Company Of Spears

Elizabeth’s apparition was somehow troubling. The candles were not yet lit, but he could see well enough, and he saw a different Elizabeth. He had never thought of her in other than capable terms, his sister, always there, always knowing what to do, and never for herself. He had not observed the passing of the years, though he had been all too conscious of standing in the way of her prospects. But now he noticed how … grown to maturity she was. Gone were the ringlets; her face was that of a woman – not a young woman, by which he meant girlish, but a woman of consequence, handsome, secure, as if possessed of title or family. He wished for all his heart that it were so, for none was more deserving of it than she.

By the same light, too, Elizabeth could see her brother’s pallor. ‘I’m not sure you should be up even now,’ she said, though without the tone that commanded him to return to bed. She knew her brother well enough to judge these things prudentially. ‘In any case, we’re not to dine until late; father is gone to Longleat. I’ll have Hannah draw your bath.’

Hervey did not object to that.

‘And I shall fetch you tea. Go and sit by the fire.’

He had no objection to sitting by the fire either, but the prospect of tea was somehow unappealing. ‘I think I shall have a glass of claret, Elizabeth. Is there any bread?’

She nodded. ‘Go and sit down. I’ll bring it.’

‘Where is mother, and Georgiana?’

‘They’re both gone to Longleat too, though they went on foot. Lady Bath generally sees them of a Thursday if she’s at home. She sends them back in a carriage towards now.’

Hervey inclined his head approvingly. It was good that Lady Bath saw fit to receive Georgiana, for although Henrietta had lived as one with the family, there were three Bath daughters, of whom one still was at Longleat.

He sat by the fire. Whitehead had made it up well. It gave off a good heat and he was grateful of it, for he ran a temperature yet, and he knew that the shivers could come on again easily. In his condition he reacted excessively to cold air which as a rule would not trouble him.

Elizabeth returned with a decanter, a loaf of bread and a jar of pork dripping. ‘The wine is very possibly fine, for I hadn’t the time to search for the everyday.’

Hervey took a good taste, and smiled. ‘Very possibly. You had better not tell father!’

‘He’ll know right enough: Whitehead’s entering it in the cellar book this moment.’

‘Whitehead reads and writes, does he? I don’t ever recall it.’

‘Father had Mrs Strange instruct him. She said she never saw a man take to it so.’

He took another good taste, and helped himself to bread and dripping.

‘He may not have Francis’s ways,’ explained Elizabeth, ‘but he’s a fine manservant. Papa is very fortunate.’

‘Oh, I don’t doubt it, and I never said ought about his ways. I’ve always found him obliging in the extreme.’

‘And Georgiana likes him too. He’s very good with her.’

‘I am glad to hear it. But see, you’ll have heard of the annuity that Daniel Coates bequeathed? Father ought now to be able to employ a lady’s maid.’

Elizabeth looked uncertain. ‘He is very exercised by the size of Daniel Coates’s fortune. When he agreed to be executor he had no idea it would be to such an estate. The responsibility troubles him.’

‘I told him he should appoint you to be chairman of the trustees.’

Elizabeth nodded. ‘He told me. And I replied that I should have no objection. He also said that you had told him that you did not intend leaving Georgiana in our care for much longer.’

Hervey looked awkward. ‘Ah. I had not meant it to sound so decided.’

‘How had you meant it to sound, Matthew? Either Georgiana remains with me or she goes to Hounslow with you. It is not difficult, is it? You have a governess in mind, I suppose?’

He looked even more awkward. ‘A governess, yes, well … no, not really, not yet; but a governess there may be. I am not certain of the arrangements.’

Elizabeth, who might have been put out, seemed instead vaguely amused by her brother’s faltering thoughts of taking up the paternal reins. ‘Perhaps you intend that Private Johnson does that duty, in between seeing to your uniforms and horses?’

Hervey raised an eyebrow, thinking to add ‘And seeing to whatever it was that concerned the gentlemen from Bow Street!’ He recalled that he might have to exercise himself in that regard when he returned. ‘Georgiana would be happy enough with Johnson!’

Elizabeth ignored the tease. ‘Well, I am ever at your disposal. And, as you say, Daniel Coates’s bequest will enable Mama and Papa to employ a fuller establishment, so there would be no reason why I should not come to Hounslow with Georgiana. I imagine, too, that I might even be of help to you in respect of your duties in command?’