34. Another revelation

The next conversation I had with Dr Locksley went off like one of Mr Shrapnel's exploding spherical case shells.

I had called upon him to discuss the appointment to the teacher's post. As old as the good doctor is, his wits are razor sharp. I attempted to discuss the matter without raising Mrs Dodgson's name but the vicar sliced through it all and asked if it were she that I was talking about.

"Would that be an issue?" I asked, wondering how much he actually knew, "I mean the circumstances around Alfred Dodgson?"

"I do not believe so." He said on some reflection. "As we discussed the other day, she broke no laws, she was the victim. Surely it is to be about God's work to care for her and to provide her with a living."

"If she will take on the position," I said.

"And speaking of which, I notice that you have made Lord Brunton's son your clerk. The boy was wasted as a footman."

"Henry? My clerk Henry? Is Lord Brunton's son?" To say I was stunned would have been an understatement.

"Illegitimate son, his eldest." The vicar corrected me, "His mother was a maid, but his father paid for the boy's schooling and I believe he was instrumental in placing him in your father's household. You did not know?"

I shook my head, "I did not. But certain things are becoming clearer. Thank you doctor, if you would, please, tell no one that you have told me this. It has been kept very quiet about the Hall, and I suspect that people have their reasons for doing so. I shall respect that."

As I rode back to the Hall, I thought about what I had just learnt. This revelation was obviously what Barclay had heard about; Cumberland's ears flicked back at the sound of my laughter. It wasn't often that I learnt something before my trusty man-servant. Henry obviously wanted to keep it to himself, so, as I told Dr Locksley, I would respect that.

Once again, I reflected on the changes in my life. The army was easy. An order came down, I passed it on. We marched somewhere, we stood there. The enemy advanced towards us and we went through the drills. The drills. You did what you were told to do in the way you were told to do it, and that was it. Obviously, it was often more complicated than that but that was what it all boiled down to.

Outside of the army was complicated, people would quite happily ambush you without even thinking about it, without even knowing that they were doing it.

It was all so disorderly!

I would adapt, I resolved, I would overcome. I'd survived the French; I'd be damned if I wasn't going to survive the rest of my life.

"Joshua?" Barclay paused in laying out my clothes for supper.

"Your Grace?"

"Did you hear any more of that whisper?" I really could not resist this.

"No, Your Grace." He looked at me, "You have though, I suspect."

I told him what the vicar had said.

"Lord Brunton, Your Grace?"

"Exactly!" I said, sliding my shirt on. "Say nothing, Barclay, the young man obviously has his reasons."

"Yes, sir." I knew that it would be so. "However, I assume that you know that Lord Brunton - Henry's father - passed away at about the same time as your father."

"He had a son to inherit?"

"Yes, Your Grace, Robert. I understand that there have been quite heated discussions about the will."

"Thank you, Barclay."

I have never known how Barclay obtains his information, but it is very rare that he is wrong in his intelligence. If Wellesley had had three or four Barclays in his employ, they could probably tell him what Bonaparte was having for breakfast as he ate it.