Berthier was stunned. ‘But when will you inform Kléber?’
‘I will send him a message as we embark.’
Lannes took a sharp breath. ‘Can you imagine how he will react? The man will be incandescent.’
‘That can’t be helped,’ replied Napoleon. ‘We have to put France first, ahead of our friends and comrades. It is painful, shameful even. I accept that, but it is necessary. I am sure all of you understand that. Now, time is short, my friends. You must take as little away with you as possible; we cannot afford to arouse suspicion. Be ready to leave at dawn tomorrow.’
‘How long will you be away?’ asked Pauline as Napoleon dressed himself beside their bed by the light of a lamp. Outside the sun had not yet risen.
‘No more than two weeks.’
‘Good. After last night, I can hardly wait to have you back in my arms.’ She smiled dreamily, recalling the frenzied lovemaking, and the tenderness of her general as she lay in his arms afterwards. She raised her arms towards him.‘One last kiss, before you go.’
Napoleon hesitated as he looked down at her. Pauline lay there, in the twisted sheets, with all the drowsy beauty and allure of the recently awoken, and he felt his passion for her stirring again. Only now it was tempered by the imminence of his betrayal. Still, it was better that she suspected nothing. Napoleon smiled, climbed on to the bed and kissed her on the mouth, responding in kind as Pauline’s tongue darted between his lips.At length he eased himself up, picked up his hat and sash and made for the door.
‘Don’t take too long, my love,’ Pauline called softly after him. ‘Return as soon as you can.’
‘I will,’ Napoleon replied, and then the door closed behind him.
Outside, in the courtyard, the rest of the officers and men were waiting for their commander. Napoleon mounted his horse and urged it forward.As the small column headed out of the gate, he glanced back once, and saw, as he knew he would, Pauline’s silhouette at the window of their bedchamber. She waved and blew him a kiss, and he lifted his hat, and then turned his back on her and spurred his horse into a trot as he led his companions down the darkened street.
Chapter 46
Arthur
Amboor, India, February 1799
When General Harris and his army reached the range of hills known as the eastern Ghats they found the reinforcements sent by the Nizam waiting for them. True to the word of the new treaty he had signed with Britain, the Nizam had sent the six Company battalions in addition to several of the units formerly commanded by French officers, and over ten thousand cavalry. The army was under the command of the Nizam’s senior minister, Mear Allum, and was almost as large as that of General Harris.When they marched to war against Tipoo, Harris decided, they would advance in separate columns so as not to make the entire force too unwieldy.
As the general explained at a briefing to his senior officers, ‘This is the first time that a British army has been able to operate independently in India, thanks to the arrangements that Colonel Wellesley was able to make with the brinjarri merchants. The difficulty is that, in addition to the soldiers, we will have over a hundred thousand camp followers. If we marched in one formation the vanguard would have made camp and turned in for the night long before the rearguard even struck their tents.’
It was no exaggeration, but even so a number of the officers smiled at the image and Harris indulged them before reluctantly moving on to the unavoidable implication of marching in two columns. He coughed, then looked around the tent before his gaze fixed on the slight figure of Mear Allum, neatly dressed in flowing white robes. ‘Even though the Nizam places great faith in Mear Allum, as do I, we have agreed that the Nizam’s army would benefit from having a King’s regiment assigned to it, and a British officer to act as adviser to its commander, Mear Allum.’
The Nizam’s senior minister nodded politely. ‘I thank you for your most courteous and generous description of my role, but I will be commander in name only.The day to day running of the Nizam’s army, and the command of it in battle, will be the job of the British officer.’
‘As you say.’ General Harris bowed his head and smiled at Mear Allum. ‘And I thank you, and the Nizam, for your forbearance in this matter. While I have every confidence in the men and officers of the Nizam’s army, it is essential that they are commanded by someone familiar with the operational practices of the British army. My original intention was to appoint Colonel Ashton to the post, and since - tragically - he is no longer with us, the logical choice for the position is Colonel Wellesley.’
Arthur had been honest enough with himself to admit that he craved the appointment, but since there were several officers senior to him in the army, he had thought that his aspiration was futile. Now he was genuinely surprised and started in his seat.
‘Me, sir?’
General Harris smiled. ‘Yes, Colonel. Of course, I am aware that there are officers here with more experience, and seniority, than you, but in my view such men will be most needed in the main column, under my command. Since they are in charge of more than one regiment, to detach any one of these officers would disrupt the order of battle, whereas you are a regimental commander, and therefore both you and the 33rd can be detached without undue restructuring of the chain of command.’
It was a carefully worked response and Arthur quicky realised that the explanation was designed to appease those officers who held higher rank than he did.
‘Begging your pardon, sir,’ a deep voice boomed from the side of the tent, and everyone turned towards the massive figure of Major General David Baird. Baird was well known to those who had served in India for any length of time. He had a reputation as a fine soldier: brave, strong and with an endurance that had seen him through three years of captivity in the dungeons of Seringapatam.
‘You have something to say about the appointment?’ asked General Harris.
Baird’s neck stiffened as he folded his arms and responded. ‘Indeed, sir. The scope of responsibility offered by the post is far from insignificant. Why, the man chosen would be in effective command of a force of over twenty thousand men! That is no command for a mere colonel, sir.’ Baird paused and glanced towards Arthur. ‘No offence meant there, Wellesley.You’re as fine a young fellow as any man who might make general one day. But this ain’t the time.’ He turned back to Harris.‘It’s a job for a more senior officer, sir. That’s as clear as day.’
‘Someone like yourself, perhaps?’
Baird shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘Me, or an officer of my rank. But since I have had some experience of Mysore I’m confident that I am the best man for the job.’
‘Your experience was largely confined to Seringapatam, if you’ll pardon the pun.’
Baird frowned for a moment.‘I’ve seen more than just Tipoo’s capital, sir . . . Ah, I see now.’ Now that he had the quip, Baird bristled indignantly. ‘Prisoner I may have been, but that stain on my memory is one that I am more than keen to wash away with the blood of my enemies.You could hardly ask for a soldier more dedicated to crushing Tipoo, sir.That’s recommendation enough.’
‘Desire for revenge might be an admirable quality in certain situations, my dear Baird, but not now. I have made my decision and you must accept it.’