THE GENERALS Read online

  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 neatly cut jackets and breeches. As usual for such occasions, many of the men wore uniforms, with the cavalry being the most ornate and the Navy the most prosaic. As an officer of foot, Arthur felt himself to be smart without being distastefully ostentatious. An orchestra was tuning at the far end and men in livery moved through the crowd serving refreshments. Arthur stood with his back to one of the columns that supported the arched ceiling. He glanced over the crowd looking for Kitty, but could not see her and felt a moment’s relief that he would not have to confront her about her feelings after all. Then he felt something tap his arm and turned quickly to see Kitty smiling at him as she withdrew her fan. Her other hand was tucked under the arm of a tall naval officer with broad shoulders that seemed intent on bursting out of his uniform coat.

  ‘Hello, Arthur.’

  ‘Good evening, Kitty.’ There was a slight hesitation in his use of her name and Kitty’s fine eyebrows narrowed for a moment.

  ‘I do hope you aren’t going to revert to calling me Miss Pakenham all over again.’

  ‘Of course not, Kitty.’ Arthur smiled. ‘After all, we are close friends, are we not?’

  ‘Indeed.’ She turned to her companion. ‘May I introduce Captain Charles Fenshaw? Apparently he is one of the youngest post captains in the Navy. A protégé of my uncle, Captain Pakenham. Although that was some years back, before he retired and became Surveryor General of the Ordnance, whatever that means.’

  Captain Fenshaw smiled modestly. ‘Captain Pakenham was kind enough to offer me a berth on his ship when I was a midshipman. Since then I have done my best to be worthy of his patronage.’ He raised his hand and offered it to Arthur.

  ‘Glad to make your acquaintance,’ Arthur responded.‘Colonel Wesley, at your service.’

  ‘Arthur has been away from Dublin fighting the French in the Low Countries,’ Kitty explained. ‘He returned some weeks ago, as I discovered from his brother William. It seems that he is such a good friend of mine that he neglected to let me know that he had returned from the war safe and well.’

  The words were barbed, but the tone was light hearted and Arthur made a rueful face. ‘My duties have kept me busy, Kitty. What else could prevent me from attending on you? Apart from your dear brother.’

  Kitty laughed. ‘Touché, Arthur.’

  Captain Fenshaw ignored the jibing between the two of them and concentrated on Arthur. ‘My brother was in the same campaign.’>

  ‘Indeed?’ Arthur turned his gaze away from Kitty.

  ‘He was injured and sent home back in January,’ said Fenshaw. ‘He wrote to tell me of the conditions there. It seems he was lucky to have survived most of the winter, when many others did not.’

  ‘You have a funny notion of luck to think that any man who experienced that winter was in any way fortunate.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Fenshaw replied quietly.‘Especially since he succumbed to his wounds only a week after writing to me.’

  ‘Ah . . .’ Arthur bowed his head. ‘Forgive me, Captain. I did not mean to seem flippant.’

  ‘I am sure of it, sir.You know well enough what my brother endured.’ Fenshaw turned to Kitty. ‘Allow me to fetch some drinks while you and the colonel exchange your news.’

  Kitty nodded gracefully and the naval officer turned away, gliding through the crowd with a surprising grace given his imposing physique. Kitty stared after him with a calculating expression.

  ‘What do you think of him, Arthur?’

  For a moment Arthur said nothing. He hardly knew the man, but Fenshaw seemed decent enough at first glance. It would be a great shame if he should prove to be a rival for Kitty’s affection. ‘I’ve only just met him, Kitty. What can I say?’

  ‘That he has a handsome appearance.’

  ‘I suppose so. Any other qualities that I should be aware of ?’

  ‘Oh yes!’ She turned towards Arthur with a glint in her eyes. ‘He is the nephew of a rear admiral, and is in line to inherit a sizeable estate in Somerset, as well as a large holding of six per cents. He studied classics at Oxford and writes poetry.’

  ‘Poetry?’ Arthur glanced across the room to where Fenshaw had turned to make his way back to them, with three glasses between his hands. ‘Really?’

  ‘Oh, yes! Quite the romantic.’

  The enthusiasm in her voice cut into Arthur’s heart like a knife and he took her hand in his.

  ‘What is it, Arthur?’ Kitty frowned.

  ‘Tell me, Kitty. What is this man to you?’

  ‘A friend, for now. His family have some land to sell near Castlepollard and Charles has come to Dublin to arrange the sale. My uncle provided him with an introduction to my brother.Tom thought that I might show him the sights in Dublin. Since then, we’ve become quite attached. Tom likes him too.’

  ‘I bet he does,’ Arthur muttered. ‘He would be quite a catch for you.’

  ‘Yes he would,’ Kitty replied, and then squeezed Arthur’s hand lightly. ‘But he is not you. Did you think I would abandon you so readily,Arthur? I had hoped you would have more faith in me.’

  ‘Oh, Kitty . . .’ Arthur’s despair was swept away and he made to move closer to her, but she backed away and slipped her hand free of his.

  ‘All the same, he is a good catch. Good enough to please Tom.’

  Arthur shook his head. ‘Don’t do this, Kitty.’

  ‘Do what? I’m not doing anything. That’s the trouble. But there will come a time when I must find a husband if I am not to be an old maid. Unless you can make something of yourself, Tom will not consent to your marrying me. It’s up to you, Arthur, but I don’t think I can wait for ever.’

  Arthur spared the naval officer a quick glance. He would be rejoining them in a moment, and Arthur spoke quickly. ‘Say you won’t marry him, Kitty. Promise me.’

  ‘I shall do no such thing. Besides, I like him.’

  ‘But you love me.’

  ‘For now.’ Kitty smiled sweetly and turned towards the looming hulk of Fenshaw as he eased past a small group of young ladies, who glanced at him sidelong and then whispered amongst themselves.

  ‘Here you are, Kitty!’ Fenshaw handed her a glass of punch, then gave one to Arthur and raised the last glass. ‘A toast. To the meeting of old friends.’

  ‘Old friends,’ Arthur and Kitty chorused. Arthur sensed that the other man was watching him closely, as if he were trying to discern the true nature of the friendship between them.

  The orchestra struck up the first dance of the night and at once Captain Fenshaw turned to Kitty. ‘My dance, I believe. Here, Wesley, take the drinks.’

  Arthur reached out and awkwardly clutched the three glasses as the others moved out into the
centre of the ballroom and took up their positions with the other couples. Glancing round,Arthur caught the eye of a servant and nodded to the glasses. Once he had been relieved of them he turned round to see Kitty and Fenshaw join in the first movements of a reel, smiling at each other as they linked arms and swirled round. Arthur felt sick. And angry. That Kitty should be so mercenary . . .Then again, what right had he to insist on her affection when he had no hope of marrying her for some years yet, the way his life was heading? For now, it all depended on Lord Camden. If only he could find a profitable position for Arthur, then there was hope.

  For the rest of the evening, Kitty danced with each of them in turn. In between dances she was unscrupulously flirtatious with both men. Try as he might, Arthur found it hard to dislike Fenshaw, who seemed to be as professional as himself, and in the few snatches of more serious conversation that Kitty permitted them it was clear that he was a thoughtful man with considerable charm, much intelligence and a ready wit. In short, the sort of man who would make an admirable brother-in-law for Tom Pakenham. At the end of the evening, after the orchestra had finished playing and the guests made to leave in order of their social standing, Kitty turned to them.

  ‘Well! I’ve had a fine evening. To be the object of the undivided attention of two such fine beaux has made me the envy of almost every unmarried woman at the ball. What more could a girl ask for?’ She laughed, and the others joined in politely.‘We should do more of this. I think the three of us could become fast friends.’

  Arthur nodded faintly, hiding his disappointment.

  ‘Yes,’ Fenshaw agreed.‘It would be a pleasure to see you again, Colonel.’

  When the carriage which was to take himself and Kitty home had been called, Captain Fenshaw insisted on giving Arthur a lift back to his lodgings in Fostertown.Arthur had been on the verge of politely declining the offer, in order to deny his rival the chance to see the unfashionable neighbourhood where he had his lodgings, but that would mean denying himself the chance of spending a little longer in Kitty’s company, and he reluctantly accepted.

  As he descended from the carriage Arthur kissed her hand and bid Captain Fenshaw good night. He stood and watched as the carriage rattled down the street, turned the corner and disappeared. He heard Kitty laugh one last time, a light joyful sound that had once been as music to him, but now felt like an open taunt.

  Chapter 12

  ‘I’m sorry, Wesley, but there are no seats available for you on either the treasury or the revenue boards.’ Lord Camden opened his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘As you know, I have many political favours to repay and, regretfully, I had to give them priority over any consideration of who might be best qualified for a job. I wish it were not so, but that’s how the system works.’

  ‘I see,’ Arthur replied, trying to keep his disappointment from showing. ‘Thank you for being honest with me, my lord.’

  ‘The least you deserve.And rest assured, I will be tireless in my efforts to secure you a post where you can prove your mettle. I know that you will serve me well.’ He smiled. ‘It is merely a question of time, Wesley.Your star will rise.’

  ‘It feels as if it is already waning, my lord.’The words were out before he could check himself and Lord Camden frowned irritably.

  ‘Look here, there is an order to these things. Patronage is a well-tried system. Without it we might as well give up the fight and embrace the principles of the revolution in France. And we’ve seen where that leads. Chaos and tyranny. Patronage works. When the needs of patronage have been satisfied then we can appoint people on merit. That usually comes with experience, young Wesley, and at the moment that is what you lack. I have heard fine things about you from various sources, particularly concerning your aptitude for military command. However, in the sphere of politics and office-holding you are something of an ingénu, wouldn’t you agree?’

  ‘It is true that I lack experience,’ Arthur conceded.‘But as you say, I show promise and I am very keen to learn. In any case, how is a man to acquire the necessary experience if he is denied the chance to gain it in the first place?’

  Lord Camden shrugged. ‘It may seem like something of a conundrum, but something will turn up. I am sure of it.’

  ‘And if it doesn’t, my lord?’

  ‘Then perhaps you would be best advised to pursue a purely military career.You might win promotion, decorations and a title if you cover yourself in glory, and live long enough. Then you could enter politics at some advantage. It’s worth considering.’ Camden clapped his hands.‘Come now! Surely a young man like you must be longing for adventure and the chance to win his spurs?’

  Arthur smiled bitterly. ‘It sounds as if there is already considerable doubt that any public office will be found for me.’

  ‘I said I would do what I can for you,’ Camden replied coolly as he picked up a pen.‘You cannot ask for more than that,Wesley. In any case, you are not in a position to. Now, if you don’t mind, I have other duties to attend to.’

  The meeting was over, Arthur realised. He turned away from the desk and strode out of the office seething with indignation, which swiftly gave way to new depths of hopelessness.There was one last thing he could try, even though it stuck in his throat like a fishbone. He could write to Richard and ask for more assistance. A direct recommendation from the Earl of Mornington would surely open some doors.

  Once the letter had been composed, carefully written out and sent to Richard in London, Arthur turned his attention back to Kitty. Now that he had renewed their acquaintance at the ball, he felt able to call on her at home. After all, with a handsome and financially well-endowed suitor like Captain Fenshaw on the scene, there was no reason for Tom Pakenham to be concerned over the presence of Arthur. So he was able to join Kitty and Fenshaw for evenings at the theatre, or various soirées and castle picnics once the summer managed to shoulder its way through the persistent rainclouds of the Irish climate. It pained him when Kitty used Fenshaw’s first name. He had not been on first name terms with Kitty for some months after he had met her.

  His feelings towards Fenshaw were mixed. Fenshaw told a good story, and hinted, in terms discreet enough for Kitty’s ears, about the bawdy life of officers in the Navy. At the same time, he had a natural philosophical sensitivity and knew his Locke thoroughly. In all, a fine man, who would be a pleasure to know, were it not for his affection for Kitty.

  Every smile she bestowed on Fenshaw, every touch of her hand on his and every meeting of their eyes filled Arthur with such jealousy that he instinctively wished for divine intervention of the most fatal and instant kind. Then he felt shamed by the thought, and less of the man that he wanted to be. It did not take long for Arthur to realise that these moments of hatred for Fenshaw were due to his having precisely the personal qualities and social connections that Arthur felt himself to lack. That added a most bitter and distasteful edge to the baser sentiment of jealousy.

  One day in July, the three of them took a carriage out to the hills south of Dublin at Dundrum. It was a fine summer’s day and thin skeins of white cloud drifted across a deep blue sky. They spread a blanket down in the shade of an ancient oak tree and began to unpack the basket.

  ‘A fine spread.’ Fenshaw smiled. ‘Fit for a king.’

  ‘While we still have one,’ Arthur added wryly.

  The naval officer looked at Arthur curiously and Kitty chuckled. ‘You’ll have to excuse Arthur. He thinks that the French will be invading us at any moment, red in tooth and claw as they lay waste our cities and slaughter our people, though not without ravaging the womenfolk first.’

  ‘Oh, I doubt that will happen,’ Fenshaw replied, and helped himself to a chicken leg.

  ‘Not with the heroes of the Navy standing, or floating, between us and the enemy, I suppose,’ said Kitty, then glanced at Arthur. ‘And the heroes in the army as well.’

  Fenshaw shook his head.‘That’s not what I meant. I just don’t think that the French can be as bad as our newspapers, and
our government, would have us believe.’

  ‘Really?’ Arthur stared at him. ‘What makes you think that?’

  Fenshaw delicately took a bite from his drumstick and chewed it for a while before he responded.‘It’s a question of what motivates the revolutionaries. From the outset their goal was to improve the condition of their people.The commoners had a far harder time of it than our people in England, with little hope of any reform at the hands of the aristocrats and those who ran the Catholic church. Given what they had to put up with I would say that there is some justification for responding to their condition as they did. If the common people are oppressed too severely then some day they will rise up and overthrow their rulers.’

  ‘So you would justify regicide?’ Arthur cut in.