“The roof will constitute an introduction, I think. I am Mrs. Croft, wife to Admiral Croft.”
“Your servant, ma’am. I am William Price, First Lieutenant of the Protector.”
“You have done your duty and made your bow, Mr. Price,” said she with a merry laugh, “So, I will not take it amiss if you look about you for better company. My husband went to speak to the Governor and he asked me to wait for him, so I shall stay here until he finds me.”
“It will be my honour to remain with you, Mrs. Croft, and my great pleasure as well. Or, may I fetch you some punch?”
“I think the prize would not be worth the effort, Mr. Price, there are so many people prepared to celebrate our victory over the French by stamping upon a toe to gain a cup of punch or a slice of cake! Pray, stay by me and tell me about yourself.”
William fell into easy conversation with the lady, whom he judged to be some years younger than his own mother.
“I need not enquire what you have been up to, sir, for your fair hair and darkened skin speak for you—you have been in the horse latitudes for an age! Africa or the West Indies?”
“Africa, ma’am. With Captain Irby, and prior to that, I served under Captain Columbine.”
“Ah yes, Edward Columbine, a good a man as ever there was! Rest his soul. I knew him when my husband was stationed in Bermuda.”
“Really, ma’am? You were in Bermuda?”
“Oh yes, I have crossed the Atlantic four times with Admiral Croft,” she smiled and nodded in affirmation.
William spoke as he felt: “Captain Columbine was of the opinion that it was too dangerous for wives to accompany their husbands to sea.”
“And, true enough in his case. My brother says the same. He declares we ladies should not live on board with our husbands. I despair of ever seeing him married! However, I do not know that navy wives are more prone to dying on their watch than are wives back home in England. Consider, your own Captain Irby lost his wife whilst he was serving on shore, in charge of the Sea-Fencibles in Essex, poor fellow. For my part, I can declare that the happiest part of my life has been spent on board a ship with my husband. Thank God! I have always been blessed with excellent health, and no climate disagrees with me. Life is uncertain, wherever you are, and so, persons as fortunate as you and I must be very sensible of it.”
“As... you and I, ma’am?”
“What! Young man, are you not fortunate? You are young, you are English, you are handsome, and you have survived your service with the West African Squadron. Your blessings lie upon you as thick as the hairs on your head, sir.”
William grinned, and felt a little of his old lightness of spirit overtake him.
“You are quite right ma’am, and I will not forget it again, I promise you.”
“Now, here is my husband, with your Captain Irby, if I am not mistaken.”
“Sophy!” exclaimed the Admiral with disarming familiarity. “I should have sent out a search party for you in a moment, but Irby spied Lieutenant Price from across the room. And he told me he had a particular message for Mr. Price, and said I might want to stay within hailing distance, as it would give me pleasure to watch the lad receive this bit of news.” And then in a whisper which was quite as audible as his every day voice, he added, “Dispatches from the Admiralty, you know.”
William looked from his captain to the admiral and back again, not trusting his own ears.
“It’s true, Price. I have just received the assignments for our convoy. You, Lieutenant—nay, Commander William Price, are assigned to the HMS Protector...”
A sudden pounding in his chest and a loud buzzing in William’s ears prevented him from comprehending what Irby was saying. He saw his captain’s lips move, and the Admiral and Mrs. Croft were both smiling, and Irby was nodding his head emphatically, but William could not make it out.
“I—I beg your pardon, sir. Could you repeat what you just said?”
“Too much sun,” Admiral Croft said, shaking his head wisely. “It disorders the brain. He should be well enough in time, we hope.”
“Price, I was informing you that after we put in to Portsmouth, you will be assigned commander of the Protector, and you will perform convoy duty between Portsmouth and Cork.”
William looked all the amazement that he felt, and Captain Irby, laughing, held out the orders so he could confirm the fact for himself.
“I, Sir? Made Commander? When there are so many of us—I mean we—lieutenants? I must be powerfully obliged to someone for their kind interest on my behalf.”
Captain Irby agreed that William was indeed extraordinarily fortunate, and gave his opinion that William Gibson’s book played no small part in elevating humble William Price from amongst the many other deserving candidates for advancement. The young lieutenant now numbered some of the leading figures in Parliament among his well-wishers—Wilberforce and Stephen in the Commons, and Delingpole in the House of Lords. “Further, the public, I’ve no doubt, will be pleased to read of your elevation, while I will be exceedingly sorry to lose such a capable officer. I trust you have done well in the matter of prize monies?”
“Very well indeed, I thank you, sir—once the Admiralty gets around to distributing it.”
“I dare say a young chap like yourself would rather join in the war effort than chase after slavers,” said the Admiral. “And you will be putting in to shore quite frequently. You can court an English and an
