Free A Regimental Affair by Allan Mallinson Page B

confess I know little about putting a mare in foal. Might you tell me?’
    Coates was content enough to let them both return to simpler matters. ‘Where do we begin, Matthew?’
    ‘At the beginning,’ laughed Hervey, with a look of mock despair. ‘When must I put the stallion to her, and when shall she then foal?’
    ‘By the end of May.’
    ‘Very well. Why?’
    ‘Because when you put the stallion to a mare depends on when you want her to foal. A big cold-blood – one of the Suffolks that ploughs the glebe, say – will carry a full year, or even longer. Ponies and smaller types can be as short as forty weeks. I reckon Jessye’d be in the middle somewhere: say, eleven months – calendar months, I mean. You don’t want her dropping her foal before the beginning of April. The grass’ll be too poor for best milk, and I like to see foals ’ave the sun on their backs for the first six months.’
    ‘Then May it shall be. When I find the stallion will you tell me what’s what?’
    ‘I will. But if you go for the marquess’s improver then his stud groom’ll tell you all you need. Jessye looks in good fettle. You’ll keep feeding her barley, won’t you? There isn’t enough goodness even in this pasture just yet.’
    ‘Indeed I shall. She’ll be as round as a barrel soon.’
    ‘Ay, well, not
too
round. I don’t hold with that notion. My ewes always carry better through the winter if I get them up to the rougher grazing by the end of July.’
    Hervey nodded.
    ‘Come over to Drove Farm soon. You can help with the late lambs. And you can tell me some more about what you got up to in India – and this brevet. And I shall call you “Major”!’
    Hervey smiled. How congenial was the pleasure Daniel Coates took in his young friend’s triumphs. ‘I’d like that very much. Just as soon as Henrietta is come and I am back from Hounslow. It should only be a day or so, but I must pay my compliments to the colonel.’
    ‘Of course you must. What a thought it must be to be seeing a regiment you’ll soon command.
Colonel
Hervey! What a fair prospect!’
    ‘There are one or two bridges to cross first, Dan,’ said Hervey, with a cautionary frown. ‘And I am not to use even the majority while at duty with the regiment.’
    ‘Ay. Well, I’ll say not a word to anybody. You may be sure of it.’ Coates began to dig out his pipe. Hervey still saw the man who had first helped him astride the woolpack, before even the old donkey was considered a safe enough ride. His old friend bore the signs of his years – that was a fact – but not in the mind, for sure.
    At length the old dragoon spat, and rubbed his forehead with his sleeve. ‘Did I tell you I saw Bonaparte?’ he asked, matter of fact.
    Hervey was astonished. ‘
Bonaparte?
’
    ‘Ay. The Emperor himself.’
    ‘How in heaven’s name . . .’
    ‘In Torbay. Just after you was gone to Paris. He was aboard the
Bellerophon
. Now
there’s
a ship, Matthew. They held ’im there a week or so while they decided what best to do with ’im. When I heard, I posted down there at once. Prospect of a lifetime!’
    ‘Indeed. I never saw him. Not ever.’
    ‘There were boat trips out to see ’im by the score. He used to come on deck.’
    ‘Well, he’ll not trouble us again in this world,’ said Hervey resolutely.
    ‘No,’ said Coates, nodding. ‘We should be able to count on a few years’ peace at least.’ And then he smiled again. ‘Where do you think Colonel Hervey shall draw his sabre then?’
    Goodness, how becoming that title sounded! Hervey positively glowed. ‘Well, nowhere
this
side of the world. That’s for sure.’
    Coates nodded. ‘India, d’ye mean? I wish I’d seen India. Just pray it’s not Ireland you’re sent to.’
    Hervey simply raised an eyebrow. Ireland had all but undone him two years before, and he had no wish to see the country again – not even for the hunting and the good friends he had made there.
    ‘No,’ said Coates.