The Threat in the Baltic (The Merriman Chronicles Book 5)

by Roger Burnage

  They crossed to the window and saw a magnificent view of the lake. Mr Gordon coughed quietly and said “Lady Merriman and Sir, this was Lady Stevenage's room, her favourite. Sir William sent word in advance that you were to have these rooms when you arrived. They have been kept clean and tidy but nobody else has slept here since she died so many years ago. The Housekeeper Miss Trimshaw has seen to it that a fire has been lit on cold and damp days”.

  “Thank you Mr Gordon, have the maid and valet sent in right away with the hot water. We shall have our clothes unpacked and wash and change and then look in on Sir William if he can receive visitors” said Helen”.

  “Very good Lady Helen, if you will go down to the small dining room when you are ready. A meal will have been made ready for you and Mr Phillips will join you and let you know if Sir William is able to see you”.

  Later, they ate a modest but delicious meal with two bewigged footmen serving the food and wine. Then Mr Phillips appeared and told them that His Lordship was sleeping and would they wait until tomorrow to see him. They spent the next two hours walking round the magnificent rooms on the ground floor and then went up to find the nursery to find the two children and Annie, after which, tired out, they went to bed.

  Chapter 25 - Death of Lord Stevenage

  They slept well to be roused by a knock on the door and the maid entering carrying a tray of tea which she put down on a small table, curtseyed and then drew the curtains to revealing bright sunlight and a blue sky above. They took great care to dress well with the valet and maid helping, indeed the valet shaved Merriman and told him that they would find breakfast ready in the small dining room. Neither of them felt like eating much and as soon as they finished Phillips, his Lordship's valet told them that his master was weaker and wanted to see them right away.

  When they entered the bedroom they found Sir William lying back and supported by a mound of pillows. Phillips, Mr Gordon and a doctor were standing by the bed but Sir William waved them away and held out his hands to beckon Merriman and his wife to join him, he smiled weakly and drew them nearer to him. “James…….. James and Helen, I know I'm dying but don't grieve for me. You are my only family now and I have often thought of you James as the son I lost so long ago. And Helen, your beauty has made an old man very happy.

  Admiral Edwards and I have done all we can for you James, you are now a knight of the realm, richly deserved and I am sure you will climb higher as the years pass. And now I would like to see my young Godson for the last time and little Mary Ann too. Will you fetch them to me please Helen? I think they may be outside the door with Annie”. The children were brought in and both looked at him with big round eyes as he took a hand of each of them and said “God bless you both my dears”.

  His eyes closed and Helen told Annie to take the children out of the room. He opened his eyes again and whispered “I enjoyed that, it was as though they were my own..................” His eyes closed for the last time and it was all over. Helen burst into tears and Merriman himself was not unaffected. The doctor felt for a pulse but shook his head and drew the sheet over the dead man's face. Poor Phillips stood there with tears running down his face and Gordon's eyes were suspiciously moist and Helen was sobbing quietly.

  “Come my Dear” said Merriman, “We can do nothing for him now”. He beckoned to both Phillips and Gordon to go with them and whispered to Gordon that he must speak to the house staff right away. “They are all waiting in the hall Sir James. They all know what has happened and you can speak to them from the balcony overlooking the hall”.

  In the hall below they saw housemaids, footmen, gardeners and men from the stables, all bareheaded and many of the women sobbing quietly into their aprons. Merriman stood there for a few moments then said with a catch in his voice “I'm sure that you all know that Sir William has died. He was a fine man and a gentleman and he will be sadly missed both by us all here and by many of his friends and colleagues in London. What you may not know is that His Lordship left all his property to me and so now this fine hall and all in it is mine. But I must assure you that there will be no changes made and you all can remain here. My wife and I shall stay for the funeral but then we shall have to leave, but we shall be back. I am certain that you will look after everything as you would if His Lordship was still with us. Thank you all”.

  The funeral took place on a bright sunny morning a week later and as the cortege left the great house on its way to the church they were surprised at the number of country folk waiting there with all the house staff. As they walked into the church the ever present Gordon whispered in Merriman's ear, “Everyone loved him Sir James, you don't know them but there are people here from all over the estate and the village to pay their respects”.

  Back at the house Merriman called Mr Gordon into the small dining room and motioned to him to shut the door. “Mr Gordon, as you know my wife and I must leave. I am a serving sea officer and must go to the Admiralty as soon as I can and Lady Helen and the children will go home. But we shall be back and meanwhile I leave the estate and house in the care of yourself, Miss Trimshaw the housekeeper and the estate bailiffs. I cannot say for certain how long it will be before we are back again but His Lordship assured me that all of you are well provided for in his will and should stay here for the foreseeable future”.

  “Thank you Sir James, rest assured, your house will be well cared for. I'm sure that nobody would wish to leave”.

  “Very good Mr Gordon, we shall leave at first light in the morning and we shall have to use two of the carriages, the big one to carry my wife and our children and their nurse and all the luggage. See to all of that if you will Mr Gordon. After they are home the coachman and footmen can return home if they wish. I will need a small carriage to take me to London” Merriman offered his hand and shook hands with the man who said “Thank you Sir James, I will arrange everything”.

  The following morning as they prepared to leave they found the entire staff waiting for them on the steps. The men bowed and the women curtseyed and Mr Gordon stepped forward and said “We wish you a safe journey Sir and Godspeed”.

  The staff stood there waving until the carriages disappeared up the long drive.

  Chapter 26 - New orders to go to South America

  Arriving in London before midday Merriman had himself taken to Lord Stevenage's town house to refresh himself before going to the Admiralty. As he climbed the steps to the front door he had to remind himself that it was his house now. The coachman took the carriage round to the mews to send Merriman's luggage in by the back door. The front door was opened by the same livery clad footman and Merriman asked him to assemble all the staff in the hall while he waited in the biggest room.

  The same footman entered and told him that the staff were in the hall and waiting for him. Merriman looked round them all, some he had seen the last time he was at the house but there were several he had not seen including an elderly man dressed in sombre black, who introduced himself as Lord Stevenage's head servant Garfield. “I apologise for not being here the last time you came Sir James, but His Lordship sent me on several errands, to the Treasury and the Palace and to the Admiralty. I had to wait for the people his Lordship had given me messages for and I didn't manage to get back here until after you all left Sir”.

  “Very well Mr Garfield. Now I'll speak to the people”. He climbed up three steps of the fine staircase so that all could see him and began. “I don't know if word has reached you yet but I have to tell you that Sir William is dead”. He paused as the news was received by the staff, some of the women burst into tears and all looked shocked. “I am sorry to have to bring you the sad news but I was among those at his bedside as he died, peacefully and happy. The funeral was two days ago. I expect that you will all be wondering what is going to happen to you now but I must tell you that Sir William left this house and his country estate to me in his will. I am a serving sea officer and will be away for long periods of time so I do not intend to make any changes here. I t
rust that you will all care for this house as you were doing when His Lordship was alive. Mr Garfield, I leave it in your hands. Now I have to go to the Admiralty so I must freshen up and change”.

  “Thank you Sir James, we shall look after everything for you. Your luggage has been sent up to the rooms you occupied last time you were here and I will send up some hot water immediately”.

  Half an hour later, dressed in his best uniform, he came downstairs to find Mr Garfield and the maids and footmen waiting for him. “I have taken the liberty of having your carriage brought round Sir James, it is waiting outside”. Thank you, I don't know what time I shall be back but that depends on orders I will hear at the Admiralty”.

  “Yes Sir, the people here asked me to wish you well wherever the Navy sends you”. Touched, Merriman looked round at them, smiled and as the footman opened the door they all bowed or curtseyed to him.

  At the Admiralty he asked the same harried Lieutenant to tell Admiral Sir David Edwards that he was here “I'm sorry Sir but I can't, Sir David died last week, His place has been taken by Admiral Sir Henry Goodwin, Sir. We have been expecting you since Sir Laurence Grahame told us last week that you would be here soon. Please follow me Sir James, the Admiral told me to bring you in as soon as you arrived”.

  The Lieutenant escorted him to a room he had not been in before and as he was ushered in a rather portly man stood and extended his hand. “Glad to meet you Captain, both Lord Stevenage and Sir Laurence Grahame have brought me up to date with your career. You have been very successful I hear. And how is Lord Stevenage, I heard he was ill?”

  “He died last week Sir Henry, I was there and the funeral was two days ago”.

  “I feared that might be the case Captain, Sir Laurence told me that he did not think that he would see His Lordship again. A fine gentleman who served his country well, he will be missed I'm sure. Now then, sit down Captain, I sent word to Sir Laurence that you had arrived so he will join us soon. I understand that my predecessor told you that you might be going to Malta on behalf of the Treasury, but that has all changed I believe. You will be going elsewhere, again under orders of the Treasury people as before”, he broke off as a knock sounded on the door and the Lieutenant stuck his head in and said “Sir Laurence is here Sir”. “Well bring him in man, don't shilly-shally” roared the Admiral. Sir Laurence duly entered and strode straight to Merriman, “It's good to see you again James. Word reached me about the loss of Sir William, I'm so sorry I couldn't be there. You were there I know, was his end peaceful?”

  “Yes Laurence it was, he died quietly and happy, with my family and his valet Phillips and Mr Gordon at his bedside”. “Good, I know he thought of you almost as his son James and I'm glad you were there”. He turned to the Admiral “I apologise Sir Henry, James and I have been through many adventures together but reminiscences must wait for another time, we must tell him what his next adventure will be. May I continue Sir?”

  The Admiral nodded and so he continued, “You will remember Captain that you were told that you would be sent to the Mediterranean, Malta in particular, but that has changed. The Admiralty sent another ship and one of my agents there to find out what we wanted you to find out. You have something much more important to do. You are to go to the east coast of South America with another of the Treasury agents, one George Humphries. Mr Humphries speaks both Spanish and French fluently, and Portuguese also. He is an excellent man in every way; I have every confidence that you will find him an agreeable companion. Perhaps Admiral you will tell the Captain the naval details?”

  “Thank you Sir, Captain, as you have been told, you are off to South America but not alone. That French Corvette that you captured has finally been made ready for sea again. It had to wait a long time while several bigger ships were repaired for the Channel fleet which was more urgent. That ship, which has been renamed rather unimaginatively as The Eagle, is now to be with us together with another ship, a brig, The Mayfly, Lieutenant Stewart in command. Admiral Edwards was most insistent that this voyage should wait for you to return and I know that all three ships are fully manned, stored and provisioned for a long voyage. It only remains to appoint a captain for The Eagle. Admiral Edwards suggested that your First Lieutenant Mr Andrews should be that man, do you agree?”

  “Indeed Sir, I can think of no one better. He is more than ready for that appointment”.

  “We thought you would say that, so it will be your pleasant duty to give him these orders and his new epaulette down in Portsmouth. Another officer is waiting in Portsmouth to join your ship and Mr Humphries is already there. Here are the orders for Captain Stewart and in the interest of haste you are authorised to go by poste-chaise”

  “Thank you Sir Henry, I must go to Sir William's house in town, which is mine now, to collect my cases and baggage and then I shall be off, I have a carriage waiting outside ”.

  “I shall go with you to the house James”, said the Treasury man, “I have much more to tell you about the situation in South America”. And so, after intense discussions and a fine meal they went their separate ways.

  Chapter 27 - Merriman sails for Brazil

  Forty eight hours later after he reported into the Port Admiral's offices, the poste-chaise deposited Merriman and his baggage at the same quayside he knew so well. He gave the poste-boy a handsome tip and then looked at the various boatmen clamouring for his attention. He picked the same man who had taken him off previously and quickly the luggage was placed aboard the boat with Merriman sitting in the stern.

  “The Lord Stevenage is it sir”, asked the boatman. At Merriman's nod he said “I remember Sir, but she's not moored where she were, she's further out” After a hard pull the boat neared his ship and in response to a loud hail Merriman turned back the shoulder of his boatcloak to reveal one of his epaulettes and the boatman roared out “Lord Stevenage” leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that it was the Captain coming aboard. Merriman gave the man a good tip on top of his price and climbed aboard to all the expected ceremony of whistles and saluting marines.

  All the officers were gathered there to greet him and Lieutenant Andrews said “Welcome back Sir” to the accompanying greetings of the rest of them. “It is good to be back David, Gentlemen. As soon as my bags are aboard I will wash and change and then call you all down to my cabin”. His servant Peters quickly appeared with hot water and began to unpack Merriman's belongings. “Not the best uniform this time Peters, my normal sea-going rig will do so you can clean it up in case I have to go to see the Admiral tomorrow”.

  Washed and changed, he passed the word via the marine sentry that all officers should join him in the great cabin. When they were all settled he said “I know without asking that the ship is ready for sea in all respects and I have some news for you at last. We are not going to the Mediterranean as you may have hoped but to South America”. “Where all those dark eyed senoritas live Sir” exclaimed Lieutenant Shrigley.

  “What do you know about dark eyed senoritas Alfred, you've never been there?”

  “No Sir, but one hears stories from old seamen”.

  “I'm sure you do” said Merriman dryly, calling for Peters to bring some wine. The man had been expecting the call and was there immediately with the bottles and with Tomkins carrying a tray of glasses. When all were served Merriman said “I also have some sad news Gentlemen, Lord Stevenage after whom this ship is named, died last week. Some of you, those who were at my wedding will remember him I'm sure. He was a fine gentleman so please join me in a toast to his memory”. They all rose and Merriman lifted his glass and said “To Sir William D'Ablay, Lord Stevenage”. They all responded “to Lord Stevenage”, drained their glasses and then sat down.

  “As a result of his death Mr Grahame whom you will all remember, has been appointed to take his place at the Treasury so he will not be coming with us this time. Instead we are to have another man instead, a Mr Humphries and I expect that you all will make him welcome. He will take Mr Grahame's cabin. I must a
lso tell you that Mr Grahame is now Sir Laurence Grahame and I am now Sir James Merriman, we went to the palace........................” his voice was drowned out by the cheers and applause that broke out at his announcement.

  “Congratulations Sir, well deserved I know” said Andrews, “Now where is your man Peters? More wine, we must drink a toast to Sir James”. When the noise and excitement had died down Merriman said “Thank you Gentlemen. Now some more news for you, the corvette we captured so long ago as we came back from India, The Eagle will be coming with us as will the brig The Mayfly, Lieutenant Stewart in command. I am to be the senior officer of the little flotilla, Commodore if you will, and we shall set sail as soon as Mr Humphries and another person come aboard”.

  “But Sir, The Eagle hasn't got a captain yet” said Lieutenant Merryweather.

  “Oh most remiss of me Gentlemen, she does have a new .Captain”, Merriman paused and took a folder off his desk “The new Captain is ….” He paused ….” Post Captain Andrews”. Again the cabin erupted in cheers and loud congratulations while Andrews sat there with a bemused expression on his face.

  “Come Sir, have you nothing to say” shouted Lieutenant Shrigley. “Give him time Gentlemen” said Merriman, waving a new epaulette in front of him. Andrews stood up slowly, holding the new epaulette, cleared his throat and said in the sudden silence “Thank you all for your congratulations, did you have anything to do with this Sir?”

  “Indeed I did David, when Admiral Edwards asked me if I could recommend anyone for the post I told him I could think of nobody better, you have my congratulations too, and it is well deserved”.

  “Put it on Sir, put it on” shouted a midshipman, pointing to the shiny new epaulette. Again all joined in “Put it on, put it on, put it on” they chanted and cheered when Andrews took off his coat to fix the epaulette and then put his coat back on.