usual. He then goes back to ’is ’ole.
'Soon his Lordship cal s, ’Silas, is there anything to break my fast?' Surprised Silas says, ’My Lord, I put a whole platter of berry pastries on the table.' ’Well, they were not here when I sat down.' ’But my Lord, they be right there when I went to fetch your coffee.' ’Well, damme man,' his Lordship growled, ’I didn't eat the damn things and I'm hungry so find something for me directly.' ’Aye, my Lord.' Then Silas puzzled as ’e can be see'd me. ’Did you eat ’is Lordship's pastries, Bart?'
’Nay, I just come up from me own mess,' I swore. Now Silas is real y fit to be tied but ’e busy's himself fixing ’is
Lordship's breakfast. No sooner ’ad ’e set it down for ’is Lordship than Mr. Jewell s let loose ’wid a fart that would make a broadside dull in ’comparysum and stink.
Gaw'd it was terrible. Pure made ’is Lordship's eyes water and ’e gagged like ’e was ’bout to spew.
''Damme, sir, but that was foul,' he said to Silas, ’is Lordship thinking it was Silas what smelt up the cabin so bad. Then ’der was a ’nutter fart only Silas was at ’is Lordship's side and the fart sounded from the pantry.
This ’un smelt worse than the first and set his Lordship to gagging again. Not wanting Silas to have to clean-up spew from ’is Lordship, I took hold and said, ’Come with me sir, let's go topside to breathable air.' We bout knocked the sentry arsehole over tea kettle as we flew from the cabin. The marine looking ill ’is ownself as the smell follered us outta the cabin.
'It was just a minute or two when I seen ole Silas aft by the taffrail. He was greener than a frog at the gills.
’Silas, what's wrong ’wid you man?' ’It were the ape.'
’The ape?' I quizzed. ’Aye, the ape what done it. It was him that ate ’is Lordship's whole tray of pastries. He ’ad berry stains on ’is face and fingers.''
'Ah,' I said, 'Them berries gave ’im the farts.'
'Nay,' Silas said, 'Not farts, shats. That ape done shat al in ’is Lordship's pantry.'
Gabe laughed til his eyes watered at Bart's story.
'Took a barrel-o-lemons squeezed on the deck two or three times a day for a week for the smell to finally go about. His Lordship promised a flogging if Silas ever brought Mr. Jewell s back in ’is cabin. That night the
flag captain took pity on ’is Lordship and gave an invitation to be ’is guest for supper.
Gabe was still in a humorous mood as he made his way to the great cabin. As he was announced he couldn't help but notice the table was only set for two.
So this was an unofficial meeting. Brothers, not admiral and lieutenant.
'Ah, Gabe, I've missed you boy.'
'I've missed you too, Gil,' Gabe replied, using his brother's name. 'I had times when I worried we'd not see each other again.'
'I worried about that also, but trusting in God and Dagan's lady luck, I wouldn't give up on you.' Gabe could see moisture in his brother's eye and feeling it build in his eye quickly changed the tone of the meeting. 'I say, Gil, while I was being held I thought I'd starve and the only thing I could think of was Silas'
berry pastries. Did you and Mr. Jewell s eat them al or is any left?'
Gil looked blank at first then a smile creased his face. 'That damn ape. I ought to have the damn thing set adrift. A menace he is, but now that Caleb's back, I guess he'll be your worry. Speaking of Caleb, he seems changed somehow. Not the rash, glib tongue he usual y is.'
'Aye,' Gabe replied, 'I think the man has been shot by one of cupid's arrows.'
With the two brothers looking at each other Gil replied, 'I understand you may have been pierced by one of those arrows yourself.'
A smile touched Gabe's face and shaking his head in acknowledgement he said, 'Dagan or Caleb or both has been talking too much, but I'll not deny it. An angel to look upon but a mouth like a sailor at times. I have lost my heart,' a sincere Gabe said to his brother, again feeling moisture return to his eyes.
Gil stood and walked over to where his brother sat and clapped a hand across his shoulders, 'It must have been rough.'
It was then it al came forth, al the pent-up emotions came flooding out. Gil stood silently; hand on his brother's back supporting him and listened as Gabe described his ordeal. A silent Bart and Silas sat in the pantry. Dagan had told part of it but now the true depth of the ordeal came through.
'Aye,' Bart thought, 'brothers but more like father and son.'
By the time Gabe had bared his soul, his concerns over his actions as commander in charge of the convoy, his captivity and his lost love he was feeling much better.
A burden lifted.
Gil was careful in his wording of his thoughts on leaving the convoy in the hands of someone less experienced. However, the information obtained because of it had proved most important. They would have to wait and see how things ultimately played out.
Then the subject changed to Faith. 'Do you think it could work out, Gil?' Gabe's voice almost pleaded for an affirmative.
'I don't know Gabe. I know I never loved ’til I met Lady Deborah. Had it not been for Lord McKean's death by those blackguards, we would have never been as one. Therefore, al I can say is if it was meant to be, it will be.'
The two then dined on cod, green beans, new potatoes, and hot bread and after a light wine, coffee and berry pastries. They talked of their father and family in England.
Then as the evening was drawing near, Gabe asked,
'Will you put forth a battle plan tomorrow?'
'Aye,' Gil replied. ’I've no doubt in the reliability of those papers; I just fear we will be spread to thin with such a few ships. I've sent a fair copy of the plans to Admiral Lord Howe and Admiral Graves in case Admiral Howe is not reached. But, aye, I fear we have a battle before us. One that is coming from al points.'
'I'll do my duty,' Gabe said stoical y.
'I've no doubt,' Gil said, 'Not as your brother or as your admiral. But be careful, you've had enough close cal s already. Your mother and Lady Deborah would never forgive me if I allowed anything else to happen to you.'
'Don't worry,' Gabe replied. 'I'll take care. I've a rendezvous with a blonde-haired beauty in the southern colonies. Say, Gil, what would my children look like
with a dark handsome father and a beautiful blonde mother?'
'I don't know what they'd look like but they'd be imps every one, I'm thinking.'
'Aye, imps they'd be.'
'Gabe.'
'Yes!'
'Happy birthday!'
'Damme Gil, I'd forgotten, I can't believe I forgot my own birthday.'
'You didn't, it's not til tomorrow.'
'Tomorrow.'
'Aye, tomorrow, Gabe.'
Chapter Four
The next morning al the captains gathered in the admiral's stateroom. Wanting to start the meeting in such a way as to set the men at ease before delving into the task at hand, Lord Anthony had Bart pass out a paper he'd had his secretary and the flag captain's secretary copy.
Captain Moffett cleared his throat to get the captains' attention. Most had gathered in a group to congratulate Earl on his promotion and his new command.
