Spies and Subterfuge

by Christopher Hoare

  van Ee and the chaplain had been conversing at the rear of the gathering until Chaplain Jenkins came forward with cap in hand to offer some pleasantry to His Lordship and to her. “I am told that your duty has, however, been accomplished with no little boldness and much actual bravery, My Lord. Is it true that Napoleon himself was tricked into revealing the secrets you had gone ashore to discover?”

  Lord Bond turned with an expression of anger, that Roberta thought better unexpressed. “It was a matter of unexpected good fortune, Chaplain,” she said hurriedly. “Although the careful preparation of the mission by His Lordship over previous visits were the foundations of our success.”

  “I see, My Lady. But were not you and the Dutch lady the two presented to the Emperor? She is not present, I note.”

  Roberta replied before her husband could. “Madame Timmins is aboard Reaper and will return to England with us.” If the churchman had spoken with the intent of ingratiating himself with His Lordship he had sorely missed his mark, and she felt obliged to rescue him.

  “But were you not the lady who the Emperor singled out? That must have required a great deal of courage, My Lady. I suspect few indeed could retain their equanimity with that monster before them.”

  “I believe I was so abashed that my equanimity was not engaged. In actual fact it was the courage and resourcefulness of Madame Timmins that had carried us so far into the encounter. I merely played my part.”

  Lord Bond stepped forward. “It is certainly true that Lady Bond met Napoleon, and was, as a consequence, able to discover information about—certain matters—but I must insist that discussion of this happening should not go beyond this cabin. It would cause Britain much harm if the French should learn the truth of the matter.”

  “Why, certainly, My Lord. I shall never speak of it again.”

  Roberta noticed that van Ee had moved away to hide behind the protection of the Medusa’s Captain as he handed over the navigation charts he had collected while sailing the Westerschelde. She expected her husband would have a serious discussion with him about his tendency to boast of his knowledge before agreeing to send him ashore for his new task.

  She took the opportunity of a lull in the conversation to excuse herself from the gathering. “I must find my faithful Annie to say goodbye. No, do not trouble yourself, Captain Bell. I know my way about Medusa well enough, I shall not readily forget the hospitality shown me when I was aboard.”

  She went to the door but was obliged to stop there as she saw Commander Worthington making his way across the cabin to her. “Did you wish to say something to me, Commander?”

  He reddened as he reached her. “I cannot leave you without giving vent to my true feelings, My Lady. If I had known the truth of your hasty departure from Clydebank earlier I would certainly have been much bolder in my conversations with you.”

  She stared at him. “But you did learn. From whom?”

  “From Mr. Holmes and from Miss Grandin, My Lady. You must have noticed my degree of concern for you when we met aboard this vessel before it took you to sea.”

  “I did note it, but I must speak to you as a married woman. Whatever I thought of your concern for me must now remain unsaid. I do hold you in great esteem, but as a friend and brother engineer only.”

  “I do understand and will abide by your wishes, but if ever you should need my championship in the future you need only ask.”

  With that he turned and walked quickly away and she resumed her search for her maid, though her mind remained very conscious of the Commander’s words and the feelings they had aroused in her.

  With the wind still mostly against them as they sailed for the Thames estuary, the next morning saw Reaper and their escorting steamship barely in sight of a landfall. Roberta and Elise helped Midshipman Willis up to the weather deck for a sight of England.

  “I thanks ye ladies fer yer great aid and comfort. ’Tis a sight of dear England I wants, for I fear I shall not last ’til we drops anchor.”

  “Nonsense, Willis,” Roberta said. “A touch of fever you may have, but help and the hospital at Chatham are not far away.”

  Elise’s expression did not look as sanguine but Roberta felt certain that he would surely recover under the surgeon’s care, even if his gangrenous arm would not survive the treatment. “You must not fret, Willis. I will make sure to learn of your progress in the hospital and shall ensure that you have a posting at sea as soon as your good health returns. Now cast your eyes southwards—I do believe that is a headland on the Isle of Thanet. We shall drop anchor in the Medway before eight bells of the noon watch.”

  “They is very kind words, My Lady, but I do think that my fate may’st be worse if I do not die. What use is there for a one-armed middy?”

  Roberta stared him in the eyes. “Stop that at once, Sir! I will not let you speak in so craven a manner. Not after the way you stood against the soldiers as they readied their pieces. You saved many of us from a worse fate.”

  Elise took him by the arm. “Come, my petit capitain. We will find you a place on the foredeck where you might sit and see all England sail past.”

  “Yes, Madame Elise. I should like that. I do not want to go back to the deathbed awaiting me below.”

  The two of them made a cradle of their arms to support the lad and he managed to shamble along the deck to the forward grating. One of the American sailors came by and helped them lower him gently to sit upon a coil of rope.

  “I must leave you for a moment, Willis,” Roberta said, “but I will be back shortly. In the meantime I must insist that you ponder upon my words; if the navy should be so curmudgeonly as to deny you the career you desire aboard a warship, the Stephenson shipyard will have no qualms about using your experience and courage aboard its new vessels as they are built and must be taken to sea to prove.”

  “I thanks ye, My Lady,” he said, but his voice held no trace of spirit nor of energy.

  Roberta regarded him with a calm expression that she hoped would bolster his courage and turned away before her welling feelings should undo the effect. She walked briskly towards the stern, where she expected to find her husband. Catching sight of the Spiteful keeping station two cables distance astern she wondered how Commander Worthington was feeling this morning, and whether there was some message she could send him that would ease his pain—of course there was none. Why had she been so besotted with the thought of that marquissate that she had failed to see how the simple honesty and friendship of his would have developed! Ah, if only was a fickle friend and might-have-beens were worth a fortune in fool’s gold.

  Lord Bond was the very picture of confidence and self-satisfaction as he took her in his arms and kissed her. “Please, My Lord. Have a care for my modesty, all the crew are watching us.”

  “I shall hide my love for my wife from no man. If truth were known I would have to admit that my desires and affection are devilishly impatient for our arrival in London, where the Tiverton Mansion will afford us our pleasures in complete privacy.”

  Roberta had to turn her face away. “And how long will we reside there? I am anxious, nay, desperate to be on my way to Clydeside where I might begin to turn my new knowledge into the ship Britain needs.”

  “And I should not wish to delay that plan for one hour if I could afford it, but I expect their Lordships of the Admiralty will demand a day or more to hear our report and deliberate upon the task they must approve before you begin it.”

  “That could well be accomplished by mail, My Lord.”

  “Aha! That would never do. Their Lordships must never be seen to leave one thought or injunction unexpressed. We must expect the success of our mission to engage their interest and thoughtfulness at least as much as our meetings in July, and there is more. I must obtain an appointment with Lord Liverpool to inform him what I have set in motion with the Americans in Paris—and all this must be carried out while I await the answer from my father to the letter I left for the postbag aboard Medusa when we left for
Neuzen. He will have received it by now.”

  “Oh, please, do not set so many appointments before me. My feet are desperate to begin the journey to Scotland—is there some way the Marquess could be prevailed upon to visit us there?”

  Lord Bond’s countenance grew a ruddy hue. “Good Lord, no! Please understand at this instant that my father does not stir from his castle for anything—perhaps not even for a summons of the Prince Regent. You must always remember that when he sends you word to attend upon him, he means this very day, or as many hours hence as your immediate departure will set in train.”

  Roberta’s estimate of their anchoring in the Medway was proven too pessimistic; no sooner did they reduce sail in the offing than the Spiteful came alongside and threw them a messenger line for a towing hawser. As a consequence the crew of Reaper had little to do as they were towed into the estuary to their anchorage like a royal barge. The activity aboard increased markedly as soon as the mooring was secured.

  Reaper’s boats were sent overside and more watermen with shalops were called to them. The rather disgruntled van Ee, who had been replaced as Dutch correspondent by his compatriot van Aa, took a place in the longboat with the Americns from the Reaper who had not joined Lord Bond’s expedition. The would go ashore under marine escort. Captain McNab and Elise took to a small rowboat with Mr. Holmes—the latter on his way to Canterbury to visit his mother and the other two to await Roberta and Lord Bond on the next steamer to the city.

  The Nederlander’s crew took a longboat, into which they gently lowered the white and trembling Midshipman Willis to be conveyed to the Naval hospital. Bloggins received a purse from Lord Bond for their accommodation in the port until a new vessel was procured.

  Roberta called down to them as the oars were dipped. “Please visit Willis in the hospital, Mr. Bloggins, and be sure to send me a report of his progress by mail.”

  “Aye aye, M’Lady.”

  His Lordship conversed with Lieutenant Farley before disembarking. “I have penned a note to your Board of Court Martial whenever it should take place, attesting to your complete competence and excellent command of the Reaper on our intrusion into the Westerschelde. The account is incomplete, because the whole of it must be shielded by secrecy, but I will accept your having a private communication to the chairman of the court.”

  “Thank you, My Lord.”

  “I also have another letter addressed to the Admiral, recommending that the Reaper should be accepted into the navy for its excellent sailing qualities and utility—and for you to command her.”

  “Thank you again, My Lord.”

  His Lordship turned to Roberta. “Is that all, my Dear? We had best take ourselves ashore. We should just have time for our official visits with the Naval authorities and for dinner before the evening steamer to London departs.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Home at Last, Maybe

  A church clock struck midnight as the carriage stopped for four weary travellers to alight. Lord Bond climbed the mansion steps and hammered on the door. Nothing happened for several minutes, but then hurrying footsteps sounded inside and a footman peered out of the partly opened door.

  “Hurry up and admit us, Brown. Lord and Lady Bond and two guests. Is Parker up?”

  Another face appeared at the door. “I am here, My Lord. Please come this way to the drawing room while I have the maids prepare your rooms.”

  “Thank you, Parker, but I well remember where the drawing room is.”

  “Yes. Of course, My Lord.”

  The doors were swung wide open for them to enter. “Any of the family here, Parker?”

  “Yes, My Lord. The Lady Silchester and the Lady Elizabeth, but they are still out at a ball. When you knocked, Sir, I supposed it was them in the company of a young gentleman.”

  “Oh, who? Not that insipid Sir Richard Healy again?”

  “I wouldn’t rightly know, My Lord. Ah, here is Mrs. Pollock . . . what accommodations will you require?”

  “First I must introduce you to my wife, Lady Roberta Bond. We will be using my larger room. Captain McNab of the 92nd Foot will have the bachelors’ room on the second floor, and Madame Timmins will have the green bedroom. Is that on, Mrs. Pollock?”

  “Quite in order, My Lord,” the housekeeper answered as she curtseyed to Roberta.

  Parker, the butler, gave a stiff bow. “The very best of greetings, My Lady,” he said as he discreetly glanced at her travel stained garments that she had not changed since escaping from Antwerp.

  The sound of a carriage arriving behind them heralded the arrival of the two ladies, early from their ball. Lord Bond made the revised introduction. “Aunt Caroline, you already know my wife, Lady Roberta Bond.” The Dowager Countess’s eyes went up into her hairline as Roberta dropped into a curtsey. “And this is my sister Elizabeth, Roberta, the devoted horsewoman who I told you of. No prime stallions at the soiree, Lizzy? You’ll have to hurry up, or the new crop of yearlings will be all taken.”

  Lady Elizabeth did not answer her brother, but exchanged curtseys with Roberta. “I suppose I should congratulate you on joining the family, my Dear, but, as you see, I rather think sympathy is more appropriate.” With that she threw off her wrap and ascended the stairs.

  “Yes, it is rather late,” Lord Bond said jovially. “We will take a nightcap in the drawing room until our rooms are ready, Parker. Will you accompany us there, Auntie? We will do our best to assuage your astonishment, but cannot stay up late as we expect an early summons from the Admiralty in the morning.”

  Once seated in the drawing room with drinks in hand, Lady Caroline began a discreet but penetrating investigation of Roberta’s changed relationship. “When did you succumb to my Nephew’s blandishments, my Dear, and more importantly, why?”

  Roberta felt almost too tired and too nervous to offer a coherent answer. The transition from telling interested strangers and friends to facing the questions of family, with a very personal stake in the matter, seemed a hurdle no one might surmount unscathed. “Your nephew has been very persistent, Your Ladyship, and has not been at all put off by my resolution to offer no encouragement, but he outflanked my strategy on ground of his own choosing . . . and here we are.”

  Lord Bond’s whiskey swirled in his glass. “Good Lord, you make it sound like a war, my Dear. Was I that aggressive?”

  Roberta looked him full in the face without answering in words.

  The Countess smiled and studied their stances and expressions. “So this marriage happened during a truce, I surmise. And where did it take place?”

  “We married aboard ship before making a covert entrance into the Low Countries,” Lord Bond said. “It was imperative Roberta see the Emperor’s secret steamships.”

  “That is an atrocious honeymoon to begin a marriage with, Julian. You poor girl—he had better make it up to you.”

  “All in the line of duty, Aunt,” Lord Bond said. “Britain is on the verge of another invasion threat and we two were unable to refuse the call. But I believe we have said enough tonight.”

  The Countess would not be put off and aimed more questions at the weary Roberta. “Where were you married, pray? Off the coast of France? Aboard the frigate Medusa? Heavens! None of your family present? So your father does not know.” She fixed Lord Bond in her sights. “Does my brother know?”

  “Er . . . not yet.”

  Lady Caroline produced a stare that transfixed both of them. “Well. I cannot discuss those family matters with your guests here; that must wait for later. Who are you people?” She smiled cautiously at Elise. “You are French, I gather.”

  “Dutch, My Lady, born in Sumatra in the East Indies and married to an Englishman who manages my late father’s spice business.”

  “I see. I was about to ask if we were still at war with Napoleon, Madame Timmins, but you have completely put my mind at rest. And you, Captain, you are a long way from the mess of the Ninety-Second.”

  “Ah hay’ been assisting Lord Bo
nd’s enterprise in the Low Countries, My Lady.”

  She sat back on her chaise. “What? All of you? You have just this night returned from—?”

  “Yesterday, we escaped the pursuit of French warships in the Schelde aboard a captured American schooner, Aunt. Our whole company was at risk of a visit to the guillotine, but they did not flinch. I am proud of all of them.”

  She stared at Roberta. “What? You too, my Dear?”

  Lord Bond answered. “Yes, Auntie. Roberta and Madame Timmins were closer to being discovered than the rest. I would be very much in your debt if you did not speak further of that. I do not want my father hearing such things until we have had a chance to see him in person.”

  She turned her gaze on Roberta. “I will be as discreet as possible, but you and I will have a lot to speak of while my nephew is away at the Admiralty. It will be essential that we have thoroughly prepared our battle plan for the Marquess.”

  Roberta shook her head. “I’m afraid that I too will be required at the Admiralty in the morning, Lady Caroline. We must talk again when I return.”

  “Oh yes, you did tell me you were an inventor, like your father. How to tell my brother? This is more complicated all the time.”

  At that moment the butler appeared to inform them that the rooms were ready and everyone ascended the staircase to find their beds.

  Lord Bond did not want to wait for his wife to dress in the morning, but decided to go to breakfast without her. “Do not be long,” he said as he stood at the door. “We have some plans to make before everyone departs on their own errands.”

  “I will not be long, Husband, I merely intend to cover myself with one of my French boudoir gowns while I await the shipping trunk to arrive from the Stephenson suite in St James’s Square.”

  “But you intend to bathe?”

  “Very quickly, My Lord, as soon as the maids bring my hot water.”