Adrift In The World by Andrew Wareham

Author:Andrew Wareham [Wareham, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2023-07-25T00:00:00+00:00

The wedding was two weeks distant when a guest was announced at the door of Bob’s bungalow, a red coat shown inside.

“Thought I had better turn up when I heard you were to marry, Bob. Do you need a groomsman?”

“I did not know where to find you, James! Colonel Considine, now, I see!”

“Acting, Bob. Too many deaths and pushed up the ladder to fill their places. Sending my papers in now and joining the firm in Bombay. Had more than enough of this game, Bob. I am on furlough the while, but shall never go back to the regiment. Seen more blood than I can handle!”

“I know that feeling only too well, James! I shall be delighted to have a good friend standing at my side when the time comes. I have been putting off asking any of my passing acquaintances here in Calcutta, mainly because there are so many would jump at the opportunity to become closer to Buckleys.”

“I can imagine that, old fellow. The biggest house in India, is it not?”

“Well, if you choose not to count the dozen and more of Indians who are greater than us, yes.”

“Hush, old chap – mustn’t mention them, the world would come to an end if they were officially noticed.”

They laughed together, not entirely comfortably.

“Where are you staying, James?”

“A room at the Club.”

“No you are not. Ruin your digestion with their everlasting mutton curry? No, I have rooms here, man. Bring your bags across here.”

A few words and the arrangements were made, neither man having to move from his chair.

“I am dining in the main house, James. I will send to my lady to inform her we have an extra guest. I don’t think we ever dine without a dozen of outside bodies at least. In part, I am being introduced to the mercantile community, of course. These are the people I am to work with. It will do you no harm to meet them either, James. Considines is well known and Calcutta can often work with Bombay.”

That was true enough and would be a useful side benefit, James admitted.

“I suppose it does not hurt that you have the KB now, Bob. My congratulations on that, Sir Robert!”

“It brought too many of the crawlers out for my liking, James. When we go into company there are too many of the eel-backed bending to the waist in their delight to meet so great a personage. Then, inside ten minutes, they are looking to make a deal of some sort or borrow money from Buckleys, or get me to go halves on a consignment to Hong Kong! It does have disadvantages!”

“I can imagine it might, old fellow. I do not doubt I shall take a wife myself in the next year or two. Settled as a respectable and staid merchant, there is little alternative.”

“The Fisher Fleet, James?”

“Not if I can avoid it, Bob! To be honest with you, the young sister of one of Lachlan’s friends, a Miss Armitage, will be growing up to marriageable age now, and she was a most attractively bright young girl.

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