far better candidates than you, and many of their sponsors are much better connected than your brother Richard.’
Arthur felt a pit of despair open inside as he took in the implications of what Lord Camden was saying. Arthur lacked the connections that would give him a chance to secure the position, and he was dismayed, not just by this rebuff, but by his longer term prospects within a system so bound up with mutual favours exchanged between powerful families. It was not fair, but he forced his expression to remain composed. Even though there was no justice or logic to the system, there was no profit in protesting against it. Arthur needed employment now. He cleared his throat.
‘Very well, my lord, if I am not to be Secretary at War, then perhaps I might be considered for another position. A seat on the treasury or revenue boards would be well within my capabilities.’
‘I’m sure it would,’ Lord Camden agreed.‘I will see what I can find for you. As a favour to Richard. I’ll let you know the instant I have anything.’ He stood to one side and stretched his arm out loosely in the direction of the door, and Arthur took the hint and bowed his head in farewell.
‘My thanks to you for seeing me at such a busy time, my lord.’
‘My pleasure,Wesley,’ Lord Camden replied automatically.‘Do please pass on my very best wishes to your brother when you next write to him.’
‘Yes, my lord.’ Arthur nodded and turned to leave the office. He marched out stiffly.
As he left the castle it began to rain and Arthur pulled up his collar and wedged his bicorn down tightly over his head. It was time, he told himself, to speak to Kitty. He had not seen her since he had left for the ill-starred campaign in the Low Countries. Even if her brother had refused to let them marry, he could at least find out if her heart was still his.
Chapter 11
Arthur could not face going to see Kitty in her own home, in case Tom was there. It was not that he had any fear of Tom. On the contrary, he held the man in contempt for his boorish obsession with money. It was just that Arthur’s presence would only aggravate an already difficult situation, and make the chance of any improvement in relations with Tom less likely. The longer it took to win Tom’s approval the more chance there was that Kitty would lose interest in him or, worse, have her head turned by another suitor. There were plenty of other young men in Dublin who were far more attractive propositions than an impecunious lieutenant colonel of foot.
As the first blossoms of spring appeared Lady Camden held a ball at the castle, the first of the season, and everyone of consequence was invited. If Kitty was still in Dublin, she would surely be at the ball, and Arthur resolved to seek her out and ask her what she felt for him.
On the night of the ball, Arthur stood in front of the mirror in his wardrobe room. His best uniform was spotless and his buttons, boots and epaulettes gleamed brilliantly, as they should given the amount the corporal on the castle staff had charged him for the work. As yet he had won no rewards for bravery, and the only decorations on his jacket were the looped lanyards. Still, he ate sensibly and exercised regularly and his body was trim as a consequence. Arthur was pleased with the image he presented, and hoped that Kitty would judge him as favourably - if she was at the ball.
The illumination from the candelabras in the ballroom gleamed through the windows and projected long, fading slants of light into the street as Arthur strode up towards the entrance. A guard of corporals was standing to attention in the arched doorway and Arthur presented his invitation.
The ballroom was already crowded with women in elaborate gowns that still owed much to Paris fashions despite the war.The older ladies sat to the side of the room while the younger women dominated the centre, where they mixed with young men in
Arthur felt a pit of despair open inside as he took in the implications of what Lord Camden was saying. Arthur lacked the connections that would give him a chance to secure the position, and he was dismayed, not just by this rebuff, but by his longer term prospects within a system so bound up with mutual favours exchanged between powerful families. It was not fair, but he forced his expression to remain composed. Even though there was no justice or logic to the system, there was no profit in protesting against it. Arthur needed employment now. He cleared his throat.
‘Very well, my lord, if I am not to be Secretary at War, then perhaps I might be considered for another position. A seat on the treasury or revenue boards would be well within my capabilities.’
‘I’m sure it would,’ Lord Camden agreed.‘I will see what I can find for you. As a favour to Richard. I’ll let you know the instant I have anything.’ He stood to one side and stretched his arm out loosely in the direction of the door, and Arthur took the hint and bowed his head in farewell.
‘My thanks to you for seeing me at such a busy time, my lord.’
‘My pleasure,Wesley,’ Lord Camden replied automatically.‘Do please pass on my very best wishes to your brother when you next write to him.’
‘Yes, my lord.’ Arthur nodded and turned to leave the office. He marched out stiffly.
As he left the castle it began to rain and Arthur pulled up his collar and wedged his bicorn down tightly over his head. It was time, he told himself, to speak to Kitty. He had not seen her since he had left for the ill-starred campaign in the Low Countries. Even if her brother had refused to let them marry, he could at least find out if her heart was still his.
Chapter 11
Arthur could not face going to see Kitty in her own home, in case Tom was there. It was not that he had any fear of Tom. On the contrary, he held the man in contempt for his boorish obsession with money. It was just that Arthur’s presence would only aggravate an already difficult situation, and make the chance of any improvement in relations with Tom less likely. The longer it took to win Tom’s approval the more chance there was that Kitty would lose interest in him or, worse, have her head turned by another suitor. There were plenty of other young men in Dublin who were far more attractive propositions than an impecunious lieutenant colonel of foot.
As the first blossoms of spring appeared Lady Camden held a ball at the castle, the first of the season, and everyone of consequence was invited. If Kitty was still in Dublin, she would surely be at the ball, and Arthur resolved to seek her out and ask her what she felt for him.
On the night of the ball, Arthur stood in front of the mirror in his wardrobe room. His best uniform was spotless and his buttons, boots and epaulettes gleamed brilliantly, as they should given the amount the corporal on the castle staff had charged him for the work. As yet he had won no rewards for bravery, and the only decorations on his jacket were the looped lanyards. Still, he ate sensibly and exercised regularly and his body was trim as a consequence. Arthur was pleased with the image he presented, and hoped that Kitty would judge him as favourably - if she was at the ball.
The illumination from the candelabras in the ballroom gleamed through the windows and projected long, fading slants of light into the street as Arthur strode up towards the entrance. A guard of corporals was standing to attention in the arched doorway and Arthur presented his invitation.
The ballroom was already crowded with women in elaborate gowns that still owed much to Paris fashions despite the war.The older ladies sat to the side of the room while the younger women dominated the centre, where they mixed with young men in
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