Sword of Fortune

by Christopher Nicole

  Peyraud looked past him, at the Company soldiers. ‘You choose strange companions, General Bryant.’

  ‘That has ever been my misfortune, General. But these men are less strange than some I have been forced to endure.’

  They gazed at each other, and Aljai hastily interrupted them.

  ‘You are an ambassador from Lord Cornwallis. As such, you are welcome here, Richard.’

  She turned her horse and walked it through the gate. Peyraud did not immediately follow, and Richard understood he was to go next. This he did, while his heart pounded and he looked as often as he could at the crowds of onlookers, many of them women with their children, but he could hardly expect to find Caty and Michael in such a mob.

  The Sardhana sepoys stood to attention as the Company men marched after Richard into the huge courtyard; they looked pleased to see again the general who had led them to the famous victory outside Allahabad, even if their officers did not. But Father Martin and Hamilton Dyce were there, and they seemed content enough.

  He gazed at the little huts at the far end, memory racing back.

  ‘By God, if the lady were to turn nasty...’ Wright muttered, as the gates closed behind them.

  ‘It is our business to see that she doesn’t. But tell Inglis to command your officers to be sure the men are not disarmed, and not split up into small groups.’

  Wright nodded and fell back, but he had regained Richard’s shoulder by the time they dismounted and were escorted by Peyraud into the reception hall. Once again Richard heard Wright’s gasp of amazement at the decorations and the splendour, but he had eyes only for the end of the hall, where the doors to the inner chamber stood open, and Aljai had already seated herself on her divan.

  Peyraud led them towards her, and took his place at her right side. Le Vasseult, who seemed to have gained in importance, hurried in to stand on her left. The other Sardhana officers remained crowded in the hall, watching the Company men with hostile eyes.

  ‘I will confess I have never felt so uneasy in my life,’ Wright remarked.

  ‘Well, take care not to show it.’

  They stood before the Begum.

  ‘Who is your aide?’ Aljai asked, her voice as soft as ever.

  ‘Major James Wright, of the East India Company, Highness.’

  ‘We are pleased to make your acquaintance, Major Wright,’ the Begum said. ‘Now leave us.’

  Wright looked at Richard in consternation.

  ‘I would speak with General Bryant alone, Major,’ Aljai said.

  ‘We’d better go along with her for the time being,’ Richard said in English.

  ‘There is food and drink awaiting you, Major. My officers will escort you. Gentlemen.’

  Peyraud hesitated, as he had on the occasion of Richard’s first appearance in this room.

  ‘The door will remain open, General,’ Aljai said.

  Peyraud came to attention, and marched out, followed by Wright and le Vasseult. Le Vasseult stared at Richard as he passed; his hostility was even more blatant than Peyraud’s.

  Aljai clapped her hands, and her girls hurried in with cushions for Richard to sit on, sherbet for him to drink. Slowly he lowered himself, resting his sword across his knees. Today he wore his pistols as well.

  As Aljai observed. ‘Would you not be more comfortable without your weapons, Richard?’

  The girls hovered expectantly. He looked from one to the other, but Caty was not amongst them.

  ‘No, Highness,’ he said.

  Aljai shrugged, and waved her hand. The girls left again. The Begum gazed past Richard at the door, making sure that the people outside had retreated beyond hearing.

  ‘I see Peyraud is as suspicious as ever,’ Richard remarked. ‘And has infected le Vasseult.’

  ‘Have they not reason to be? Did not your people savage them in Hariana?’

  ‘What were they doing in Hariana, Highness, uninvited?’

  The Begum made a moue. ‘Testing you, perhaps? But you did not return.’

  ‘Circumstances made it impossible. I have returned now.’

  ‘Five years is too long, my Richard. How I longed for you, night after night…’

  ‘After having acquiesced in my arrest?’

  ‘What was I to do? I am a poor helpless woman. My power is gained by my wiles, by my beauty, by my ability to make men love me. But anger and hate are stronger emotions than love. When a man is consumed by anger, his only desire is to sweep aside the cause. You know that as well as anyone.’ She gazed at him. ‘I saved your life. Twice. And suffered for it.’

  ‘You, Highness? Suffered?’

  ‘Outward appearances are easy to maintain. Since your departure, I have been virtual prisoner of Peyraud. He has the loyalty of the French soldiery. Had you had that now, Richard…’ She sighed. ‘I am working to change the situation, but it is a slow business. Had you come back to me with an army at your back, things would be different. You well know I never loved any man but you, Richard.’

  ‘I well know you never loved any human being but yourself, Aljai,’ Richard said smiling.

  She bowed her head. ‘Even you wish to kick me when I am impotent. Believe me, or believe me not. I repeat, had you come with an army…but three hundred men...’ she sighed.

  ‘I did not come to save you from your own vices, Highness. I came as an ambassador for the Company. If you were to command your armies to join with ours on the march to Seringapatam, many of your problems might be solved.’

  ‘How can I order my armies to do anything?’ she demanded, raising her head. ‘Peyraud commands my armies.’

  ‘How are the mighty fallen,’ Richard remarked.

  ‘It amuses you to say so. You will have to speak with him, and see what can be done.’

  ‘Be sure I will do so.’

  ‘But as you are here, Richard, dear Richard…I have missed you so.’ She stretched out her arm.

  ‘You promised Peyraud to leave the doors open, Aljai.’

  ‘Come with me to my bedchamber. He will be angry, but I will suffer in silence.’

  ‘I visited your bedchamber for the last time on the night you betrayed me, Highness.’

  Her eyes glared. ‘You see! You are a man! You never cease to hate. Even me, your benefactress.’

  ‘I do not hate you, Aljai.’ This was perfectly true; at that moment he only pitied her. But he had no intention of becoming ensnared in her wiles again. ‘But I returned to Agra with another purpose in mind.’

  Her expression became watchful.

  ‘I wish to see Caty. And my son.’

  Aljai seemed to gather herself into a ball. ‘That is impossible.’

  ‘Because you have broken your word there too, and done away with them.’ His fingers were curling into fists.

  ‘No. They are both alive and well. I swear it.’

  ‘Then bring them to me.’

  Her head bowed again. ‘I cannot.’

  ‘Aljai,’ he said. ‘You had better speak plainly, or I am liable to wring your neck.’

  Her head rose. ‘Caty is the wife of another.’

  ‘Of another? My wife? How can this be?’

  ‘You did not return. After a year, you did not return. We heard only vague rumours of you, and that crazy Irishman. You did not return, my Richard. I held out for a year…then I could hold out no longer.’

  ‘Hold out? Hold out what? Against whom? By God…’ a terrible suspicion crossed his mind.

  ‘What could I do? I do not know if he loved the girl. I think perhaps it was more a desire to take revenge upon you. But he wanted her, and I could not resist him.’

  Richard felt his head was about to explode. He had come here in such high hopes, such certainty…‘You gave my wife to Peyraud? You gave my son to Peyraud?’

  ‘What could I do?’ Aljai asked again, plaintively. ‘But Richard, he has used her well. I insisted. He has never beaten her, to my knowledge. I have kept my word to you that neither she nor the boy would be harmed. She i
s content.’

  ‘Content? Does she know I am here?’

  ‘I should think everyone knows you are here by now.’

  ‘And she is content?’

  ‘Richard, I beg of you, do nothing rash.’

  ‘Rash? Why, I never act rashly, Highness.’ The words dropped from his mouth like vitriol. ‘I understand you have a problem. An officer more powerful than his ruler. Would you not like me to rid you, and the world, of such a pest?’

  Aljai stared at him, then clasped both hands to her breast. ‘You…and Peyraud?’ An unholy glow illuminated her face. ‘You would shoot him down like a dog. But…what if he chose swords?’

  ‘Then I would cut him down like a dog, Highness.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Quite sure. Do you now hate him that much? Why do you not just give the order for his execution, as you had me execute Marcel?’

  ‘Would that I could. But Marcel had little following amongst the officers. Peyraud…they are all his men. I dare not act against him. But a duel…he would have to fight, or be known as a coward. Oh, my Richard…are you sure?’

  ‘There is no man in India can stand against me, Highness.’

  It was not an idle boast; he felt quite sure of it.

  The Begum’s eyes were still glowing. ‘How will it be accomplished?’

  ‘Very simply. Summon your officers to hear what I have to say.’

  Aljai gazed at him for several seconds, while her tongue came out and circled her lips, almost as if she was feeling sexually aroused. Perhaps she was.

  Richard rose from his cushions as Aljai summoned her majordomo. The blood began to tingle in his veins. For the second time in his life he was going to kill for the sake of a woman. But this woman was his wife.

  The senior officers filed in, Wright with them, looking very hot and bothered.

  ‘I wish all my officers present,’ Aljai said, ‘to hear what General Bryant has to say.’

  Peyraud beckoned the rest of the officers. Undoubtedly he already knew what Richard would have to say, and had prepared his answer. Now he took up his normal position just behind the Begum’s right shoulder, and le Vasseult returned to her left side.

  Richard couldn’t make up his mind about le Vasseult. He appeared to be Peyraud’s creature. But the Begum had revealed no great animosity towards him.

  ‘You may speak, General,’ Aljai said.

  ‘Thank you, Highness. I have already acquainted the Begum with the message I bring from Lord Cornwallis,’ Richard told the waiting officers. ‘It is an invitation to join the forces of the Honourable East India Company, and those of Hyderabad and Scindhia, in an expedition to reduce the powers of Tippoo Sahib of Mysore before he grows too great, and undertakes a career of conquest. It is the opinion of Lord Cornwallis, and to this opinion both the Nizam and General de Boigne adhere, that such a campaign would be to the benefit of us all.’

  He paused and looked over their faces, briefly. His interest lay chiefly in Peyraud’s expression.

  ‘Are the armies of Hariana taking part in this campaign?’ Peyraud inquired.

  ‘That I cannot yet say.’

  ‘But you are the general of Hariana. Or have you abandoned the Irishman?’

  ‘Ship Sahib has granted me permission to represent the Company in this great business,’ Richard said, with studied politeness.

  ‘Well, it can be no business of ours,’ Peyraud said. ‘Campaign against Mysore? That is hundreds of miles away to the south. We have no quarrel with Tippoo Sahib. It is our opinion that the Company poses a far greater threat to the peace of the Deccan than anyone else.’

  ‘Do I understand your reply to be that you decline to involve the forces of Sardhana in this enterprise, General Peyraud?’ Richard asked mildly.

  ‘Yes. The Begum will endorse my decision, I know.’

  Aljai kept her face studiously expressionless, but the corner of her jaw was twitching anxiously.

  ‘I am sure Her Highness will yield to the judgement of her general in chief,’ Richard said. ‘On military matters. However, she is unfortunate in being unaware that her general in chief is a coward.’

  There was a gasp from the assembled officers, not least from Wright. Even Aljai opened her mouth, and then closed it again.

  ‘Come, General,’ Richard said. ‘When last was it that the armies of Sardhana were led to war? Was it when you were driven from the borders of Hariana, several years ago? It is the boast of General Peyraud that he has never lost a gun? But has he ever gained one, either?’

  Peyraud stiffened, and some of the colour left his face. He knew that Richard was well aware the Begum was the reason the Sardhana armies had been reduced to merely ceremonial duties—but to shelter behind the woman would hardly maintain his prestige. When he spoke his voice was low. ‘You have come to us as an ambassador, General Bryant. I am unable to take offence at your remark.’

  ‘As of this moment I am no longer an ambassador,’ Richard said. ‘My mission is completed. You may overlook my diplomatic immunity.’ He knew he was here taking a considerable risk; if he shed his immunity Peyraud might just have him arrested—he did not suppose the Begum would be able to do anything more to prevent that this time than the last.

  But Peyraud had been publicly insulted, before his officers.

  ‘Then I suggest you leave Sardhana immediately,’ he said. ‘Lest we forget our manners.’

  ‘I will leave when I am ready, Peyraud,’ Richard said. ‘And I will not be ready until I have obtained satisfaction for your treachery in the past, and until you have rid yourself of the charge of cowardice I have just brought against you. To assist you in deciding what to do, General…’ he stepped forward and slapped the Frenchman across the face.

  This time there was more than a gasp; there was an audible ripple of comment around the room.

  Peyraud stared at Richard for several seconds, his face growing paler yet, then he turned to le Vasseult.

  ‘Captain!’

  ‘Your second, sir.’

  ‘Major Wright will act for me,’ Richard told him.

  Wright said nothing; he was speechless with astonishment.

  ‘The choice of weapons is ours,’ le Vasseult said. ‘It will be sabres, sir. At dawn tomorrow.’

  ‘Sabres,’ Richard said with satisfaction, and let his hand drop to the claymore at his belt. ‘At dawn.’

  *

  ‘My word, sir,’ Wright expostulated when they were finally alone in the quarters allotted to them. ‘What a to-do. What a to-do!’

  ‘It will greatly assist our mission, Major, should Peyraud be discounted. Without him, the Begum may well see her way to supporting us.’

  ‘But, sir…what a scandalous way to conduct an embassy. To challenge a man simply because he will not commit his forces in our cause…’

  ‘I assure you, Major, there is more behind my challenge than merely opposing views.’

  ‘Well, sir…and suppose he kills you?’

  ‘You will have lost nothing. If Peyraud remains in control here, there is no possibility of an alliance between Sardhana and the Company, so you had best take yourself back to Lord Cornwallis with that information.’

  ‘That you can sit there and discuss such a possibility in cold blood…’ Wright wiped his brow. ‘I forget, sir. You are experienced in these matters.’

  ‘Yes,’ Richard said grimly.

  Suddenly he heard a sound outside the door.

  Bootil hurried to open it, and admit a small figure totally shrouded in a cloak.

  Richard instantly knew who it was. He crossed the room and took Caty in his arms, pushing the hood back from her face and hair.

  ‘Oh, Caty,’ he said.

  She would be nineteen now, and had grown up considerably. Her face was as softly pretty as ever, and he could tell the woman in his arms was indeed a woman, as opposed to a girl, but her eyes were watchful and there was a tightness at her mouth which he did not recall.

  Yet the mouth was s
miling, and tears stood in the eyes.

  ‘Richard!’ she whispered.

  ‘You’ll excuse me,’ Wright said in some embarrassment, making for the door.

  ‘A moment, Major,’ Richard said. ‘I’d have you meet my wife, Catriona Bryant.’

  Wright hesitated, a puzzled frown on his face. Then he collected himself. ‘An honour, Mrs Bryant.’

  ‘She is also, unfortunately, owing to the vagaries of life here in Sardhana, the wife of General Peyraud,’ Richard went on.

  Wright gulped. ‘My God! I begin to understand. This is a personal matter you intend to settle.’

  ‘Quite,’ Richard said. Now, if you would be so good as to leave me alone with my wife…’

  Wright hesitated for a second, but thought better of it. He saluted and left the room, followed by Bootil.

  ‘And see that we are not disturbed, Bootil,’ Richard told the servant.

  Then he could turn his undivided attention to Caty. He kissed her nose, her forehead, each eye, and her chin before her mouth. She made no demur, but clung to him almost with desperation. There was no joy in her response.

  He held her away from him to look into her eyes.

  ‘Has Peyraud used you that badly? Don’t answer,’ he said as she would have spoken. ‘Wait until after I have killed him. Tell me of Michael.’

  ‘He is well.’ Her voice was low, and as sombre as the rest of her demeanour. He let her go, and she sank on to the divan along the wall, her hands clasped on her lap, gazing at him.

  ‘He’ll be five,’ Richard said. ‘How I have dreamed of him. Of you both. Caty…’ he sat beside her. ‘You will adore Hariana. Hansi is a beautiful city. And it is so peaceful there. All your fears will disappear as if by magic.’

  ‘Richard, I cannot come with you to Hariana.’

  ‘Because of Peyraud? My darling, that matter will be settled in only a few hours. You will remain here, in perfect safety, until after the duel, and then…’

  ‘Richard, you must not fight this duel.’

  ‘My dearest girl, there is absolutely no risk. I promise you that.’

  ‘I beg you not to fight it.’ She slipped from the divan to kneel at his feet, her clasped hands now on his lap. ‘I beg you.’