“I found a private coach going my way in just an hour,” O’Hanlan announced, his upper lip covered with fresh beer foam. “Driver will let a King’s officer ride for free if I sit on top. It’s chilly, but I do hope it won’t rain. This beer is good after that French wine, but it’s really time I go.” He jumped to his feet. “See you, chaps.”
“Best of luck to you, Mr. O’Hanlan,” Neville said, shaking his hand.
“And from me,” added Watson. “Mebbe we see you next cruise. Keep in touch. I gave you Mum’s address there. She’ll know what ships we’re in.”
“So, Mr. Watson, are you going to go ‘round Whitehall with me, or do I go alone?” Neville asked.
“Tell me again why you have to go by the Admiralty.”
“I have a letter to be delivered there.”
“How’d you get it? From whom?”
“I can’t say.”
“All right, then. To whom?”
“I don’t know. It’s just addressed to the Admiralty – Navy Office.”
“I dunno. I’d rather get home as quick as I can, but it’ll be only another day, right?”
“Right. Daniel, do you know that fellow there? I’m sure I’ve seen him before.” He indicated an unusually short young man with bushy, sandy-orange hair drinking a glass of wine by the window.
“An unusual color hair, isn’t it?” said Daniel. “But no, I don’t think so.”
The man was looking at them as if he were having similar thoughts.
“Maybe in Newfoundland, then. We’ve scarce been off the ship elsewhere since we left here, and he’s not French; I’d wager on that. Oh, wait. Since we left home – London’s where.”
Leaning over closer to Daniel’s ear, he said “Do you remember when we first got our orders?”
“Of course. How could I forget that? Had to leave Whitehall to read ‘em. Went to that little pub.”
“On the way there I told you we were being followed, remember?”
“Not sure I do.”
“Well, that’s him by the window. Nobody else has hair that odd, for all love. Let’s go ask him who he is.”
A small crowd of officers was waiting to take a table. They moved between the mystery midshipmen and the window, while the barmaid brushed off the table. Neville and Daniel paid their bill and stood. The officer group moved to their table and sat, leaving a clear view of the window and an empty window seat. ‘Bushy-hair’ was gone again, just as before.
“Must’ve recognized us, too, I’d say. Now you know what he looks like. Give me a shout if you see him again.”
Neville and Daniel, despite their self-importance as experienced midshipmen, paid the lowest fare for a ride on top of a coach to London.
“Ain’t this green wonderful, Neville?” asked Daniel. “And the birds … I don’t think we’ve seen such since we last were home in England.”
“T’is lovely for sure, but we’re getting into London now. Everything will have soot on it.”
A bright blue sky covered it over, though, and they arrived outside Whitehall in good cheer.
“This place is even busier than I remembered,” remarked Daniel. Out on the street, the foot traffic had been a rainbow of blue navy and red army coats, together with the fashionable pink and purple ladies’ gowns and green, brown, or black civilian mens’ attire. Once inside the Admiralty courtyard, however, they were enveloped in a sea of blue and white. “There must be an ‘undred officers here.”
“Must be the war,” commented Neville, and the fact that we haven’t seen more than a few hundred people together in one place since Toulon.”
“And that,” groused Daniel, “I didn’t get to see.”
“Where, now?” Neville queried, pulling the letter from his jacket. “It is addressed to ‘Clerk of the Admiralty’,”
Neville’s inquiries mostly received odd looks in response, but they were finally directed past the waiting room, where dozens of officers sat waiting on their chance for postings, to the stairway to the First Lord’s room. They received an icy welcome from a plump fellow adorned with a powdered wig sitting at a small table in a vestibule atop the stair. He looked at them as if unsure of what they were. They wore no epaulettes, gold-leaf coats, or swords of honor. It is unlikely the stair was ever used by mere midshipmen.
“Yes?”
“I am to deliver this here,” said Neville, holding out the letter.
“Oh, a delivery.” The clerk snatched the letter and said, “Wait there.” He gestured to a short row of wooden chairs against the far wall of the hallway, and left through a narrow door behind him.
A marine sentry they hadn’t previously noticed stood unmoving at the end of the short hall.
The clerk reappeared in three or four minutes, and handed the letter back. It had been opened. “You are in the wrong place. There is a yellow brick edifice the next south of this one. Take your letter there, if you please.”
Back down the stair they tramped, their boots making a hollow thumping on the bare English oak stair treads. “ ‘If you please,’ did you notice, Daniel? Not just ‘get out.’ ”
They carried their letter into the yellow building next door.
“This is not the same sort of place at all, Neville,” observed Daniel. “I see only about five or six officers, and they are not dallying about.”
“Halt, there. What’s your business?” demanded a marine.
“We’re to deliver this letter,” said Neville. He showed it.
“There,” said the marine, pointing to the far corner of the hall. “Take it to that chap in the vestibule.”
‘That chap’ was quite opposite the last chap. This one was quite skinny, and his wig hung loose at the sides as if it were some sort of woolen winter cap. On the verge of snickering at the sight, Neville presented him the envelope without saying anything.
“It’s been opened,” the clerk said.
“Not by me it wasn’t – by the clerk over at the Admiralty, where it was addressed.”
Turning to the front side again, he said, “I see,” and pulled out an inner envelope. To whom it was addressed, Neville could not see. Again, they were directed to “wait there,” and the clerk ambled away.
He did not return directly, as had the other clerk. The two began to fidget and stood to look out the window, pleased that the marine did not insist otherwise. The clerk didn’t return for half an hour.
“The one named Burton?”
“That’s me.”
“Please follow me.”
“Will it be long?”
Following a contemptuous grimace, “It might be.”
“Daniel, why don’t you go down to that pub by the park and have a pint? I’ll join you there.”
Inside, the clerk stopped at the fourth door, which had no soffit window above and had simply a brass number “4” on it, and knocked.
“Come,” was shouted in a voice Neville thought familiar, and he entered alone.
Within sat Sir William Mulholland, who beamed at the sight of him. Neville, my dear boy, how are you? All back safe and sound? Your mother will be so happy to see you. And what do you know of Daniel? His father was at a great battle off Ushant just the other day on the frigate Pegasus. He’s come home well; those frigates fly like the wind. Oh, I dare say you know, being in one yourself. Big things going on at home, you’ll see. But I digress – I am sorry I’ll not have much time for this today. Big meeting. Big meeting. I see you’ve brought a letter from someone we know. Tell me all about it, if you would.”
“Daniel’s here with me today. I just sent him down to the pub to wait on me.” He began the story from his meeting with Monsieur Doctor Badeau aboard the corvette Angelique in the Mediterranean, for that was the first of his involvement in any of the affairs of M. Cadoudal or Dr. Mills. He told of his meeting Georges in Toulon and the papers he brought out, to which Sir William noted with an “Aha. Hmm, yes.” He continued with his remembrance of the short discussion between the two doctors and hi
mself, with mention of Sir William, the capture of HMS Castor and subsequent imprisonment on the Sans Pareil, the meeting with Georges again there and, finally, of the capture of the Sans Pareil at the Ushant battle. “He gave me this letter before he was taken from the Sans Pareil, and assured me not to worry for his safety.”
“Sans Pareil and Georges both taken; and the Castor, too? I’ve not heard that.”
“Castor was retaken, Sir. She’s ours again, but I have not seen her.”
“I must hear of this battle when there is time. I understand it was a glorious victory by Lord Howe. Capital fellow, indeed. Both the Watsons were there, you say. My word! How do you come to know French? M. Cadoudal speaks of it.”
“This letter is about me?”
“Oh, not about you, no, but you are mentioned as being very helpful. I thank you for bringing this. I’m sorry I couldn’t have seen Daniel, but I will at home, eh?”
“Yes, we’ll be sure to drop by before shipping out again.”
“Cheers, then,” he said, standing and offering a hand. “As I said, I must attend a big meeting.” As an afterthought, he added, “What does Daniel know of … all this?”
“Nothing, Sir. I was asked not to tell stories.”
“Ah, quite. Please keep it so. Very good, very good. I’ll see you in Bury St. Edmunds.”
In four days’ time, the Ferrybridge stage discharged them where they had begun their adventures – at the Angel Hotel in Bury St. Edmunds. They arrived in the evening in a light falling damp. The days are long in the English summer, and the lingering sunlight gave a shimmering glow to wet stone surfaces in the cobblestone street, walls, and window casements.
It was good to be home, even in the mist. Some left for sea and never did come home. Both of them stood for a few minutes looking ‘round the foreyard at the familiar hotel and the ruins of the Roman cathedral opposite. Now used to the crush of humanity aboard ship, they easily ignored the turmoil of the other passengers asking for their baggage, street urchins clamoring to assist, and the snorting of horses being changed.
“Come on, then, The Flowers is not far. The walk will do us good after sitting on that coach all these days, and we haven’t that much to carry. The Good Lord knows we aren’t going to melt for a little rain.”
“Here it is, Daniel. You’re home,” said Neville in front of The Flowers. They knocked at the front door, and shuffling was heard within. When it opened, a tall man, light of complexion and wearing a full head of blond hair, opened the door.
“Dad!” exclaimed Daniel, bursting through the door. “Neville said you were home!”
The two embraced, and Edward, in the command voice of a navy lieutenant, barked, “Edith, come this minute!”
“Come in boys, come in. What a joy. Pegasus came in for a refit. I got your letter on the Pegasus, Daniel, but there was no time for reply. Only one despatch pouch went out, and one came in, and no more. However did you send me a note? I didn’t expect you to be there, even. The Castor was not with us ….”
Daniel’s mother came down the stairs and the greeting was repeated. “How could I forget?” blurted Edith a minute later. “You don’t even know your mother is to be here soon, and your sister to be married.”
“Mother's here in Bury? Elizabeth married? To whom, Mrs. Watson?”
“Your sister Elizabeth is to be married this autumn to Captain Gage John Hall of the … what is it, Edward?”
“78th Regiment of Foot. Your mother has had enough trouble understanding the navy ranks, and the army has their own system, you know.”
“He’s a lovely young gentleman. He’s twenty-four, I think, with a very good chance for promotion. The wedding is to be in St. Mary’s Church by the Abbey on September twenty-ninth next. Your mother has news, too, but I think you should hear all about it from her. We’ll get you off first thing in the morning.”
“One more thing,” said Edward. “There’s a letter here for you from the Admiralty, Daniel. You’d best open it straight away.”
“They wouldn’t call me back up so soon, would they?”
“Only the Good Lord and the King know that. I would hope not, but there’s a war on, as you are well aware.”
“It’s not from the Admiralty, Dad. It’s from the Clerk of the Cheque,” he said once he opened it and unfolded the paper. After a quick read, he handed the paper to his father: “Could this really be what I think it is, Dad?”
Edward Watson stared at the paper for a minute, looked up at Daniel, and read the paper again. “You’re both right well off young men, if I read this right. You should have the same letter at home, Neville. If I have this right, the Castor, together with Mermaid, took a French corvette, the Angelique, in the Med some months ago. Is that right?”
“Yes,” they both parroted.
“She was assessed for fifty-six thousand pounds! Your shares are one tenth of one third, which is two hundred thirty-three pounds, ten shillings, and six.” He whistled softly. “I’ve never had a prize that size. What was she, made of gold?”
“Not exactly, Sir, but that’s what she was carrying. We had almost decided to let her run.”
“That’s about … what … nine years’ pay for a midshipman?” Edward queried. “Amazing.”
“Absolutely wonderful, dears. You men take your brandy into the library and talk all about your ships and battles and so on, and I’ll look to be sure we have enough for a good breakfast.”
“Sausages, Mum, if ever you have them. Please,” begged Daniel.
Neville arrived at his family’s cottage in Thurston late the next morning. Even his halooing from the lane did not bring someone to the door. The house and garden looked as it did when he left except, possibly, slightly more overgrown in the juniper bushes and those weeds that always grew thick by the well.
“It’s just not right, Mum,” Neville overheard. “The color here and there don’t match. Can’t you … Neville!”
“You have grown, brother,” said the radiant Elizabeth, standing back to admire him. “Almost as tall as my fiancée,” she added, holding out her ring finger for his compliments. “But his arms don’t stick an inch out of his sleeves. What’s happened above your eye there? And your ear! What have you gotten into? You can’t blame me for those.”
“Your ring is beautiful, and it’s wonderful news, for sure,” he said. “I already heard, though,” he added, ignoring her question about his scars. “Daniel and I stopped at The Flowers last night on the way in. What’s your news, Mum? Mrs. Watson wouldn’t tell me.”
“Oh, pooh!” said Elizabeth, pouting. “You’re invited anyway.”
“Invited to what? Is it about you or Mum?”
“This one’s about me, but don’t just stand there, come in. The Halls – that’s Gage’s parents – he goes by Gage – are throwing a gala for us at midsummer’s night. You must meet him, but you mustn’t talk about the war all night. I know Mr. Watson’s in as well, and there was a big battle, which will be all the gossip. You simply mustn’t ruin my night with war talk. Come in and sit ….
“And you simply must do something with that uniform if you’re coming to my party.”
“It’s been fine aboard ship.”
“Well, it won’t be here. And, you’ve a letter from the Navy, just here. What is it? Orders to leave? You’ve just got home, and it’s here before you.”
“Oh, that’s just a few hundred quid from the King. I’ll open it later.” This caused a moment of silence.
“You’re joking, of course.”
“No, I’m not. Daniel got the same letter. Yes, Daniel’s come in with me, too. Open it and read, if you must. Go ahead, but I still haven’t heard Mum’s news. What, is she got pregnant or something?”
“How dare you, you navy monster!” Elizabeth exclaimed, giving him a loving slap on the cheek, softened by a kiss – while Ellen opened the letter.
“He’s not joking,” Ellen said. “He’s rich, he is. I’m so happy for you, Neville. Back home in one p
iece and rich as well. Now about me; my turn. I have decided to move from this place to a house in Bury. Without Elizabeth here anymore, it will be too much work, and lonely at that. If I don’t move in to town, I’ll never see her. It didn’t help that your Uncle Andrew was appointed corn inspector for Sudbury and moved his family away back in ’93, but I’m happy for him. He writes that he enjoys the work. Anyway, Elmer John says he can sell this hutch and the land for enough to buy a house.”
“Aannnnd …. ?” said Elizabeth, stretching out the word.
“And,” his mother continued sheepishly, “I have a gentleman caller in Bury who wouldn’t see much of me if I didn’t move in, either. So there. I’ve said it.”
“Congratulations, Mother. I mean it deeply. If you need any of that money to help you settle, it’s yours. A man at sea needs almost nothing the Navy doesn’t provide. I’ll need a new uniform and boat cloak, and a few other things, but that won’t take much of it. And, Elizabeth, while I’m on it: talk of military affairs is not gossip.”
Two days were not enough to tell all Neville’s stories of adventure, or listen to the preparations for marriage and moving, before a coach arrived to carry them into Bury St. Edmunds.
“We’re to stay at The Flowers, you say?” asked Neville.
“We’ve been invited, yes. It would certainly not be proper to have Elizabeth and Gage under the same roof before their wedding day.”
When they arrived at the Halls’, they found it to be a fancy affair with a formal introduction.
“C’mon Daniel. We’ve done this before,” Neville murmured.
“You have? Where?” whispered Elizabeth.
“Sh-Shush. Here we go, sis,” as their names were called.
The Watsons and Burtons made their grand entrance. Mrs. Burton was escorted by Mr. Andrew Blake, following Mrs. Watson and her navy lieutenant in blue and white. The bride-to-be entered last, escorted by two handsome midshipmen in splendid resized uniforms. The young captain in the red coat and shining white belts could have wanted no more. His fiancée was the prettiest belle at the ball, and her mother possibly second.
The Glorious First Of June (Neville Burton: Worlds Apart Book 1) Page 19