“Five?” Philip asked quietly.
“‘… revert to Midshipman Alexis Carew (Commander, Acting of Grapple)’,” Alexis finished weakly.
“Here, here!” Caruthers cheered, raising his glass.
“Ha!” Ames agreed.
“Captain,” Alexis protested. “It’s too much — I can’t, sir.”
“Two thousand forty-eight pounds, nineteen shillings, ten pence,” Philip announced, grinning. “And half a farthing, if it matters.”
“Read out the rest, Mister Carew, so it’s all out there, though there’s no more for you, I’m afraid,” Grantham told her, eyes dancing.
“Aye sir,” she agreed dully, still shocked at the amount. “‘Regarding the Crew’s Share, the Prize Court awards Two Eighths to those spacers aboard the ship Grapple at the time of the Action, namely Able Spacer Jonathon Peters and …’” Alexis had to pause, her throat tightening and eyes burning. “‘… Able Spacer Robert Alan (Deceased), his Heirs, Kin, Debtors and Estate.’” The remainder of the message was a short list showing the exact amounts awarded and she saw that Easely had calculated them correctly, even to the half farthings — the master, Peters, and Alan’s estate were to receive some four hundred pounds each, whilst her own tablet would contain a draft for over two thousand pounds. “Surely this is a mistake and we must tell them so?”
“Ha!” Ames said. “Tell the Prize Court they’ve made a mistake?”
“Mister Carew,” Caruthers said kindly, “you will have ample opportunity in your career to argue with the Prize Court, I’m sure. There is certainly no need to do so to your own detriment.”
“Ha! Too right!” Ames said.
“But sirs,” she began, scanning their faces for some support and finding none. Even Roland, well into another glass of wine and glaring daggers at her, seemed to think the idea of questioning the ruling to be foolish.
“Think, Mister Carew,” Grantham said gently. “If you question their ruling on Grapple, then they’ll likely take another look at Rancor as well.”
“They’d put both of them back through the hopper and no award for months,” Breech agreed.
“And,” Grantham continued, “questioning even Grapple will affect others.” He gestured to the sailing master. “Would you have Mister Gorbett return his award as well? Or Peters?”
Alexis watched the elderly sailing master as he tried to remain impassive, but she could tell that he was already thinking of a small farm and seeing his family again, too old to continue sailing the Dark. And she thought of Peters, young and with a truly once in a lifetime opportunity — four hundred pounds would allow him to start a cozy spacer’s pub on some world or station, surely. “No, sir,” she whispered.
“Then I’m afraid you’re stuck with it,” Grantham told her smiling.
She scanned their faces again, finding only happiness and goodwill, save for Gorbett whose eyes were still wide with shock, and Roland who sat with crossed arms and a clenched jaw.
“This is grand for you, Alexis!” Philip enthused. “Just grand!”
“If it’s awarded to me, sir,” Alexis said, trying once more. “Can I not dispose of it as I will? Disburse it to Merlin’s crew or some such? They’re the ones who truly took Grapple, they deserve the credit.”
Grantham considered for a moment, then shook his head. “No, I think not. Your opinions, Lieutenant Caruthers, Mister Breech?”
Both men shook their heads as well. “No sir, I don’t think they’d take it,” Caruthers said. “Not like that.”
“Too proud,” Breech agreed. “They’d see it as charity and turn up their noses at it. A drink or two in port is one thing, but a share of your own prize money? That’d get their backs up.”
“I’m sorry, Mister Carew. You will have to decide what to do with Alan’s share, though.”
“Me sir?”
“According to the Prize Court, you were his captain at the time he died. It falls to you to see his share disbursed. I checked his records earlier, as I’ve to do something with his share of Rancor, much smaller though it is — the man had no family so far as I can tell, so you must decide what to do with it.”
Alexis was silent for a moment, remembering Alan as he’d lain bleeding on the deck of Grapple. His captain? she wondered. Yes, I suppose I was.
“His mates, sir,” she said quietly.
Grantham nodded. “I’ll speak to the purser and see it done.”
“Thank you, sir.” Alexis paused, considering. “Sirs … you say the men would not take from the Captain’s Shares for pride, but what of the others?”
“What others, Mister Carew?”
Alexis scanned the tablet quickly. “‘Of other Warrant Officers nor Marines nor Mates nor Petty Officers aboard’,” she read aloud. “Those shares for whom no officers were aboard and which reverted to me by chance. Surely the men would agree that those shares are not mine and should devolve to them?”
“Mister Breech?”
The gunner furrowed his brow, considering, then nodded. “That they’d look upon,” he agreed. “Shares that belong to no one in particular, so to speak.”
Grantham looked at her approvingly. “Very good, Mister Carew. I’ll speak to the purser about that as well.”
“Well done, Mister Carew,” Caruthers raised his glass to her.
“Your marines, Lieutenant Ames?” Alexis continued. “The two who were on Grapple, Corsey and Bays? They’re not mentioned.”
“Dead before the action,” Ames answered.
“I could provide something — for their families, perhaps?”
Ames nodded agreement.
“And you gentlemen?” Alexis ventured, meeting their eyes in turn. “Surely you can see that this is a mistake and those other shares should be disbursed amongst yourselves, as Merlin took the prize?”
“Ha! You’ll not sneak that one by me!”
“No,” Caruthers shook his head. “I don’t believe I’ll agree to that, Mister Carew.”
Even the gunner, not a wealthy man by any means, shook his head, smiling. “I’ll take mine in drinks as I tell the story of Grapple, the ship what took herself, in every port.” He laughed. “Like to be more profit in it, too.”
“No, Alexis, it’s yours,” Philip told her. “Though you will pay for the next dinner ashore, won’t you?”
Even Roland simply waved a hand at her while he drained another glass and glared.
“It appears you have no takers,” Grantham observed.
“I …” Alexis shrugged. She looked around the table, everyone but Roland smiling happily at her good fortune. She raised her glass to them. “Thank you, gentlemen.”
“You’re left with three Eighths, Alexis. That’s one thousand, two hundred twenty-nine pounds, seven shillings, ten pence.”
“And half a farthing?”
“Well yes, actually,” Philip agreed.
“You’ll want an agent for that amount, Mister Carew,” Caruthers warned her. “Too much to keep in ship’s accounts. And you’ve your share of Rancor as well, and likely this fat merchantman beside us coming soon.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“And with that, gentlemen, I believe Hermione will soon be close enough for me to go and see what Captain Neals desires of me,” Grantham told them. “Pass the word for my barge, if you will, Mister Caruthers?”
“Aye sir.”
The group stood, Roland a bit unsteadily and filed out of the great cabin into the gunroom, Caruthers calling for a pilot and crew to man the captain’s barge.
Epilogue
“Thank you,” Captain Grantham said, nodding as the other captain’s steward served him a glass of wine. The man he’d come to see was seated across the desk from him, seemingly engrossed in something on his tablet. Grantham sipped the wine and set the glass down on the desk, waiting and idly looking about. The great cabin on Hermione was considerably larger and more well-appointed than his own on Merlin. A privilege of being made Post-Captain and commanding a frigat
e instead of a sloop.
“Fine work, Grantham!” the other man said, setting his tablet aside. “Damn fine work!”
“Thank you, Captain Neals.”
“Just sorry Hermione couldn’t have arrived in time to get a piece of it. Looks like you’ve taken all the profit in the sector.”
Grantham smiled. “I’m sure there’ll be more than enough for you and Hermione, sir. What with the war and all.”
“Surely, surely. Always some damn fool up to something, isn’t there, Grantham? But about this …” He frowned and waved his hand irritably at the tablet. “This girl.”
“Midshipman Carew,” Grantham prompted, wary.
“’Midshipman’,” Neals scoffed. “What on earth were you thinking, Grantham?”
“Sir,” Grantham said stiffly. “Mister Carew acquitted herself quite admirably in three actions. I have nothing but the highest praise for her.”
“Yes, yes, I can see that from your report.” Neals sighed heavily. “Look Grantham, I can understand your position. Alone out here, devilishly undermanned, ship half-empty of officers and crew … I sympathize, I really do. But appointing a girl to your gunroom, Grantham? It simply isn’t done.”
“But it is done, sir. Quite frequently — there are any number of female officers …”
“Back at the Core, Grantham!” Neals interrupted angrily. “All, well, correct and peaceful and such there. This is the Fringe, sir! We’re fighting ships out here, not, not floating dress-shops!”
“Again, Captain Neals, Midshipman Carew was instrumental in our success against the pirates and in bringing in the second prize.”
“All right, Grantham, I understand. Can’t back down once you’ve done something … have to see it through. Look, I’ve a full midshipman’s berth, plenty of good lads in it. I’ll send one right over to Merlin — a good one, mind you, not some dullard. Then you can fix your report and put the girl on the beach where she belongs.”
“I don’t understand, sir.”
“Don’t be dense, Grantham! Once you send this report to Admiralty, it’s done! I understand you don’t want to be short of officers, so I’ll give you a good lad. Then you can excise this girl from your reports and say no more of it!”
“I appreciate the offer of a midshipman, sir, but I simply can’t justify dismissing Carew — she’s done nothing to warrant it, sir!”
“She warrants it by being a female, Grantham!”
“I’ll not dismiss her, Captain Neals, and I’ve already sent my report on to Admiralty. It’s sealed in the dispatches as of this morning.”
“Well, now you’ve stuck us with her, Grantham. I suggest you find some way to undo what you’ve done and get rid of her.”
“Captain Neal, you’re senior to me, yes, but I’ve an independent command. For so long as I’m commander of Merlin, I’ll keep Midshipman Carew aboard and be happy to have her.”
“I see. Very well, Grantham, so be it.” He sighed. “I’ll still send that new midshipman over to you within the hour so you won’t be so terribly undermanned. Dismissed.”
Grantham was surprised by the generosity. “Thank you, sir, that will be quite helpful.” He rose to leave.
“Oh, and, Grantham?” Neals called as the other captain was at the door.
“Yes?”
“When my boat arrives with your new midshipman, send your Mister Carew back here with it.”
“Sir?”
“A simple trade, Captain Grantham, for the good of the service, you understand. Your little sloop will be much better off with an experienced young officer, and your new midshipman will gain far more experience here aboard Hermione.”
“Sir! I do protest!”
“Protest all you like, Grantham, but my report to Admiralty will include this reasoning. Can you deny that this benefits both your ship and a young officer?”
Grantham was silent.
“Or is there some other reason you want this particular midshipman aboard Merlin? A personal reason?”
“Captain Neals, sir, you go too far!”
“Oh, don’t get your back up over it, Grantham. I’m merely pointing out what some might think and you know it.” He turned back to his console in clear dismissal. “Within the hour, captain.”
Alexis Carew #2: Mutineer
Just as Alexis Carew thinks she’s found a place in the Royal Navy, she’s transferred aboard H.M.S. Hermione. Her captain is a tartar, liberal with the cat, who thinks girls have no place aboard ship. The other midshipmen in the berth are no better. The only advice she’s offered is to keep her head down and mouth shut – things Alexis is rarely able to do.
Available February 2015
Preorder now on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Mutineer-Alexis-Carew-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00POAHOXC
Contact J.A. Sutherland
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Planetary / Solar Lagrangian Points
New London Monetary System
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Epilogue
Alexis Carew #2: Mutineer
Contact J.A. Sutherland
Into the Dark (Alexis Carew Book 1) Page 28
