Napoleon's Guard

by Griff Hosker

  The landlord remembered me from my visit with Geordie and they all made me welcome. The locals puffed away on their short pipes and I just listened to their talk. During a lull in the conversation I asked one of them called, obscurely, Peter the Pilot, did they meet in the pub often. “Aye bonnie lad, every day.”

  “Why? Is it the beer?”

  “The beer helps but we have to come here do you see to put the world to rights. If we weren’t here to sort it out, why, it would be in a terrible state.” He winked broadly at me and they all laughed. It was just the same as when we went out from the barracks we were able to give our opinions on many matters great and small. There would only be minor differences in our opinions and we would all feel better for it.

  “Take that Bonaparte chap.” He shook his head. “He has ideas above his station. I mean I can understand the lads in France wanting to have a life like the aristocracy but now they have chosen him to run the country.”

  “Napoleon Bonaparte is running France?”

  They all nodded. Peter said, “He has been elected First Consul, whatever that means but the top and bottom appears to be that he runs France.”

  I shook my head. I knew he was ambitious but I never dreamed he would run my country. Then I realised that it was no longer my country. I didn’t have a country, I belonged to no one.

  “What’s the matter? Do you know the man?”

  They all looked at me expectantly. I was the stranger from foreign parts who could enliven their parochial conversation. “I served with him in Egypt.” Their faces showed their shock.

  As the questions flowed so did the ale until Geordie’s eldest, Bobbie came to the door and said, “Me mam said your tea’s ready!”

  Peter the Pilot said, “You’d better go. I wouldna cross Betty!”

  Betty, of course, was not cross and the food was not spoiled. “I know what you men are like when you get talking!”

  The food was wonderful and, when the children had done the dishes and been sent to bed I sat with Betty before the lovely fire just talking. She was an easy woman to talk to. Before I knew it I had told her all the details of my visit to Islay. She did not seem surprised. “That’s families all over isn’t it? You are better off without them. They sound like a right miserable pair. Your mam now, she knew nothing about this, did she?” I shook my head. “Nor her dad either so why can’t they just forgive and forget.” She had the ability to get to the nub really quickly. “I’ll bet it’s the name that’s upsetting you isn’t it?”

  “Yes Betty. I liked the name because of my mother but I can’t have the name now because… well I just can’t.”

  “You know I can read?” I shook my head. “Well I can. The only one in this street and all! Still I’m not bragging but my teacher read a bit from a play by Shakespeare. I think it was Romeo and Juliet. Anyway there’s a line I remember or a bit of a line, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’ I think that means that a name is not important. Why you could call yourself Count, whatever your name is couldn’t you? Look at Geordie; he hates the name Herbert so he calls himself Geordie.” She put her hand to her mouth. “Now don’t you go telling him I told you that but you know what I mean?”

  “I do, Betty and you have decided me. I will be Robert Matthews and the past can be damned.”

  “Well good for you. I shall go to bed just now. Make sure the fire is damped down before you come up will you?” She bent down and kissed me on the forehead. She was a lovely woman.

  By the time Geordie returned home I was a local in the pub and I knew everyone by their first name. We had long passed talking of Napoleon and covered a vast range of subjects. They were good people and they made me feel welcome. I could happily have lived in that part of England save that I had no function there. One evening I returned to the house after a few pints in the pub and found that Geordie had returned. He seemed remarkably serious. Betty too looked more serious than she normally did. I worried that something was amiss with the family or the ship. When Betty went to fetch the food Geordie said, “You are a wanted man Robbie. That Lambert chap was found dead. He was run through by a sword. They found a letter with your name on it and people say you had a sword.”

  “But I have been up here or on your ship.”

  “I know. I know you are innocent but it looks bad. “

  “What about Captain Dinsdale?”

  “He hasn’t returned to England yet but he is wanted too.” He smiled for the first time, “Our Betty said you have changed your name. It is probably a good thing.”

  I did not want to spend my life as a fugitive. “I will return with you and clear my name.”

  He beamed, “I knew you would. You are the right sort.”

  Betty was tearful when I left. She hugged me so tightly that I could barely breathe. “You are a lovely young man. I hope that you can clear your name. You have not had a fair crack of the whip and no mistake. You deserve a bit of happiness. Remember there is always a bed for you here!” She kissed me hard and then turned away to continue crying. The boys too were upset. I had begun to teach them how to fence and they loved it. They had looked after Badger every day and they were just as sorry to see him go. I would be taking him back to London with me.

  As we headed south and watched the priory disappear into the sea Geordie said, “The lads in the pub will miss you. They said that you were alright for a foreigner. I have never heard them gush so much. You made a real impression.”

  My brief moment of happiness, as in Sicily was gone; snatched away from me by a precocious Fate. I now had to clear my name before I could return to Sicily.

  When we reached London the first thing we did was to arrange a stable for Badger. Once that had been done, Geordie insisted on coming with me to visit Mr Fortnum. “I don’t want you getting into trouble on account of me.”

  “The law is less trouble than our Betty will be if I have to tell her you were arrested. Besides I have nowt to do for a while the lads can unload the coal. I need to stretch my legs!”

  He was fooling no-one. He kept a watchful eye on all about us. When we reached Piccadilly he did not enter but stood outside to keep watch for us. Mr Fortnum saw us straight away. He looked serious. “I have heard the news and know that you are innocent for you were travelling north when the murder took place but mud sticks. And I have worse news for you. The Kingdom of Sicily and Naples has been taken over by the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte and all English ships have been impounded.”

  My heart sank into my boots. “Captain Dinsdale?”

  He nodded, “I know. He is safe but cannot leave.”

  “And your business?”

  He waved away the suggestion, “That is only money. The crew is more valuable than money.” He shrugged, “Besides no-one else can lay their hands on the goods and we have an adequate supply bur what to do about your dilemma.”

  “I had already changed my name to Robert Matthews.”

  “Really?”

  “It has nothing to do with this but it seems now I was directed to make that decision.”

  “We must go and see Mr Hudson and make sure that he is aware of the name change.”

  “But shouldn’t you two turn me in?”

  “My dear fellow, we both regard this as client and lawyer privilege. Mr Lambert was not innocent and deserved to die. I know you had nothing to do with it. Why should you suffer for something you didn’t do?”

  We left and strode out towards the bank. After a hundred yards Mr Fortnum said, “I do not wish to alarm you but we have been followed by a giant who looks dangerous.”

  “He is dangerous but he is on our side. It is a sea captain called Geordie. He is watching our back.”

  “You live in a different world to me do you not? I thought the world of business was a cut throat one but it does not come close to yours.”

  “And it is not of my choosing.”

  Mr Hudson was sympathetic to my request. “I take it Captain Dinsdale will not be requiring th
e funds any time soon then?”

  “No, and I may not be around when he is released.” I looked at Mr Fortnum for confirmation that the ship would be released.

  He nodded. “They will only impound the ships for so long. They cannot afford to be without the revenue the ships bring. I would expect them to reach Britain in, perhaps, three months time.”

  I was pleased with the approximation of time but it did nothing to help me. “Then Mr Hudson I shall need a hundred pounds from my account for the expenses I shall be incurring.”

  “Very well.” He wrote out a note and summoned his clerk. When the clerk had gone he said, “If I might suggest Mr er… Matthews?”

  “Go ahead. At this moment I would like any solution to my dilemma.”

  “If we were to write out a deposition now attesting to your whereabouts at the time of the murder then we can lodge that with the court.”

  “An excellent idea.”

  “Of course it would be useful if we had a witness from the ship which transported you.”

  I grinned, “Would the captain do?”

  Mr Hudson’s pince-nez dropped from his nose. “That would be perfect but where would you conjure him at such short notice.”

  “Just wait here.” Leaving the two of them open mouthed I went to the door of the bank and whistled. Geordie appeared and I waved him inside. “We need you in here.” When we went in I said, “This is the captain of the collier who took me to Newcastle.”

  “Excellent, well captain, we need to take down some facts and then we might be able to clear this young man’s name.”

  “In that case let’s get on with it. The pubs are open and I have a mighty thirst on me.”

  I felt happier with the money and a copy of the letter in my pocket. Mr Fortnum told me that he would deliver the letter personally for me. “You are being very kind to me. May I ask you why?”

  “Business I am afraid. Oh do not get me wrong I like you. I find you a refreshing young man after some of the rakes I knew when I was young but you have saved me a great deal of money and you have provided me with the promise of more business and trade. This embargo is a moment in time and is not your fault.” He gestured to Geordie. “Your friend here will tell you that regular business is worth much more than an illusive pot of gold such as the South Sea Bubble.”

  I had never heard of the South Sea Bubble but I gathered the gist of his words. “In that case thank you Mr Fortnum and I hope your trade does increase.”

  Geordie and I continued along to the pub near the Strand which was frequented by the captains. “His business is doing well Robbie. Even I have heard of him and I never go in shops.”

  As we drank our beer in an almost deserted pub his face became serious. “You are welcome to stay on board my ship Robbie but I sail the day after tomorrow. You know the way I work. Will you manage once I have gone?”

  I laughed, “I am more resilient than I look Geordie and, besides, I actually feel as though I have had a load taken from my shoulders. I no longer carry around treasure and I can forget my Scottish roots. Bonaparte betrayed both me and my people and so long as he rules France then I am not a citizen of France. I may not have liked my father when he was alive but I can now respect the stand he took against what he saw as injustice. I am a now a citizen of the world without a country and the world is my oyster.”

  He shook his head. “No son. I told you before. You are an Englishman. Forget who your parents were it’s what’s in here that counts.” He tapped his chest. “And inside you are English.”

  I did not know at the time what he meant but I came to learn that he was probably right. We found me a room in the inn near to the stables where Badger was housed. Geordie still fussed and fretted like an old woman right up to the moment he left for Newcastle. “Give all my love to Betty.”

  He shook his head, “I’ll be in bother for not bringing you back!”

  I had not taken Badger out for a few days and I decided to have a ride around the London Parks. Despite the fact that the metropolis was one of the biggest cities in the world there were still many green places to ride and I took Badger through the busy streets until we reached St James’ Park. I had never ridden in such landscaped land before and the experience was refreshing. The man at the stables had warned me about riding in the parks at night as they were the haunts of thieves and highwaymen but he conceded that, during the day they were more than pleasant places in which to exercise a horse. For the next two weeks I established a settled routine. I would ride Badger each day using one of the three parks in rotation and on the fourth day I would visit Mr Fortnum. The inn was comfortable and I found reasonable places to eat. I was not poor but nor was I a spendthrift and I husbanded my money well.

  I was not lonely as one might expect. I actually enjoyed the solitude. It gave me time to think and reflect on the events of my life and to put them in some sort of perspective. I would not have changed anything in my life; I had had some friends such as Jean, Pierre and Tiny whose memory I cherished still. I did not even regret the things I did for Bonaparte; I would not have met the Regent of San Marino or Sir John otherwise. Part of me realised that I had been a little instrumental in helping him to achieve his present position as First Consul. Should I have saved him in Cairo? I could not see myself allowing him to be killed but would the world be a different place if I had? I was beginning to see that life was a spider’s web; it was incredibly intricate and intertwined. A creature tapping on one side sent vibrations which travelled all the way to the other. I resolved to begin to enjoy life and live each moment to the full. I owed that, at least, to my dead comrades. I would live their lives for them.

  Fate intervened one late Friday afternoon in October 1801. I had taken my normal afternoon ride and I was in Hyde Park. Badger was enjoying crashing through the piles of leaves which had blown there. I too felt invigorated by the chill but clean air of the park. We had just enjoyed a gallop and I was contemplating returning to the inn before dark when Badger suddenly began limping. I dismounted and lifted the offending leg. He had stepped on to a piece of broken glass hidden in the leaves and it was lodged close to the hoof. I took out my small pocket knife and carefully removed the glass. The hoof began to bleed a little. In my saddle bag I had a small hip flask with brandy within. It was a habit I had picked up from Jean. It served a number of purposes. In cold weather it would revive and it was a way of cleaning wounds. I poured some on the hoof. Badger whinnied but I felt happier. I tore some linen from a cloth I had in my saddle bag and, after soaking it in brandy, jammed it into the hoof to stop anything else entering the wound. I then led Badger back towards the city.

  By the time we entered Green Park it was dark but I did not want to risk riding my horse and aggravating the wound. Because we were walking I was more aware of sounds and I heard the clash of sword on sword. I drew my own blade and began to run, with Badger behind, towards the sounds. I saw three men attacking one man. A fourth man lay on the ground either dead or injured I could not tell. The lone man was fending off his three assailants well but I could see that it was only a matter of time before he was overcome. I dropped Badger’s reins. He would wait patiently and I ran over to the fight. Three against one was not good odds.

  I roared a challenge. This was to let the man know that aid was coming and also to distract his attackers. One turned to face me. He had a sword which was as long as mine and he ran at me. He was a powerful man and surprisingly light on his feet for one so big. I was barely able to parry his blow. I pirouetted around so that his back was towards me. I lunged at him and he, too, spun around and knocked aside my blade. He was not as fast as me and I saw blood on my weapon. He feinted at me but I was not fooled and I flicked his tip away and then stabbed forwards. He was not expecting it and the edge cut his face. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that the other two men were beating back the lone swordsman who appeared to be wounded. I had to end this and end it quickly. Knowing that he had two wounds I struck rapidly at him forc
ing him backwards. There were tree roots and hidden dangers beneath the leaves and each blow I struck made his movements more desperate. When he half stumbled I lunged forwards and felt my sword enter his side. He screamed in pain and then, before I could finish him he turned and fled.

  I let him go and turned to the other two. I was barely in time. The man was lying on the ground and I saw the sword raised to give the coup de grace. I ran and sliced down with my sword. It sliced through the back of the hand which held the sword and it fell to the ground. His companion had not seen me but he now turned and stabbed at me. I swung my sword more in hope than expectation and luck was on my side as it clanked into his. I saw my chance and punched him hard with my left hand he tripped over the man who was prostrate on the ground, his body still amongst the leaves. I saw the sword of the man I had wounded lying on the ground and I stepped on to it. The two of them ran. The odds were no longer on their side.

  After I had sheathed my sword I went to Badger and brought him over. I took out the brandy flask and turned over the man. I had no idea if he was dead or alive. I heard his voice as I began to turn him, “Thank you sir.”

  As I rolled him on to his back I saw that it was Colonel James Sinclair.

  Chapter 19

  His eyes were closed so that he did not know it was me. I poured some of the brandy into his mouth and he coughed a little and then swallowed. I could see blood coming from his arm. I went to the dead man lying on the ground and took off his silk scarf. I made a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. It appeared to be his only wound although I could see a lump on his forehead. “Colonel, can you rise?”

  His eyes shot open. “You! What are you doing in England?” His good arm went to his jacket. When he patted it and found what he sought he relaxed a little and then his eyes narrowed. “Were you with those men?”

  I could not understand the ingratitude. I showed him my blade which was covered in blood. “As this blood is not yours then it seems likely it was your assailants and this seems an odd way to say thank you.”