Dewey Lambdin
A King`s Commander
(Lewrie – 07)
For Bill Wiles, Rick Newlon, Terry Fox, Tom Skalsky, and Jon Drake, my old pack of college runnin' buddies back when we were learning how to become a Nelsonian 'Band of Brothers.'
And, for Bob Enrione at CBS, who gives the best 'loan' of obscure research books, and supplies the finest period details for the ambience, ever I did see.
Or shall he trust rather to the aid of Juno and Pallas
of the ringing armor, and launch forth at the king's
command, if haply, the sea subdued, some renown
could arise from so great a task?
–
Book I, 73-76
Valerius Flaccus
CHAPTER
1
'Dearest!' Lewrie whispered into her sweet-smelling hair.
'Oh, dearest God, Alan…!' Caroline responded in a like whisper. Though they could have shouted, for all the clamor of a sloop of war readying to set sail. 'My only love.'
A few more minutes, Lewrie squirmed in rising impatience; just a few minutes more, and I'm safe-I think. Mostly, anyway!
There were limits on how even the fondest captain and his wife could behave in public; quite unlike the open bawling of 'wives'-the real helpmates, or the feigned for profit-had made when HMS
And, of course, the drunken shrieks of those harpies who'd come aboard as 'wives,' as they would every vessel Out of Discipline that they could reach, too drunk to know their tour of duty was over, and shoveled back into the bumboats, complaining loudly that they'd been shorted their due fee from their temporary 'husbands.'
Yesterday had been the hands' turn for partings; today it was the gunroom's. Unseemly weepings, wailings, and gnashing of teeth was not their way, not in public, at least.
' 'Tis been so
'I know, dearest!' Alan sighed, shuddering himself as he used the wide brims of her stylish bonnet to screen them from the men in the waist-to kiss her soft, sweet lips just one more time, though they'd sworn to settle for last-minute affection in his great-cabins. 'But things went so hellish good, so quickly, I…'
From the corner of his eye, Lewrie espied their new charge, young Sophie, Vicomtesse de Maubeuge, that unfortunate frail orphan of the Terror, and the evacuation of Toulon. Wan, pale… well not
He gulped down his terror of her. Should she ever reveal to Caroline his carousing in the Mediterranean with Phoebe…! Quick turn, hugging Caroline harder, turning her so her back was to Sophie and her almost-mocking brow. And to escape that lifted brow as well!
A few more minutes, pray God! he thought fervently. Off and away, then! And if it comes out, I'm a thousand miles alee!
'I'd hoped to be in port longer, as well, love. Get back to Anglesgreen. Let you show me off, hmm?' Lewrie said, essaying his most fetching grin; to tease and dandle his way free. And leave his lovely wife laughing. 'Get everything settled before…
'Hugh!' Caroline shrieked. 'Baby, don't
Lewrie's youngest son had gotten away from his watchers once more, and had scaled the starboard mizzenmast ratlines. Again! This time, he was halfway to the fighting top!
Alan sprang to the bulwarks, getting a foot up on a carronade slide-carriage, then the blunt iron barrel, to swing into the shrouds and go aloft. 'Hang on, lad. Don't go an inch higher, hear me?'
Taut as the mizzen stays were set up, as tensioned as they were through the deadeye blocks, the shrouds thrummed and juddered as Alan fearfully climbed, ratlines quivering with each rushed step.
'But,
Lewrie reached him, came eye level with his son.
'I
'But, Daddy, t'other boys…!' Hugh whined, gesturing briefly to the clutch of snot-nosed ship's boys, the usual mob of Beau-Nasties carried on ship's books as servants; some of whom were only double the total of Hugh Lewrie's precocious, and terrifying, four years.
'Down, I say!' Lewrie barked. 'Now! And, carefully!'
'Aww…' Hugh grumbled, casting one more wistful glance aloft to the topmast truck, which had been his intent. Well, at least the cross-trees, if truth be told.
On deck at last, smudged with tar and slushes, Caroline knelt at his side in a twinkling, to coo and fret, wondering whether Hugh needed cosseting, or another sound thrashing. For foolishness; and for smutting his best suit of clothing, if nothing else.
'M'sieur, pardon!' Sophie reddened. 'Ah tak' ma eye off 'eem jus'