banter further, not knowing how to move the conversation to the next level, or even what that next level was, yet seeing how grotesque was the predicament in a new-wed couple.
Charles saved him prolonged anguish, however. The coffee was very fast brought, as if the servants were waiting, ready, for the end of the exercises. Hervey took his up and stood by the fireplace, wondering if he might put on another log – and troubling himself the more at his want of self-assurance. ‘Your people are well?’
‘They are very well,’ replied Kezia, stepping aside to allow the footman to attend to the fire, and taking up a thick silk shawl.
Hervey moved to help her with it, but too late, so that he had to withdraw again awkwardly. ‘They are at home?’ (The house was large enough for all to be secreted in comfort.)
‘They are in London – unseasonably so, it must be said, but my father has business in connection with the Catholic Act.’
‘Indeed?’
He was not expecting any explanation of what that business was, but Kezia took him more exactly. ‘Yes. He has written to the government to enquire how it may be that Catholics, who refuse to submit to our laws and who deny parliament’s authority over their church, might yet be admitted to parliament to make laws for the Church of England.’
Sometimes Hervey found it trying to be a Tory (even if he knew the alternative to be insupportable), and wondered how it was that the squire of Walden, albeit with the parliamentary borough in his pocket, might claim the attention of the government on this or any other matter. He fancied he knew how the Duke of Wellington would receive him, Tory or no – if he would receive him at all. ‘I recall that that was the very question which the Duke of York himself put when the bill was last before parliament.’
Kezia looked surprised. ‘You are well informed,’ she replied, more with curiosity than approval.
‘Well informed, but, I confess, scarcely by my own efforts. Captain Fairbrother told me of it. He takes a keen interest in affairs of state. He’s been to see Wilberforce on abolition matters.’
‘And you would support the Relief bill?’
‘If the Duke of Wellington does, I could scarcely gainsay him. Even Peel is now for it.’
Kezia smiled ironically. ‘ Oh! Member for Oxford, you shuffle and wheel/ You have altered your name from R. Peel to Repeal! ’
Hervey smiled too. ‘That is very droll.’
‘He’s said by one and all to have ratted on his oath of allegiance.’
‘And do you yourself believe it? I’ve always taken you to possess a broad and enquiring mind.’
Kezia put her coffee cup down on a side table and pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders. ‘I confess I have never to my knowledge met a Catholic, and so I have no prejudice in their favour or otherwise, but my father is of firm conviction in the matter.’
That seemed to be that. The conversation had taken a decidedly darker turn, and Hervey was relieved when Kezia then enquired almost breezily after his friend. ‘Where is Captain Fairbrother, by the way? Does he return with you from the Cape?’
‘He does indeed. I left him to savour the delights of London – at his own request, that is, for he had little chance before to see the sights. He’s to come with me to the East, and I hope very much to … to the regiment when I take command.’
The hesitation was not lost on her, and she looked at him quizzically enough to throw him from his stride. He had wished to choose his moment; but there could be no dissembling now.
‘I very much fear we are facing the same situation as before. Hol’ness is relinquishing command, and I am to have it, but it will likely be a hollow one, for the Horse Guards – or, rather, the War Office – is intent on reducing the regiment to a troop. Such is the parlous state of the army estimates. Lord Hill wants me to have command of his own regiment, the Fifty-third.’
Kezia looked at him with a degree of
Charles saved him prolonged anguish, however. The coffee was very fast brought, as if the servants were waiting, ready, for the end of the exercises. Hervey took his up and stood by the fireplace, wondering if he might put on another log – and troubling himself the more at his want of self-assurance. ‘Your people are well?’
‘They are very well,’ replied Kezia, stepping aside to allow the footman to attend to the fire, and taking up a thick silk shawl.
Hervey moved to help her with it, but too late, so that he had to withdraw again awkwardly. ‘They are at home?’ (The house was large enough for all to be secreted in comfort.)
‘They are in London – unseasonably so, it must be said, but my father has business in connection with the Catholic Act.’
‘Indeed?’
He was not expecting any explanation of what that business was, but Kezia took him more exactly. ‘Yes. He has written to the government to enquire how it may be that Catholics, who refuse to submit to our laws and who deny parliament’s authority over their church, might yet be admitted to parliament to make laws for the Church of England.’
Sometimes Hervey found it trying to be a Tory (even if he knew the alternative to be insupportable), and wondered how it was that the squire of Walden, albeit with the parliamentary borough in his pocket, might claim the attention of the government on this or any other matter. He fancied he knew how the Duke of Wellington would receive him, Tory or no – if he would receive him at all. ‘I recall that that was the very question which the Duke of York himself put when the bill was last before parliament.’
Kezia looked surprised. ‘You are well informed,’ she replied, more with curiosity than approval.
‘Well informed, but, I confess, scarcely by my own efforts. Captain Fairbrother told me of it. He takes a keen interest in affairs of state. He’s been to see Wilberforce on abolition matters.’
‘And you would support the Relief bill?’
‘If the Duke of Wellington does, I could scarcely gainsay him. Even Peel is now for it.’
Kezia smiled ironically. ‘ Oh! Member for Oxford, you shuffle and wheel/ You have altered your name from R. Peel to Repeal! ’
Hervey smiled too. ‘That is very droll.’
‘He’s said by one and all to have ratted on his oath of allegiance.’
‘And do you yourself believe it? I’ve always taken you to possess a broad and enquiring mind.’
Kezia put her coffee cup down on a side table and pulled her shawl closer about her shoulders. ‘I confess I have never to my knowledge met a Catholic, and so I have no prejudice in their favour or otherwise, but my father is of firm conviction in the matter.’
That seemed to be that. The conversation had taken a decidedly darker turn, and Hervey was relieved when Kezia then enquired almost breezily after his friend. ‘Where is Captain Fairbrother, by the way? Does he return with you from the Cape?’
‘He does indeed. I left him to savour the delights of London – at his own request, that is, for he had little chance before to see the sights. He’s to come with me to the East, and I hope very much to … to the regiment when I take command.’
The hesitation was not lost on her, and she looked at him quizzically enough to throw him from his stride. He had wished to choose his moment; but there could be no dissembling now.
‘I very much fear we are facing the same situation as before. Hol’ness is relinquishing command, and I am to have it, but it will likely be a hollow one, for the Horse Guards – or, rather, the War Office – is intent on reducing the regiment to a troop. Such is the parlous state of the army estimates. Lord Hill wants me to have command of his own regiment, the Fifty-third.’
Kezia looked at him with a degree of
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