A War by Diplomacy

by John G. Cragg

  When Mr. Jackson had finished, Giles was comatose, possibly simply as a result of the laudanum, but also probably from the pain the drug had not fully suppressed. The patient had borne the operation stoically, but it must have exhausted him. Despite all the other people still in the room, Daphne stripped off her now soiled gown and again slipped into bed to try to keep Giles warm.

  “That is all I can do,” Mr. Jackson said, regretfully. “Keep him warm. If he awakes, give him water – boiled water – and another measure of the tincture. I have another pair of patients I must see, one of them is Captain Bush who also is wounded. Then I shall be back.”

  For the next forty-eight hours, Giles’s condition bounced up and down. Sometimes his pulse would race and he seemed to be burning up, sometimes, the symptoms retreated offering hope of recovery only to be dashed by the next onset of fever. Sometimes he slept calmly or even talked coherently to Daphne, sometimes he thrashed about and Daphne had to hold him tightly to try to calm him. Sometimes he muttered phrases that indicated that in his mind he was reliving some aspects of his life. On one occasion, what he shouted sounded like, “That damned sodomite. I should flog him, not my sailors. Damn the man.” On another, he muttered, to Daphne’s great distress, “God, the way she moves, I could bed her easily.” Yet, again, this time to Daphne’s amazement, “I must ask Miss Moorhead, I must. Even if she doesn’t want to marry anyone at all and especially not me, I must try to persuade her. I need her. Oh, I need her.”

  Giles’s illness seemed to be like a battle, waves of soldiers attacking the bastion that was his life, only to be turned back by the defenders, at what cost to them still to be determined. Could the attackers be overcome? No one knew, but Daphne was determined that she would do anything that might help.

  After two days, the situation changed. Giles’s feverish mutterings stopped and his temperature seemed lower and more stable. His pulse strengthened and became more regular. His sleep was calmer and it seemed deeper. Daphne took these developments as promising signs, but she tried not to hope too much. She, herself, was exhausted even though she had been in bed with Giles the whole time. She shifted her position in the bed and promptly fell into a deep asleep herself.

  Low, thin, late-autumn sunshine was coming through the window when Giles awoke. He felt weak but he was no longer light-headed. He was starving. He sat up in bed and announced, “I’m hungry.”

  Betsy, who had been keeping vigil while her mistress slept, came forward with the broth, which, at Mr. Jackson’s orders, they had been feeding him whenever they could.

  “Not that slop. Real food!” Giles ordered testily.

  Daphne had woken up and observed the change in Giles. “You are back. Oh, that is wonderful!”

  She hugged her husband.

  “Owwwuch, not so hard! My shoulder!”

  Daphne let go immediately. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. It’s just so good that you are a bit better!

  “Betsy, Mr. Jackson told Cook what to prepare for Captain Giles to be ready for when he can eat. She will have something ready. Get it.”

  In a few minutes, Betsy returned with some rich lamb stew that Daphne spooned into Giles’s mouth. He ate only a small amount before he leaned back, exhausted. Mr. Jackson arrived at that point. He again felt Giles forehead and took his pulse.

  “I think the crisis is past. With luck – and good nursing – he should recover. He should sleep again now. I’ll be back later to change the dressing.”

  Daphne was filled with enormous relief. Giles had come through the worst, it seemed, and was on the way to recovery. She wouldn’t lose him. Bernard would have a father. There was so much to tell her husband and now she would be able to do so. What a mess she was after the ordeal of doing what little she could to keep him alive! She must have a bath and get clean clothes. Right now, before he woke up again. She knew he would have to go to sea again sometime, but for now, he was here and deserved the best of everything.

  She told Betsy to have a fire lit in one of the other rooms and to have Cook heat water for a bath. She was off to the nursery. She had not seen her son since the crisis in Giles’s health had come upon them. Bernard hadn’t even met his father. Now she would have lots of time for him, starting right this minute. After a refreshing soaking and fresh clothes, she was going to bring Bernard, her little bundle of joy, to meet his father.

  With any luck, before long, life could return to normal. As normal as it could be when her husband might well be called away to put his life on the line again. She would have to make the most of whatever time she would have with him before he received another assignment.

  Giles also reveled in being able to enjoy the home Daphne had made and in being able to discover everything that had happened in his absence. Damn Napoleon! If it were not for the threat that he posed, Giles would happily give up his commission for the life of a country gentleman. This was not to be.

  Author’s Note

  This is a work of fiction set in an historical context. None of the events detailed happened and none of the main character existed. It is, if you like, an alternative history, or what might have happened if reality had split off from Giles’s world some time in his recent past, but had not got too far away. Many positions, such as the First Lord of the Admiralty, are real, but are occupied by fictional characters. Of course, many prominent people mentioned were real, such as the Prince of Wales or the Tsar of Russia. On the other hand, the diplomatic matters that took Giles to Russia are entirely fictional.

  While most places are entirely fictitious, this could not be the case of London and St. Petersburg. While some commercial enterprises mentioned are fictional, others actually existed. Examples are Nerot’s Hotel, Hatchard’s, Fortnum and Mason, and the Haymarket Theatre. The last three are still there. The house at 11 Arlington Street is fictitious. The site is occupied by quite a different building; I have no reason to believe that in earlier times a house at that address, if there were one, was used for anything but the most proper of activities. Gostiny Dvor is still a feature of St. Petersburg, though it has changed vastly in the course of two centuries.

  The sex trade flourished in London at the turn of the eighteenth century as it always had. High-class brothels flourished cheek by jowl with the London homes of most respectable pillars of society, some of whom were not above profiting anonymously from the activities they might publically deplore. The particular incidents in this tale are, however, imaginary.

  Readers who are interested in reaching me can email me at jgcragg@telus.net. I always enjoy hearing from readers, both those who liked the yarn – they are always very encouraging – as well as from those who do not – whose criticism suggests ways to improve the next attempt. I might add that reviews given on Amazon are appreciated. Incidentally, reviews on one Amazon site are not usually transferred to another. For instance, Amazon.com often has different reviews from Amazon.co.uk. This is a point worth considering, not only when buying books, but also when considering the many other things that Amazon sells that may have useful reviews

  Glossary

  Belay (v.)Tie down. Regularly used by mariners to also mean stop.

  BowseHaul in place by a tackle.

  Brace(1) (Nautical) A line attached to the end of a yard by which the yard (and its sail) may be rotated to best catch the wind.

  (2) (Game-hunting) A pair.

  Brail upFurl a square sail by drawing it up to the yard from which it hangs.

  Brig(1) A two-masted ship square rigged.

  (2) Slang for the prison on board a ship.

  BrideswellThe prison where prostitutes were usually confined. How Daphne in her innocence might have known of it remains a mystery.

  BumperVery large drinking vessel.

  Canister (shot) A tin can (canister) filled with small lead pellets of other bits of metal that was used as an anti-personnel weapon. It differed from grapeshot primarily in that grapeshot was loaded into a cannon in a canvas bag.

  CatThe ca
t was the whip used to flog seamen. It was made by the bosun from rope. It was customary for a new one to be made for each flogging.

  CarronadeA short gun, frequently mounted on a slider rather than a wheeled gun carriage, only used for close-in work. They were not usually counted in the number of guns by which a ship was rated.

  Cloth (drawn) Refers to the stage of a meal when the final dish had been consumed. The tablecloth had been removed and the men in attendance drew together to imbibe liquor stronger than wine, usually accompanied by nut and fruit. When ladies were present, they withdrew to the drawing room just before the cloth was drawn. It was usually a time of more general conversation than occurred during the meal.

  ConsolA bond issued by the British Government with no stated redemption date, paying to the holder a specified amount per annum.

  Douse(1) Take down.

  (2) Put out.

  DriverA Gaff rigged sail on the mizzen mast. It was a fore and aft sail with the leading edge attached to the mast rather than a square sail whose center would be at the mast.

  EntailA provision that the inheritance of real property would go to specified members of a family (or other specified group) usually to the closest male relatives. Usually implied that the present owner could not leave it to someone else and was usually put on a property to prevent the immediate heir from dissipating the inheritance but would pass it intact (more or less) to the next generation.

  Fighting topA Platform on the mast where the main part met the top mast from which marines could fire their muskets on to the deck of an opposing ship.

  Fother (a sail)Pull a sail treated with oakum under the bottom of a ship to slow leaks.

  GeorgieName used by Sir Walcott to indicate familiarity with the Prince of Wales whose name was George. It is believed to be the origin of the name in the nursery rhyme ‘Georgie, Porgie, pudding and pie…’

  Grape (shot)Musket balls, or sometimes small scrap metal, used to fill bags which were then inserted in cannot as if they were cannot balls.

  GrapnelA metal hook or set of hooks attached to a line that could be thrown and hook on to the edge of another ship or a wall.

  Harris’s List (of Covent Garden Ladies)A booklet published on an annual basis in the late 18th century listing prostitutes in London, often with their specialties.

  Heave toStopping the forward motion of a ship by turning one sail to work in opposition of the others.

  Helm aleeTurn a ship into the wind. (It sounds backwards, but originates from the time when ships had tillers, which were pushed in the direction opposite to the desired turn.)

  Jobbing CaptainA post captain who has not been appointed to a ship and who is employed to captain another captain’s ship temporarily.

  John CompanyNickname for the East India Company.

  Jolly boatA small boat, usually the smallest on a ship.

  LarboardThe left-hand side of the ship looking forward. Opposite of starboard. Now usually called “port”.

  Larboard watchCrews were usually divided into two watches, who alternated the times when they were on duty with each other. The other one was called the starboard watch.

  Lead lineA line in which knots have been tied at fixed distances, with a large piece of lead at the end which was used for measuring the depth of water.

  LeagueThree nautical miles.

  Lee wayThe speed with which a boat is blown strait downwind when it is drying to sail upwind.

  Let the cat out of the bagTraditionally, when the cat (q.v.) had been made by the bosun, it was stowed in a baize bag until needed; hence the expression, which has evolved into a somewhat different meaning over time.

  Loblolly boyA medical assistant in the Navy.

  Log(1) Record of events.

  (2) Measure of the speed of a ship, obtained by throwing a piece of wood overboard attached to a knotted line and counting how many knots are pulled out over a fixed period of time.

  Miss staysWhen tacking, failing to have a turn that switches the direction from which the wind is coming so that the ship is stuck and unable to complete the turn.

  Mrs. Fitzherbert The wife (though the marriage was not officially recognized) of the Prince of Wales.

  Muster RollList of all men serving on a ship.

  The NoreAnchorage in the Thames estuary off the mouth of the Medway River. A major anchorage for the Royal Navy in the Age of Sail.

  NosegayA small bunch of flowers held in or attached to the hand to be placed near the nose to disguise the presence of unpleasant odors.

  OakumFibrous material got from unravelling old ropes used with tar to caulk wooden ships.

  Orlop (deck)The lowest deck of the ship, below the waterline.

  PainterThe mooring line at the bow of a small boat.

  Pocket Borough(lLater usually called a rotten borough.) A formerly well-populated town that still returned two members to parliament even though population had fallen so low that one or a few landowners could select the next MP certain that they could control the election.

  Quarter dayThe days on which traditionally rents were due, tenancies expired or began and other matters settled. They were Lady Day (March 25), Midsummer Day (June 24), Michaelmas (Sept. 29) and Christmas (Dec. 25).

  Quarter deckThe outside deck of a ship at the stern.

  RaftedShips or boats are rafted together when they are tied to each other while at anchor.

  Redoubt:A minor or subsidiary fort. Here referring to a gun platform made level with guns firing over a parapet.

  ReefReducing the amount of sail exposed to the wind by gather and then tying part of it to a spar.

  Remove(s)(Applied to dinners) Separate dishes at a dinner. There usually weren’t courses as we know them, at least not after the soup, and instead a variety of different dishes would be served in turn.

  RevenuersAgents of the Customs and Excise authorities whose job was to find and seize smuggled goods and arrest the offenders.

  RoutA large, formal evening gathering. It had a slightly risqué connotation.

  SackA (cheap) fortified Spanish wine. At this time, decent sherry was referred to by this name, but the older meaning of the term still remained in occasional use for lesser types as well.

  SalvageFee paid by a boat’s owner to rescuers of a ship in danger but not abandoned.

  ShroudsA rope ladder formed by short lengths of rope tied tightly between the stays of a mast.

  SheetA line controlling how much a sail is pulled in.

  SkagenNorthern most cape in Denmark

  SkagerrakThe passage (strait) between Norway and Denmark.

  Slow matchA fuse in the form of a rope which burned at a premeasured speed used to blow up barrels of gunpowder or other bombs while allowing the persons lighting it to escape.

  SoundingTaking the depth of water with a lead line.

  Spring line (or just spring)A rope attached to the anchor cable which by being pulled in or let out could be used to change the direction in which the bow of the ship (or its broadside) was pointing when at anchor.

  Spotted Dick A pudding made with dried fruit, usually served with custard. Lighter than a plum pudding.

  St. Stephen’s DayThe day after Christmas. The term Boxing Day now used in the United Kingdom and some of the Commonwealth countries to refer to this day did not come into common use until the middle of the nineteenth century.

  Standing RiggingAll the lines that hold the masts up and other ones that do not move as the ship is sailed.

  Stay(s)(1) A line used to prevent a mast from falling over or being broken in the wind.

  (2) Corsets.

  Step(1) Promotion from lieutenant to commander.

  (2) Place a mast in a vertical position, usually on a small boat.

  SternsheetsThe sitting area in the stern of a small boat.

  StrakesPlanks used for the hull of a ship.

  StrikeLower the flag of a ship to indicate surrender.

  Struck belowClearing out the partitions and furnishings on the fighti
ng decks of a ship, including especially the captain’s cabin, and stowing them out of harms’ way.

  Studding sailsAdditional square sails used to extend the width of the usual sails on a square-rigged ship.

  TackChange the direction in which a ship is sailing and the side of the ship from which the wind is blowing by turning towards the direction from which the wind is blowing.

  TaffrailRailing at the stern of the quarter deck.

  Third rateNaval ships were rated by the number of guns they carried. A third rate would have somewhere between 64 and 80 guns nominally.

  TonThat part of London society most interested in adhering to the latest fashions.

  Twelfth Night The evening of the Twelfth Day of Christmas, January 6, which is twelve evenings after Christmas Eve. Oddly enough this is also the date of “Old Christmas” the date to which the revision of the calendar assigned December 25 according to the unrevised calendar. Traditionally it was the time when roles between servants and master was reversed. By the early nineteenth century it had been much toned down and when celebrated it often was a party for the servants at which their masters would make a short appearance. Often not celebrated at all.

  UnstepTake a mast from its vertical position on a boat, usually to lay it horizontally.

  Walmer CastleA shore defense castle dating from the sixteenth century. The residence of the Warden of the Cinque Ports.