The King`s Coat

‘Oh, Alan,' she said, taking his hands. David coughed to break the spell. ’Excuse my manners… David Avery, Miss Lucy Beauman, Admiral Sir Onsley Matthews' niece. Lucy, this is my shipmate, Midshipman David Avery.’

’Your servant, ma'am,' David said, making a graceful leg, and dribbling food from his unattended plate behind him. Thank God for one good thing that has happened to me this evening, Alan thought happily, flushing with pleasure at seeing her once more, and aching with sudden longing as well. Every time he was reunited with her he found her more womanly, more desirable, more lovely, if such a thing was possible. ’Alan, Mister Avery, I should like you to meet my father.' Right, thankee, God, Alan almost said aloud. ’Your servant, Mister Beauman, sir.’

Ph-e Beauman was squat as a toad, crammed into a bright green velvet coat, a longer-skirted old-style waistcoat awash in silver brocade, buff breeches and hose, with calves as thick as tillerheads. And the high-roached, elaborately curled bag wig he wore fairly screamed 'Country' -of the worst huntin', shootin', ridin', drinkin', tenant-tramplin', dog-lovin' View Halloo variety.

This lovely girl is daughter to… that? Alan couldn't accept it. 'You're Lewrie, hey?' said Mister Beauman once they had both been bowed to. 'Heard a lot about you.’

He has much in common with Sir George, Alan thought unhappily; he has heard of me. I cannot imagine a more ghastly evening… ’Like a lad with gumption. Chopped that fella, hey? With good reason, 0' course.’

’I could not in good conscience let his remarks pass, sir,' Lewrie told him, happy to hear that Lucy's father sounded approving of his duel. Nothing like defending a daughter to placate a daddy. 'The less said about his scurrilous remarks, the better, though, with the ladies present.’

’Onsley sez yer a comer. That so?’

‘I am very grateful for Sir Onsley's and Lady Maude's good opinion, Mister Beauman. They are wonderful people. ’

‘Aye, that's so. That's so,' Mr. Beauman agreed, snaking himself a glass of wine from the buffet. 'And you come on business to Antigua, sir?’

‘Hell, the Matthewses are sailing for home, lad. The slave revolt's been put down, and Portland Bight's healthier than Antigua in the summer. I've come to fetch Lucy home.’

’I had not thought that far ahead about the consequences, sir,' he said, sharing a heartbreaking look of confirmation from Lucy. 'I am sure you're pleased to be able to receive her back into your family in safety and peace-’

‘Aye, true,' Beauman nodded heavily, changing glasses for a full one. 'Bubbly Frog trash. Got your juju bag?’

‘Yes, sir, I do.’

’Sambo nonsense,' Beauman Sr. chuckled. 'Still, any luck's better than none, hey?' Does this man ever speak in complete sentences? Alan wondered. They were interrupted by the dinner gong, and the most important people began to pair off to file into the long dining rooms. 'Mister Beauman, if you are to fetch Lucy home, and I shall be sailing north in a few days, this ball may be our last chance to converse for some time. With your permission, of course, I should like to dance with your daughter.’

’Me, too,' Avery said in a barely audible mutter behind him. 'Aye, if she's willin',' Beauman agreed.

There were farewell speeches about Sir ansley, welcoming speeches about Sir George, a word or two from Admiral Hood, many toasts and much food. With her father beside her, Lucy could not indulge in one of those long- distance romances of eyes and shrugs, so Lewrie had to content himself with his table companions, and a damned dull lot they were. The food he could barely taste, and did little more than mangle what little he allowed on his plate. His appetite was quite gone.

Am I going to be ruined? And if I am, then what am I to do for a living? I could stay in the Navy, but if this war ends I'll have no chance of being retained. And they don't give half-pay to midshipmen. Hell, without Sir ansley's help there's no way I can make my lieutenancy. Even as a Commission Sea Officer, I'd be turned out on the beach, and half-pay is more like quarterpay, it's a joke. But, if I married Lucy Beauman I'd be a ledcaptain, a poor relation, but that's worth more than half-pay, even worth more than a post-captain's command. Either way, bless her, she's the key to prosperity after the war…

After the ladies had retired, but before the port got going, he left the dining rooms to hunt up Lucy. He also badly needed coffee or tea. He had eaten little and had taken on a bit too much drink.

He got his coffee, dark and sweet the way he enjoyed it, drank one cup scanning the salon for Lucy, then got another cup and went out on the veranda. There she was, taking the air with some other younger girls. She left them quickly and came to him. They went around the comer for privacy, and once alone she buried her face in his shoulder and embraced him hungrily. ’Oh, Alan, I've been so miserable, and foolish… I never thought I'd have to go back to Jamaica and not see you again-’

‘I've missed you, too, Lucy, and when I was told the admiral was hauling down his flag.. ‘. ’I wrote you so many letters. Did you get them?’

‘We spoke no friendly ships the last two months,' Alan explained. 'Did you get mine?’

‘Oh, yes. There was always some sailor showing up with a letter saying he had just come in with news from you. I don't know how you managed it.' Lucy beamed. 'They were our crew that came in with a prize,' he explained, finding it hard to believe that she had thought he could arrange his mail to be delivered whenever he wanted it. Maybe there's a good reason she can't spell, maybe she's feebler than most women… ’And now I shall never see you again.' She pouted. ’I may sail to Kingston again, Lucy, we can still write each other, and I intend to ask your father if I may have his leave to call upon you when we put into port.’

’Oh, Alan…' She looked at him as if he had just invented gravity. 'Do you love me, Alan? Do you truly love me that much? ' 'Aye, I do.' Hold on here, do I? Yes, I must. But maybe I don't. How do you tell? I've only been in lust. She's such a beauty, and what I know of her body is enough to make anyone mad with passion. So, she may not be bright as a man. Who expects her to be… ’I love you, Alan,' she said, squeezing him tight. 'I have been in love with you since I first saw you, all weak and ill, when they brought you into Auntie's house. Oh, I think I shall die with happiness tonight.. ‘.

We're not going that far just yet, he thought. 'Your father has to allow me to call upon you-’

‘Oh, Father cannot deny us. No one could be that cruel.

Alan, why must we wait? I had thought we would wait until the war was over, until you had become an officer, but if we feel so strongly, why do we not marry now?' Her father will never go for that. Damn, she'll blow the gaff on me with her impatience, and then goodbye security… 'I cannot, Lucy… there's my duty to the Navy, my oath to the Crown. And I doubt if your father will agree after just meeting me. Perhaps we should let him get used to the idea?’

‘But, Alan, many people marry in time of war.. ‘. ’But they don't look kindly on midshipmen doing it. Lieutenants, perhaps. Right now the Navy is the only life I have, Lucy.' And a right dirty one it is, too, he added to himself. 'You shall have a life with me,' she said, pouting in the darkness of the venmda. Somehow Alan knew she was pouting. 'Once the war is over, you owe the Navy nothing. If you wish a seafaring life, my father owns many ships. Their captains take their wives on trading voyages to so many exciting places… Or we could have a fine plantation of our own, thousands of acres to ourselves.’

I have discovered the keys to heaven itself, Alan rejoiced as he held her close to him. God, to be a planter, a trader, with ships of my own and regiments of slaves. And dear Lucy to rattle every night of the week. We could go back to London in triumph. And then to hell with the Navy, with my family and anyone else! 'I shall speak to your father but I beg you, Lucy, don't be hasty. Let him consider me. He has no reason to dislike me as of yet, and Sir Onsley and Lady Maude can speak for me. And at home you can bring him round. How could he refuse his lovely daughter anything she desires once he has gotten used to the idea of me as a son-in-law?' Alan cooed. ’You are such a slyboots, Alan,' she said, kissing him. 'I am so proud of you. So smart and clever. I love you so much. ’

‘And I love you, Lucy,' he echoed… did he mean it, a little?… kissing her back. 'Now, we must go back in before someone comments on us being alone together. I would not give anyone the slightest reason to doubt your honor.’

’Yes,' she said, giving him one last hug. 'I shall join Auntie and try to compose myself. And you will speak to Father tonight.’

’I promise.’