No, if they’d merely wished to buy her silence, there were other, far easier, things they could have offered. The commission bound her more tightly to the Navy. It was more than acceptance, it meant that those captains, even Captain Barks, wanted her in their Navy. Alexis felt her chest tighten clenched her jaw tightly.
Damn me, my first act as lieutenant will not be to start bawling in the station corridor.
The sound of one of the hatches blocking the corridor sliding open made her look to the side.
“Delaine!”
Alexis dashed down the corridor and flung herself at him. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest, never minding that now her first act as a lieutenant was to hug an enemy officer in the station corridor. She’d thought she’d never see him again.
She heard the hatch close again and someone cleared his throat uncomfortably.
“Thank you,” she murmured, releasing him and stepping back. She raised a hand to wipe her eyes and realized that she’d managed both with one go. The throat clearer had been Lieutenant Lonsdale, accompanied by Mister Grandy.
“Ah, Alexis,” Delaine said, his grin as wide as ever. “For mon cœur to leave so abruptly, what could I do but follow, oui?”
“I think le Hanovre had more to do with that than your heart,” she said.
“Le Hanovre were most … the word, put out when they found you gone, oui. They tell my commodore, she is to send all her ships to find you.” He grinned wider. “Those ships, they sail along the border … but I know where you will go. You are predictable, mon chérie.”
Lonsdale cleared his throat again. “I’m afraid Lieutenant Thiebaud must leave as quickly as possible,” he said. “The captains feel soonest out of sight is soonest out of mind, you understand.”
Alexis nodded. “Delaine, I have to ask you to do something …” She trailed off, suddenly uncertain. Could Delaine ensure Hermione’s log wasn’t released? Was it even fair to ask him?
“Lieutenant Lonsdale has explained to me, Alexis,” Delaine said, “but I wished to see that you were safe before agreeing.” He turned his gaze to Lonsdale. “You should know, lieutenant, that this log was mistakenly moved from my commodore’s ship to mine, not copied. And I must order some maintenance performed on Bélier’s systems during my journey home, to … the word, clean up, oui? Files no longer of need? This is sufficient for you?”
“It is,” Lonsdale said, looking relieved. “Thank you, sir.”
Delaine nodded.
“Delaine … will this …” Alexis caught her lip between her teeth. “Coming here, the log … will it cause you trouble with the Hanoverese? Or for Commodore Balestra?” They were likely in enough trouble from her escape, she didn’t want to cause them more — though what she could do about it, she didn’t know.
Delaine pursed his lips and shook his head. “Non.” He shrugged. “I could not stop your escape, and this will not please them. But for myself and Commodore Balestra, we will tell le Hanovre that we have still taken from New London a frigate captain, oui? The Captain Neals, he will not sail against le Hanovre again.” He reached out and cupped her cheek, sending a shiver through her. “And my commodore and I, we shall pray for this war to be over before they find what we have given in his place.”
He took his hand away and smiled. “But I am told you are now lieutenant, as well, oui?”
“Oui!” she cried out happily, holding up her commission papers, a bit rumpled and all but forgotten in her excitement at seeing him.
Delaine pulled a small box from his pocket. He glanced at Lonsdale. “It is tradition for New London, too, I think, for the new officer to have … the word, insigne, the mark of rank, yes? From a friend?”
“It is,” Lonsdale said, eyes narrowing, “but with the war …”
Delaine shook his head. “Non,” he said, opening the box. “These are not le Hanovre.”
The rank tabs in the box were similar to New London’s, but more ornate. And clearly old, archaic even. Worn, but well cared for, and clearly French — instead of the fouled anchor that New London used, these were crossed with the fleur de lis.
“These are from the grand-père of my grand-père, from le Grande République. To him even from his grand-père, I think.”
“Delaine, I couldn’t …”
“Non.” He closed the box and pressed it into her hand. “Grand-père fought le Hanovre for le République. His grand-père fought le Hanovre. Now you fight le Hanovre. They would wish it, I think, and be proud.”
Alexis nodded, throat tight.
Lonsdale cleared his own throat once more and Alexis knew there’d be no more delay. She reached up and wrapped her hands around Delaine’s neck, pulling him down to her. She pressed her lips to his and kissed him, as thoroughly and enthusiastically as she could. She heard a great deal more throat clearing, from Lonsdale and perhaps with Grandy joining in as well, but there was only them and the marine to witness her behavior and she might never see Delaine again.
When she finally pulled back, she was pleased to see Delaine’s eyes were wide and a little unfocused. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound emerged, then again.
“Adéquat, ma caille,” he said finally, lips twitching. Alexis fought the urge to kiss him again, but she’d clearly scandalized Lonsdale and Grandy quite enough for the day. Those two were staring at her with wide eyes. “When this war is over, Alexis, you will come to visit me?”
“I will.” She could see in his eyes that he understood all of the caveats a naval officer would have as well as her. If I’m able, if the Service grants me leave, if we’re both alive at the end of this.
Delaine nodded to Lonsdale who gestured for him to follow and led the way down the corridor, leaving Grandy behind with Alexis. Grandy was, thankfully, silent as Alexis watched the two walk away. That section of corridor had been cleared as well, another marine stationed at the far hatchway.
“Delaine!” she called out as the pair reached it. He turned and looked back. “If you had caught me … would you have fired?”
Delaine shrugged and she could see his mouth twitch again. “There are duties and duties, mon chou,” he called back. “I pray we never need find out, oui?”
Alexis nodded, but her heart grew cold as she realized that she would have. To keep her lads safe, to get them home, she would have fired into his ship and not let up. She would have hated herself, and she thought a part of her would have died as she gave the order, but she would have done it. Dear lord, what does that make me?
Her mind translated what he’d just called her and her brow furrowed. Really?
“Cabbage?” She spread her hands. “The best you can do at a time like this is ‘my little cabbage’?”
Delaine shrugged as the hatch slid shut between them.
Epilogue
“Alexis!”
She turned at the familiar voice, unsure of what she’d heard. She’d spent the last six weeks as second, last, and largely extraneous, lieutenant on a packet ship making its way quickly but erratically Fringeward from Penduli. Her orders were to remain aboard until she arrived here at Lyetham and then transfer to H.M.S. Shrewsbury, a seventy-four gun Third Rate for her actual position. Isom stopped beside her, sliding the antigrav sled he pulled with their baggage to a stop.
Strictly speaking, lieutenants were not allowed personal servants who followed them from ship to ship — that was a luxury reserved to commanders and captains — but Isom had somehow managed to attach himself to her. She suspected he’d received some advice from Mister Grandy about how to make use of the peculiarities of the Navy’s personnel department, but chose not to inquire too closely.
He’d simply followed her aboard the packet and taken up duties as her hammockman and servant aboard, in addition to whatever shipboard duties he was assigned. When they’d arrived in Lyetham, he’d been waiting with her baggage packed and the lieutenant in charge of the packet had said not a word as Isom had followed her onto the station. For her pa
rt, Alexis was happy to have a familiar face going with her aboard a new ship.
She scanned the crowded corridor of Lyetham Station and saw who’d shouted rushing toward her.
“Philip!” she cried with delight.
He hurried up to her and stopped short, standing to attention and tugging his uniform jacket into some semblance of order, the untamable lock of black hair falling down is forehead, a scar he’d received from a cracked helmet in action ran from under that lock of hair and down his cheek. He squared his shoulders.
“Midshipman Easely reporting, sir!” he said, saluting smartly.
Alexis’ heart fell. She’d known promotion and rank meant a great deal to some people, but she hadn’t thought how her promotion might impact her own relationships. Then she saw the gleam in his eye and the corners of his mouth twitch.
“You tosser!” she cried, throwing her arms around him and pressing her cheek against his chest, not caring about the stares such a display between two officers might garner from passersby. “Don’t you ever play at that nonsense!”
He’s grown. Philip had been only a few centimeters taller than she on Merlin, but now she realized his chin cleared the top of her head with ease. His chest and shoulders were broader, too, no longer the lanky boy he’d been aboard Merlin. She stepped back and watched the red blush flow up his face to settle in his ears. That’s not changed, at least. “How are you here?”
Philip grinned. “I’m aboard Ruby, now. We were deployed here a fortnight ago,” he said. “I guess my message couldn’t catch up with a fast packet.”
Alexis wrapped her arms around him again, his words reminding her of the hurt his messages had contained when her communications had been filtered aboard Hermione. At least that was resolved, though she’d still be waiting weeks for more word from home — messages would have to reach Penduli and then be rerouted to her aboard her new ship.
“I’m so sorry about that, Philip.”
“Oh, hell,” Philip said. “That’s not what I meant, Alexis.” He grasped her arms firmly and pushed her away so he could look her in the eyes. “I know that wasn’t your fault and I’m sorry I ever thought it was. I should’ve known there must be something amiss with your messages and that you’d never just ignore me.” He lowered his eyes. “It’s just … “ Alexis grinned as he flushed again, perhaps realizing where his new height and lowered head had placed his gaze. “Well, you’re still the best mate I’ve found aboard ship,” he said, blushing again. “I thought … well, it doesn’t matter now, does it?” He lowered his hands. “All’s right with us, yes?”
Alexis smiled. She wrapped one arm around Philip’s and they continued down the corridor.
“Yes.”
“Good, then. And pity save your old shipmates if they ever step into a berth with me.”
Alexis nodded. She had a moment’s thought to tell Philip not to do a thing, if ever he had the chance, but Timpson and the rest had hurt Philip as well as her. It was his right to dish out retribution if he was given the opportunity. And I’ll relish the hearing of it.
“Isom,” she said. “This is my dearest friend Philip Easley, he and I were berthmates aboard Merlin when I first joined the Navy. Philip, Isom was with me aboard Hermione. And after.”
Philip nodded to him while Isom ducked his head.
“How long are you in Lyetham?” she asked. “I’ve a full day before Shrewsbury’s in port and I have to report aboard.”
“I’ve all-night-in,” he said, “but Ruby sails early tomorrow.” He grinned. “You owe me a supper ashore, if I remember right.”
“I do and more,” she agreed. “And a fine supper. I’ve a lieutenant’s pay now and a bit more prize money.”
Quite a lot of prize money, in fact, for the Prize Court on Penduli had finally ruled on both Hermione’s prizes and her Sittich. She suspected Captains Crandall and Hazlewood might have had a say in Sittitch, for the Prize Court had upheld it as her prize and not Neals’. Trau Wunsch had not even been submitted to the Prize Court, instead the ship had been condemned and sent to the breakers. Alexis shuddered at the memory of the surveyor’s report on the ship’s condition. We were in more danger from that ship than ever from the Hanoverese.
“I saw that Roland made lieutenant — and you were mentioned in dispatches, more than once.”
Philip nodded. “That was a rough action,” he said. “Roland showed himself well, and in sailing the prize back. He deserved the commission.” He shot her an amused look. “Still a prat, though.”
“Really?”
Philip’s grin faltered. “More than ever, really.” His brow furrowed. “I do think there’s something … I don’t know. The more he succeeds, the more of an arse he seems. Haven’t heard from him since he left Merlin, though.”
Alexis frowned. She’d hoped Roland might have come around since he’d finally made lieutenant. She quickly shook the feeling aside, though. She’d have, at most, an evening to spend with Philip and didn’t want to waste time on worries that were far away.
The thought of far-away worries brought Delaine to mind, though. She spared a moment’s time to wish him well and safe. She began to understand why spacers seemed so much stronger about their relationships and passions. Two mates could meet after being months or even years apart on different ships, but they’d drink and carouse together as though they’d been together all along. The same men who’d spend half their pay on a doxie in port, sent the other half home to a wife they spoke of with words that brought tears to Alexis’ eyes. And speak with pride of a child born while they’ve been a year or more in space, they do.
She and Philip were friends, there may have been a moment or two of more aboard Merlin, but nothing could come have come of it, serving aboard the same ship, so those feelings, if they existed, had to be put aside. She’d had a few weeks with Delaine and then returned to New London. She might never see him again, couldn’t even send him a message, at least for the duration of the war. I’ll not know if he’s alive or dead until the war’s over, even.
Now she’d have a few hours’ time with Philip, simply by the vagaries of chance that they were on the same station at the same time, then they’d both be off on different ships, with no telling when they’d meet again. With so little time to exercise them, no wonder the men’s passions run so strong. One had to fit a lifetime’s affection into a few hours’ time — before you were torn apart again.
She realized Philip had been speaking, but her thoughts had been far away. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I was only saying that I’ve heard there’s a pub two levels up that has a better than usual ordinary. My lieutenant recommended it highly.”
“That sounds quite nice.”
“This way, then,” he said.
He laid his hand over hers where it rested on his arm and pulled her into a gentle turn, causing her to smile.
They made their way to the station’s lifts, Isom trailing them with her baggage, and up two levels, then down the corridor to a pub called The Eagle’s Beak, a grand name for a tiny place, whose storefront was crammed between a gin-stall and an establishment with suspiciously dark windows and furtive clientele.
“It doesn’t look like much, I know,” Philip said as they entered, “but Lieutenant Vallance says it’s the best he’s had.”
Alexis sniffed tentatively as they entered, then inhaled deeply. The air inside was redolent with rich spices and cooking meats. “Heavens! If that’s their ordinary I smell, I can well believe it!”
Philip grinned. “I’m glad you think so,” he said. “I was hoping you’d like it.”
“Isom,” Alexis said. “Take a table over there with the baggage, will you? Have supper and a pint or two?”
“Thank you, sir.” The pub was only a little more than a third full, so he was able to quickly find a table along the wall where the baggage would be out of the way. Philip led Alexis to another table and they sat.
“I’m glad I found you, Alexis,” Philip said on
ce they’d placed their orders for two meals and wine. “When I saw your packet was due here, I was afraid I’d have to sail before she arrived.” He grinned. “Been checking the arrival boards every day.”
Alexis grinned back. He was waiting for me? Checking every day? “I’m glad, as well.”
“Yes, well.” He glanced away and red crept up his face. “You see, I wanted to —”
“Mister Easely! I thought I’d find you here.”
Alexis turned to the pub’s entrance and saw a young lieutenant had entered and was heading for their table. The man stopped short and nodded to Alexis, taking in the rank insignia on her collar. “Lieutenant,” he said, nodding.
Alexis nodded to him in return. “Lieutenant,” she said.
“This is Lieutenant Vallance, Alexis,” Philip said. “From Ruby. Sir, this is Lieutenant Carew — she and I were berthmates on Merlin.”
Vallance nodded to her again. “Easley’s said good things about you, Carew. I’m happy to make your acquaintance at last.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Vallance,” she said.
“If you’ll excuse me for interrupting,” Vallance went on. “I have a bit of a mess aboard Ruby and need to ask Mister Easley a few questions. If you’ll be so good as to excuse us for a moment, I’ll have him back to you instanter.”
“Of course.”
Vallance pulled out his tablet and gestured for Philip to follow him. Alexis turned around to watch them leave, then turned back to her table.
She jumped and nearly screamed when she discovered someone was sitting in the seat Philip had just left.
“Lieutenant Carew?” the man said.
Alexis tried to catch her breath from the start. She looked quickly around the pub and found that Isom was watching her carefully, eyes wide as another stranger was seated at his table as well.
Mutineer Page 29