The Loving Cup (46 page)

'The situation in the world is far from the peaceable one I had hoped for by now. After the splendid celebrations of the summer one had looked forward to a winter of reconciliation; but so far there is little sign of it.'

'Well, in a sense, we are still at war.'

'Oh, yes, but a puny, trivial war - which should be terminated at the earliest possible moment. We want nothing from our ex-colonies except a peace honourable to both sides. Negotiations are going on alongside hostilities, but no one knows how long the negotiations will take. Clearly America can afford to be much less aggressive now that France has collapsed
...
But it was not of that I was thinking so much as the situation in Europe, which still remains potentially explosive.'

‘I
n France?'

‘I
n France.'

Ross said:
I
suppose the return of so many dispossessed aristocrats demanding their possessions must have put a strain on King Louis.'

'On everyone. Of course it is an internal problem that time will heal, if time is allowed. France, you know, Poldark, has never been treated as a conquered nation. Napoleon has been treated as a conquered
tyrant;
but from the moment peace was signed the nation as such has been given every assistance and consideration to help it to its feet again, and every encouragement to take its place in the comity of Europe. The unrest within its own borders at present makes its contribution unsatisfactory and unreliable.'

Ross nodded.

Liverpool said: 'As the goodwill attending on the return of Louis has evaporated before the constant problems he has to face, so the British have become deeply unpopular. There have been threats against the life of Wellington, and unpleasant scenes. Realize that in the House of Peers, the ancient nobles of France number but thirty; the remaining hundred, and forty are marshals and generals and the like ennobled by Buonaparte. Realize that the army has been recently swelled by the return of one hundred and fifty thousand prisoners of war, from England, Russia and Prussia, most of them ardent to avenge the dishonour and hardship of their captivity. Realize that the princes of the blood royal have been declared colonels and generals by the King, and many other superior posts have been filled by the emigrant nobility, so that the flower of Napoleon's fine army of veterans is subject to the command of old men past the age of service or by young men who have never known it. After the calm early months of Louis' reign, all these discontents and many more have surfaced. And much of the blame - most unfairly - h
as focused on the British and
particularly on their Ambassador. This week I have come to the reluctant conclusion that Wellington must be recalled -
for his own safety.' 'He will not like that.'

'There are two principal risks: one, that the dissident army may stage a coup and take him prisoner as a hostage; the other, that he may be murdered. Last week I received a message from our most trusted secret agent in Paris.' Lord Liverpool moved some papers and took out a thin sheet of parchment. 'The message reads: "Unless Duke of Wellington is instantly recalled from France he will be privately assassinated; a plot is now forming to complete the horrid deed.'"

Ross eased his ach
ing ankle but did not speak.'
I
have twice
suggested
to Wellington that he should leave Paris,' the Prime Minister said, 'but he was never a man to shun danger, and each time he has said he does not wish to. Now I have made it an or
der. He will leave next month. I
have appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in America.'

'Indeed.'

'We badly lack a man of his genius out there. We have many daring officers but courage - against equal courage— is not enough. Wellington alone has the tactical and strategic grasp to bring the war to a speedy conclusion.'

'By defeating the Americans?'

'By winning a conclusive battle and then making a magnanimous peace. That is all we want.' 'And France?'

‘I
am glad you see the drift of my remarks. Do you know
Lord Fitzroy Somerset?'
'Yes.'

'Well?'

'Moderately so. We met last at Bussaco. But before that in

Cornwall when he was a boy. His mother is a Boscawen. They stayed at Tregothnan.'

'Oh
...
I see. Do you find him a likeable young man?'

'Oh, yes. After Bussaco he was more than helpful in toning down Wellington's impatience at my being there.'

Lord Liverpool smiled and blinked. 'Did you know that Wellington wrote to his brother, the Foreign Secretary, complaining angrily of your visit? What was the difference, he asked, between a "neutral observer" and a "government spy"?'

‘
I
thought this sometimes myself. But you do me more than justice in supposing I see the drift of your remarks.'

'Ah, well. I was about to add, as I am sure you know, that Fitzroy Somerset has been Wellington's aide at the British Embassy in Paris. It is my intention to leave him in sole charge when Wellington leaves.'

'He is young.'

'He is very young, of course, for such a post, though he will have the support of Sir Charles Bagot, who is a few years his senior in age. It will be a testing appointment. Fitzroy Somerset has
more than proved himself in battl
e; it will remain to be seen if he can prove himself equal in diplomacy.'

I
wish him well.'

Lord Liverpool reached forward and snuffed one of the desk candles which was smoking.

'From here forwards perhaps you will have no difficulty in following the purpose of my remarks. It is my intention, it is my Cabinet's intention, to watch events very closely in France over the next few months. It may be that events will stabilize themselves, that the removal of Wellington
, who has been, I fear, distinctl
y arrogant - a living symbol of the conquering armies - will take away one of the main causes of French hostility; it may be that the good sense of the average Frenchman - who has seen so much distress and devastation over the last twenty years — will help him to draw back from any form of civil war, that by the spring the worst discont
ent will be over and we can settl
e down to an era of genuine peace.'

I
trust so.'

'But if it does
not,
if discontent in the army generally continues to grow, it is in my mind to send a special envoy to Paris, a man of some experience both in government and in military matters who would report daily direct to me on anything he saw, so that we should not be caught unawares by any
revolt, whether it was Buonaparti
st or on behalf of one of the other royal pretenders. He would be closely attached to the Embassy, and able to draw on them for any assistance he needed but his real mission would be kept secret. For that reason it would have to be a man of some eminence but one not internationally known, a name not known to the French, for instance, a man who could be visiting Paris - and France generally - and combining a holiday, perhaps with his wife and family, with a lively interest in his old gallant adversaries, the French Army.'

Ross saw exactl
y where it was all pointed now.

I

Stephen was away for two weeks at the end of November, having sailed with the
Chasse
Marie
as far as Bristol. Left much on her own, Clowance accepted an invitation to ride over
and dine with Mr and Mrs Valenti
ne Warleggan.

A brooding, gloomy day, mercifully dry and without appreciable wind, but sunless and lifeless. This being only her second visit to the north coast since she was married, Clowance had hoped for brilliance of sky and mountainous seas. (Living in an estuary seemed scarcely to be by the sea at all.) But when she dismounted at the front door of Place House it was as if someone had drawn a grey screen across the view, leaving no lineal mark to distinguish the horizon.

Valentine came instantly out, ran down the steps to meet her.

'Cousin Clowance, my only little cousin. You rode over alone? You shoul
d not! We would have sent a groo
m.' He helped her down and kissed her afrf she was the first woman he had seen for a month. Selina Warleggan was smiling from the doorway.

The young women greeted each other, kissing warily; a new life had begun for them both since they last met.

In a flurry of idle conversation they went in, Clowance was helped off with her cloak, her new frock much admired; two blondes together, Selina the more ashen, certainly the more willowy, yet perceptibly the older against Clowance's abounding youth.

'What are you doing
home
so early?' Clowance asked. 'Surely it is not yet time. Or have you given up your studies?'

'On the contrary. In spite of the fascination of my life here I returned promptly to Cambridge, and took Selina with me, of course. My studies were at least as diligent as usual until she tired of the Cambridge air, whereupon I decided that my father was grievous ill and we left t
wo weeks before the end of term
-

I
trust he is not!'

'Alas, no. But-
’

'Val, you must not say such things!
^’
exclaimed Selina. 'The time for bitterness is over. What harm has he ever done you? Serious!'

Valentine rubbed his nose,
‘
I
suppose the greatest harm is that he ever sired me. And yet -'

'My dearest, I hold him in the highest favour for that! Just because -'

'Wait until you have been wed to me for a year or two.' Valentine looked Selina assessingly up and down. 'Or twenty year or two. Come to consider it, I think I shall be able to bear you for a long time.'

Selina coloured becomingly. 'We are talking in the presence of another newly
-
wed. How is dear Stephen? It was quite by chance Valentine heard he was away, and thought to ask you over. What do you do with yourself while he is away? And does he prosper? I understand he owns several -vessels now and will soon be looked on as a big shipowner.'

'Scarcely
that,'
said Clowance, smiling, 'but he prospers. So far.'

Over dinner Clowance let out inadvertently that they had been seeing something of Sir George and Lady Harriet, and then that Sir George had financed Stephen's latest purchase, of the
Adolphus.

Valentine said: 'My father is a useful man to have on board — always so long as you steer in the direction he considers appropriate. Once get at cross with him and he'll have you on the rocks in no time.'

'Well, thank you,' said Clowance drily.

'Oh, it may not come to that, little cousin! Though I feel some responsibility in having introduced them to each other. Never mind, I believe Stephen to be a man of determined character, and that will stand him in good stead
...
And how is that rapscallion Andrew
Blamey
behaving himself?
’

'Very well so far. He lacks your influence...' Clowance paused, anxious not to say more in front of Selina.

Valentine laughed. 'You see, Selina, my influence is always bad! What have I been telling you? Live with me and I will corrupt you in no time!'

Selina lowered her eyes and smiled as if to herself privately, nurturing what had been said, her own feelings, her assessment of Valentine's feelings, her own secret conclusions.

It was not in Clowance's character to see deeply below the surface of an enjoyable first visit to Place House; she took people as they came, reacting with the natural warmth of her own uncomplex nature. But
being entertained by this ill-assorted pair stirred her curiosity and her observancy beyond its usual limits.

She had first seen Mrs Pope as the slim, secretive, blonde young wife of the ailing old man, and then later as the pretty, nearly-demure widow in becoming black. Once or twice, chiefly at Geoffrey Charles's party, she had come out of her shell; but even at such times she had seemed on her guard, a little unable to relax her dignity in case someone took advantage of her. Jeremy had told Clowance that Mrs Pope had had an eye for him, and clearly she had not been above a flirtation here and there. When her 'flirtation' had begun with Valentine Clowance had no idea - perhaps even as early as the Enys's dinner party in July of three years ago— before Mr Clement Pope was even ill: she remembered them sitting all together at the dinner table, and Valentine had asked her who his other neighbour was before he spoke to Mrs Pope. Thereafter that evening, Clowance remembered, he had had no attention for anyone else.

'My charming step-daughters,' Valentine said taking Clowance by the arm as they left the dining room, 'are with a Mrs Osworth in Finsbury. We visited them on the way to .Cambridge and again on the way home. Mrs Osworth is a well-connected widow who will do her best to further their education and their entry into society. But I have been telling Selina, once I am free of Cambridge, that we would do well to take a house in London for a season to see them roperly launched. And for that purpose I shall have no
h
esitarion in calling in my step-mother's connections. Let it be said that I hope never to have to exchange another word with my father as long as he lives; but Lady Harriet is another matter. I fancy Lady Harriet - decorously, of -course, in her case - but still I fancy her; and would feel sorry, for her at the outlandish marriage she has made, were it
possible
to feel sorry for Lady Harriet. Happily it is not. She is far too strong, too much mistress of her own soul to allow one terrible mistake to jeopardize it. So I shall solicit her assistance on behalf of Letitia and Maud. And although no doubt she will call scorn on me for having such petty ambi
tions for them, I believe secretl
y she will be amused to help.'

'My dearest,' said Selina, 'you are so kind to take this interest in my step-daughters. Is he not so, Clowance? For they are nothing to him.'

They took tea in the drawing room and asked after Jeremy. He was still quartered near Brussels, Clowance said. She had heard from him about a week ago. (But when he wrote he had not heard of Valentine's marriage.) Amadora Poldark, if they did not know it, was expecting a baby next month. As soon as possible after it Geoffrey Charles was to bring his family to England again. Did they know he had resigned from the army? Although he was not quite free of it, being retained on half pay. Which would not come amiss, Geoffrey Charles said, since money was not easy to transfer from Spain to England at the moment, and in any case the less he had to depend on Amadora the better he was pleased.

Cuby was not mentioned. Clowance did not utter the name, for she did not know to what extent if any Selina had been informed of Sir George's plans for his son.

Valentine, of course, was less tactful. 'Tom Guildford will be in Cornwall for Christmas. Naturally he was heartbroken at the news.'

I
wrote to him,' Clowance said shortly.

I
know. He told me so
...
D'you know, he said a very strange thing. A very strange thing indeed, Clowance. He

said: "I'll wait for her." Just that.
‘
I
'll
wait for her."' He had said the same in a letter to Clowance. 'He was joking.'

I
suppose. He's a queer character, old Tom. You don't bottom him easily
...'
Valentine helped himself to a biscuit,
I
often think it a pity charming young women cannot be three or four people-multiply themselves, as it were. I hear Lord EdwardFitzmaurice is still unmarried.'

‘I
s he?'

'Yes, he is, dear Cousin. You'd have made a good wife for him. And a good wife for old Tom
. And I'm sure Stephen is happy!
But only one of
'em can have you!'

'And what about charming young men?'. Clowance asked.

'Ah, yes, well that is sometimes true too. Though a little different in some respects.'

'Yes, do tell us, Valentine,' said his wife, her wisteria blue eyes narrowing, if you were able to have three wives, who else would you choose?'

'My dear,' said Valentine coolly,
I
should go around the country looking for two more Selinas.
^’

When Cl
owance left, which she did at four, they insisted on their head groom, Grieves, riding with her to Nampara, where she was to spend the night.

They walked with the two horses a little way, since Valentine said he had had no exercise that day and he liked the time before the fall of night. Arms linked, they watched their visitor and her escort going off, waved, stood a while until the horses had disappeared round the corner into the evening mists.

Valentine said:
I
like little Clowance.'

‘
I
noticed.'

'But a virtuous girl. Having married Stephen Carrington, she will feel herself bound to him through thick and thin, and never look elsewhere.'

isn't that the purpose of marriage?'

'There are exceptions. Can you walk with me a
little
further?'

'Down that old slope?'

'Down that old slope.'

'It will soon be dark.'

He held out his hands. Trust me.'

She laughed.'Oh, that.
I shall never do!'

'A very proper approach. But you may be surprised.'

‘
Nicely?'

‘
Who knows?'

‘
Very well, then.' She gave him her hand-He helped her down a few feet and then drew her closer to him and began to kiss her.

She wriggled, but without conviction. 'Not here.'

His lank dark hair was falling over his brow,
I
often think it strange that this is all now legal. No more listening for the old man in the other room.'

She shivered.'Don't speak of it.'

‘
I
speak of it to make the contrast. Don't tell me you liked it better when it was forbidden.'

'Of course not! Valentine, it is wicked of you to suggest it-'

'Pleasure thrives on wickedness.' He released her, took her hand again, and they slid and stumbled down to a plateau of ground which had been cleared of gorse bushes.

Valentine said: 'This is the site that first enticed Unwin Trevaunance and Michael Chenhalls.'

‘
I
know. When Sir Unwin called in the summer we walked out this far.'

'We are well rid of him.. .D'you know, your eyes are like a cat's in the half dark, Selina. They close like a cat's. Yet they see everything. Unloose your hair.'

'Dearest, there are servants!'

‘
What is it to them?'

'Source for gossip. Guess what I seen Mistress do last night!'
‘

'Far more likely to gossip about what master may do at any moment if you continue to look like that.' 'How shall I look? Cold? Austere?'
I
disbelieve you could!'

There was a pause. Out at sea the lights of a half dozen fishing boats winked.

Valentine said: 'Would you like me to tell you something?' 'Please do.'

'That, evening at Cardew. D'you know when I told my father of our marriage and we quarrelled, I said to him that I worshipped the very ground you walked on.'

Selina leaned against him. 'Oh, Valentine, you are so kind.'

'But I meant it. It was the truth!'

'Of course I believe you. However unworthy I may feel -'

'The
literal
truth,' he said.

There was another pause. Selina pushed back a strand of her hair.

I
don't think I conject what you mean, Valentine.'

'The literal truth. This is the ground I worship that you are walking on now.'

She brushed some dust and fragments of heather from the hem of her skirt. Her voice was smaller, a little colder, is this some sort of jest? A joke? Yes, I see it is a joke. That is
funny
Valentine.'