Hugh Cavendish Veranda Gathering

What Happened

Monday evening, 10 October 1814. Hugh hosted an informal gathering on the veranda of the Cavendish Compound as the rains set in.

• The guests. Captain George Drury and his wife Fanny; Alastair Glennie, who drifted once more toward Emma; the newly arrived Lieutenant William Maitland and his homesick wife Clara; and the widow Diana Lockhart.
• Drury and Thomas. Thomas and Captain Drury took to each other at once. As the drink went round Drury gave up a good deal of Fort William gossip and named Colonel Blackwood as the man to approach about engineering assignments.
• Mrs Lockhart’s warning. Diana Lockhart took Georgiana aside and told her bluntly that her outspokenness at recent events was being discussed in the servants’ quarters and the drawing rooms alike.
• The zebras. Baijnath Mullick arrived in a carriage drawn by zebras with a trunk of Indian liquors and sweets. Hugh introduced him to the Wentworth sisters, who praised the zebras and his dress until he beamed.
• The syndicate. Hugh mentioned that Mullick ran the godown syndicate’s warehouses for the opium trade and that Hawthorne Surlish was also a member. The sisters secured an invitation to tour the warehouses on Thursday. Mullick offered to host a nautch for the party in the coming week.
• Afterwards. When the last carriage had gone, Meg’s voice carried from upstairs: she refused to be sent into the countryside and demanded to know what Hugh was keeping from her.

Why It Matters

• The Wentworth sisters have a personal invitation into the syndicate that holds their family’s money.
• The party has a name at Fort William for the matter of Renwick’s posting.
• Georgiana has been told to her face that Calcutta is talking about her.

Related

• People: Hugh Cavendish — host. Baijnath Mullick — the evening’s surprise guest. George Drury, Diana Lockhart — the two conversations that mattered. Emma Wentworth — took part. Georgiana Wentworth — took part.
• Places: Cavendish Compound — the veranda.