Words of Command by Allan Mallinson

Author:Allan Mallinson [Mallinson, Allan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780593073223
Google: RqTyoAEACAAJ
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2015-03-11T13:00:00+00:00

Hervey left the Horse Guards with the most elegant of portfolios — all chased leather, red, with the royal cipher embossed in gold — and within a sheaf of instructions, letters of introduction, authorizations, money orders and requisition forms. He supposed he ought to return it when his assignment was over, but it would make a fine present for Georgiana when at length he was able to see her . . .

It was not yet one o’clock, but matters were pressing. He sent word to Corporal Wakefield at the light horse stables to bring the chaise to the United Service at four, where in the meantime he would write letters — letters arising from his (frankly) unwelcome assignment; and then pay what calls he could — that is to say, felt able to — before returning to Hounslow.

One letter he would write with the greatest of pleasure. The sole consolation of his wintry sojourn to that most singular of counties — where, like the King, the true glory had departed, leaving but melancholy fragments of what had been (though he had to admit that he visited but the once, and very briefly, after Waterloo) — would be to see his old and most excellent friend, most admirable of men, Captain Sir Laughton Peto RN, late of the command of His Majesty’s Ship Prince Rupert, wounded most grievously at Navarino two years before, and now ‘beached’ most terribly in his native county, albeit in the care of that most patriotic of men, the Marquess of Cholmondeley . . .

But he knew he would have to curtail his calls that evening, sparing only those of business — the agents, and his bank. In any event, he had thought better of troubling Lord George Irvine again so soon after taking command, for the unpleasant details of Tyrwhitt, and now Kennett (there was little, if anything, the colonel could do in either regard), would suffice in writing. And Kat . . . well, he trusted he was not evading his promise at Windsor by writing that circumstances now prevented his paying her a call at an early date (he would explain with as much candour as possible that duties took him with little notice to Norfolk, and that he thought he might be detained there a month, perhaps more, though he certainly hoped not to be). Though he would evade, and prudently, he considered, any particular promise on return, for their encounter at Windsor had left a corner of his mind in little short of turmoil. As for Princess Lieven’s supper, he could now send word — even at so late an hour — that by the command of Lord Hill he must make haste on an assignment of the utmost importance (it amused him to think how she would at once set her mind to discovering what occupied Lord Hill). It would vex her, he knew full well, but it was undoubtedly for the best. He ought also to send word for Fairbrother,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.