H.M.S. COCKEREL

Father'd arranged it all, told me about it, and expected me to be glad about it. She knew he'd need all the help he could get.'

'His recurring malaria?' Lewrie asked, more gently.

'That, sir and…' Braxton heaved a deep sigh, like a drowning man will suck precious air the first time he surfaces. 'He's changed, sir. Off in the Far East, home for a month or so, between the round voyage. Mother's health is too frail for the East Indies. She removed to Lyme Regis, years ago. Rest of us off at sea, never quite connecting… never quite connecting when we were together, either, sir. No, it was his temper. His moodiness. She knew how much command of a warship meant to him, after all… Christ!'

Damme, don't do this to me, Braxton, Alan squirmed, his rarely used conscience plaguing him; here I hate you more than cold boiled mutton… and now I'm beginning to feel sorry for you!

'Father's had only a moderately successful career, midshipman to commission in seven years, even with family patronage, sir,' Lieutenant Braxton explained. 'Nothing distinguished. Two commands, both during the American War. But they were in the Far East. None since '83. God, he wrote and wrote, damned near got down on his knees, to any old friend or patron with ha'pence influence!'

'He had command. His Indiamen,' Lewrie coolly pointed out.

'Just for the money, sir,' Braxton shrugged. 'We may be an old Navy family, but never wealthy, and times were tight. Aye, sir, he had a ship… but t'wasn't Navy, d'ye see. Command, respect… and the pay was hellish good.'

Braxton waved an inclusive hand about the cabins, at the luxuries 'John Company' service had earned. Yet with a flip of dismissal.

'Away from home so far, a year from a favourable reply from the Admiralty, sir… if there were an offer of a commission,' Lieutenant Braxton sniffed. 'Pining away, year after year, with never an offer, going up in seniority on the living captain's list But no matter how high he climbed, never an offer. And seeing old shipmates junior to him being made post, captains below him on the list making admiral. Then at last we have a war, and they have to call him up, sir. He finally gets the chance to serve again, to shine, Mister Lewrie! He was so elated, and determined!'

'Perhaps a touch too determined, sir?' Lewrie suggested wryly.

'We could not know… well, Mother did. She knew how desperate he'd been, how sad. And how important this was to him. I expect she also knew his limitations best. She was afraid for him, sir. Not just his health,' Braxton confessed. 'She told me he'd need the finest sort of loyalty and support. I couldn't refuse him. I couldn't turn my back on him. Apart so long, sir… I hardly knew him. Or what he had become, and when I saw… it was too late.'

'Weeding out Lieutenant Mylett?'

'Not family, sir,' Braxton smiled shyly. 'A stranger. Father hounded him out. Like he tried with you. Made life a living hell for the man. I should have seen the signs… I don't know what happened, 'tween the wars, sir. Something in the Far East, I think.'

'So that's why there's no mention of our little… near-mutiny in the log, either,' Lewrie surmised. 'Though he was informed of our suspicions.'

'Oh, he knew, sir. But, it's his last chance, sir, d'ye see? He has to succeed. There cannot be a single flaw, this time.'

'Well, there is,' Lewrie summed up. 'For now, Mister Braxton, there will be no formal reprimand.'

'Thankee, sir,' Braxton perked up. 'I won't let family matters hurt my performance again, sir. My word on't!'

'Your career on't,' Lewrie gloomed. 'Our good repute, too. I expect my tenure won't last more'n a week or two, Mister Braxton, and then your father'11 be well enough to restore him to his due authority. We can't change his ways too much, lest the crew ran riot. And I tell you true, sir… his ways aren't my ways. And I despise him for making me do things his way. You can make a difference, though. Take those relations of yours and rattle 'em 'til their teeth fly, if that's what it takes, but we cannot have any more terror below decks. They might listen to you.'

'Aye, sir, consider it done,' Braxton vowed.

'Do you have any influence over him?' Lewrie asked, flicking a hand towards the sleeping coach.

'Not much there, sir. Sorry. Believe me, I have tried to warn him before.' Braxton shook his head sorrowfully. 'I've tried as son. I've tried as a commission sea officer, a fellow professional. There are some things he simply cannot abide to hear.'

'Then God help us, when he's back in charge, Mister Braxton. Do what you can, there. We'll have the other officers in now. And once we've made formal declaration of the change in command, we'll hoist the 'Easy.' From noon today 'til end of the second dog tomorrow, say. I think our crew's earned it, don't you?'

'They have, indeed, sir,' Braxton almost smiled.

Lewrie swiveled the log book about so he could read it. He took up the pen and dipped it. 'There is, I believe, Mister Braxton, space enough for me to amend my statement about you, after all.'

'Sir?' Braxton frowned warily.

'To note the fact that you were most unfairly placed in an impossible position, between direct orders from a captain, and from a father. And were forced to choose whether to obey, disobey or to take no action at all. I think that may best explain your actions. And soften Our Lords Commissioners back home.'

'Thankee, sir,' Braxton shuddered with gratitude. 'Thankee!'

'Assuming, of course, you perform as first lieutenant to my satisfaction,' Lewrie both tempted and put on notice, 'I do believe that when I've relinquished authority to our rightful captain, I can insert something more praiseworthy in the log.'

'I will give you no cause for dissatisfaction, sir. None!'

There was a rap at the door, the bang of a musket butt on the desk outside. 'Sah! Mister Midshipman Spendlove, SAH!'

'Enter,' Lewrie replied coolly, with the tone of a captain.

'Sir, this note came off shore for you just now,' the grinning imp reported, hat under his arm, and glancing about to see if rumours were true. 'It smells very nice, Mister Lewrie, sir.'

'Wonder how Naples looks from the masthead, Mister Spendlove?' Lewrie pretended to frown at him. 'Horrid place to spend a whole day…. even for a japing monkey such as your wee self, hmm?' he asked as he opened the scented note paper, sealed with a florid daub of wax and addressed in an ornate, high- flown hand.

'Sorry, sir,' Spendlove swore, ducking his head properly, though he looked anything but contrite as Lewrie quickly perused his note.

'I will be going ashore for dinner, Mister Braxton,' Lewrie told him, stuffing the note in a pocket quickly. 'Some… ah, further palaver with the local authorities,' he lied.

'You will wish the captain's gig, sir?' Braxton asked.

'Not mine to borrow, really,' Lewrie decided. 'The jolly-boat'11 suit. I should return, hmm… sundown, I should think.'

He didn't really expect to get another 'all-night-in' with Emma Hamilton; nor was he sure he could stand another whole night of prattle. No, an afternoon'd suffice. Watch her do her 'Attitudes,' of course. And then beg off, pleading too much ship's business.

And Lord knows, he sighed, there's more'n enough o' that!

Chapter 8

Their idyll in Naples ended soon afterwards. A formal treaty with the Kingdom of Naples and the Two Sicilies was signed, with Lewrie proudly witnessing the ceremony. But then on 14 July, he was hustled off to sea with more urgent despatches. Captain Braxton was making a miraculously speedy recovery, so there was no need to send him ashore, nor would a sea voyage threaten that recovery, the Italian physicians assured him after a final call on their patient.