The Perils of Command (28 page)

‘I was Captain Barclay’s servant,’ the brute complained, obviously demanding superior treatment to the rest of the crew.

‘Well you’re not now,’ Pearce replied, harshly. ‘So follow the others.’

The man was known to him too, and not fondly, for his time aboard
Brilliant
. That also applied to Cornelius Gherson who had to stop and stare when he saw who it was supervising the loading, only moving when given a sharp order to do so or be left behind. He assumed airs even more grating than Devenow.

‘Is Mrs Barclay to be freed as well?’

‘What business is that of yours?’

‘I need to speak with her on some very important matters.’

‘I will pass on the message but from what I recall I doubt she’ll want to speak with you.’

Gherson produced a sly grin. ‘Then she won’t find out what I know.’

‘Which is?’

‘For her ears, Pearce, not yours.’

‘Mr Loach, put this piece of vermin in the cable tier so he may learn some manners regarding the correct way to address an officer.’

‘Damn you, Pearce.’

‘Belay that, have your bosun make up a cat o’ nine tails, and a good skin-stripping one at that.’

Gherson positively scooted up the gangway, nearly the last to go aboard, with Pearce yelling after him that he should keep quiet regarding anything he knew about the late captain; really he meant the man’s widow and himself.

When Emily said ‘circumspect’ she meant it. If John Pearce was invited to enter the cabin it was always with Loach and getting her alone was near impossible. But a Mediterranean evening sunset virtually demanded a late promenade and finally he was able to converse with her in private on the poop, right by the taffrail and facing out to sea, though not at what could be called an intimate distance and in carefully controlled voices.

‘You must see, John, why such behaviour as I have demonstrated must be maintained.’

‘Forgive me if I do not,’ he growled.

‘Being a widow imposes on me certain standards of behaviour.’

‘Is that what I am being obliged to suffer? And what standards do you mean?’

The explanation was lengthy and depressing to the man listening. She would, as soon as she could, be obliged to wear black, the right clothing for her situation. Her husband’s death had wiped clean a slate that had caused her no end of
worry but now she could return to England and her family without a stain on her reputation, there to bear her child and look forward to the day they could be together.

‘Which is when?’

‘I feel at least a year is required before I could be seen to be thinking of a second marriage.’

‘A year!’

‘And prior to any nuptials there would need to be a decent period of courtship.’

‘Emily!’

‘Keep your voice down, John.’ Her voice softened and he could see even in her profile an understanding smile. ‘Naturally, if a discreet chance to be together presents itself, we will take it, but it is bound to be a rare event.’

‘I cannot believe that such a crumb is all I can look forward to.’

‘What would you have me do, John, lose one husband and immediately betroth myself to another?’

‘What I would have you do is forget Frome and your family and come and live with me well away from fear of their prejudices. I feel I have the right to remind you that you are carrying my child, which, in a year plus your courtship period will be damn near talking.’

‘Do you have to use such language?’

‘I do.’

‘I did not wish to allude to this so soon, but the child will have to be born a Barclay, I’m afraid. To christen it otherwise would be like flying an adulterous flag.’

‘And if I don’t want my son or daughter christened?’

‘How can you think of such a thing? No, the child will be named Barclay until a time we are wed and he or she can take
your name. I will, of course, consult with you over what the Christian names will be.’

‘For which I heartily thank you.’

‘I cannot see you are making this easy for me,’ Emily protested, aware of the irony in his tone. ‘But what I propose is for the best. For my reputation and your own as well as the future of our unborn child. Do you want the world to know how our offspring was conceived?’

‘I don’t care what the world knows.’

‘Well I do, and I regard it as somewhat selfish if you seek to burden our child with a stigma before it is even born.’ The voice softened. ‘Our future happiness may be delayed, John, but it will be comfortable. In the cabin is a chest containing my husband’s papers and I must tell you I see no testament.’

‘Which means?’

‘That lacking one somewhere else I am going to be left in very comfortable circumstances and that, of course, will, when we are wed, include you. We shall have a home and all the creature comforts we require without worrying about money.’

‘Ralph Barclay’s money, Emily.’

‘And if it’s mine now? We will have the means to be happy.’

Emily enthused then, about the kind of house they would live in, a country one close to her family, people he would come to love as much as she. And there would be more children to grow and surround their perfect life. He could give up the navy and live the life of a country gentlemen, while she could become a lady the locality would hold in respect.

The sun was going down, turning the sky orange and in her reverie of their shared future Emily did not see his
expression. The picture she painted was not being received with unalloyed joy by a lover who was being told he would be required to wait a very long time before they could enjoy the intimacy he had come to treasure.

‘And if I were to say to you the life of a country gentlemen does not appeal?’

‘John, how can it not when our life together will be perfect?’

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D
AVID
D
ONACHIE
was born in Edinburgh in 1944. He has always had an abiding interest in the naval history of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as well as the Roman Republic, and, under the pen-name of Jack Ludlow, has published a number of historical adventure novels. David lives in Deal with his partner, the novelist Sarah Grazebrook.

T
HE
J
OHN
P
EARCE SERIES

By the Mast Divided • A Shot Rolling Ship

An Awkward Commission • A Flag of Truce

The Admirals’ Game • An Ill Wind

Blown Off Course • Enemies at Every Turn

A Sea of Troubles • A Divided Command

The Devil to Pay • The Perils of Command

Written as Jack Ludlow

T
HE
L
AST
R
OMAN
S
ERIES

Vengeance

Honour

Triumph

T
HE
R
EPUBLIC
SERIES

The Pillars of Rome

The Sword of Revenge

The Gods of War

T
HE
C
ONQUEST
SERIES

Mercenaries

Warriors

Conquest

T
HE
R
OADS TO
W
AR SERIES

The Burning Sky

A Broken Land

A Bitter Field

T
HE
C
RUSADES
SERIES

Son of Blood

Soldier of Crusade

Prince of Legend