The Great Ball Game, 5th July

"To put it blundly, that you aquire a commission that befits your station. A cornet of hussars who has a slight disagreement with his grandfather is common enough ... nobody will think of commenting on that, and your grandfather will barely wish to create a scandal by influencing horseguards to that degree that they will hand you your papers."

He looked at Willoughby, amused understanding in his hodded eyes, and said carelessly, as if they were only discussing the inconvenience of going home to collect thruppence:

"Should it be that you would not wish to apply to him for the blunt - quite understandably - I would be quite happy to advance it."

"What am I to tell the others?...should a position as which I was to apply for stand open at all." He was thinking out loud, though at the very least this suggested he was not completely against Torrington's suggestion, but he had doubts in its possibility. All this, over a ball he had been the red herring for.

He noted Torrington's willingness to lend money: "...And, beg pardon, but I could no burden you with my troubles, nor my expenses, needed as they may be. It would be unfair towards yourself, and unbecoming of me to act as a beggar, when I had myself to blame for it." He spoke , not insulted by the offer.

"Well, tell them it was a lark - that there was a bet against you being able to do it."

Edward shrugged.

"You will know better than I do whether there is any position open in your regiment, but if there is ..."

He shrugged self-deprecatingly. To say that he was rich enough to buy a commission in the guards, if need be, would be in very bad taste, but true nevertheless. As he had not only the money his father had settled on him already, but also had inherited several times from relatives (all under the impression that the poor younger brother, who wouldn't inherit the earldom's coffers, needed a comfortable income), and had only three expensive vices (measuring instruments, books and horses), all of which were quite hard to pursuit out here, he rather thought he could spare the money. And it would certainly help his conscience a great deal - not doing anything and letting the situation stand as it was troubled him.

"And I don't quite think that you can be considered a beggar if I offered ..."

"They will not forgive me." He was not quite sure how they would feel to be ordered by one, who had before then only ever ordered them in jest. There were a few friendships which would be lost, when his position among them was no longer there and yet it could also be complicated for them to learn to obey a man they had before treated as equal.

He knew the cost that he would be lent and perhaps higher than that, as the prices of commissions varied. What if his grandfather refused to help him return the money because it was not for a place in the infantry? He could claim it still, after the man's death if worse came to be. He shook his head, unwilling to consider that scenario.

"Beg pardon sir...but...why is it that you would insist on helping me?"

A justified question, and Edward only became clear about his motifs himself when he tried to formulate them.

"Because you were a friend of my brothers, and because I don't think I could with good conscience do nothing."

"I must warn you...should there be space so that I can acquire a commission and should they grand me one, it might take a while until I can return the money and then, part of it may depend also of the kindness of my grandfather. Would you be willing to take such a risk?"

He held Herrero back and looked seriously at Torrington, asking him to consider this wisely. He himself was buying some time as while the offer was generous it would put in motion things that would have drastic consequences, be it for better or worse.

Edward shrugged.

"That is not too great a risk ... Although you would oblige me greatly by not dying, of course. I fear that is the only risk I take ... for I really could not go to your grandfather then."

He looked Willoughby over carefully.

"You seem hesitant ... would a guards commission be more to your liking then? Or quite another regiment? I can see that the prospect of having to explain yourself might be somewhat daunting, but believe me, the truth coming out any other way will be no more pleasant."

"I cannot promise you not to die, but I can assure you that I will ... " Willoughby paused, for he could not promise to be careful either. The hussars could be termed a careless lot at times and their age of death was fairly low. He smiled never the less. "I will live for as long as I am given."

He shook his head at the suggestion of a different commission. Wise it would have of course been. Better than to remain in the same regiment and well known that people changed them , when promoted. But this was far from a normal promotion and he had chosen the 15th and stuck with it.

"Perhaps...no. Should I have one to serve in as officer, it is the 15th that I wish to remain in. At least for the time being, if the future does not then deal me a different set of cards." He paused again. "I need to think on this. Please, allow me that. But...I am even now, very grateful for even your mere consideration to aid me."

"Think nothing of it, I beg."

Thinking spending some thoughts on this a very prudent course of action, Edward nodded.

"Certainly. Take your time. I guess for the present we will have to pretent not to know each other, but ... Should you wish to speak to me, that can be arranged easily enough. Nobody will wonder if somebody who has ridden all over the land here seeks me out."

"Certainly... we do scouting missions.. such as might interest the likes of you, and should you need armed company while you take measurements, sir... I would be glad to comply. Herrero is swift and I hope to aspire to have some uses in combat as well, should the danger lick at our feet."


He smiled. It was only slowly downing on him how a simple theft of ball had lad to this moment.