Read Online Hervey 07 - An Act Of Courage by Allan Mallinson - Free Book Online Page B

been Sir John Moore’s, and in the grim logic of that wretched campaign they made sense. Why, therefore, had Reynell had to put a pistol to his head? What was the dishonour awaiting him? None; none at all. Indeed, he might have expected some recognition, for there was clamour enough for heads, and the Horse Guards would want some heroes to parade. They were where they were, however, and they had the Marquess of Tain’s younger son, with the reputation as the coolest head in Flanders, and known to be on the best of terms with the Duke of York. He, Joseph Edmonds, could not – must not – fret that Lord George Irvine was a dozen years his junior.
    ‘Will you dine in mess this evening, Colonel?’
    Lord George halted. ‘Indeed I shall, if you will dine too.’
    ‘But of course, Colonel!’
    Lord George smiled. ‘Edmonds, before I left Lord Sussex’s I had formed an opinion that your experience in this regiment was unrivalled. And at my club I met a man who said there had not been a better troop-leader in Spain.’
    Edmonds’s brow furrowed. ‘Who—’
    Lord George half frowned. ‘You would not have me divulge a club confidence?’
    Edmonds had no acquaintance with the clubs of which Lord George Irvine was an habitué. He shook his head, annoyed with himself. ‘No, Colonel, indeed not.’
    Lord George smiled. ‘Forgive me, Edmonds. It should be no secret. It was Paget himself.’
    ‘Paget?’ There could be no greater accolade than from the commander of Moore’s cavalry. ‘I—’
    ‘No modesty, Edmonds. He said your handling of the troop at Sahagun was exemplary, and afterwards, at Corunna, the regiment.’
    In truth, Edmonds intended no modesty, only surprise that anyone took note of anything unless it were done by somebody’s son. ‘I am obliged, Colonel.’ He even thought he might relay it to Margaret.
    It was not the new lieutenant-colonel’s easy manner and air of capability at mess on the first evening that impressed itself on the young Cornet Hervey so much as his activity in the weeks that followed, and above all his address to the officers six weeks after his arriving. At mess that first evening, when Lord George had spoken a few words to the officers informally before dinner, there had at once arisen a universal sense of satisfaction in having a commanding officer who might secure for them their proper prestige. But none of them had imagined the practical use to which Lord George would put his standing. When, but one and a half months after first driving through the gates of their Canterbury depot, he called them together again, no one but Edmonds had the remotest inkling of the announcement he would make.
    ‘Gentlemen, I have news that will stir your hearts!’ Lord George began, smiling as if he were going to declare that Bonaparte himself was clapped in irons in the regimental jail. ‘The government is to send a second expedition to Portugal.’
    This was scarcely surprising news, but it caused exactly the hubbub he had calculated. He would now raise it by degrees. ‘And the general commanding shall be Sir Arthur Wellesley!’
    There was cheering. None of them knew Wellesley, save that he had a good reputation from India, and Denmark, and of course Vimiero, the battle they had missed; but there had to be some bravado (and there were precious few other names). Joseph Edmonds permitted himself a sigh before resolving that he could not – must not – fret that Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Wellesley was but his own age.
    Lord George held up a hand. The room was hushed. ‘And, gentlemen, I am delighted to be able to tell you that the Sixth shall accompany the force to Lisbon without delay!’
    Silence : the whole room was stunned. And then came the whoops, and more cheering. Only two weeks ago, the notion of their going back to Portugal would have been impossible. No one would have laid a guinea at 100–1 that by this day the regiment would be remounted and up to sabre strength – and