Courtenay shook his head. “I realise I have no legal powers, but Balathia, at your request, is a British Protectorate. Mr Minter will, I am sure, send a damning report to his superiors in Whitehall and I shall recommend myself that Balathia be stripped of its protection, unless you agree to abdicate in favour of Abdallah. I am sure that His Majesty’s Government will be only too pleased to continue to protect Balathia with the true King on the throne? The alternative is that word will be passed around as to what you have been doing to attempt to hold on to a power that is not, by the laws of your own Country, legal.” He paused and looked Khalfani straight in the eyes again. “I wonder how long you will last without my Country’s protection?”
Khalfani was silent. Marmaduke Spencer-White stepped forward and said haltingly, “Are you absolutely certain about this Courtenay? By God, if you are not, this will be the end for you! I shall make sure…” He stopped when he felt the business end of a sword press against his ribs.
“How many more times Spencer-White?” said Wetherby loudly. “You will address my Admiral as ‘my Lord’!”
“You will not make sure of anything Spencer-White, because I am also going to recommend you be dismissed from your post. Mr Minter here has done all that you should be doing. I shall also make it clear I do not believe you should hold any other similar post either!” He turned back to where Khalfani was trying to placate his wife, without much success. “You may have 48 hours to give me a response. If I do not hear from you. I shall send my report and I and my men will remain here to ensure peace is maintained until I hear from London.”
The King looked at him and smiled grimly. “It will take quite a while for you to send your report to London and for a decision to be made and communicated to you. A lot could happen in that time Admiral. A lot.” His smile changed to one which suggested something might happen to change things. “Odd things can happen to a man in this Country. Fever, poisoning…..”
“A spear in the back? Yes, I know what you are suggesting, but I intend that you and your wife will be kept under house arrest for the time being. I shall communicate with Abdallah and inform him of what has happened. Of course, whether he will remain patient until I hear from London, I have no idea.”
“Will it not look a little strange that you are keeping the King and Queen under house arrest?” asked Khalfani.
Courtenay smiled broadly. “Not at all. Word can be put about that you and your wife are, ah, indisposed. If necessary, I will take the pair of you on board the Alexander and then run up the Yellow Jack, which is our signal for fever. I guarantee you no-one, but no-one will wish to come anywhere near! However, you may stay here enjoying the comforts of your palace if you behave yourselves.”
The King said nothing. The Queen wailed and rocked back and forth. Courtenay stood, and strode out of the room. “Major Berisford? Captain Stevens will be sending his detachment of Marines ashore shortly. Do you feel you have enough men to guard the Palace?”
“Yes sir. We will manage right enough, but I am a bit worried about the risk of fever sir.”
“Yes. We will have to guard against that as best we can. Peter? Have you made friends with any influential people here that you could ask to help out? You can make the excuse about the King and Queen being indisposed. Make it sound as if they have some kind of fever. It is important they do not leave the Palace.”
“Leave that to me Admiral. I do know a few people here who would be able to assist.”
“Excellent. Very well Flags, Trafford, let us return to Matilda. I have a despatch to dictate.”
“Who will take it sir?” asked Wetherby.
“The schooner is too important to lose and I wish to keep the frigates and my flagship here…just in case. A show of force for other reasons than their Lordships intended is called for. Commander Pountney can take it.”
“Aye aye sir.”
Two days later, HM brig Justify made a proud sight as she tacked past the flagship, setting her sails to sail out of the bay and on her way back to London, after calling briefly at Gibraltar to offload Captain Horrocks to await a Court-martial. It was going to take the brig, even with very favourable winds, at least three weeks to sail the 4500 or so miles back to England, Even if she made it in that time, Whitehall could drag its feet over a decision so Courtenay realised as he watched the brig slip past with its company lining its sides and ratlines to cheer that he could still be here for another two months, during which time he had to ensure Khalfani or his wife did not manage to leave the Palace.
The brig was not alone. With her went the former Spanish frigate Senora de Fuentes and Captain Peron. The frigate would be handed to the Flag Officer at Gibraltar who could be trusted to ensure she would be bought in, thus making some prize money available for the men of the squadron. Peron would be detained there for trial. The frigate was under the command of Lieutenant Irvine as prizemaster, with Lieutenant Clayton from Arrow as his second-in-command. Both would be collected when the squadron finally called in at Gibraltar on its way home.
Courtenay had been able to spend a short time with Edward before the brig departed and he handed to him some letters to be delivered when he reached Portsmouth. It was to be hoped that he would find time to get home, even for a short period, before returning. All the letters were for Jessica, Lady Courtenay, with one for Lord Maltravers to accompany the formal despatch.
The time spent awaiting the return of the brig passed very slowly. Since there was no need to maintain patrols, Courtenay allowed his frigates, aside from one, to augment the anti-slavery patrols working out of Freetown, far away to the north. That gave the Commodore there a slight extension of his patrols, and gave the crews of the ships something to do.
He maintained contact with Abdallah, who wisely remained in Mondiana for the time being, and was surprised in a way that Khlafani who had not responded to his ultimatum, and his wife did not make any effort to either escape the Palace or forment some kind of revolution against Courtenay’s imposition of partial martial law. Minter was as good as his word in that he spoke with a number of people he knew could be trusted and he was pleasantly surprised when he was told these people had harboured doubts about Khalfani being their legal King, but had decided it was best to keep quiet for fear of reprisals. It transpired that some years ago a number of people had been heard to say that the circumstances in which Father David and the King’s mother had gone missing were odd. They disappeared and were never seen again.
The people who disappeared from the village returned, many of them speculating wildly about why they had been kidnapped and then returned, but nothing had been explained to them….yet.
Eventually, just as the afternoon watch was beginning one day and the off-duty watch had gone below for their dinner, a look-out yelled down that Justify was tacking into the bay under all available sail, and it did not take long for it to reach the anchorage off the mouth of the Bimara. As evidence of the way in which Pountney had pushed his command, Courtenay and Fenwick could see where patches of planking were showing through the paintwork, and it was obvious that makeshift repairs had been carried out aloft. Courtenay turned to the ever-present Flag-lieutenant. “Justin? Make to Justify, anchor under lee of Flagship. Captain to repair on board when convenient. Welcome back.”
Wetherby smiled broadly. “Aye aye sir!”
The brig had hardly anchored when a boat was lowered and two officers were seen running down into it. Courtenay did not need a telescope to recognise his son’s form. They greeted each other formally at the entry port, and both Jonathan Pountney and Edward Courtenay were led aft to the Cabin. Kingston and Trafford gave the pair big smiles, and even though there were other people present, Courtenay still hugged his son to him for a couple of seconds.
“Despatch sir, from Lord Maltravers, together with this letter. “ said Pountney, taking a glass from Kingston and nodding his thanks.
“Thank you Commander. I shall read it shortly. You made a fast voyage?” said Courtenay.
>
“Good weather sir, apart from the last leg where we got caught by a violent storm. Lord Maltravers sends his warmest wishes sir.”
“Did you see him?”
“Oh yes sir. I was summoned to the Admiralty and he handed the despatch to me personally. He said I was to inform you their Lordships are delighted with the outcome and you are to hurry home.”
“I see. I had better read that despatch then.” He turned to Edward. “Did you…”
“Oh yes father, I managed to get home for two days. Mother is in very good health, and so are Sophie and Tim. Maltravers has told her that hopefully you will be home soon.”
“Good. Very well, if you would see to these two officers James, I shall read this despatch and see what has to be done.”
James Fenwick nodded and smiled. Courtenay went into his sleeping quarters and opened the despatch. It did not take long. He smiled and went back to the throng next door.
“Is all in order Giles?” asked Fenwick quietly.
“Very much so James. I will tell you later. First of all, we have to entertain these gallant officers!”
The following day, the frigate Matilda once again anchored just off the town of Bimara. The schooner Dolphin was also there, just having completed yet another patrol up-river. Courtenay went ashore and saw evidence of the fact that Minter had been able to obtain the services of some of the local population. There were a number of men in evidence with muskets. Of the Royal Marines there was little sign apart from some in a small building nearby. Their officer, Stevens’ Marines officer, marched smartly up to Courtenay and slammed to attention as if he were at Eastney Barracks.
“All present and correct my Lord!”
“Thank you Captain. I think you will not be needed here for much longer.” He walked into the Palace where some of the ‘guards’ smiled broadly and even bowed, much to Trafford’s amusement, and made his way to the private part of the Palace where Khalfani and his wife had been kept.
“Ah, Admiral Courtenay!” started Khalfani,”I assume you have now heard from London that you have acted hastily and unwisely and that you have been told I and my wife are to be released immediately?”
Courtenay smiled in such a way that Khalfani started to have doubts immediately and his wife started to weep again. He turned on her. “Stop it Tabara!”
“I have received no such orders. What I have been told is that His Majesty’s Government will not countenance someone being on the throne of your Country who is not the legal ruler and who has attempted to have his own mother killed to secure his position with that Country still requiring protection from Britain. Obviously, Britain has no control over your Country and its laws however, “ he held up a hand as the King began to smile, “the Government has decided that it can no longer offer the protection it has given and therefore, as at midnight tonight, Balathia is no longer a Protectorate of Great Britain. All forces will be withdrawn. If anyone attacks you, you will have to defend yourselves.”
“That cannot be correct!” shouted Khalfani.”Your Government makes a lot of money out of our diamond mines, may I remind you?”
“There are other countries wishing for our protection where such mines are being discovered, so I am told. We will give our protection to more deserving countries. “ Tabara was wailing even more now.
“You cannot leave us without protection!” screamed Khalfani. “I shall make it worth your while to stay and help us Admiral!”
“Bribery as well now? No, you will not. I am taking my leave now, and I doubt we will ever see each other again, having regard to what will now be spread to your people.”
Courtenay turned and walked out. As they strode into the blinding sunlight again, Trafford said quietly, “Did the Government really say that sir? After all, those diamond mines must bring in a lot of revenue!”
“Let us just say I embellished what they said, but basically, they are quite willing to deal with Abdallah as the true King, and I know from my discussions with him that he is perfectly willing to continue trading with us. If he is able to take control and become the lawful King, the Protectorate will continue.”
“And the Government will carry on making a lot of money?”
Courtenay smiled. “Of course! That is the only reason Balathia got the protection she did. You do not think the Government had any other reason do you? Humanity for instance?”
“Unlikely in my view sir!”
“Yes Alex, and in mine!”
FOURTEEN
“So, darling Giles, what happened? Dear Philip has told me what he can, but I gather there are some things even he cannot tell me!” Jessica, Lady Courtenay, was sitting in the Courtenay carriage holding her husband’s hand and looking at him carefully. It was winter and she had a thick cloak over her dress, with a travelling rug over her knees, but all she could see was her husband’s lined and tired face and the grey that was appearing more and more in his hair. Her husband patted her hand and smiled.
It was only an hour ago that he had said goodbye again to James Fenwick, and had made his way into Portsmouth Harbour in his barge with the cheers from Alexander’s company still ringing in his ears. It never failed to move him that men who had a tough, hard life aboard the Navy’s ships, many of them having been pressed into service in the dark days of war, and many of whom were not likely to be able to step ashore for some time, could still line the yards and ratlines of his former flagship and cheer their heads off as he was rowed away. As Admiral, he had had the power of life or death over each and every man-jack in his squadron, yet they still cheered him as he stood suddenly in the barge and waved his hat over his head to them.
Jessica, as always forewarned by Philip Maltravers that her husband would be home soon, had travelled to Portsmouth to greet him, despite the cold weather. Maltravers had been sufficiently worried about her travel that he had sent a troop of Light Dragoons to escort the carriage there and back to London. She had watched as he topped the steps of the quayside, and, as ever, she had run towards him and clasped him tightly to her for a good few moments before releasing him. She looked around his shoulder and saw Trafford standing with his bag and his Admiral’s chest, then the coachman gruffly welcomed the burly cox’n back and helped him with the chest.
Now, they were on their way home to London, with the Dragoons clattering along behind them, and she needed to know what had happened, back in Balathia. “You told Philip that you had said to that awful man you were withdrawing support?”
“Well, yes, although I had no intention of actually leaving until I knew what was happening. I had sent a message to Abdallah quietly telling him of the conversation I had had with his half-brother, but I needed to keep some presence there because the last thing I wished for was trouble between the people.”
“Was there? I could imagine Civil War might have broken out.”
Courtenay smiled at his wife. “No, fortunately that did not happen. I had Captain Horrocks’ junior officer sent for and he had all the military people there ready to step in an maintain order, but he was not needed. Apparently, the King’s First Minister stepped in and made it clear to Khalfani he had to go. That was backed up by a large demonstration that night outside the Palace calling upon him to go, and I am surprised they were as peaceful as they were, because they could have stormed the Palace. There were some soldiers loyal to the King, and he and his wife stayed shut away in the Palace for two more days, enduring almost non-stop demonstrations and even a riot before he finally saw sense and said he would leave. When he did, which was at night, he and his wife were jeered and I gather had to run the gauntlet of having various unpleasant things thrown at them, but then the reason he and his wife had stayed locked away in the Palace for two days became clear. He was taking one of his ships and what he had been doing was packing all the valuable items in the Palace so that he could take them with him.”
“In other words the man was a common thief!” exclaimed Jessica, leaning more against him.
“Yes, but he
did not get very far because Peter Minter saw what he was doing, and a quiet word to the First Minister made the man act quickly and stop anything except the former King and Queen’s personal belongings being taken into the ship. They were not pleased at all, as you can imagine!”
“Good, I am so glad they got nothing. Where did they go?”
“I have no idea. The ship they were in was last seen heading to the north and I would imagine they sought sanctuary with a country where they might still have friends. Abdallah was welcomed back to loud cheers and there was celebrating in Bimara. “
“And what about the diamond mines? I cannot imagine for one moment dearest that HMG was happy to lose the income they receive?”
Courtenay laughed. “No, they were not. Peter Minter, who has taken over as the Colonial Officer which he richly deserved, was instructed to discuss matters with Abdallah, and an accord has bene reached whereby Balathia will continue to be a British Protectorate.”
“And HMG keeps the income it gets?”
“Naturally!”
“And that terrible man Spencer-White?”
“Recalled to Whitehall. Hopefully someone will find him a place in some rat-infested hellhole Island way out in the Atlantic.” He had a sudden thought,. “What about St Helena? I think him and Boney would get on very well!”
“Philip told me that the chances are high Captain Horrocks will be shot for his treachery?”
“Yes, I would not be at all surprised. He placed a lot of men in my squadron at risk by his greedy actions. He is facing a Court-martial, but I fail to see how he can avoid his fate.”
Jessica squeezed his hand and rested her head on his shoulder. Outside, it had started to snow.
T H E E N D
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