04 Peking Nightmares (The Earl’s Other Son Series, #4)

by Andrew Wareham

  She was, she said, had come through the business tired but otherwise surprisingly fit. She quite thought she would leave her room within a day or two.

  “The doctors were pleased with me, Magnus.”

  “Myself also, my love. I must go to our rooms and change – I have worn these uniforms for months and they need to be refurbished, replaced more likely. Conditions in the field were often extremely unhygienic and it may be better simply to throw the working sets away. I shall visit the tailor tomorrow. I am here for at least a month and will be ashore for the bulk of it.”

  “Good. I missed you.”

  “Myself as well. The postal service broke down and I have received none of your letters for months. Stuck out in the wilds of China and kept in ignorance – it was not fun!”

  “That I can imagine – I had not realised. Go and change, sir – that uniform is fit for rags and little else!”

  They laughed and he paced rapidly to his room.

  His personal manservant was there, sorting out his clothing with some distaste.

  “Throw away all of the ragged and hopelessly dirty apparel, Lee. I must go to the tailor tomorrow.”

  “You must, my lord. Is not proper! What is the new bag, my lord?”

  The valet pointed to the duffel bag Magnus had seen in Carter’s hands.

  “I don’t know, Lee, but I have some suspicions of it. Open it up for me.”

  Lee put the bag on the dressing table and undid the cord at the top.

  “Has got thick cotton at the top, my lord. Underneath is a package in silk.”

  “The sods! The men and officers looted – stole – much wealth in Peking, Lee. I think they have given me some. Open it.”

  “Oh!”

  “What is it?”

  “Fine jade, my lord. Imperial. Very old, I think. A carp, very fine. As well, sir, more packets.”

  Three pieces of ancient jade, stolen from the palace itself, Lee thought. A necklace of pearls – big pearls of perfect colour and roundness. A mixed package of gemstones, all substantial.

  Magnus inspected the loot. It was all of the most valuable, but useless to the men. They would have been unable to sell such pieces for lack of contacts in the fine jewellery trade. Magnus could put them into Blantyre’s hands and realise a substantial proportion of their value. A seaman might not be given a pound sterling for any of them.

  “Many thousands, Lee. I shall take these to my lady. Some she will keep, others must be sold.”

  It was done. He had the valuables in his possession and his hands were irretrievably dirty. He had wanted to stay clear of the actions that had so blackened every European’s name, but now he was part of them.

  “Kind, generous, loyal men – the bastards!”

  “My lord?”

  “Nothing, Lee. Bring me a tray, please.”

  “A present from the men, my love. I knew nothing of them until Lee opened my bags.”

  Ellen was almost awe-stricken.

  “There are star rubies here, Magnus. And that is a diamond, bigger than ever I have seen! The pearls are magnificent, and suitable for a dowager. The jade is particularly fine. I cannot guess how many thousands of pounds there are here. How could the men give you so much?”

  He sat on the bed and explained.

  “What must you do for them?”

  “Nothing, not directly. That is not the way it works. They have made me a gift because they think I am a good captain. I must simply continue to be good to them – which I would do anyway, as they know. What shall we keep? Which should go to your father to be sold?”

  “Keep two star rubies, the largest! And the diamond. The coloured stones will make rings and the diamond can be made into a pendant stone. My father will commission a good jeweller to do the work.”

  “And he can sell the remainder for us.”

  “He will probably be here tonight, Magnus, after dinner. He has visited every day for the last week.”

  “My lord, I am glad to see you back and in one piece. The stories that came here suggested you had been careless with your life, to put it mildly!”

  “No choice, sir. I cannot hang back while my men go forward. Some might, but I am not one of them, I am pleased to say. My ship’s company includes some truly brave men and I had no choice other than to follow their example.”

  Blantyre scowled.

  “Bullshit, my lord! I am a plainspoken man, as you may have noticed in the past. The newspaper was very clear that your men were following you.”

  “When you are all shoulder to shoulder in a battle, it is no easy matter to say who is in front, sir. No gain to arguing the point, in any case. If you wanted to see true bravery, then you would watch the Japanese. Bold men to whom honour and duty is far more important than one’s life. I saw them at Tientsin, sir, and was truly abashed. I saw there that I was no warrior at all, not compared to them. Enough, sir. Will you visit your grandson first, or your daughter?”

  “Just a peek into the nursery – I have no wish to wake the little fellow!”

  They peeked and withdrew, to the approbation of the nursemaids.

  Magnus knocked on Ellen’s door, was admitted by her personal maid.

  “My lady is awake and will see you both, my lords.”

  A brief conversation which sufficed to tell the doting grandparent the little boy’s names.

  “Oh! That is kind in you, my lord! I had not thought to see him given our name. He is to be an earl one day and we are no more than merchants. I had thought you would not wish us to be remembered so, my lord.”

  “It will be a poor sort of man, earl or commoner, who will not respect his grandfather, sir. I would not wish to bring George up in such a fashion. In the same way, sir, when you return to Britain, you will always be welcome to visit your family, to stay as a most welcome guest.”

  Blantyre was not certain that he would ever return – Shanghai was not easily left behind.

  “I shall be posted away one day, sir, and probably will never come back to the China station having served my time here. I will be given no choice, and, in any case, I will eventually have to meet the obligations of my family’s land and place.”

  That was obviously true.

  “If I am to see my grandson - and my girl – then I must return… A hard decision, but one whose outcome is inevitable, my lord. I shall buy a little estate in England, or in Scotland perhaps, and settle down in retirement. When do you expect to go, my lord?”

  Magnus had no answer to that question – the Admiralty would dispose of him as and when it willed.

  A fortnight later and Magnus received his answer.

  He was called to the SNO’s office and was handed a signal from the Admiralty. Captain Grafton leaned back in his chair, saying nothing. Magnus read the signal aloud.

  “Commander Lord Eskdale to the Yangtse Flotilla in command with rank of post captain with immediate effect. Awarded bar to DSO in recognition of gallantry at Tientsin.”

  “Well deserved from all I hear, Eskdale. Welcome to post rank. You know, I was told when in the Mediterranean Fleet that you would either be thrown out or made an admiral. I am rather glad that it has worked out this way for you.”

  “I am amazed as much as glad, sir. What is this Yangtse Flotilla, sir?”

  “That’s a very good question, Eskdale. I can’t answer it because I’ve never heard of it. No doubt we shall be told, and probably quite soon. If we are lucky, it will be half a dozen of gunboats, modern boats designed for their work.”

  “Hopefully, yes. More likely to be a scrapyard collection of ancient sloops no longer fit for the high seas.”

  Grafton grinned as he called for a celebratory drink.

  “Your most excellent health, Eskdale – and congratulations on that second DSO – one is uncommon enough!”

  “End of a war, sir - they have to dish out the ribbons, you know!”

  “If you say so – but I am still respectful!”

  Magnus finished his drink
and accepted a second, there being no alternative.

  “What of Obelisk, sir? Is there a signal for her?”

  “New captain will arrive from Hong Kong this day. Commander A.E. Cuthbert.”

  “Honestly?”

  “That’s his name – look.”

  “Oh dear – poor man. What the crew will call him, God alone knows.”

  Captain Grafton shook his head.

  “Custard if he’s lucky. Filbert? Gilbert?”

  “Herbert?”

  They decided the poor chap would have a hard time of it, the nicknames whispered just at the edge of his hearing or louder in the dark of the night. If he was a good captain and an inspired ship handler, the names might be given with affection, quite possibly.

  “I must go down to the ship, sir, and order my cabin packed up and my traps removed. I should farewell my wardroom too. There are a number of officers there for whom I have a deal of respect and liking, sir.”

  “Several of them are going, Eskdale, all on promotion. A definite compliment to you.”

  “What station is Obelisk going to?”

  “Back to England, probably to go to harbour defence or conversion to a training ship. Her class is generally being retired from the high seas.”

  “Good. Her engines are tired and she should be taken out of duty. Not worth the cost of replacing her boilers. I shall, with your permission, take my servant with me, sir. A loyal man and I owe him some respect.”

  “All yours, Eskdale.”

  Magnus sent a note to the house that he would not be back to lunch, consequent on his promotion out of Obelisk. He then made his way to the dockyard to make his arrangements.

  He reached his cabin to find Carter surrounded by bags and trunks and busily packing. The grapevine had been hard at work.

  “I am given a Yangtse Flotilla, as post captain, Carter. Obelisk is going back to England. If you want to, you can go back Home. I would prefer you to stay in my service.”

  “I’ll stay, sir, thank’ee. Nothing for me in England. I did have two brothers there, but I ain’t seen or heard a word of ‘em in twenty years. I’ll take your service, sir.”

  “Then you will be with me as a permanence, Carter. If I leave China for Britain, then you become one of my people in the house or estate.”

  “Do me, sir.”

  The wardroom was buzzing with speculation as to who would be next. Four officers had received postings already that morning.

  Magnus addressed his new first lieutenant.

  “Permission to join you, Mr Tusker?”

  “Please do, sir. A pinkers, sir?”

  A third pink gin was hardly welcome before noon but Magnus was obliged to accept.

  “Thank you, Mr Tusker. You will have heard that I am posted, I presume?”

  “Promoted and given a flotilla of small ships on the Yangtse, sir. May I presume to congratulate you, sir?”

  Magnus raised his glass in acknowledgement.

  “I believe a number of you are also to go, gentlemen.”

  Pattishall was to go to Terrible, a big and modern armoured cruiser, as second to the gunnery officer, very much a plum job for a young lieutenant wishing to rise in the gunnery world. Mr Knuyper had been given a sloop on which he would be senior – the smallest of ships but a responsible position for so young a man. Lockhart was promoted Engineer Commander and was to go to the yard in Hong Kong, an important place in his world. Geddes was made Paymaster Commander and was to go Home, probably to a battleship which required a senior man because of its size.

  “As well, sir, we have a notification of awards. A Cross, sir, to young Mulligan in the engine room.”

  “Oh, good! That lad deserves the recognition. A brave boy!”

  There was general agreement.

  “He is to go to Hong Kong with Mr Lockhart, with a step up the ladder to a First Class Oiler.”

  All knew that a rating with a VC could expect to be pushed up to petty officer as quickly as possible. His career was guaranteed, unless he took to the bottle. Pattishall took up the tale.

  “Mention for Mr Warren, sir. And to Mr Knuyper. Commendations for the rest of us who were ashore with you, sir.”

  Commendations were not honours, but they read well on a man’s record of service and helped when it came to promotion.

  “What about you, sir? We know you have become post captain.”

  Magnus was embarrassed but had no choice but respond to the direct question.

  “Bar to the DSO, Pattishall.”

  “Well earned, sir.”

  “I promised my wife that I would keep my head down, Guns. What will happen when I get home, I don’t know!”

  They laughed, mostly sympathetically.

  Magnus arrived at his house a little the worse for wear but not noticeably drunk. He had Carter and a porter carrying his baggage in tow, deposited them with the butler - far more capable than him of properly disposing of both.

  “Post Captain, my love. To command a Yangtse Flotilla, whatever that may transpire to be. Three years, I suspect, of chasing pirates and holding the hands of missionaries. After that, Home almost of a certainty. Then, all will depend on the politics of the navy. The odds are that I shall spend time ashore in England, but that is all conjecture. They have, I must tell you, awarded me a bar to the DSO.”

  Ellen rose from her armchair in her downstairs workroom, embraced him, wrinkling her nose at the smell.

  “Gin at this time of day, Magnus?”

  “Unavoidable! I shall have a headache before dinner! Necessary to make my farewells on Obelisk and to accept the congratulations of Captain Grafton. If I could have avoided it, I would. We must send to the tailor for proper uniforms – he will be delighted, replacing everything twice in a fortnight!”

  The bills would not be small.

  “How does one show a bar to the DSO, Magnus?”

  “A rosette on the ribbon. The miniature medals for the dress uniforms literally have a bar attached.”

  “Not exactly flaunting the honour, Magnus.”

  “No need – every military man will know what he is seeing, and those who do not recognise the ribbons can be ignored in any case.”

  She agreed – it would be a measure of social quality in the observer. Her father must be told, very quietly.

  “This flotilla, Magnus. What is it to be, do you know?”

  “No idea. Not the slightest. Grafton has not been told either. I suspect it is a wonderful notion that someone in the Admiralty has come up with. The provision of ships will undoubtedly follow. There has been rumour of purpose-built gunboats these last five years. Thing is, I have heard nothing about building them.”

  “In a yard in England or Scotland or Ireland, I must imagine, Magnus. One might not hear of small keels being laid.”

  “Small and shallow-draught boats, possibly even flat bottomed. Ideally, to draw less than half a fathom. Wonderful on the rivers, but how does one get them here? Thirteen thousand miles of ocean is a distance for such a machine, you know.”

  He was met with silence.

  “They might wish to build in Hong Kong – there are private yards there which could produce a good hull, and engines and guns could be sent out with some ease. But I have heard of no contracts there.”

  She shook her head.

  “That means old and small ships no longer fit for service on the open seas, Magnus. What do you call them, sloops?”

  “I fear so. We must wait until the awful word reaches us. For the while, I have command of a flotilla with no ships, guns or men to be accountable for. Let us therefore make hay while the sun shines. What shall we do?”

  The first need was to collect the stones from the jeweller so carefully selected by her father.

  “A ring, a brooch and a pendant stone on a gold chain. Magnificent pieces, Magnus! A month or two, when I have my strength and energy back, and we shall display them at the formal dances, to the envy of all.”

  He found he was looking fo
rward to the event – he would much enjoy partnering his lady in Shanghai society, the more for displaying his new uniform in all its glory.

  Blantyre took Magnus to one side to inform him of the prices fetched by the remainder of his loot. This was business, which was not in his opinion the province of women, however clever they might be.

  “I moved the stones through Sia’s hands. He will take his commission, obviously, but will also be pleased that I have chosen to show confidence in him. I have assisted him to set up for himself and his master in London, but that was purely business. This is more than that and he will accept it as a statement that I have respect for him. He will respond somehow over the next few months because he will not wish to find himself beholden to me. He will sell the stones overseas, probably in New York, where there is a demand for the richest of jewellery. That will be his business, not mine. He has assured me of at least ten thousand and likely more, my lord.”

  That was a respectable sum, an unexpected windfall.

  “Can that be sent to London, put in the hands of my father’s lawyers? They have the family lands held in trust, themselves in control, my father having shown spendthrift. I don’t know where the old gentleman is located just now, but suspect he is under a degree of legal restraint, hopefully in the care of a doctor in the house in Scotland. I have asked the lawyers to keep me informed. Was the cash to be sent to them, they could use it to mitigate the harm done to the estates, to some extent. At a minimum, they could repair the farm cottages that must have been let go to rack and ruin. When last I saw the estates, some five years since, they were in poor enough condition.”

  “Land is a waste of money, my lord. Never make a profit from it. That said, you have a duty to your people. I will send the money to my lawyers and they will discuss its best use with yours. Far the most sensible course. What of the jade, my lord?”

  “What indeed – it seemed the most valuable I had ever seen of its kind.”

  “So it is. I would not put it in Sia’s hands as too great a temptation to any Chinaman. I have sent it to London to be placed in secure store there. Sell it now or hold it for later years? I think it can only grow more valuable over time.”