Spanish Tricks (Man of Conflict Series, Book 5)

by Andrew Wareham

  Some magistrates did no more than take evidence of identity and check that a contract of employment had been signed; they would then commit the absconder to prison for his or her three months. Others, like Septimus, would permit the defendant to speak, to give a reason for running away.

  Most would offer no better excuse than that they were bored, sought excitement in a town rather than in a rural village. The occasional maidservant would accuse the master of molesting her – though such cases became very rare in the locality as soon as it became known that Septimus would listen to and investigate such charges, and even prosecute. A few would simply have taken a lover and run off to be with him or her. Some would insist that the master was no more than a slave-driver, demanding work for every daylight hour.

  Septimus had to make a decision in such cases, without advice or assistance and with no appeals court to correct his errors. It could be an unpleasant burden.

  He decided that he would be glad when the winter was over and he could escape the responsibilities he had so casually assumed when he had bought his house and land.

  February came in hard, snow on the ground and wind set in the east meaning no prospect of a thaw, and a letter arrived from London.

  “Please to present myself at Horse Guards, would you believe, Marianne! In this weather!”

  “You must go?”

  “I must. Once the offer is made – whatever it may be – one must accept or retire forever into the outer darkness. I am favoured just now – but I have no rights as such. You know the saying – ‘the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away’; that would apply to me if ever I was to show myself ungrateful.”

  “What would make you safe, give you the right to be listened to at Horse Guards, husband?”

  “A barony coupled with a landed estate and at least two constituencies; a peer with money and two votes in the House of Commons may do or say whatever he wishes. A commission as a general? Certainly, my lord. A command for your idiot son? Most definitely, my lord! But a mere baronet, a half-pay colonel of foot – no, sir! Nothing to you, unless we love you dearly and you have good friends at Westminster.”

  “We live in a sad world, Septimus.”

  “We do, my dear – but I am a merchant’s son, and look at my position in life now! It is possible to carve one’s way up in our world – with a modicum of luck and an amount of determination, and a willingness to risk my neck!”

  “I could wish you were somewhat less foolhardy, Septimus.”

  “No choice, my dear. I am the sword and the shield of old Albion. Because of my willingness to brave the dastardly foeman, old ladies can sleep sound in their Mayfair beds. I must show myself to be the bold hero, so that lesser mortals can admire me and know that the shores of England remain unsullied by the barbarian’s tread. I can assure you that I did not leap down the hills of Fuentes de Onoro skirling a wild war cry – but while there are those who believe I did, I must profit.”

  There was no alternative.

  “Go to London, husband! We have five children in the house now, and must look to their future!”

  Thirty miles travelled on each of two days, the remaining ten bringing Septimus to Horse Guards on his third day of travel. A weary Cooper took his baggage to the hotel, deciding that he was definitely getting too old for this game.

  The Duke of York was re-established in his office, his period of exile ended, and he granted Septimus a personal interview, the more welcome for the blazing sea-coal fire in his room.

  “Bad roads, Sir Septimus?”

  “I left Micheldever in Hampshire on Tuesday morning, Your Grace.”

  “A slow journey, Sir Septimus!”

  “And cold!”

  “We have it in mind to expose you to more of cold, Sir Septimus, in Canada, on the border with the United States. You would go as a brigadier, of course, with a single battalion of foot to your name and the commission to call out the Militia and raise their numbers and train them sufficiently that they might defend their own homes and throw back any invasion force. You would be working over a vast area, and with too few men to defend at its borders and hence the need to concentrate at inland points and bring a force to bear against the invaders then.”

  It could be done, was not at all impractical as a means of defending a sparsely populated land.

  “I would quite possibly think to raise small bodies of guerrilleros, Your Grace, to cut off the invaders, to leave them with no communications or convoys, to cut up their rear and destroy stragglers and small garrisons, as is done in Spain.”

  The Duke was instinctively opposed to the idea of the common people organising wars for themselves; he was slow to give approval.

  “You have seen the war in Spain, Sir Septimus. Is it truly as wicked as report paints it?”

  “More so, Your Grace! No decent person could put pen to paper to describe all of the scenes there. There has been evil done that I could not have imagined, and still cannot comprehend, Your Grace. God knows, Your Grace, I am no saint, no Methody Sunday School preacher, but I have seen vileness there that has literally sickened me.”

  “You are very convincing, Sir Septimus. Why has it happened?”

  Septimus shook his head, had no answer.

  “Many of my young officers – and some of their elders, too – have asked me that question. I do not know, cannot believe that any human being could do such work, Your Grace, and must, against my will, believe Bonaparte to be the agent of the Devil. I can offer no more satisfactory an answer.”

  “If that be the case, then God help us all, Sir Septimus!”

  “Amen, Your Grace!”

  “To business, Sir Septimus – we must not dwell on such evil. Will you go to Canada, sir?”

  “I shall indeed, Your Grace. I would wish to take my family with me, to such a post.”

  “Halifax, initially, then you may choose another place at your discretion. A full staff, sir, to accompany you, and of your selection, and we shall find a battalion to go with you. I must imagine you will be some four or five years in Canada. If you are successful, sir, then you might well discover this to be your last military commission; a post on one of the Boards, or perhaps a Governorship, will be well possible. You are still a young man, Sir Septimus, able, for example, to do much in the Cape in South Africa, or even to civilise Botany Bay – though that may be beyond the powers of mankind!”

  “You flatter me, Your Grace. I will be very willing to serve wherever I may be asked.”

  “You have demonstrated that, Sir Septimus. Your family is a model for all to follow and your brother, Mr George Pearce, is to be made a Knight Bachelor, sir. He will be an example to all of the people of Hampshire, and will be called to London next month.”

  “He will be so very proud, Your Grace!”

  “He has much to be proud of, Sir Septimus!”

  Septimus bowed his head, humbly – or so he hoped.

  “Your orders will come within the month, Sir Septimus, and you will look to sail in the June convoy. Your appointment will become common knowledge within two or perhaps three weeks, sir.”

  Septimus bowed himself out of the office and made his way to his hotel, looking forward to a hot meal and a drink. He sat down afterwards to consider all that he must do.

  Tailoring was a first imperative; he must be fully uniformed.

  Next must come a visit to the Tafts, to beg their assistance in the matter of his military family. He was to appoint ‘a full staff’, so the Duke had said. That was not a matter to be approached lightly, for it offered any number of possibilities.

  “For Canada, Sir Septimus? To fight the Americans, one must imagine. A brigade of your own containing one battalion of redcoats and some number of militia units, both horse and foot, no doubt.”

  “All unspecified, Major Taft.”

  “Good! You require a captain and two lieutenants and two or three of ensigns or cornets, to be gallopers and if needs be to take command of forces of militia. Other ranks may be
appointed as needed in Canada. There will be horses in plenty there, no need to take your own across the Atlantic. It will soon become known that you are looking for young men to go out to a fighting command, at your heels. Have you relatives who will wish to come with you, Sir Septimus?”

  “No, Major Taft. No Pearces, but perhaps I should speak to my lady about the matter – she may well have.”

  “Very good, sir. Allow, let us say, for one or two ensigns of your own. That gives room for four or five appointments more. There will be a number of young gentlemen who will wish to go to war with you, in the hope of distinguishing themselves in your service, of becoming known to their peers. Some of them will be younger sons of good family, and very useful as allies. You will not know them, but I shall; as a major, I cannot serve in a brigadier’s personal staff, but I shall make very sure that the right sort do, if you will permit, sir.”

  “I would be so very obliged if you would, Major Taft!”

  “My pleasure, sir, and my honour. I should accompany you to Scott, by the way, I need to be fitted for a new set of uniforms with a correctly cut left arm. Then I think we might just drop in at White’s and chat with a few acquaintances, and let the good word quietly spread. We will hear as well just how soon we may expect a war with America – there will be someone there who knows the latest word.”

  “That sounds an excellent idea. A thought occurs to me, by the way; I am in need of a pianoforte for the house. Where might I find such?”

  “Clementi’s warehouse, Sir Septimus; the repository for all instruments, but the pianoforte especially, he being a maestro. His stock includes vast quantities of sheet music, much of it of the very newest, for he travels much into the Germanies.”

  “How does he do that when we are at war?”

  “Musicians and artists and doctors and scientific people, they all have their passports and may travel unhindered on the cartel ship that plies the Channel. Even the villain Bonaparte is not wholly uncivilised, you know.”

  “Remarkable!”

  “We must have our music, Sir Septimus, and the performers to play and sing it for us. Perhaps the odd one may take a letter that he should not or pass on a little information of more than artistic value, but it seems that only a tiny amount of that sort of thing goes on. So both sides allow the travel to continue.”

  It was very strange, Septimus thought, but war was not a logical sort of business, or not that he had discovered.

  Scott himself showed his face, smiling kindly at Septimus and discussing the cut of his jackets with Major Taft before briefly commenting to Septimus that he had known a brigadier’s braid would be required before too many years had passed.

  “You have the Canada posting, Sir Septimus, in that part known sometimes as Lower Canada, I believe. Distinguished by the large number of Loyalist Americans who fled there after the American War. It will be easy to raise a militia there, one suspects, Sir Septimus, and there will be any number of older men who will make officers again. I seem to remember that many of Banastre Tarleton’s people are to be found there.”

  They walked to White’s afterwards, Major Taft discussing Scott’s words.

  “You must, it would seem, make General Tarleton’s acquaintance, Sir Septimus. Scott would not have mentioned his name except for a purpose.”

  “I met General Tarleton in Scott’s presence, immediately after Corunna, you know. He was interested to know my opinion of Moore.”

  “Clearly, Sir Septimus, you made a positive impression on him. He is a Whig, more or less, but has made himself an embarrassment with his support of the Slave Trade and we will be unlikely to see him in White’s, but it may well be possible to bump into him elsewhere. Difficult this politics business – White’s is said to be the club of the Whigs, Brooke’s for the Tories, but neither is exclusive to their party, and both will cold-shoulder political types who are in bad odour. I wonder what may be arranged? Did you bring your dress with you, sir?”

  “Lady Pearce insisted that I should, Major Taft. Just, I quote, in case it might be needed.”

  “Very good! I shall discover whether it might not be of some function. You may just possibly find yourself invited to a Society function in the next day or two, Sir Septimus.”

  Major Taft evidently busied himself to some effect; Septimus received a card of invitation to Lady de Vere’s ball next morning, with a note of apology for the invitation being so late but hoping that he could even so attend. It was for the same evening. A second note, from Major Taft, arrived soon after saying that he would bring his carriage around at nine o’clock.

  “Very good, Sir Septimus. The red coat sits well on big men. You have the advantage on weaselly little fellows such as myself, Sir Septimus; you cannot help but look impressive.”

  Perhaps one in ten of the men present in the ballroom wore the scarlet, and a few sported naval blue, but even after twenty years of war, the great majority were civilians. Septimus looked around the room, saw one other soldier with an empty sleeve and a sailor scarred across his face; all the rest seemed plump, well-fed, pink-skinned and sheltered – they had not seen the winds and sun of campaign.

  “Mayfair and war do not seem to mix, Major Taft.”

  “Never have, Sir Septimus. The most of these folk have far too much to do, and of such importance; they cannot go to the battlefield, although they might well send off a younger son or brother or two to uphold the family name. Our hostess, sir!”

  Lady de Vere was in her fifties, and certainly not underfed, her ball-gown straining to confine her within the realms of decency. Septimus found himself hoping that Royalty would not suddenly choose to attend; was she forced into a deep curtsey then the results might be quite overwhelming.

  “Major Taft, I am so pleased to see you so much recovered, and this must be Colonel Sir Septimus Pearce, must it not? There can be few men of your stature in Town, sir!”

  Septimus was perhaps six inches taller than the average height, and held himself straight-backed. It was inevitable that he drew attention. He bowed correctly, if not elegantly, over my lady’s hand.

  Major Taft led him in the direction of the buffet where a waiter presented them with champagne; there was no choice in their drink, although Septimus had small love for the wine.

  “At war with France for two decades, and yet our cellars still hold champagne, Major Taft!”

  “Smuggled quite openly, Sir Septimus! Who cares for law when rich thirsts must be assuaged?”

  Major Taft was well known, in part due to his wound which conveyed hero status, at least to the more impressionable of the female population and to many of the young men who were not themselves prepared to fight but were very willing to salute those who would. He introduced Septimus to some few of them, and to a number of older men, more sensible in their comments.

  “You do not dance, Sir Septimus?”

  He did, but had not for some considerable time and was very unwilling to show clumsy in this company. He smiled at the young matron, very obviously in the family way and thus not sporting on the dance floor herself.

  “Not for the while, ma’am. I have picked up minor injuries just lately and might well stumble – which is not what a partner might look for, I suspect.”

  “I agree, sir. I am Mrs Perceval, wife to the brother of your Major, sir.”

  “I am pleased indeed to meet you, ma’am. I have a great value for Major Perceval, ma’am and must be glad to meet his kin.”

  “My husband is on the floor at the moment, but must wish to be introduced, Sir Septimus. We had hoped that we might come into contact while you were in England, but I am not in the way of travelling distances just at the moment, as you may have noticed!”

  “No indeed, ma’am. Not wise to travel at all on English roads in winter time, and in your case, definitely forbidden!”

  The music ended and the elder Perceval came to his wife’s side.

  “Duty done, my dear! I have danced with the hostess and with at least two other a
nd younger ladies. I may now attempt to enjoy the ball.”

  “You have not met Colonel Sir Septimus Pearce, I believe, Mr Perceval.”

  “I have not and am very pleased to do so, sir. My brother has told me much of you! Rumour insists that you are bound for a command in Canada, Sir Septimus?”

  “I am, Mr Perceval. It was confirmed to me just this week – which is why I am here in London, and must remain at the sufferance of my tailor.”

  “You will require a staff, if you are to be a brigadier, Sir Septimus.”

  “I shall, sir, and Major Taft is assisting me to discover the right sort of person. Obviously, Mr Perceval, your family must have a claim to my attention…”

  “I shall talk to young Taft myself, Sir Septimus. In the nature of things, we have met since he took his wound – my brother wrote me, begging me to at least visit Major Taft and help him regain his spirits. I am full of respect for him that he will go back to the wars after such an experience.”

  “He is a brave young gentleman. His men love him – and your brother – for standing ever to the front and waving them forward. I have been very proud to call them my officers, sir, and other battalion commanders have, I know, envied me for my luck in having them at my side.”

  They saw Major Taft making his way around the room to them, smiling his thanks as way was made for him.

  “They mean well, that I know, but it becomes tedious when every man and woman steps to one side for ‘the poor crippled major’. Good evening, ma’am – I see you are flourishing. Mr Perceval, how are you?”

  “Well indeed, Major Taft and I can see that you are much improved. It must indeed be a trial to you, the kindly sympathy of well-meaning gentlefolk. A pity that they cannot comprehend all that such an injury entails.”

  “It is a way of growing far older in a short time, sir. I do suppose that I must have remained boyish at heart for far too long… Not to worry, sir, these are far too serious a set of thoughts to be entertained at a ball!”