The Wilde Flower Saga: A Contrary Wind (Historical Adventure Series)

by Schulz, Marilyn M

  The minister’s smile grew wider, but it faded away when Sir Edward added, “The lady in question is now my wife, sir.”

  Sir Hugh’s mouth dropped open, but his wink said they had things to discuss later. Sir Edward dreaded the notion, but assumed it would be the first of many such talks with his father’s old friends.

  And this talk turned to the war with France. The minister spoke for several minutes, but Sir Edward could not understand the point of the speech and started to ask.

  Sir Hugh said, “Afraid you will have to go to London, my boy. The Admiralty has need of pertinent information and experienced views.”

  “London, sir?” Sir Edward said, and then swallowed down his disappointment. “I had hoped to sail down to Gibraltar and take up my new command.”

  “A man pursuing his duty,” Sir Hugh said, then winked again. “Peace negotiations, or any semblance, have broken down, lad. There is no longer even the pretense of a cease-fire. The Royalist forces have been crushed in Quiberon. It’s back to serious tactics.”

  Several officers began to speak at once. When the minister rose, they fell silent again.

  “Gentlemen, I think it best if we continue this meeting after tea,” he said. “I have another appointment I must keep, and one who is better looking than the likes of you.”

  He chuckled as he bowed, and was gone before anyone there cared to stop him.

  “What about Standish?” Sir Edward said in the lull.

  Sir Hugh grunted, then sat back. “Irons in the fire, boy, too many right now. I fear our spy has gone a bit cold. Do you believe he went to America, or do you think he is now in bed with the French?”

  “Perhaps the Spanish.” Then Sir Edward told them of the garrison that Kate described at San de Luz.

  “This is from a reliable source?” an officer said.

  Sir Edward only nodded in reply.

  Then Sir Hugh edged forward again. “He will be flying in and out of Spain and France. That kind has to move quickly to be useful and therefore profitable. He might even chance coming back here to England, but he'd have to have balls of brass for that.”

  “That is just what Sir Humphrey said, sir,” Sir Edward said. “But the man escaped from Gibraltar handily enough, and he sold Kate in the bargain too. Ambrose Standish is a very dangerous man and more clever than I assumed.”

  “It would seem that you will have much to tell them in London," Sir Hugh said as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “How long, sir?”

  Sir Hugh’s hand dropped from his face, but he hesitated in the answer. “As long as it takes. If I were you, boy, I would get word to your wife, for it might take a while.”

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER 46 - The Other Lady Catherine

  Kate did not feel much like socializing after the ship sailed away with her husband aboard. Dr. Llewellyn and Mr. Murray did what they could to help, but it was small comfort. She busied herself with making notes in the journals and tending the crew.

  They reached port without incident.

  For three weeks, she stayed at the Government House. The third Lady de Warrenne was away to select silk and cotton sateen for redecorating. Sir Humphrey did not require Kate’s company often, as it was a busy time for him for reasons he could not share with a civilian.

  She had time on her own to replenish her supplies from the second Lady de Warrenne’s fine gardens. But Kate didn’t go up to the little waterfall. She suspected it was probably dried for the season. She was afraid it would seem far too symbolic of what she was missing so badly right now.

  Sir Humphrey did tell her a few things about Edward Lindsey’s family. But she didn’t feel right in asking him more. Finally, she received word of the new command that had come into port.

  She was to go meet the new ship that her husband would soon command. Dr. Llewellyn came to escort her down to the quay nearest to where the new ship was anchored. But Kate had to wait for passenger boarding.

  A woman of some importance was gathering her substantial entourage, readying for the approaching conveyance to the Elizabeth Regina. The lady was giving her servants hell. In turn, the servants gave the same to those officers in charge of the exchange.

  The lady held a little dog that constantly barked through it all. The whole thing was distracting, and Kate felt relieved at the disarray. Dr. Llewellyn would see her aboard, Kate knew, but she felt strange having him wait. It felt like her mother waiting at the back of the church during Kate's first Sunday school class. It made her feel just as childish again.

  "You must see to your own business, Dr. Llewellyn,” she said. “I’m grateful that you have taken the trouble, but I would rather brood here on my own."

  "Kate, I could not just leave you to—“

  "Really, if I have to say goodbye again, I might burst into tears. Please go. We’ll meet again, I’m sure of it. I am the bad penny that always turns up—or is it a pence? Did Ben Franklin say that, I wonder? No, I think it was an Adams. Of course you wouldn’t know that."

  He held her shoulders for a moment, searching her face with his warm eyes. Then he kissed her forehead and was on his way. Kate was left with her small trunk, her cask, and the carpet bag with all her fresh goodies in her medicine pouch, her piccolo, more cocoa from Sir Humphrey, and her mother’s journals.

  She watched the busy quay for a time. Jolly boats loaded with officers came in and supplies went out. Sometimes the boats were loaded with women returning from the ships ready to sail. Other were going out to the ships just arrived. Some of the women were wives, she knew, but some were only coin-based comfort. Women went to the ships en masse, for the sailors were not allowed to come ashore even here. And the Royal Navy didn’t discern family from fair-weather friend and threw them all in together.

  The Rock of Gibraltar wasn’t really an island. It was connected to the Spanish mainland by a sandy isthmus, a designated neutral zone, as the British had controlled the Rock of Gibraltar by treaty and war—on and off—since 1704. Gibraltar was less than two and a half square miles of aloes, asparagus, capers, and cacti. On the east, it jutted up sharply from the sea to the highest point of the Rock at almost 1400 feet.

  On the west, the Rock sloped into grassy glens that held game birds suitable for the dinner table. There was also said to be a race of monkeys called Barbary apes. Tradition had it that as long as there were Barbary apes, Britain would hold Gibraltar.

  “But where would you hide in a place like this?” Kate murmured, thinking of the sailors trapped in their ships. She knew the feeling, it was just like when she was a girl and her father would not let her onto land.

  “True, they could jump ship and stroll into Spain.”

  But that didn’t seem very inviting to Kate. It did make her think of Yollie, and Nana, and old Friendly Jose. She had made some many friends lately, Fiya, Evelyn, Dr. Llewellyn. But none of them seemed to be around now.

  “Too much time to think.”

  At least the sailors were kept busy. Everyone seems to have a purpose but me, she thought.

  "Sorry for myself," she muttered, looking around for a place to sit.

  A carriage pushed its way through the mixing of people and cargo. It stopped near enough that Kate could smell the horses. The carriage was lacquered black and had brass fittings with fine faceted crystal in its night lanterns. The horses were perfectly matched. The driver and footmen were liveried in dark blue velvet, but the uniforms had turned dusty from travel.

  The footmen jumped down and opened the door. A man emerged and called out before he stepped down all the way, "Lady Catherine!"

  It was then, with the door open, that Kate saw the crest on the carriage door. It was the crest of a younger son of royalty. The crest of the privileged class, the highest order in the British Empire, save two: the King of England and the Prince of Wales. The woman of some importance flipped at her fan, and her servant waved a hand at the man from the carriage.

  "Come out of this rabble, my dear wom
an,” the new arrival said. “Come take refreshments with me and let this rabble see to itself."

  The lady waved slightly, as if she were not really interested in anything she saw, not even him. The little dog slipped from her grasp and rushed to sniff at the man’s leg. Perhaps the man had passed inspection, for the Lady began to stroll over. When the two aristocrats were near, Kate heard them speak less formally.

  "Cathy, how will we ever do without your society? His Grace has sent me to convey our fondest farewells. Come, I have a room at the inn, let me speak with you privately before you go, or I shall wither away in your long absence.”

  The little dog grew quite rude in its interest and the man kicked out. The dog jumped away with a yip of pain, but the woman didn’t seem to notice.

  “One hound howls much like another,” Kate said.

  She knelt down and offered her hand to the white and brown terrier-type dog. It sniffed the air in her direction, and then waddled over on its short legs. She picked it up, and it licked her face. This one had been chewing on something sweet.

  “Bonbons are not good for dogs,” she said, and laughed at its wiggling. “What’s your name? Pookie or Sweetums or Lovie, I’m thinking. Fattie or Pudge or Chub might be more to the mark. I think I shall call you George.”

  Kate noticed that the officers in charge of loading the boats often exchanged furtive glances. The lady had a lot of luggage, and so did her servants. The officers didn't look at all happy for the chore, but they had no choice, she knew.

  It occurred to Kate then that she was also a Lady Katherine, though there was no one here to call her by name. She wasn’t sure she would know how to answer anyway. Yes, sir? Just say hello? Don’t say anything at all?

  What an interesting notion, she thought. “I wonder . . . “

  The lady had gone with her duke, or his lackey, Kate wasn’t sure which, and the woman hadn’t looked back. It turned out to be worse trouble for the men than her nagging. Kate watched as the officers tried to please the bickering servants left behind. She wondered if what the officers were mumbling about was true. Did these men really think that the lady in question was the new captain's new wife?

  "I’ll wait and see, shall I, George? Perhaps it’s for the best," she said. The dog sneezed a reply, and then yawned in her face. An aristocratic dog, she thought, he has the bored countenance down very well.

  Kate waited her turn by quietly studying the various ships anchored in the harbor. The Elizabeth Regina was far and away the most handsome, she decided. She was finally rowed over with some women she figured to be the lady’s maids. She still held the dog and seemed to fit right in. But the maids looked well trained or well beaten down. She suspected that Lady Catherine treated her dog better than she treated her servants.

  On the new ship, Kate glanced around in awe, but she had only a short time to admire. The last boat to arrive was the one carrying the intriguing Lady Catherine. The duke, or his lackey, waited on the quay and waved to her for a long time. Most of the crew stopped to watch as she was assisted aboard on a chair made of ropes and slats.

  It was a clumsy business, and the lady did not rise to the occasion with grace. When she came over the rail, the dog jumped away from Kate’s grasp. Lady Catherine picked it up and kissed it on the lips.

  The first officer and the bosun were soon by the lady’s side. But even their deference could not seem to please her. She gave them a good dose of hell as well. Kate heard some of the sailors talking behind her:

  “B’Jesu, I thought I left all that behind when I left my round Mary standin’ on the stairs cursin’ me away.”

  “That woman has the soul of an asp and a tongue twice as poison.”

  “Aye, the sea never looks so invitin’ as after too long a time with a bad woman.”

  “Who? Your round Mary or this one?” They laughed and he continued, “Ain’t none of them different so’s I could ever see. I pay for my sweetness, so there’s no crying when I’m gone.”

  “Suppose a man could put up with a good many woman’s ways and nonsense for an extra gold coin or two,” one said as he scratched at his stubbly cheek.

  “They do say she be rich enough for all the trouble she bears. Maybe our new cap’n be havin’ a stronger stomach than most, and they do say that all cats be grey at night.”

  “Rich cats can be any color they like.”

  They all laughed again.

  “Saint’s preserve us from a cap’n who be carin’ too much for the coin. I heard the man not be reckless, but here’s hopin’ his wedded bliss not be makin’ him soft. I be expectin’ to be rich come Michaelmas time.”

  Some grumbled in agreement then.

  “Suppose we will see him by then? Heard said he be bringin’ a few of his own from his last command. Here’s hopin’ he be dealin’ fairly with the rest of us then.”

  “Aye, heard he was a fair man, but you can never tell what a woman will do.”

  A few others agreed, and then one nodded and said, “True, a man will marry for love or for money, I guess we know which this one might be.”

  Some chuckled, some shook their heads.

  “Love or money, not sure which is worse, but it tells what kind of soul a man has.”

  “There’s truth in that. Here’s hopin’ he’s just greedy and not a hen-pecked fool.”

  This brought loud laughter, followed quickly by a call from an officer to get on with their work. The crew dispersed, and Kate wandered around to hear something more. She caught scant information as they prepared to sail, so she headed closer to the officers.

  They hadn't meant to sail without Sir Edward, it seemed, but the woman had demanded a passage to Corsica to attend to her brother. He had high military rank there, political backing at home, and a good dose of the gout. While she, it was said, had a surly temper and high social standing. The combination seemed insurmountable.

  So here they were, sailing without proper complement on the folly of a woman the crew thought they would be cursed with ever after. It seems that more than a few hoped the woman didn’t like sea travel, and that this was no ordinary thing. By then, Kate had worked her way near to the lady as well.

  "We were unaware that you would be bringing so many, My Lady,” the first officer said. “We leave in haste, and I do not have quarters prepared for this number."

  "Do you know who I am?" she said, not bothering to look at him when she spoke. It was obvious that she found him lacking, but was too bored to point out his flaws—for now.

  Some other time he won’t be so lucky, she thought, and Kate edged around and took a moment to study the woman.

  Lady Catherine’s nose was quite long, too long to make her a beauty, though she just missed the mark. She had a full mouth and eyes that were deep blue and large. Her cheekbones were high, and her chin was well formed. A handsome woman, some might say. Or she had been when she was a bit younger, a bit thinner, and a bit sweeter perhaps.

  Another officer bowed to the lady, adding, "This way, My Lady, you have the captain's quarters, of course. After you are settled to your satisfaction, I will see to the others myself."

  Kate was eventually herded into a cabin with the two other maids. She didn't bother correcting the notion that she was not one of the entourage. The footmen, she noticed, were housed further down the passage, and the butler had a room of his own.

  Kate didn’t go inside her assigned quarters, but found a midshipman to ask: “Is there a surgeon on board?"

  "Oh lord, no, Miss, there is not. I suppose we will catch the devil for that shortcoming as well. Begging your pardon, Miss,” he added and flamed red.

  He was twenty maybe, but not a day over. Kate smiled at him and said, "Not to worry, I only meant to be helpful. I have experience with tending wounded on a ship. Perhaps you could convey that to one of your officers or your bosun when they have a moment free."

  The young man looked too weary to be relieved, but he agreed to pass on the message.

  Soon, the
y sailed. Kate stood on the forecastle as the ship slipped from the harbor. The dog came back to her, first sniffing her boot, and then sitting on her foot. She held it as she watched the port buildings grow smaller and smaller. Then she heard whistling behind her. It was the bosun. Kate turned and gave him a shallow curtsy.

  He said, "I did not wish to startle you. I am the bosun; Willem Gordon is my name. I’m a highlander on my mother’s side, but my father was an outlander and so here I am."

  He didn’t need to say it. He barely rolled the ‘r’ in his surname, but she knew in an instant that he was a Scot. He saluted, but very lazily. Not so his smile, at that he worked quite hard. Kate thought he looked tired. She made the dog salute in reply.

  He chuckled and scratched at the dog’s ears. "I had a pup like this when I was just a lad. Nasty little brut, he was, for he stole chicken eggs and sucked out the insides slick as a weasel. I loved him dearly, that I did. What is he called then?”

  “I call him George.”

  “Do you, by Neptune? That is what I called my own wee little laddie, George.”

  Kate leaned closer to say, “Must be the rebel in us both.”

  The first King George was from Hannover, and the Scots used to sing about the “wee German laddie” who reigned after Queen Anne. But that was a different story, one of heartbreak for the Scots.

  Kate was relieved that he didn’t find it an insult that an American maid called the dog after the British king. Perhaps a Scot didn’t really care. Or maybe he thought she had named it after George Washington.

  She opened her mouth to correct the mistake, but the bosun added, “I have been told that you have some to-do with healing."

  "I have traveled on a few merchantmen with my father. We traded in the Pacific and routes on the Indian Ocean. I helped out where I could on the way, but you can imagine the wounds are not so many there as on a military vessel such as this.”