet any longer.”
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