The Contraband Shore

by David Donachie

  Further than that she could not go, but his interest in Elisabeth, if not singular in a society she saw as lax, had been manifest.

  ‘How my sister reacted has more bearing,’ was the considered response; that not leading to a rebuttal told him all he needed to know. ‘I sent you to Jamaica to protect her from this, did I not?’

  ‘You did, nephew, and I did what was necessary to discourage not only Captain Brazier, but all those who sought to show untoward attention to Elisabeth – a task not easy, but one in which I was sure I had succeeded.’

  ‘Evidently not.’

  Sarah Lovell was stung and desired to tell Henry that with a headstrong sister he would have done no better. Yet she was in no position to challenge him, even if she thought him mistaken. It would do no good, and she was given no chance, to tell him of her successes: of the others she had seen off, the ones with the gleam of golden guineas in their eyes. She was required to further dwell on this proposed visitor in regard to that very subject.

  ‘I doubt he has need of Elisabeth’s plantations. It was the talk of the island when I arrived. Brazier had taken a Spanish ship from some French pirates, one they had previously captured. In its holds was a cargo of silver and, given the gap between its capture and rescue, this was accounted as prize goods. Brazier got his eighth share of the value as per custom, which was, as you can guess, substantial.’

  ‘And now he has turned up in Deal?’

  ‘Had there been correspondence, I would have seen this coming, Henry. But those who wrote to Elisabeth from the West Indies were very obvious in their intentions and aspirations, so as to be a subject of much amusement between us. They were clearly just in pursuit of her money.’

  ‘Where is Elisabeth now?’

  ‘Perhaps in the library. She went there to pen the invitation to Brazier.’

  ‘Ask her to come and see me. It would be best that it is not sent.’

  Sarah Lovell found Elisabeth was not where she thought and was not even within the house. On enquiries being made, it was established she had gone for a walk in the woods, the dogs being missing too, a common enough occurrence and one quite regular. Sarah also found out the lad who helped in the stables had been sent off on a pony, his instructions being to carry a letter to the Three Kings.

  Walking did little to ease the ache in his thighs, which led Brazier to wonder if his hostelry had a bathing machine, for he had often found a dip in the sea to be efficacious in the article of tired hams. Not that it would be as pleasant or as warm as the waters of the Caribbean, into which he had often plunged, with a lookout aloft and a pair of men with muskets to guard against sharks.

  Idly he wondered if Betsey was of the type to swim, for if it was uncommon in men, anathema to most sailors, it had become a popular pastime with the fairer sex, who saw benefits to their health. He imagined she would, and that they might take to it together. Being unable to control the thought, he soon had them both naked and delighting in the experience, these becoming imaginings it was hard to control.

  He sought to turn his mind to other, less lubricious thoughts. Was it worth composing another round of letters to those who might exert interest on his behalf? The question would be the same: could they see their way to writing to the Admiralty and recommending him for a ship, the fact that such pleas were necessary being deeply annoying.

  He had a good record of both service and action under a number of still-living commanding officers, be they captains, commodores or the admirals. They would never have sent in a report containing anything other than praise for his application to his duties. Old Pollock he naturally included, for the misdemeanours of a midshipman were long in the past.

  In action under Commodore Johnstone he had distinguished himself on more than one occasion, the first time at Porto Praya in taking back the ship Admiral Braddock had referred to, which had been captured by the French. At the Cape of Good Hope he had led one of the parties that boarded and destroyed a group of eight valuable Dutch merchantmen, there being no way to take them as prizes. Added to that he had been the subject of a Gazette for Trincomalee.

  ‘Best jump down, Ben,’ he said, putting aside these recollections as they came in sight of the Three Kings, ‘I doubt Mr Garlick will take to me walking and you riding.’ Raising his hands he lifted the boy off. ‘Nip in and tell him you’re back, while I lead her to the Yard stables.’

  ‘Happy to oblige you in that, sir,’ the youngster squeaked.

  ‘What, enter a naval yard?’ Brazier jested. ‘Might be a press gang in there, evil coves just waiting for the likes of you with a cudgel or a shilling, a prime hand in the making.’

  ‘Won’t need no press for me, your honour. Come a war, an’ I’ll put myself forward right off.’

  ‘You’d like to go to sea?’

  ‘Not half.’

  It was hard not to say, ‘So would I.’

  ‘Perhaps another time. I need to speak with those that will care for her.’

  Bonnie was soon stabled and in the hands of those men who would brush her coat, pick her hooves and carry out the dozens of procedures needed to keep a horse healthy. Brazier made his way back to the Three Kings and, on entering, got a look from Garlick that implied he had something of interest to impart, which brought him close.

  ‘We has Mr Pitt with us, your honour.’

  ‘The William Pitt?’

  ‘None other. He often comes here for his midday victuals if he’s down from London and has no one of family to care for his needs. Happen it would serve to acquaint yourself.’

  ‘Which would require an introduction, Mr Garlick, given I am not one to press myself on anyone, high or low, without one.’

  ‘I did tell him you was recently arrived and I reckon he knew your name.’

  ‘I cannot fathom why he would.’

  ‘With a bit of promptin’, I will admit. If I was to say you had returned, happen he’d want to exchange a word.’

  Edward Brazier felt a deep reluctance to oblige Garlick, who was, no doubt, seeking to engineer a meeting for his own purposes, not that he could be blamed. It was in the nature of the inn-keeping beast to take advantage wherever it could be sniffed. Introducing men of standing to each other could result in them dining in company and spending money.

  Brazier’s mind then went back to the suspicions of Admiral Braddock and his reasons for being in Deal. Much as he disliked the prospect of that which Garlick was proposing, smacking as it did of opportunist grovelling, William Pitt was a powerful man, second only to the sovereign in his authority. None but a fool would pass up such a chance.

  ‘Lead the way.’

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Garlick led him through the parlour, past several tables at which people were eating – less smoky now because of that – then on to a separate dining room. After a discreet knock, he opened the door to reveal William Pit. He was sitting facing the entrance and lifted his head, made curious at the sight of a tall, uniformed officer at the owner’s back.

  ‘Saving your presence, sir, there is, as I told you, a senior naval captain a’staying here and he is anxious to make your acquaintance.’

  Brazier wanted to curse the man; he had been well and truly humbugged, led to believe it was Pitt’s desire to meet with him when it was clearly not the case. This was made doubly embarrassing when a furrowed brow showed his surprise at this intrusion. Sat with his back to a window, overlooking the seashore, beside his plate lay a pile of papers, which he had probably been studying while he ate.

  ‘Sir, this interruption is not of my doing.’ If the King’s First Minister had looked confused before, he was doubly so now, especially since Garlick quickly and expertly slipped away, leaving him the sole occupant of the doorway. ‘I will, of course, leave you to your labours and food in peace.’

  The lips, which tended to the downturn, lifted a fraction. ‘Am I to judge you are a victim of our overeager host?’

  ‘Perspicacious, sir. He assured me you wished to make my acquain
tance.’

  ‘He is wedded to his incorrigible trade, but he has put you in a position of some mortification, so I feel it would be churlish merely to send you away. If you wish you may come and join me.’ Brazier’s eyes flicked to the pile of papers, a look perceived by Pitt. ‘You will rescue me from these confounded reports, sir, which are inclined, if I study them while eating, to badly affect my digestion.’

  The desire to decline was strong, but the original reason for complying with Garlick was solid too.

  ‘Pray take a seat and I will send for a second goblet. That said, it might serve if we formally introduced ourselves.’

  ‘I well know who you are, sir.’

  ‘Aye, Garlick would have boasted of it.’

  ‘I would have without his swaggering. I saw you once at St James’s Palace, during a royal levee.’

  The memory was of a salon full of men in uniform, either red or blue, so military, or functionaries in coats of many colours, with just as many ladies of rank and varying levels of age and beauty, from the seriously beautiful to the downright frightful, and all in awe of bustling King George. The monarch had looked to Brazier, even with all his stars and decorations, like quite an ordinary person, albeit one easily driven to barking at people.

  ‘I think you were being much put upon by a very agitated sovereign on the subject of the Prince of Wales, and he was far from discreet in his condemnations.’

  ‘A normal estate, sir, when it comes to his male children, none of whom meet his standards. Please, come in and take a chair …?’

  ‘Brazier, sir, Captain Edward Brazier.’

  The look went quizzical only to turn to a non-committal smile, which led his visitor to conclude it had not registered. Why would it? There were too many officers of the Captain’s List for them to be at all familiar. Acceding to a hand gesture Brazier took a chair, this as Pitt rang a bell, with silence maintained for the few seconds it took for a servant to appear. He lifted the glass flagon by his side and peered to see what was within.

  ‘Another of the same and a goblet for my guest. Have you eaten, sir?’

  The positive response was a lie. In truth it was a mite early for a man accustomed to having his dinner at the naval time: four bells in the afternoon watch and not, as civilians did, around noon. He could dine early, but to eat now would fix him to the table for perhaps too long. Brazier wanted to depart when it suited him, although a couple of glasses of wine from Garlick’s surprisingly good cellar would be happily consumed.

  ‘Are you here on duty, Captain?’

  ‘No, sir. I merely came to Deal on a visit.’

  Another quizzical look led to a sketched explanation of his recent service, added to the fact that his frigate had just been paid off at Portsmouth. If it left hanging in the air the fact that he was now free of employment, no new ship being mentioned, it was not taken up.

  ‘Three years you say?’ Pitt enquired, as a second flagon and a goblet appeared, he then pouring for both of them from the old one, Brazier able to register it was then empty. ‘You must have been in Jamaica when Admiral Hassall died?’

  ‘I was, sir; a most unfortunate event.’

  ‘Sudden.’

  ‘Very. His valet saw him to bed a healthy man, but found him dead in the morning.’

  ‘I was informed of his demise by Admiral Lord Howe, in Cabinet. The despatch told us he expired from the bite of a venomous snake?’

  Brazier had to hope that Pitt did not notice his very slight hesitation; he had to compose his reply as carefully considered, on a subject he would really like to have avoided.

  ‘That was the conclusion of the physicians. The bite marks on his jugular were obvious, while they insisted the contortions and discolouration of his countenance indicated, when they reported to me, they were correct in their conclusion.’

  There seemed to be an element of morbid fascination in the next question. ‘You did not observe these effects on the cadaver yourself, then?’

  ‘I trusted the doctors to tell me the facts of the matter. I did, however, see him as he was being sewn in canvas, before he was placed on a board for burial at sea. That did not disguise his face, which proved he died a horrid and painful death. My task was to take over his duties, pending the arrival of his replacement. It was I who wrote home the despatch, regarding his passing, from which Lord Howe read.’

  ‘Onerous, Jamaica, in terms of the responsibility of command, I daresay.’

  Brazier replied when he had supped some wine; Pitt had gulped and then refilled his empty glass to near the brim, his guest declining.

  ‘It’s a busy station, sir, as much in peace as in war, especially now the Americans are barred from trade with our colonies, not that they don’t try. Added to which the traffic from the Spanish Main brings the wolves in abundance and they are singularly far from particular in whom they attack. Our own merchant fleet is as much at their mercy as a Don, for any cargo will serve, given it is easy to sell on. We did our best to curtail that, sir, for the Spanish possessions can be lawless too. Or, shall I say, those who govern them are not given to interference as long as their own vessels are not involved.’

  ‘Nothing short of piracy, in other words, which the King’s Navy is surely tasked to prevent.’

  ‘We did have our successes, one or two of them striking.’

  Pitt’s expression changed to one of sudden enlightenment, the gaze lifting a fraction, as if the answer to what had occurred to him lay above his head. ‘Brazier you say? You know I think I’ve smoked you out now, sir. Were you not the lucky fellow who took a Spanish ship carrying bullion, not long after poor Hassel expired?’

  ‘HMS Diomede was fortunate in that regard, sir, but entirely due to an excellent crew and a fine set of officers.’

  ‘While I was not, Captain. Your modesty does you credit, but we had strong representations that the vessel should be restored to Spain and not treated as a prize. The demand was declined, of course, but it did nothing to improve our relations with Madrid, not that they are ever happy as long as we hold Gibraltar.’

  Fully expecting to be asked for details of the chase, battle and recapture of the Santa Clara, in which he would show as much humility as he had demonstrated a moment past, Brazier was surprised when Pitt changed the subject. It was one that threw his guest.

  ‘How does the navy take to the office of First Lord being filled by a soldier?’

  ‘We are here to serve, sir.’

  That was an ingenuous reply: the navy was furious at the appointment of the Earl of Chatham to such a post, a fellow who had purchased a mere captaincy in the Foot Guards, which was stretching the term ‘soldier’ to the limit. It meant he had nothing apart from his title and his parentage to distinguish him. Pitt did not come across as much of a laughing man, but he did so now, his shoulders gently shaking in mirth.

  ‘I cannot believe you are in ignorance of the furore, sir, for I, the man who appointed him, am not.’

  ‘While I cannot believe we are bereft of an admiral with which to replace Lord Howe.’

  Brazier was thinking that the Admiralty was run by a board made up mostly of sea officers; Chatham might chair it, but he would likely find his ability to get his way severely constrained. Pitt was thinking on another matter entirely, obvious by his following heated exclamation, one which missed by a sea mile Brazier’s point.

  ‘Damn me, you’re right about the numbers of flag officers. That is a pack that could do with a cull.’

  The man opposite could not help but frown at both the tone and the sentiment; he would one day, if he lived long enough, hold flag rank and the reaction was noted.

  ‘If I offend a sensibility, Captain Brazier, I will forbear to apologise. The number of elderly admirals unemployed and drawing pay are a drain on the public purse, which is much strained already. You will have seen the 74’ fitting out here, I daresay?’

  ‘Impossible to miss a ship-of-the line laying just offshore.’

  The tone of the res
ponse became too overly empathic, which led Brazier to wonder if Pitt was affected by his consumption of wine. He was well into his second flagon of a very good claret and his glass was never left empty.

  ‘Over thirty-six thousand pounds of the navy’s budget to pay for it, sir. And what will happen when she’s complete, now we are at peace? It will likely be laid up in ordinary, to sit in the Thames Estuary and give the rot a good chance to take hold.’

  ‘I suspect the keel was laid when we were at war, sir.’

  ‘Before I took office and under Lord North, it is true. Not that I could have stayed it, for the navy is a law unto itself, as my predecessor found. They will spend every penny granted them in their budgets, the estimates of which grow every year and are never constrained by any thoughts to the other requirements of the nation.’

  ‘Without our ships to protect us, Mr Pitt, we’d be at the mercy of our enemies and perhaps no nation at all. France is still a powerful enemy and so, as you have already mentioned, with Gibraltar in our possession, is Spain.’

  He recognised Brazier’s touchiness and he held up a hand to acknowledge he had been somewhat rude. ‘You make a good point, but I sense waste and it irks me.’

  Pitt sat back and dropped his chin in contemplation, which allowed Brazier to examine him more closely than hitherto – here, or previously at St James’s Palace. If his eyes spoke of high intelligence, the cast of the lower half of his face showed it as not designed by nature for mirth. He also had the pallid skin of an indoor man, the whole topped with swept-back hair and a rather indolent manner. It gave him the look of a person of no great account, a man about the town and, given his dress was of excellent quality, one of some means.

  Nothing could be less apposite. Pitt was exceedingly young for his office, a mere twenty-four years of age when he became First Lord of the Treasury. By repute he was damned clever and very active, quite happy with his reputation as a miserly guardian of the Exchequer. He had inherited a startling national debt of near two hundred and thirty million in pounds sterling, this from the American War, and he was busy, with some success, seeking to pay it down.