“They are, Major Taft. I was in process of informing Sir Septimus that my lady has a young brother, a boy of eighteen, who has recently purchased a pair of colours in a battalion of foot and who might well be suited by a place as a galloper.”
“I am quite certain that Sir Septimus could find a vacancy at his side for the young gentleman, Mr Perceval. Where is he just now?”
“In the North Country – aid to the civil power.”
They grimaced sympathetically; it was not the best of introductions to military life.
“Sir Septimus is to sail with the June convoy, Mr Perceval. Was young Mr Martinsyde to present himself at the house in Micheldever at the beginning of May, I have no doubt he could find a great deal to do.”
Later in the evening Major Taft explained that Mr Perceval was married to the elder daughter of Viscount Higham - the family name being Martinsyde; he was a lesser but known public figure, very rich and often consulted by government, being an influential member of the Party. His youngest son must make a career for himself, in the nature of things, but would receive considerable aid from his father, not merely in the form of a generous allowance. If Sir Septimus was to become the young man’s military patron then it would bring him to the father’s attention…
“A very good catch, Sir Septimus! I have one or two others in my immediate mind, and there will be some who will seek to bring themselves to your attention. We must attain a balance, of course, for there will be work to do and so some of them must be competent as well as of useful family.”
“Will it be possible to take on a young man who is merely a good soldier, Major Taft?”
“While he is a very good soldier, yes, sir, because he will bring himself to the attention of Horse Guards and be known as one of yours.”
General Tarleton was present, less handsome than in his dashing youth but still within reason slender in his form and active in his habits. He left the dance floor to greet Septimus, avoiding a handshake, as was his habit, still being conscious of the fingers lost from his right hand in the American War.
“You are bound for Lower Canada, I hear, Sir Septimus.”
“I am Sir Banastre, due to sail in June, or so it is currently planned. I believe that many of the men you commanded so dashingly are still to be found there.”
“Exiled from their native hearths, Sir Septimus, and no few of them still willing to display their loyalty.”
Major Taft was still at Septimus’ side, raised an eyebrow at this.
Septimus noted the warning, responded cautiously.
“I believe that I am to call out the Militia, or its local equivalent, Sir Banastre. I have no doubt that they will number your men among them.”
“They will, of a certainty, Sir Septimus. Was you to consider raising new units, then I am sure any number of them, and their sons, even grandsons, I doubt not, would present themselves for your consideration.”
‘Consideration’ implied the request for commissioned status; if the gentlemen happened to be in bad odour locally then Septimus might tread upon a number of toes if he employed them in command.
“Fighting men will always be welcome, Sir Banastre, though in what rank, I cannot commit myself in advance of discovery of the immediate situation. Be very sure, though, of my wish to recognise the sacrifice that these men have made in their loyalty to the Crown.”
Septimus was quite proud of that little speech – it sounded very willing while promising nothing at all. Major Taft nodded approvingly.
“I see Lady Napier beckoning, Sir Septimus. You should be introduced to her, sir.”
Septimus exchanged bows with Sir Banastre and obediently followed Taft across the ballroom.
“What was that all about, Major Taft?”
“Damned if I know, exactly, sir. Sir Banastre is not quite as clever as he believes he is, and is renowned for wily but failed scheming. He much wished to take the command in the Peninsula, but did not obtain it. He was very much involved in opposition to the repeal of slave-trading – having two brothers very deeply involved in the business – but failed to prevent the Bill passing through Parliament. Now, who knows what he is into, sir? He may well have some little plan to use the coming war to conquer and annex some part of New England, as it is called, possibly using Loyalists from Lower Canada. No doubt, sir, if his scheme succeeds, we shall see King Banastre sitting an American throne.”
“Good luck to him, Major Taft. He will build his little kingdom without my aid.”
Lady Napier had little to say to them, but she was of a military family and took pains always to greet notable soldiers, and she was not to be treated casually.
Septimus stayed a week in Town, increasingly bored, but usefully employed in meeting people and buying a few items for his wardrobe. He dropped into White’s twice – being known to be in Town it would have seemed out of the ordinary had he not. He bumped into Carruthers on his second visit, was greeted with delight, sat and talked and drank a glass of wine and was treated as a boon companion; he was quite pleased to have to turn down an invitation for dinner, having committed himself to business in Hampshire before the day.
“Mr Carruthers, Sir Septimus? He will wish to fill you with very good port and brandy and send you home bloated with his hospitality, all amazed at his good fellowship and riches. If you are very lucky, he will give you a tour of his gallery of Old Masters, all bought for him by knowledgeable agents and at very high prices. A few of his closest acquaintance are granted entry to his more private display of, I am assured, some of the more perverse pornographic art to be discovered in the whole of Europe. I have not been granted the privilege myself, but a friend assured me that he has some very nasty tastes indeed. A peculiar man, it would seem.”
“Is he tolerated solely for his wealth, Major Taft, or has he any other virtue?”
“He has bought up some landed estates as they have come available, but only those which possess one or more constituencies. As a result he owns at least seven Members of Parliament, and a man who disposes of seven votes in the Commons is not to be sneezed at! He wants a peerage, of course, and is increasingly irritated that he has yet to achieve it; I doubt he can be refused for much longer. I rather suspect, Sir Septimus, that he would dearly like to become one of your patrons – for you are to be a Brigadier very soon, and, provided you are successful in Canada, you must become a man of some influence thereafter. The wars must come to an end eventually and the bulk of generals must become unemployed, but it is likely that you will be given something under government, or so it is generally agreed. You will not become one of the great of the land, but you will be an advisor to them, quite possibly.”
“Why? There are other soldiers who match my deeds, and surpass them in many cases.”
Major Taft nodded and then took a deep breath, a man about to perform an unpleasant task.
“I must be frank, Sir Septimus. Your birth is such that you would in normal circumstances be a rank outsider. Merchant class, a blacksmith as a paternal grandfather, you have said; your mother born to a yeoman farmer. Then, to pile Pelion upon Ossa, your father and then your brother have made themselves wealthy, richer than the great bulk of the County – and that is a sin not easily forgiven! Not merely an upstart, but successful! But, to counter that, the country is increasingly entering into financial difficulties – this war is bankrupting us – and the government wants, needs in fact, not just the taxes of the merchant classes, but loans from them too. The new middle order of folk must be brought to purchase Consols, to put their money into all of the different stocks the government is placing on the markets.”
Septimus could not see why that should be; surely, the merchants could be taxed more.
“They could indeed, Sir Septimus – but many might well turn their assets into gold and take ship to America in response. The merchant community must be kept sweet, Sir Septimus. One way of doing that is to reward them for their virtues. You, sir, have made yourself into a soldier of some distinction
– and that is useful indeed; by publicly rewarding you, Sir Septimus, the Crown demonstrates that any of its subjects may rise to the heights, that every true Englishman may bask in his King’s favour.”
Septimus pondered that point and slowly was forced to accept it as valid.
“My brother, Mr George Pearce, is to become Sir George within a very few weeks, Major Taft. I had not looked further than the obvious reasons – but every merchant in Hampshire will know that what one successful man can achieve, so may they. It is a signal, you might say, to every one of them. Very wise, as well!”
“My father explained it to me when I was sat at home with no occupation, Sir Septimus. I feared for some time that I would never regain my strength, and wondered if I should not take a seat in the House; I am glad that I was not forced to that expedient, but it did cause me to think a little about our world.”
“You imply that I would be wise to do the same, do you not?”
Major Taft nodded – it would be a sensible precaution.
The tailor finally made his deliveries and Septimus made the tedious return to Hampshire to give the news of their future to Marianne.
“Sailing on the June convoy, my dear. That allows us three full months for preparations to be some five years overseas. We shall be located in Lower Canada, which is far more civilised in its ways than Upper. There are large towns and access to shops and genteel company. We shall live in Halifax at first, and possibly for the whole period. The town is well defended and is the major naval base for the North American station; it must therefore be safe from invasion. I know nothing else of it, I must confess. I believe that George trades much with Canada and expect that he will be able to assist us with knowledge and contacts.”
It was better to dwell in the wilds of the New World than be left at home for years; Marianne smiled and bent her mind to the task of moving house.
“What of furnishings, husband? Do we know anything of the house we may move into?”
“Nothing at all, my dear! The General Commanding will set his staff to the task of finding us a place. We may expect it to be an appropriate billet for the rank, and to be fully equipped and staffed, but for its comfort – well, that may be for us to achieve. I am inclined to uproot the chef and purchase the pots and pans and such that he may demand and take them with us, for I know nothing of the cooking there.”
It was a daunting prospect.
“What of the houses in England, husband?”
“I shall speak to George about them. They might be leased for four years, and at least be of no cost to us during that period. He will have some idea of what might be best. Strictly not to be whispered, my dear, he is to be knighted within the month!”
“Sir George and Lady Pearce! They will be delighted! Is he aware yet?”
“The Lord Lieutenant will inform him within a few days and he will be bidden to London where he will wait upon the Prince Regent. Not at a levee, but he will be knighted in a smaller ceremony, probably in company with others who are not of such a level that they would be seen at Court as such.”
“Are we to expect the honour of attendance at court again, Septimus?”
“I hope so, my lady! Seniority will make me a major-general within the next ten years, probably a little less; if I achieve a degree of success in the war with America, then I shall certainly be invited to bask under my sovereign’s smile. A deal of success, of course, and it will be the peerage I had believed impossible.”
“Truly?”
Marianne was amazed – she had thought a peerage to be an outside possibility for her son, had not considered it feasible for Septimus, demanded to know how and why.
“It is now possible, so it has been explained to me, because of the cost of this war. The Landed Interest cannot cover the huge expenses the government has been forced to, so government is forced to turn to the manufacturers and merchants, and they must be persuaded that it is advantageous to them to offer cooperation. It has always been the case that new aristocrats are invented in every generation; in the past they have commonly been successful younger sons of the Land but now they must be drawn from other parts of the nation. Such being the case, my dear, there is better than an outside chance that you will become a baroness.”
He did not mention that there was a slightly greater probability that she would become a widow – for he must achieve his success from the very front, pistols smoking and sword blood-splashed, if he was to be the hero of his campaigns. It would not do for him to plan a successful defence of the border lands of Lower Canada and then watch as a fighting colonel led his battalion to gain all the glory; he must be stood one pace to the fore, bellowing loudly and waving the men on if he was to reap the benefits of success.
He wondered whether he might not go back to London, to that Grubb Street place they talked of, to hire on a scribbler of his own, one who could produce broadsheets and ballads to sell on street corners; if the voices of the streets were all chanting Stroppy Seppy’s exploits for their betters to hear from their carriages, then his claims would be more easily recognised. Better not, perhaps – the gossip-mongers would soon spread the word in their letters home if he was to do such a thing.
“Do we know which regiment is to go with you, husband? Will it be one of the better battalions of the line, or perhaps one of the more obscure?”
“Certainly one of the lesser known battalions, my dear. Look in the List for numbers greater than Fifty, I must imagine. A brigadier from the more ordinary sorts of people can hardly be set in a place to give orders to officers drawn almost entirely from the Land. A battalion that recruits its ensigns and lieutenants and captains from the sons of doctors and attorneys is probably the sort that will be sent my way – and will often be far the more effective in its nature! Young men who must make their own way in the world may well be better soldiers than the idle sons of privilege, though not invariably, one must admit.”
“Why, sir?”
“Because, ma’am, the poverty-stricken officers may be no more than glory-hunters – lieutenants and captains who are willing to sacrifice their own men on the altars of their ambition. That, by the way, is something I have been accused of, myself. It is not entirely true in my case, or so I believe, but there have been occasions when I could perhaps have chosen not to press forward quite so hard…”
“Had you not done so, then victory might have eluded you, husband.”
“True, but is victory all that matters, my dear? As I grow older so I begin to wonder if some of my so-called victories were worth quite so high a price. I comfort myself that I have never stood back and ordered men to go where I would not. I am inclined to suppose that war is a game that only boys should play – and I, just possibly, have begun to grow up. I must, however, play with the guns and swords for another few years before I admit to achieving man’s estate. What shall we do when the trumpets of war sound no more for us, my dear?”
Marianne did not quite understand the question – there was much for a gentleman to do every day, the more if the man in question had attained a peerage.
“No, not in that sense. For nearly twenty years now my life has been that of the soldier, with wars to fight and promotion to gain. When that comes to its end, what then for the likes of me?”
She did not know, but understood that he would hardly wish to sleep long in bed of a morning to be followed by a day of pottering about his little estates, of reading in his library and looking forward to the hours of employment in the Magistrates’ Court when he could imagine himself to be useful again.
“With a barony achieved, husband, then there is a seat in the House of Lords and a place in the government of the land if you wish it. You might in time become Lord Lieutenant, or perhaps busy yourself on the Boards that administer the Army and Navy, or even seek a governorship overseas – though I might prefer not to take the children away from England in the years when they might be better employed in making acquaintance among their own peers. There will be work for the
man of distinction, that I do not doubt – and that will place demands upon his lady, of course. I must learn the duties of the hostess who wines and dines the great of the land – not a task I had ever expected, yet one that I might well come to enjoy… I must admit that I wondered that you had brought a chef back from Lisbon, husband, but that might well have been a very wise act!”
“I am pleased you think so, my dear. Now, as a matter of some urgency. I must plan all that is to be done, and set my staff to work before we leave England.”
Marianne was aware that a brigadier must have his military family and wondered how they were to be found, and then where they must be accommodated for the weeks, months perhaps, that they were in England.
“We have little in the way of rooms for such in the Lodge, husband.”
“I shall arrange at the barracks in Winchester for the most of them – it will require only billets for three or four officers, I expect. On that topic, Marianne, are there members of your family who might have a young son seeking a place? It would be possible to take a youngster aboard to enter upon a military career.”
Marianne had a number of cousins, some of whom were older than her and might have boys about to leave the nest. She would speak to her father, though her mother might, she suspected be better informed on that topic.
“Might I send a message to them, Septimus? A note?”
The groom could ride across that day, perhaps.
“What of Cooper, husband? Will he come with us for as much as five years?”
“I do not know. As they say locally, ‘he is no spring chicken’ – he is no longer a young man. He is comfortably off. You know that he owns houses in Winchester? That he has an income from them? Not huge perhaps, but he must have at least twenty rents of four shillings a week coming into his bank and he could live very comfortably on that and on the pension I must give him. I shall speak to him.”
“Yes, sir. Been thinking of that meself, so I have, sir. Five more years, overseas in a cold old place like Canada… Might be stretching things a bit far, sir. Better I should stay in England, sir. Don’t have to worry none about money, sir, for having the places in Winchester and money in the bank – never thought I should be in the way of saying that, sir!”
Spanish Tricks (Man of Conflict Series, Book 5) Page 21