Spanish Tricks (Man of Conflict Series, Book 5)

by Andrew Wareham

  “Sir Septimus! Do come in and take a seat, sir! I had not realised your ship was to dock today.”

  “The bulk of the convoy is still out in the Estuary, sir, most of its ships not handy enough to catch this tide. I was aboard a big Levanter, however, capable of pointing higher than most merchantmen and able to save the hours at anchor as a result. The master told me that Levanters are normally fast sailers, due to the presence of the Barbary pirates to keep them on their toes.”

  “I would not be part of their trade, Sir Septimus – too great a chance of guarding the harem doors while talking falsetto!”

  They laughed together, Septimus mostly in relief – senior officials never exchanged jokes except with favoured officers.

  “Now then, Sir Septimus – these damned, dishonourable French! One never knows what trick they will be up to next. Lord Wellington judged it wiser to remove you from Spain and is most insistent that you should be continued in employment, and if possible shown some mark of favour. Difficult, of course, with you having your baronetcy – you cannot conceivably be made baron as a lieutenant-colonel who is not even a brigadier; the precedent would be disastrous! Every rich man’s son who had bought his promotions would be demanding his own peerage next week and citing you as an example. A successful campaign as brigadier – that would be a different matter, sir! But not yet, it cannot be done.”

  “I must say, sir, that I was amazed to be made baronet – and very proud – and have no expectations of a seat in the House of Lords. I have a son who will inherit an honourable title, more than ever I had hoped for.”

  The official smiled condescendingly – as a merchant’s son, Septimus had said exactly the right words.

  “That may of course be so, Sir Septimus, yet an able and loyal soldier may expect much of his country. The Prince Regent is not to be found in London at this season – high summer is Brighton! There will be no levees for two months or so, which means that thought can be given to exactly what mark of favour may be attained, sir. I am quite sure that something will be done for you, Sir Septimus, given a little time. For the meanwhile, a return to your estate, sir, and domesticity – I understand your lady has presented you with twin boys, sir – another source of congratulations! Be sure, Sir Septimus, that you will be in receipt of a letter before harvest!”

  Septimus had heard official promises before and would believe this one when something actually occurred. As was obligatory he smirked and bowed and made his thanks, as mere soldiers must when in the presence of officialdom – the public servants had caused far more casualties among British officers than ever Bonaparte achieved.

  “I shall take my post-chaise early in the morning, sir and trust I shall be at home in time for dinner. I need some time for my family, I think, sir, and must hope that relaxation will cure the last of the headaches from my wound.”

  Mention of the wound, and the implication of convalescence, could give reason to do nothing for Septimus for at least a year; if that was the official’s intention he would be glad of the excuse so generously provided.

  “A kick to the head, one recalls, Sir Septimus – a wound that has been known to be fatal on occasion. I am glad you are so well recovered, sir. Do you expect to be fit to make, say, an ocean crossing early next spring?”

  An ‘ocean crossing’ – officialese normally for a posting to Canada, less commonly to the Sugar Islands. Not India, because that involved traversing two oceans, the expression thus ineligible.

  Canada, a healthy posting, had much to recommend it, especially with the possibility looming of a pretty little war with the States. The forces involved would be quite small, the province of major-generals and brigadiers in all probability, with the chance of a little campaign or two, a few towns taken that would seem very impressive on a map. Just the sort of war a soldier liked.

  The Sugar Islands, on the other hand, were undesirable. It was not impossible that he might suffer a relapse on receipt of orders to the Caribbean.

  “I am sure to be very ready to serve as demanded by next spring, sir.”

  The official was delighted at that response – he expected very little of soldiers, was quite content if he merely received blind obedience from them. He made a mental note that Sir Septimus was indeed ‘one of the right sort’, just as General Hill had said in his despatch, though Daddy Hill was so kindly a fellow that it was almost impossible for him not to find something good to say of any man. Lord Wellington was urgent that Sir Septimus must be at minimum protected in his career, and General Hill believed that he should be promoted to a place of responsibility if at all possible; there would certainly be employment for Sir Septimus in the spring, and it must be feasible to discover a little something before then.

  “Home again, my dear, and well before my time! Major Perceval has the battalion and I am to take half-pay over the winter at least, perhaps longer. A successful excursion, I believe – we may well be given a garrison posting in a pleasant location as a reward.”

  Marianne could only be glad to see her husband, though distressed to observe the white streak in his hair, the evidence of his wound.

  “Come to the nursery, husband, you will wish to greet the twins!”

  Fine strong boys, Septimus was glad to see and say, as like as two peas in a pod; all babies looked much the same, he believed, but these two perhaps more so.

  “How does one tell t’other from which, my dear?”

  She did not approve of his excursion into the Hampshire vernacular, or perhaps was amazed that he might think she could not tell her sons apart.

  “George is on the left and Henry on the right, husband! You may note, if it is necessary, that George has a scarlet tag on his frock while Henry has blue. It is easy to remember – the red is George, the blue Henry.”

  “I shall try my best. They do seem to be big lads, do they not. What of Jack and Sarah?”

  “In the schoolroom and will be released in a few minutes. Jack is reading with some fluency already, you will be pleased to know!”

  “I am delighted – he is very young to have his letters!”

  “He seems to be a very clever boy, husband.”

  “What of brother George’s children, my dear? I presume Amelia is not yet to wed?”

  “She is close to an engagement, I believe, to a young gentleman of the County, and an eldest son at that!”

  “Respectability indeed, Marianne. George will be so pleased!”

  “I believe he may be, husband. Hush for the while, the little ones should sleep a few minutes more. You may hold them later.”

  Portland, the butler, had provided a pot of coffee by the time they reached the withdrawing room and Septimus sat with a sigh of pleasure.

  “The roads in England are still very bad, my dear – but compared to those in Portugal, they are truly modern!”

  “I had heard that Portugal and Spain are backward countries, Septimus. Are you back for your health, sir? Are you wounded again?”

  “No. The blow to my head has healed and I no longer suffer the migraine from it, though my poor vanity is sad hit – I am white, I fear me!”

  “But very distinguished, nonetheless, sir! You did not take another injury, at Fuentes de Onoro, perhaps?”

  He grinned, somewhat sheepishly.

  “I had not thought to worry you, my dear. We were involved, certainly, but not perhaps to so great an extent as some might have suggested. The thing is, my dear, that I was attached to General Picton’s division, and he was determined to take his share of the glory of the day and so played up our part, to some degree. A battle differs according to whoever chooses to tell it, you know! Add to that, Lord Wellington has an affection for me, I believe, and General Hill as well. You will meet General Hill one day, I shall take care to ensure that, for he is a true gentleman of the finest, kindest character.”

  “What of Lord Wellington, husband?”

  “A brilliant general, but a far harder man than Daddy Hill, yet honest in his habits. I have a g
reat regard for him.”

  “So… the newssheets that talked of you leaping downhill, sword in hand, driving the French before you at the head of your men, were perhaps exaggerating the case?”

  “I am sure I did not leap.”

  “Enough, sir!”

  “Quite. Cooper should have unpacked the travelling bag by now. I shall call to him.”

  Septimus left the room, conferred with Cooper and returned, chamois leather bag in hand, as Marianne had hoped might be his intent.

  “More rubies!” She ran to the mirror, gleefully. “Portugal must be a rich land, Septimus, for these are even better than the last – and they were wonderful! Mr Abrams took them from me and sold them on, for they were old pieces and not in our taste at all. He replaced them with some very fine stones, sir. I shall show you later. He shall not change these, though! I shall wish to wear these exactly as they are, despite all my Mama may say! They shall be another heirloom for Sarah, sir.”

  “They will, that is one of my hopes for them.”

  She turned reluctantly from the mirror and thought again of her first question.

  “I fell foul of a traitor in Spain, a grandee who claimed to be British in his affections while currying favour with the French. The Count is now in his grave, but there are those who feel that he should not have died, and so I am home from Spain for my own safety, and so that there will be no cause for added contention between the British Army and the Spaniards. Some of the Spanish are a very poor sort of gentleman, you know!”

  “So, you must never return to Spain, sir?”

  “No. Spain is not for me, ever again, I am glad to say. There is a whisper of Canada – which is a healthy sort of place, or so I understand. If that is so, then it will be the whole family together, which is much to be preferred!”

  “Very much indeed!”

  “In any case, I shall not be employed before the spring, so I am told – so we may plan for seven or eight months in England, which must be a pleasure. Half-pay will be a minor nuisance, but we are sufficiently before-hand with the world that it must not be too great a problem. Brother George talked of some four thousands as my share of the last year’s profits, you know, and that is a comfortable sum, I believe.”

  “Additionally, husband, the rents of the farmland are rising still, as the price of wheat grows higher and higher. The new farm down on the water-meadows is profiting high, or so I am told. We are far better off than my father, for example – which I must not gloat about, I know, for Papa is really very pleased for you, and even more, of course, for me!”

  “I am glad of that. How does your brother fare? He must soon be considering marriage, must he not?”

  “I do not believe that is in his mind yet, Septimus, though he is of more than an appropriate age. I feel that he is too content as a bachelor, may not be the sort that husbands are made of!”

  “Oh, Lord, you do not imply…”

  “I fear that I may well, sir. Of course, sad though the occurrence may be, there is no entail and so young Jack stands first in the line of inheritance.”

  Septimus raised an eyebrow at that, shaking his head.

  “Would not you be first, my dear?”

  “But that is the same thing, is it not?”

  “No, not at all. You might, for example, be left the property in your name and at your disposal – I believe it might require a trust, but that may be arranged. While Jack inherited all from me, it could be the case that you left some substantial sums to Sarah and the twins, thus securing their futures. That for another day, however – we may be entirely astray in our surmise, after all.”

  “We may indeed, husband. Not to worry – my father is still fit and well in himself, has many years in front of him yet. What must we do in the next while?”

  “Visits to your parents and my brother, of course – they must come first, as courtesy demands. After that, a letter to Major Taft to inform him that I am in the country and would much like to call upon him at some time in the near future.”

  “He wrote a very polite letter on reaching England to assure me that you were well when last he saw you. He is a kind-hearted gentleman.”

  “He is too, and I pray that he may recover from his wound sufficiently to become active again.”

  Jack and Sarah appeared at that point, released from the schoolroom and the recently employed governess, begging permission to greet their Papa.

  “Are you here for long, sir?”

  “Until next year, Sarah, and then, when next I must go to a posting, it is very probable that you may all come with me. It is likely that I shall be granted command of a garrison in Canada, and that will give us a large house and four or five years together.”

  That was a long time and she was very glad to hear it. Jack would also be pleased, she said, though he was not yet sure of how long a year might be; she would read in her books to discover what might be said of Canada and she would explain all to him.

  Jack was shyer, and quieter, very content to allow his big sister to run his life and talk for him; he did, however, manage to whisper that he had two brothers now, was his Papa aware?

  “Yes, Jack, I visited them in the cradles just a few minutes ago. They are fine and large young fellows, are they not?”

  Jack thought they were, and suspected they might grow taller than him, one day.

  “I managed to find one or two little keepsakes while I was in Spain and Portugal. I think Cooper may have unpacked them for me. I have a new manservant as well, his name is Atkins; and there is Peter who is a groom and translator and general helper.”

  “What of Dinesh, Papa? Is he no longer with us?” Sarah had quite liked Dinesh.

  “He fell in battle, my dear. At the same time that I was wounded to my head – where the white hair is now – poor Dinesh was stabbed by a sabre.”

  “So he is gone, Papa, like brother Jonathan?”

  “He is, my dear.”

  Septimus had wondered on occasion whether his daughter remembered her brother; he could not decide whether to be glad or sad that she should.

  “Papa, do you think you should stop being a soldier? It sounds a very dangerous trade, you know.”

  “I am a good soldier, and a lucky one, my dear. While I am a soldier, I am well rewarded by the king, and we can live in a big house because of it. I have done very well as a soldier. I am Sir Septimus, because I am a soldier, and Jack will become ‘Sir Jack’ one of these days. So, I must continue as a soldier, because it does so much for the family. As well, Sarah, although it is a dangerous business, it can be great fun sometimes.”

  She did not understand; no doubt all would become plain when she grew older.

  Cooper came up with the presents for the two, his advice having played a major role in their selection. There was the mandatory doll for Sarah, but also a huge leather-bound book of water-colour views of Spain, each thick sheet nearly two feet square and protected by tissue paper; there was a paragraph of text with each picture. She sat entranced, unable to speak for the sheer joy of the gift. A little while and she asked of the meaning of the words, all in Spanish.

  “Peter will be able to help a little. What of your governess? Has she any Spanish?”

  “I do not know, sir. She is a very clever lady, so she may have. She will enjoy the book, too, I am sure. Oh, and thank you for the doll as well, sir.”

  Septimus would remember in future – books for his daughter.

  There was a set of soldiers for Jack, nearly one hundred of them in lead and with Spanish uniforms; they were already laid out in parade order on the carpeting.

  “Please, Papa,” Jack whispered, “might I possibly have some English soldiers as well, to beat them in battle?”

  “I shall discover some, Jack, for your birthday perhaps.”

  Just a month later a letter arrived from London, requiring Septimus to report at Horse Guards at his convenience, but preferably in the early future.

  “I shall send for a post-chaise for tom
orrow, my dear. Four horses for I must be no more than one day on the road.”

  “But it says, ‘at your convenience’, husband!”

  “Yes, that means they do not expect to see me today, and will be surprised if I arrive tomorrow; they will, however, be amazed if I am not knocking on their doors by the day after.”

  “Who are you to see, Septimus?”

  “An unknown – to me, that is. The Honourable John Danvers – who must be the son of a baron or viscount, I believe, if he is an ‘Honourable’. Probably not the eldest boy, or he would not be at Horse Guards… I know of no politician of that name, so one assumes him to be either a permanent official or the secretary to a great man, doing his apprenticeship in public life before taking a seat, perhaps.”

  Mr Danvers was a gentleman of late middle age, and one who was used to the quiet exercise of discreet power; he was well dressed, too expensively to be no more than a secretary or even a senior clerk.

  “Sir Septimus – commendably prompt, sir, which is as one might expect of you. Your reputation is not that of a man who is given to sloth and lethargy! I have the honour to be an adviser to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent on certain matters, primarily those relating to the various rewards that may be offered to those deserving of the kingdom. It is very clear, Sir Septimus, that you acted most vigorously to scotch a nasty plot by the French to destroy the integrity of Spain. Various sources of information all insist that a certain grandee, whose name need not be bandied about in offices where incautious speech may be overheard, was to accept a dukedom under the French, and was then to suborn others of the aristocracy to take similar honours and then declare themselves kings in what had been provinces of Spain. He was to be paid a very large sum in gold, by the way.”

  “That surprises me, Mr Danvers. He gave the impression of a rich man who cared not for mere money.”

  “Judging by the extent of the debts he left, Sir Septimus, he cared nothing at all for money, for other people’s money, that is.”

  “Perhaps I may be unpopular among his creditors, sir. Debts tend to die with the man, do they not?”