Somervile finished his glass and poured another. ‘Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in … India.’

Hervey bowed.

‘But as a man of rank – with a brevet indeed, as well as acting in command here – you are not obliged by blind obedience. You have some discretion in these matters.’

Hervey was now intrigued. ‘What cause for discretion, as you put it, might there be? If the governor-general in his wisdom deems Chintal to be a threat to the King’s Peace, then who am I to gainsay it?’

Somervile nodded.

Hervey smiled. ‘And I could hardly admit that there’s anyone more capable than I of commanding the field force.’

Somervile looked grave once more. ‘I had in mind distaff matters.’

‘Ah.’

‘Forgive me, Hervey, but I ought perhaps to have congratulated you on the news.’

Hervey smiled again, conceding. ‘And I perhaps should have thought to tell you, except that these things are always more seemly done by the ladies, are they not?’

‘Hah! Quite so; Emma told me only last evening, though she’d known for a week. Yes, they’re judicious in choosing their time.’

Hervey didn’t say that Kezia too had told him only the day before. ‘But it can make no difference.’

‘Ordinarily, no, but in light of Kezia’s former … distraction, how wise was it, I wondered, to follow the precept of “duty” so narrowly?’

Hervey raised both eyebrows. ‘Dorothea Worsley’s time is near. Can you suppose Worsley would take leave?’

Somervile bowed, content. ‘Then we’d better begin on a plan without delay. I’ll call a council tomorrow. Another glass of Madeira?’

Hervey nodded.

And then he thought it the moment to press his advantage. ‘Might I ask, by the bye, if you are near to a decision yet on my dragoon?’

‘Hah!’ The governor banged the table so hard his glass fell over. ‘What a business indeed! I never heard its like. The fellow binds himself to a tree when there’s tiger about? Splendid! Splendid!’

‘The honour is all Garratt’s, the humiliation all mine. I wasn’t aware of the subterfuge until it was abroad that Askew had done so, by which time …’

‘Come, come! I’m excessively obliged to you for your candour in the report. This corporal of yours, he ties the dragoon to the tree for the man’s own good, without – he admits – his express consent, and out of duty also lest the man’s courage fail him and he attempts to make his escape? A really very remarkable initiative, Hervey. What resourceful NCOs you have!’

‘Unfortunately, perhaps, as I explained, Garratt detected the dodge. He got to the tree before the corporal could untie him, but it wasn’t until later that Armstrong had the truth from him.’

‘Yet the dragoon was a volunteer; that is to his credit. No one need know any other.’

‘But as I explained, there’s no knowing if Askew intended to use the opportunity to escape. Except that he’s of previously good character.’