“Now we have the issue of what do to with the officers. Captain Bush, your first lieutenant is quite experienced, I seem to remember, and should be rewarded with his step, don’t you think?
“Yes, sir.” Bush had not in fact been impressed with his first lieutenant and would welcome a change.
“Captain Giles,” continued the First Lord, “do you think that your First is ready for command?”
“Yes, sir. He is becoming very experienced in all the duties of a sea officer.”
“Good, then one of the lieutenants from the rescued ships can be your new first lieutenant. You can also have another one. I suggest you take the ones with the most and the least seniority and Captain Bush can have the middle one.”
“Aren’t we getting a bit ahead of ourselves? I don’t have a ship or a crew, sir.”
“You are right. We need to get you a ship. How would you like a ship-of-the-line?”
“It would be an honor, sir. But I would prefer a frigate, sir.”
“Why?”
“Battleships spend most of their time on patrol in formation, moving to the orders of their admiral. Even in battle, there is not much chance for innovation or initiative. The individual ships are cogs in the wheel, with fixed roles assigned to them.”
“I’m not sure Nelson would agree with you. But I see your point, even though the big, strategic events are determined by the battle fleets, and the frigates only support them and act as eyes of the fleet to bring the enemy to battle. I suppose that you are really a frigate captain at heart and the extra prestige of a ship-of-the-line doesn’t count with you. At least, I know that it is not prize money that drives you. You have already earned more than enough to make you a nabob and in your career, you have passed up certain prize money to fulfill your duty speedily.
“All right. There is a frigate, just finishing being fitted out here in the Naval Yard here. A French capture, of course, a thirty-six. Shallow draft, as most French ships are. Renamed Impetuous. I will assign Impetuous and Perseus to Admiral Granger’s command. No, I know, Murphy, you are always crying for frigates, but I think right now the greatest threat is from Boney’s invasion plans and from the Texel. You can keep your crew from Patroclus, Captain Giles, so you should be ready to sail in two weeks. You can both have ten days leave and then join your ships”
“Sir, can I let my men have some time ashore before they report to Impetuous? They have performed well and should be given leave.”
“Aren’t you afraid that they will run?”
“No, sir. They are all volunteers who know me.”
“All right, but on your head be it. I suppose that you want your crew to disappear as well, Captain Bush.”
“No sir, I am still new to them and they do not have as strong reasons to stay in Perseus as Patroclus‘s people have to follow Captain Giles.”
“I suppose not, but you have been equally successful in finding them prize money, Captain Bush, in the time that you have commanded them.
“Well, that should do it. Again congratulations to both of you.”
The interview was clearly over, but the First Lord’s flag lieutenant coughed and said, rather reluctantly, “Sir, there is still the matter of the court martial.”
“What court martial?”
“Captain Giles ran his ship aground and then had her destroyed in a battle with the enemy. There is no question that there has to be a court martial, even though the result should be preordained.”
“Let’s get it over with. Admiral Murphy, please ask Captains Dumphries, Callaghan and Macalistair to report for four bells of the afternoon watch. Captain Giles, can you bring your logs and your master and his logs for the same time. I guess Captain Bush should also attend. Conrad, assemble all the other requirements of a court martial by four bells,” this latter directed to Admiral Murphy’s flag lieutenant.
“Sir, is it legitimate to have the court martial so quickly.”
“I don’t see why not. No court will condemn Captain Giles for his actions and they won’t censure his master either.”
“But appearances, Admiral!”
“Hang appearances. I need Captain Giles to be ready for service unencumbered by silly legal requirements. Just get on with it, Conrad.”
“Aye, aye, Admiral,” responded Lieutenant Conrad.
“I am afraid that the court martial is a necessary ceremony,” continued the First Lord speaking to the two Captains. “Be back at one bell of the afternoon watch. And Captain Giles, don’t forget to bring your sword.”
Back on Le Jour de Guerre, Giles’s first act was to talk to Lieutenant Davis.
“Good news, George. You’ve got your step. You’ll be promoted to commander.”
“So soon? Do you really think I can handle it?”
“Most certainly I do. And I am sure that the Admiralty will find you a ship very quickly.”
“Oh, and Mr. Davis.”
“Yes, sir.”
“They are giving me a frigate that is coming out of the Navy Yard in a few days. Called Impetuous. The crew of Patroclus is being transferred to her. I imagine that the Port Admiral will send people to take charge of Le Jour de Guerre. Keep only an anchor watch on board. The rest of the crew can have four days of leave. Tell them, though, that if they try to desert, I will have them flogged.”
Davis had to struggle to suppress a smile at this command. In all the time he had served with Captain Giles, he had seen the cat let out of the bag only twice. Both occasions were for offences against other crew members, not against the discipline of the ship. Even so, only a dozen lashes had been administered in total.
“Now where’s the purser?” Giles continued. “Ah, there you are. Each hand to get five pounds before he goes on shore leave. It is against his prize money. Of course, it comes out of my pocket, in the first instance. And no withholding any of it to cover what you may claim they owe you. Just see to it.
“Carstairs, get yourself ashore. I want you to engage a coach to take us to Dipton starting at about eight bells of the afternoon watch. And then go to my tailor – you know, the naval one – and order a dress uniform and a couple of working uniforms and some civilian clothes and all the rest of the gear to replace what I lost when we destroyed Patroclus. Have him send them to Dipton post haste as soon as possible. Yes, you won’t be taking me in the barge to the court martial. Jones can take your place this once. And we’ll have Mr. Stewart. The boat won’t dare to go astray with him in charge.”
The court martial assembled on time in the great cabin of Admiral Murphy’s flagship, Herodotus. Captain Dumphries chaired it and moved the proceedings along swiftly. Giles gave his own testimony succinctly and answered only a couple of questions. Mr. Brooks then again recounted how Patroclus had gone aground. Captain Callahan took his turn to question him.
“Mr. Brooks, why did you believe that there would be enough water to starboard of the marker?”
“I had taken soundings at that place when we entered the river two days previously. There was ample depth then, and the tide at that time was lower than when we were leaving the river.”
“Do you have any thoughts on why the French ship also ran aground?”
“We found the chart that her master had been using of the bay. It indicated considerably greater depth at that point than there actually was. That, incidentally, is what my own chart showed. I imagine that the gale had also raised the mud banks in that area.”
Captain Bush’s testimony was brief, explaining how he had avoided running aground by turning hard to starboard when he saw Patroclus‘s predicament. He also had had every reason to believe that Patroclus was safely in the channel until she grounded.
Captain Dumphries consulted in whispers with his colleagues and then turned to face Giles. Before speaking, he reached out for Giles’ sword, which had been lying on the table in front of the three captains, and swung the hilt towards Giles.
“Captain Giles, we find that Patroclus grounded because of an act of God an
d that neither you nor Mr. Brooks bear any responsibility for it. We also find that your actions and those of Captain Bush and your crews conformed to the highest traditions of the Service. We commend you and all those associated with you, including those in charge of your recovered frigates, with actions that had exceptional outcomes.”
The three captains then joined Giles and Bush to shake their hands and comment at greater length about the battle that had been won. Very soon, however, the flag lieutenant intervened, “Captain Giles, Admiral Murphy wants to see you and Captain Bush.”
Admiral Murphy, this time, rose to welcome the captains. “Congratulations. I never doubted the outcome of the court martial. Now I would ask you both to dine on Herodotus this evening, but I know that you only have a few days’ leave, and I understand that you, Captain Giles, have pressing interests in the place where your estate is, what’s it called?”
“Dipton, sir.”
“You should be able to get there easily tomorrow if you start now. I suppose that you want to go too, Captain Bush?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then you must both must dine with me when next we have the chance. I’m sorry you are going to Granger. I could certainly use you.”
Giles and Bush returned to their ships agreeing to meet at the landing as soon as possible. As he climbed the tumble-home on Le Jour de Guerre, Giles reflected on how much he preferred frigates to the somewhat unwieldy line of battle ships. As the twitter of the bosun’s pipes ended, he turned to Carstairs.
“Did you make the arrangements?”
“Yes, sir. The coach should be at the steps now. And I placed the order with the tailor. On his recommendation, I also got some small clothes and other items which he suggested that you would need. He had a coat and britches that he said were almost your size. More of working quality than of dress quality, but probably very serviceable and certainly better than what you have on now. It is almost new. The owner may have worn it only once since he bought them. Mr. Jeffreys, the tailor, said that he could alter them to fit you immediately. I knew that you might need to dress properly at Dipton before the new clothes could arrive, so I told him to do it. They should be waiting for us in the coach. I hope that my action has your approval.”
“Very well done, Carstairs. I can hardly appear in company in these old rags. They were only working clothes when we engaged the French and the fight has not improved them.”
Giles gave his final orders to Davis, and then was rowed ashore. The coach was there and Bush arrived a few minutes later. After stowing Bush’s sea chest securely, they were off. Both men, as well as Carstairs, were used to catching sleep whenever they got a chance, however uncomfortable the conditions; so they were asleep even before the coach had worked its way through the streets of Portsmouth. They were roused when the coach had to change horses, and staggered bleary-eyed into the inn for a hasty dinner of bubble and squeak and a bottle of very indifferent claret. Then back to sleep as soon as the coach had started off again.
Giles awoke to find the morning well advanced and soon recognized sights and buildings that told him they were approaching Dipton. Bush was left with his sea chest and coxswain at the Dower Cottage and Giles proceeded to the Hall intending to wash and change before going to Dipton Manor to see Daphne. Steves came out to meet the coach as it pulled up in front of the entrance accompanied by a footman to open the coach door. One would never have guessed that he had not been expecting his master’s arrival, although it was only due to a housemaid’s call that she saw a carriage approaching that he had had any warning. From Steves, Giles learned that the Countess had returned to Ashbury Abbey while his half-sister and her daughters had gone for luncheon to visit a new acquaintance who lived three or four miles distant.
Giles was about to enter, when Daphne came running towards him in a flurry of skirts. She had been supervising some further work on the garden when she heard the carriage arriving and had walked over to see who the visitor might be. When she saw Giles, all sense of decorum left her and she broke into a run. She did not stop until she had flung herself into his arms. Steves looked on with a bemused expression on his face: Daphne had already won him completely so she could do no wrong in his eyes, no matter how much she might offend the usual proprieties. Giles luckily had had time to brace himself so that Daphne didn’t simply bowl him over. He returned the greeting as enthusiastically as it was given, and simply rejoiced that his fiancée was not inclined to be bound by standard etiquette when it got in the way of her expressing her happy nature.
“Richard! How wonderful to see you! How long is your leave?”
Giles laughed, “I’ve just arrived and you ask me when I am leaving, as if you can’t wait to see the back of me. Are you sure you still want to marry me?”
“Of course I do! More than anything in the world. I only asked because I want to get married. Last time you were hardly here for enough time to get engaged, let alone married. I hope it is longer this time, but I know that with the threat of invasion, you may be needed very soon.”
“You are right about that, but I do have ten day’s leave.”
“Good. That’s plenty of time. The Countess understands why we may need to hasten the marriage and I’ve told my brother and my sisters that they have to be ready to come at short notice. This is better than I expected. Let’s see. Lord David read the banns for the final time last Sunday. Today is Tuesday. We could inform your mother and my brother immediately, and with our grooms carrying the messages, they could learn about it tomorrow, and travel on Thursday. We can be married on Friday or maybe Saturday morning would be better. Yes, I think Saturday morning would be best.
“Oh, Richard, I know that I shouldn’t take the lead, but I really do want to be your wife as quickly as possible. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, Daphne, I’m delighted about how eager you are to arrange the wedding. I was afraid that we would have to wait months so that a really elaborate occasion could be arranged.”
“Oh, pooh to that. As long as the people who really matter to us can be present, I don’t want to wait for some silly elaborate preparations!
“Steves. Captain Giles and I will have luncheon in the small dining room. Now, Captain, you should go and change. Your travelling clothes are rather the worse for wear. Steves see to it. I suppose that a footman or Carstairs can help you.
“Oh, there I go again. I don’t really intend to give you orders.”
“That’s all right. Especially since I have had a lot of experience obeying orders -- and of ignoring them.”
Giles went upstairs to his dressing room. There he examined the new clothes that Carstairs had obtained for him. They were not really of the first quality, but they would have to do for now.
“Carstairs, I would like you to return to Portsmouth as quickly as possible. Take one of the horses to the posting inn. Tell Mr. Jeffreys that I must have the dress uniform by Saturday morning because I am going to get married in it. Wait there and hound him for it. And bring it back here the minute you get it. Don’t worry about the expense.”
Carstairs complied even before Giles was ready to descend to have luncheon with Daphne. Strangely, however, he paused for a few moments at the Dower Cottage and conferred with Captain Bush before galloping off towards Ameschester.
Lunch was a leisurely affair, with Daphne quizzing Giles about his adventures. He tried at first to make light of any difficulties he had encountered, but soon realized that lack of full explanation of any problems simply led to Daphne asking a series of probing questions; she was as quick to question prevarications as any senior officer to whom he had ever had to report. The one difference was that Daphne was quite clearly on his side and her questions arose from a need to know in the most sympathetic manner everything in which he had been engaged. It struck him that she seemed to be totally unaware of the prize-money implications of his adventures, unlike any of his fellow officers to whom he might tell the tale.
After lunch, the two lovers
strolled together in the garden. Daphne recounted her accomplishments and her plans, explicitly soliciting his approval at every stage. He enthusiastically endorsed everything she mentioned. Next their conversation turned to the management of their estates and what needed to be done. Here Giles could take a larger part in the discussion since he had been mulling over in his mind all the changes that he would like to see to the holdings of Dipton Hall. Daphne listened to his ideas with interest. Most of them she had already thought of herself and when Giles’s ideas agreed with hers, she praised them without letting on explicitly that they were things of which she had already thought. When Giles suggestions did not agree with Daphne’s ideas, she very gently but clearly explained how there was a better way to accomplish his objective.
The afternoon wore on and all too soon it was tea time.
“I must go home and arrange for dinner,” Daphne announced. “You are coming, of course, and I shall invite Captain Bush and his family. I will also invite your brother, Lord David. It is short notice, but everyone knows that your time here is limited. We can’t spend every minute alone together, unfortunately.”
“I imagine you will also have to send letters announcing when we are getting married.”
“That is already done. I had already written all the important ones only leaving the day to be filled in. And I made copies of each of them which I kept here. I knew that the time might be very short. The letters are already on their way. I finished them while you were dressing. And I have told the organist what music I want and put the bell ringers on notice stating that they will be required for duty some morning soon.”
A New War Page 23
