Truly they had exchanged the frying pan for the fire.
Chapter 30: War with France Now certain
Merriman and Grahame arrived back at the Merriman residence hoping to find new orders for them but it was not until another two days had passed that a bedraggled courier on a lathered, mud splattered horse arrived with letters from the Admiralty for them both.
Grahame read his and looked seriously at Merriman. “My letter is from Lord Stevenage himself. He commends you most highly for your actions over the last few weeks and it now seems that we must continue to work together. Five days ago, on the 21st January, the revolutionaries executed the king of France, Louis XV1 on the guillotine. Beheaded him like a common criminal.”
“Good God, I didn’t think they would go as far as that. Why would they do it?”
“I imagine it is because the more influential of them decided that if he lived, there would always be plots and schemes afoot to rescue him. If one were to be successful it could mean that the revolution itself could be in jeopardy. I expect that the rest of the French royal family is doomed to the same fate.”
“May God help them then,” said Merriman sadly, “for it is certain we cannot.”
Grahame continued, “His Lordship tells me that war is now certain as both our Government and the National Assembly in Paris have made statements which, unless one side or the other backs down, make war inevitable. Such a retreat will be neither desired or possible for either side and diplomatic communications have ceased.”
“Furthermore, I am directed to travel to Antigua in the West Indies and take charge of all intelligence gathering out there. We must discover what the French intentions are in respect of our own West Indian islands and their valuable trade. Apparently they have their agents already at work out there trying to stir up the slaves and native peoples into insurrection. I see from my orders that you and your ship are ordered to take me.”
“Yes Sir, that is what my orders say. We are to sail at once for Plymouth for victualling and repair. The port Admiral will have notice of our arrival and is ordered to supply the ship with whatever is needful. Oh, and the Pilote is to be released to the Revenue. I also have a letter here signed by Mr. Pitt himself no less, requiring all persons in authority to aid us in any way we require.”
“Then let us be about it Mr. Merriman.”
Merriman broke the news of their imminent departure and the reasons for it to his parents. His mother wept a little, fussing over him as mothers do and enjoining him to be careful with his health and not to eat too much foreign food, “You never can tell what they put in it” she complained. “Dear James, come back to us safely my son.”
“So it is certain to be war is it?” roared old Captain Merriman. “Damned French, if they can murder their king then they are capable of anything. Thank God we have a strong navy to protect us. Well James, it is up to you and young men like you that we look to, to teach the Froggies a lesson. It’ll mean more chances of promotion eh! I’ll see you made post soon.”
Merriman asked his father if they might borrow the coach again with Hoskins to drive them to Parkgate from where they could find a boat to take them out to Aphrodite, again anchored off the Point of Air. Merriman had sent his boat back to the ship.
“Of course my boy, only wish I could go with you.”
The farewells over, Grahame overwhelming Mrs. Merriman with thanks for the hospitality he had received from her and her family, the coach set off for Parkgate.
“Mr. Grahame, I must make a call in Neston on our way, I need to see Dr Simpson.”
“Dr Simpson? I’ll wager it’s the lovely Miss Simpson you wish to see,” replied Grahame with a broad smile on his face. “Come, don’t try to deny it. I’ve seen the way you look at each other, good fortune to you, she is an exceptional lady.”
“Thank you Sir, I confess I hope to marry her, but I haven’t yet summoned up the courage to ask her or her father.”
“Then do so, at once, or you’ll regret it all the while we are away. Remember, faint heart ne’er won a lady fair, as some poet has it.”
At the Simpson’s house, after the usual offer and acceptance of refreshment, Merriman broke the news to Helen and her father about the situation with France and that he was ordered to the West Indies.
At that point Grahame diplomatically asked the Doctor to have a final look at his wound and they disappeared into another room leaving Merriman and Helen alone together. For a long moment they just looked at one another, then Helen’s reserve melted and tears trembled in her eyes.
“Oh James, how long will you be away?” she said quietly.
“How long for I cannot say, it could be months or even years before I return.”
His reply caused the tears to spill over and roll down her cheeks. He took her hands in his and drew her to him, then tilted her face up so that he could see her eyes.
“Don’t cry my love, I came here to ask you, that is, to see if you felt about me as I feel about you,” he realized he was floundering again, took a deep breath and said “Helen, will you marry me, I haven’t asked your father yet and I know we can’t be married until I come home again, but I love you you see and if you would wait ----”
He stopped as she placed her fingers over his mouth. She looked up at him with her eyes shining through the tears. “Of course I will marry you James, this very minute if I could.” Next moment she was in his arms and they were kissing passionately.
“Oh James, I never felt like this before, I love you so.” The time passed swiftly as they murmured endearments to each other and they only broke apart as the door opened and the Doctor followed by Grahame entered.
With Helen’s hand in his, Merriman turned to the Doctor and with quiet determination said “Sir, I know I should have asked you first, but I have just asked Helen to marry me and she has done me the honour of accepting my proposal.”
Doctor Simpson took one look at his daughter’s happy face before grasping Merriman’s hand in his.
“My dear James, I couldn’t be more pleased. I knew this moment would come. It was obvious the last time we met at your father’s house that you two had eyes for no other and I knew something was afoot when Mr. Grahame took me into the other room on the pretext of a totally unnecessary look at his wound. Helen, my dear, your mother would be as pleased as I am.”
As the doctor embraced his daughter, Grahame shook Merriman’s hand vigorously and then pounded him on the back. “Congratulations Mr. Merriman, I hope you will be very happy together.” He winked, a surprisingly familiar gesture from a man who had always appeared so serious, “See, what did I tell you about faint heart and fair lady” he whispered.
“I must tell my sister about this,” said the Doctor ringing a bell. When the maid answered he said to her “Please be good enough to ask Mrs. Prentice to join us as we have something to celebrate. Gentlemen I trust you will join me in a glass of brandy?”
On hearing the news Jane Prentice hugged her neice, turned to Merriman, hugged him then kissed him on the cheek before saying “Oh dear, I think I am going to cry. William, I need a drink.”
When they were all supplied with a drink of one kind or another the Doctor proposed a toast to the couple, Jane Prentice shed a few more tears and then Mr. Grahame surprised everybody by saying “Doctor, I know what you think about James but I should like to say more. As a son-in-law you are taking into your family an outstanding young King’s officer who, I am sure, will go far in the service of his country. I know he is well thought of at the Admiralty especially after the events of the last weeks and Lord Stevenage himself has taken an interest in James’ career.”
He raised his glass. “A toast to a future admiral and his lovely bride-to-be.”
“Thank you Sir” replied Merriman, “I only hope that what you say is so. Now then, I know we are to leave as soon as possible, but I believe that the tide will allow enough time for me to go with Helen to see my parents. They know nothing of this although I expect th
at my mother won’t be surprised.”
“Yes James, you do that,” said the doctor. “In the meanwhile I’ll write a few notes for your Mr. McBride regarding tropical conditions and diseases which I am sure he will find helpful in keeping your crew healthy. Again my ideas are not accepted by others in my profession but I urge you and him to consider them closely. I will have them ready for you when you return to collect Mr. Grahame.”
The Merriman household was reduced to bedlam when the news was given to Captain Merriman and his wife. There was much hugging, kissing and congratulating, even Annie the housekeeper was called in to be told and she, worthy soul, subsided in floods of tears. Merriman’s father took Helen’s small hand in his great paw, kissed her gently on the cheek, then threw decorum to the winds and gave her a big hug.
“Oh James, can’t you stay longer?” asked his mother when Merriman said that they must be going, we’ve hardly had a chance to talk about the wedding.”
“Now Mary, James is right, he has to go. Anyway, you don’t need him here when you ladies are discussing the wedding, we poor males had best not interfere in such matters. Besides, Helen and her father will be frequent visitors here and you will have ample time for talk.”
The journey back to the doctor’s home was all too short and there was only time for one last embrace before Merriman and Grahame climbed into the carriage to be whisked off to Parkgate. A fishing boat skipper agreed, for a reasonable sum, to take them out to the Point of Air and as darkness fell Merriman climbed aboard Aphrodite and assumed command. Dawn found the ship off Anglesey, well on the way to Plymouth.
A few days later on February 1st 1793, France declared war on England.
THE END
Table of Contents
Copyright
Foreword – A uthor ’ s notes
Prologue
Chapter 1 : The Doctor and his daughter
Chapter 2: Home on the Estate
Chapter 3 : Merriman ’ s Court Martial
Chapter 4: Magistrates and smugglers
Chapter 5: A chance meeting in Chester
Chapter 6: A Revenue ship is taken
Chapter 7: Welshman Owen joins the smugglers
Chapter 8: The Doctor operates on Merriman
Chapter 9: Merriman reports to the Admiralty
Chapter 10: News of French Agents
Chapter 11: A new Command
Chapter 12: Duties of the ship Aphrodite
Chapter 13: A visit to the Custom House
Chapter 14: French Spies & Irish Allies
Chapter 15: T he Viceroy of Ireland
Chapter 16: Patrolling the Irish Sea
Chapter 17: Wounded and rescued
Chapter 18: The Cutter recaptured
Chapter 19: A traitor to be hanged
Chapter 20: A warning to the Captain of the Dorset
Chap ter 21: Successful operation
Chapter 22: Welshman Owen returns
Chapter 23: French Agent Moreau
Chapter 24: Prisoners interrogated
Chapter 25: Sirene attacks the Dorset
Chapter 26: The Viceroy delivered to Dublin
Chapter 27: Terrible weather and the search for Sirene
Chapter 28: Trial and execution
Chapter 29: Th e Lawyer flees
Chapter 30: War with France Now certain
A Certain Threat (The Merriman Chronicles Book 1) Page 25