Daniel gave Sir Nicholas the details of the events up until point he was set adrift in the rowing boat, the governor making pages of diligent notes.
Sir Nicholas handed him a cup of tea. “Tell me, Captain Horton, what happened between being set adrift and this morning?”
“It irks me to inform you that I have been enduring the so-called hospitality of Captain Merric.”
“I see.” Sir Nicholas was no friend to pirates. “And he left you unharmed?”
“As you can imagine, time aboard a pirate ship is not easy for any naval officer, but from the little Merric said, it appears Neechals has an enemy in Merric also. While I could not say I enjoyed my stay on the Opal, they fed and clothed me, and when it suited them returned me to land.” The story was well rehearsed, he and Edward had concocted it together and had gone to great pains to make sure it sounded plausible without over burdening it with details that could easily cause doubt.
“Of all the rogues that sail these waters, if you are to fall into the hands of one of them, Merric is your best chance. Calico Jack would’ve thrown you back overboard once he knew who you were, while others would have defiled you first.”
“Do not misunderstand me, Merric is a pirate and deserves to be treated as one, but I have not suffered at his hands.” He chuckled dryly. “Although he may wish to do me harm when he realises the corrections to the charts he forced me to do will not help his ship.”
Another piece of their story delivered in case it was to get back to the Admiralty of Daniel’s assistance, and a possible ruse for Captain Merric to storm any boat Daniel might happen to be on when he returned to the Caribbean.
“That will serve him right for holding one of His Majesty’s men prisoner.”
Daniel leaned forwards in his chair. “However, that is not important now. It is Neechals, Gilman, and Jones who are the ones I need to see punished.”
“That is clear. The Admiralty must be informed as soon as possible. You are in luck that HMS Sussex is returning to Portsmouth on the morrow. You can speak to Captain Blake this afternoon, and I am sure he could use a man of your standing on his crew. Better to use your skills than have you idle the weeks away.”
Daniel was relieved that he would not need to waste more precious time. “Thank you, Sir Nicholas.”
“In the meantime, you look like you need to sleep. One of the servants will show you to a room. I’ll have you woken to speak to Blake in a few hours.”
Sleep would do wonders. The row to shore, the interview with Sir Nicholas, and the whole damn situation had left him drained. He didn’t argue at the prospect of sleep, wanting to lose himself for a few hours and get some rest. He followed a servant to a sparse guest room but didn’t care for the furnishings apart from the bed. He pulled off his boots and stripped down to his shirt and drawers and collapsed onto the mattress. Before he set sail, he would get word to Edward via the contact he had been given in Port Royal, but for now he would have to content himself with the memories of the last week until he could see Edward again.
Chapter Sixteen
Daniel could not have asked for a better captain on the return voyage to England. Blake was a pragmatic man who saw no need for an officer of Daniel’s calibre not to be put to work for six weeks. His reputation for navigation and mapmaking meant Daniel filled the role of lieutenant in all but name and commanded respect from the rest of the crew, who took their lead from how Blake had treated him.
Six weeks at sea was still a long time, and he was glad to see shore again. HMS Sussex made anchor in Portsmouth harbour, alongside several other ships, one of which was Expedience. The chill wind of early March cut through him; the icy breeze made him long to be back in the warmth of the Caribbean.
Blake clapped Daniel on the shoulder as he waited for the rowing boat to get to the dockyard. “It was a pleasure sailing with you, Captain Horton. I wish you Godspeed in your endeavours to bring Neechals to justice.”
Daniel had a letter from Sir Nicholas to give to Admiral Wager. With luck the admiral would be in Portsmouth and not at one of the London Admiralty buildings, where he spent a substantial proportion of his time. “All being well, I think within a few hours Expedience will be needing a new crew.”
“She needs her rightful captain back at the helm.”
Daniel stood a little taller. It was all very good holding the rank of captain, but without a ship to command it was pointless. Getting his ship back meant he could return to the Caribbean, and Edward, as soon as possible, which was even more important.
The dockyard bustled with activity. Even given the number of ships in the harbour, the level of activity took Daniel by surprise. Daniel stepped ashore for the first time in six weeks. It would take some adjusting to being on solid ground again. He shrugged off the strange sensation as he hurried across the dockyard to the large house by the chapel which Sir Charles used as a base while in Portsmouth. He was in luck, Sir Charles was at the dockyard, overseeing discussions about repairs to one of the basins, which explained the level of activity around him. A guard delivered his letter, and he endured a painful twenty minutes’ wait before he was called in to see the First Lord of the Admiralty.
Sir Charles was a stout man in his early sixties, with a build that spoke of large dinners and lots of port. His powdered wig and fine clothes would not have been suitable for seafaring, but he doubted Sir Charles had been to sea for some time.
“Interesting reading, Captain Horton,” said Sir Charles, setting down the letter on his large desk. He gave Daniel no direction to sit.
“Neechals, Gilman, and Jones are traitors to His Majesty. They have committed heinous crimes that should be punished under the full weight of the law.”
“You will receive no argument from me.” Sir Charles turned to his secretary, handing him the letter. “Have this delivered to the commander of the guard and have him act on my direct order to arrest the senior officers listed within. They are to be detained immediately but without inciting a reaction from the rest of Expedience’s crew. Have a message sent to the Navy Board that I will be presiding over a trial of the ringleaders of a mutiny as soon as possible and it will delay my return to London.”
Justice would be swift. Daniel knew the navy would not dally. Charges of this stature needed to be handled fast to prevent the lower ranks getting any idea that disobedience would be tolerated. “Thank you for taking action, my lord.”
“I would not be upholding my duty if I were not to do so. Each member of Expedience’s crew will be court-marshalled and will need to account for their actions, so if you have any evidence of coercion I need to know it. I require a written, signed statement from you, and then I am sure you will make haste to send word to Baron Horton. He will be happy to see the reports of his son’s death were incorrect.”
“I will send a message to my father immediately. He will understand that I am needed here to ensure justice prevails.”
“I wish it were the case that you could assure him in person, but that will not be possible. You will be needed at the trial. For now you may take rooms on Long Row.”
“Of course, my lord. Then there is the matter of Expedience.”
“That can, and must, wait.”
Daniel had not expected to be dismissed so easily. He was a captain not a deckhand. “But Expedience needs her captain. I have already been away over two months, I should not extend that further.”
Sir Charles fixed him with a sharp look. “I am not yet decided if it would be wise for you to retake command of Expedience. There is much history to be forgotten.”
“I am keen to return to the Caribbean to continue my duties,” Daniel said, to make sure Sir Charles understood his intent.
“No one is doubting your commitment to duty. On the contrary, I have heard good things about you, but we must ensure your talents are used for the best purpose. You may have to accept that is not necessarily what you have done before.”
Daniel knew if he allowed this to be pushed asid
e it would be even more difficult to get a command. “I think I am best serving as captain of Expedience. And if not her, another ship.”
“For now, Captain Horton, we must concentrate on ensuring that Neechals and the other men are dealt with. Only then will we discuss your future prospects with the Royal Navy.”
“But, sir—”
“It is not negotiable. You are dismissed, Captain.”
Daniel did not want to make matters worse. Debating with Sir Charles would not get him his command back. The admiral was a stubborn man, one who was not used to being argued with, and now Daniel had brought evidence for something Sir Charles had previously discounted.
At this point Daniel didn’t have a choice. At least Sir Charles had taken action over Neechals, but for the rest he would have to wait. All that were left of his worldly goods were in a small sack, and he swung it over his shoulder as he was escorted to rooms on Long Row. He had enough money, thanks to Edward’s insistence, and he would send out for supper from one of the local inns that thrived on the business from the port. He was in no mood for company, but at least the rooms were moderately comfortable, having been designed to house officers. First things first, he need to write his statement, then he would write a letter, supposedly to a friend in Port Royal.
The port was awash with chatter about the upcoming trial. Sir Charles had made good on his word—Neechals, Gilman, and Jones had been apprehended while in the town, away from Expedience, but the remaining crew were under lockdown, a heavily armed presence preventing anyone from setting foot ashore, and Expedience’s refitting work had been put on hold. The trial had been hastily arranged; less than two days after Daniel had arrived in Portsmouth he found himself in a room which was acting as a makeshift court. He’d thought they might make use of the Magistrate’s Court, but Daniel realized that this was to be a closed trial with as few people as possible involved. Neechals, Gilman, and Jones stood shackled behind a bench. Whoever had caught them hadn’t spared their punches, as each man sported a shiny bruise or cut on their face. Neechals, Daniel was pleased to see, had both a black eye and a split lip.
The court had only a few others in attendance: a clerk making notes, four armed guards, and Sir Charles and his secretary. Sir Charles sat on a huge throne-like chair behind a desk that had been placed on a dais so he could peer down at the others. Daniel stood to his left, ready to give evidence, and he thought the trial would not last much longer.
“Captain Horton,” began Sir Charles, “you have already provided the court with your statement. I personally find it a complete account—the court commends you for it. The only question I have is do you have anything to add?”
He’d been thorough, detailing everything he could remember, including the actions of the traitors in the week preceding him being set adrift. It was a farce that he was even standing here, but a fair trial had to be seen to be given. “Only that these men have brought dishonour to His Majesty’s navy and should be punished to the full extent of the law.”
Neechals hissed. Daniel thought he would say something or try to jump over the bench, but a guard’s swift musket stump to the small of his back stopped anything before it could start.
Sir Charles leaned forwards, glowering at the prisoners. “I have served the Crown for over thirty years and seldom have I seen such malice and disregard for how proper naval officers should behave. You have been found guilty of the act of mutiny. You will be taken from this place, and at dawn, be hung from the neck until you are dead, and may the Lord have mercy upon thy souls.”
Daniel expected some sort of reaction, but Neechals looked straight ahead defiantly, and the other two seemed resigned to their fate. They were marched from the room by an armed guard.
Daniel couldn’t bring himself to feel sorry for these men. They had wanted him dead and instead they would pay for that with their lives. However, he was relieved that the trial was over. Now all he had to do was get his ship back.
Sir Charles got to his feet. “This session is closed.” He turned to Daniel. “A moment in my study, Captain Horton, if you have the time.”
Sir Charles did not wait for an answer, and Daniel hurried after him, hopeful that he may have received news from the Admiralty regarding his position.
Once behind the closed door, Sir Charles said, “You have executed your duty in the manner fitting of your rank, and I commend your dedication.”
“Thank you, sir. I hope to continue to do so.”
“That is why I wish to speak with you. For the time being you are to remain on land. The Navy Board will meet on my return and in the coming weeks send for you to attend the offices in London.”
Daniel did not like the sound of that one bit. “But Expedience is here.”
“That is neither here nor there. Return to Himmel Hall, Captain. Spend some time with your family and be ready to attend us when you are called.”
“Sir, please. I am better at sea.”
“That may be the case. But maybe not as captain.” Sir Charles rubbed at his chin. “You are not being dismissed. But as I said before, a man who lost command once needs to be carefully considered in case it were to happen again.”
Daniel had feared this outcome, but it was not over yet. “I will be at Himmel Hall, waiting your message, as your most obedient servant.”
Sir Charles dismissed him. There was little Daniel could do but wait—his fate was in the hands of others, which he hated with a passion. Now he would need to be patient, push his frustration to one side, and concentrate on finding a solution. He intended to hire a carriage to travel to his father’s property in Buckinghamshire. Within a day or so, he would be back with his family, but farther from Edward than ever before.
Chapter Seventeen
Himmel Hall was not overlarge compared to some homes of the British nobility, but to Daniel, who had spent a lot of time in cramped naval quarters, his childhood home felt as big as any royal palace whenever he returned. It had taken almost a full two days to travel from Portsmouth to Buckinghamshire, the weather making the going slow. A mild pang of nostalgia hit him as the carriage trundled up the approach to the hall, but recollections of his pleasant childhood couldn’t compete with his current melancholy.
He’d sent word to his father that he had arrived in England and was very much alive, so at least they would be expecting him. Arthur Horton’s reply had been in the manner of his usual buoyant self, declaring his joy of Daniel’s safe return and how he must come home as soon as he could. Home. A word he hadn’t had much call for in recent years had a different connotation. White beaches, blue skies, hypnotic waves, and a certain pirate were the hallmark of what home meant to him now, not the green rolling landscape of Buckinghamshire.
Servants hurried out to meet his carriage, and as he disembarked his father trotted down the steps. “Daniel, my boy! Thank the Lord for your safe return.”
He somewhat awkwardly accepted the embrace from his father, who had always been more demonstrative than most men he’d known, with the exception of Edward. “Here I am in the flesh.”
“Excellent, excellent.” Arthur pulled back and stared at Daniel with unbridled joy. “I thought you had gone for good. Your stepmother and I were beside ourselves with grief.”
His mother had died a few years before, and when his father had remarried a widow, Daniel had expected the worse, but he’d been surprised to find himself liking Lady Helena and agreeing with Arthur’s choice. “As you can see, it was all a dreadful mistake.”
“Hmm, I doubt it is that simple. Come on inside, you can tell me all about this sordid tale.”
Daniel didn’t want to recount the story again, but he could hardly begrudge his own father. “Adventures on the high seas are not as exciting as some would make out.”
They made their way inside.
“I’m sure you’ll be bored witless here while you are on leave,” said Arthur. “But there is a dance in two days’ time—in your honour, no less.”
“But you d
id not even know I was alive until week ago. How could you have possibly arranged a dance in my honour?” The thought horrified him.
He did not like to be the centre of attention and loathed dancing but knew the hall was often full of guests. His father loved to entertain, and his stepmother prided herself on being the perfect hostess.
“If a man cannot arrange a small celebration to mark his son is alive, then he has no business calling himself a father.”
Daniel groaned. “I would much prefer to spend some time in solitude and quiet reflection. I have had a somewhat trying time of late.”
“Nonsense.”
Daniel followed Arthur into the library, one of his favourite rooms in the house. A wave of childhood memories of long hours spent in here during the rainy afternoons washed over him. Arthur had built up a fine assortment of books, with guests often bringing new volumes as gifts when they visited; by the look of the bulging shelves, the collection had grown during Daniel’s travels.
Arthur poured two glasses of hock from a decanter and handed one to Daniel. “Now I want to hear all about what happened.”
“I explained most of it in my letter.”
“Come now, you were set adrift on the high seas, captured by pirates, and you wrote all but five lines about it.” Arthur leaned forwards in his seat. “I cannot imagine such a fantastic adventure.”
“You make it sound like one of the stories you collect… I thought you would be more concerned at my Lazarus moment.” Daniel sat in his favourite chair by the fireplace, trying not to sulk. He was a captain not a petulant child, but it galled somewhat that his father wanted to be entertained.
Arthur huffed and deflated. “You think I am not relieved that you are alive?”
“Of course not.” He felt like swine in implying as much, but his father’s ebullience could be trying at times. He’d had a long journey, was heartsick, and wanted to hide away and lick his wounds.
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