Hervey 10 - Warrior Read Online Free PDF Page B

such funeral in a year – the inescapable business of soldiery.

Hervey now cleared his throat. 'There is, of course, the question of her religion. You would have no objection to . . . to being present at such a service?' He had no idea how his commanding officer had voted in the House of Peers on the various measures for Catholic emancipation; he had certainly not disclosed his views in the mess.

Lord Holderness raised his head, and looked at him frankly. 'I believe a man, or a woman for that matter, has a right to be buried according to the practices of his religion, and that his passing should be mourned with all due respect. I shall instruct that the regiment parades for church on the day, whether a man be Protestant or Catholic.'

Hervey smiled appreciatively. 'Thank you, Colonel.'

Lord Holderness now relaxed visibly. 'Do you happen to know where that church might be?' he asked, nodding his thanks to an orderly who brought in his coffee.

Hervey shook his head. 'I confess I have not yet the slightest idea. I suppose we are not able to have such a service in the parish church here – with a Catholic priest, I mean, not the parson. I think I must seek advice in London. I'll make a beginning at once.'

'And then there is the business of Armstrong. What's to do? He shall have to come back, don't you think – the children, and all?'

Hervey inclined his head. 'He would not expect to, I think. He would not expect to leave his post just to take up with his children. They're in good hands, after all.'

'But even so . . .'

Hervey thought a little more, and then began nodding his head, slowly. In the normal course of events – in war, India, or wherever – these things were misfortunes to be taken, if not quite in one's stride, then with fortitude, in the place they came. For what other way was there? But not now; not when the nation was at peace, when its army was made up of true volunteers. The Sixth did not treat its dragoons heartlessly; it never had. 'Patrician command and the fellowship of the horse': that was the way of the Sixth, was it not?

He breathed deep. 'I should need to replace him, Colonel. It would not serve with Quilter standing in. He's a sound enough serjeant, but he could not manage a troop.' (He would have been content to have Wainwright do duty, but Wainwright was too junior.)

'Then I'll instruct the adjutant to issue the necessary orders.'

Hervey's mind was already decided, however. 'With respect, Colonel, I should like to take Collins.'

Lord Holderness nodded. 'I have no objection. But why Collins?'

'As a rule, Colonel, I would not try to favour those I knew best, but Collins, I judge, would serve admirably, and since there is every prospect of trouble with the native tribes before our term at the Cape is up, I should want to be certain of my man.'

'That is reasonable.'

Lord Holderness was indeed a commanding officer whose instincts were reasonable as well as admirable. Hervey did not suppose there was a man in the Sixth who could have complaint against him. Did it matter much that in the exhilaration of manoeuvres, two months ago, a cold immersion in the Thames had induced a fit of epilepsy? (He, Hervey, and the regimental serjeantmajor had arranged things with the utmost discretion, so that few others knew of it.) There would always be someone to gather up the reins, so to speak.Was it not more important that the regiment was content, well found – as undoubtedly it was?

He laid down his coffee cup, and rose. 'Thank you, Colonel. And now if you will permit me, I will make haste to London.'

'Of course,' said Lord Holderness, rising also. He smiled a shade broader, and with a touch of wryness. 'How was Brighton?'

Hervey coloured a little. 'It was as ever Brighton is, Colonel.'

'I am glad to hear it!'

Hervey took his leave a fraction happier, even if his smile concealed its own measure of wryness. He spoke with the adjutant of the agreed arrangements and actions, and was then pleasantly