Chapter Twenty-two
After a lavish luncheon with the Admiralty and Royal contingents, Roberta was asked to be on the quayside in the official party bidding farewell to His Royal Highness when he boarded the Royal barge to return to London.
“Actually, he is only going as far as Tilbury today,” Lord Paulit told her with a discreet smile. “I think he fancies inspecting the troops there―as did Queen Elizabeth some two hundred years ago when invasion threatened.”
Roberta thought she might wag a finger at him, but decided it better to keep the pleasantry to herself. She was pleased when the Prince stopped in front of her in the line and whispered he had already penned the instruction for the Lord Chancellor. “Do not fret, My Dear Lady. Do not worry yourself.”
“He can be a very fine gentleman when his heart is touched,” Lord Paulit said to her as the Prince shook hands with the First Lord and was helped down the steps onto the barge. “Your plea will be settled, I think.”
“I am sure he would touch the hearts of the people if they could see him as I have.”
“Yes. But all they see are the expensive buildings and festivities when everyone else has to scrimp to get through the war.” Lord Paulit shook a sorrowful head. “Ah, all will come right eventually. On another topic, My Dear, I wondered which of the officers spoke most about steam to you yesterday as the Royal Barge conveyed us to Chatham.”
“Oh, that would be Admiral Pierce, who seemed quite amused at the novelty, and Captain Hawke, who sounded interested in the tactical points of ramming an enemy warship.”
“I thank you for your thoughts, My Dear. We cannot leave Chatham until we have settled some administrative matters.”
“Administrative matters concerning the spitefuls, My Lord?”
“Yes. Within another month or two we will have quite a little fleet of spitefuls here. Your Commander Worthington has done excellently as a trainer of crews and in affording a steam patrol for the blockading ships off the Schelde, but he hasn’t the seniority to become squadron commander. We will be staying in Chatham until he returns from the present patrol―what are your plans?”
“I will send my people to London on the steamer tomorrow, and then they will all take the train back to Glasgow. Lord Melville has asked me to stay in London a few days to see the progress with the two vessels being built on the Thames.”
“Commander Worthington and the Spiteful should be returning very soon, should they not? The coal bunkers must be getting rather low.”
“Quite true, My Lord, but he may have taken advantage of the same fair winds as we on our voyage down the East coast.”
“Even so, we would hope to have our discussion of the future command structure completed this evening.”
Roberta had plenty of time to think of the conversations and progress that evening after she had settled her people in accommodation ashore. She also had the time to speak more with Mr. Holmes about the investigation into her marriage aboard Medusa.
“We have to suppose the Marquess undertook to ask the Church to look into the matter after he received your letter―and whatever you wrote in it. It is no small thing to investigate the action of an Archbishop of Canterbury.”
Roberta shook her head. “I am not sure why I should want to verify the wording of the special marriage licence, Mr. Holmes. You were quite insistent in your advice that I should weigh my decision very carefully before considering an offer of marriage from His Lordship―a consideration my own intuitions were already strongly engaged in. I made a very foolish error and fear that I will be made the laughing stock of every young woman who smiles at my husband for the rest of my life. The annulment only worries me if it should bring some grave criticism and censure from the Church.”
“It should not. We can easily prove that you were not engaged before the ceremony, that you were entirely passive.” He regarded her seriously. “But you do suppose he must be committing adultery with Madam Timmins as we speak?”
“He committed adultery with her in Antwerp not four days after our marriage.”
Mr. Holmes’ eyes widened. “Surely not?”
“She admitted the sin to me, and excused herself to me by calling her complicity to be caused by great disappointment and jealousy when she learned we had married.”
Their conversation was interrupted at that moment by the arrival of a panting Mr. MacRae.
“Good heavens, Man,” Mr. Holmes demanded. “What is the reason for this great agitation?”
“A ship has been sighted making for the Medway, My Lady. It seems to be the Spiteful, and it is towing a broken and dis-masted vesel behind it.”
“Good Lord,” she said. “We must hurry to the quayside at once. Will they arrive before dark?”
“But barely,” MacRae answered. “I spoke with one of the Admiralty captains and they are sending orders for every ship in the harbour to light their lanterns and send men in small boats to guide the vessels in.”
When they arrived at a spot overlooking the anchorage, they could determine the location of the two arrivals by the sparks issuing from the Spiteful’s funnels as it entered the Medway against the falling tide. Of its tow, they could see nothing but a dark shadow.
Lord Paulit arrived soon after them. “Lord Melville is calling out the crews of every ship in the anchorage as well as the surgeons of the Naval Hospital.”
Roberta immediately worried the tow was Medusa. “Do we know the identity of the ruined vessel?”
“Not at this time. The master of the ship that brought tidings of the sighting thought it was a seventy-four, but we may not know until they anchor. The tow is listing badly and might founder before they reach safety.”
As they watched, the dockyard tug came into view making for the arrivals. They still had four miles to go before reaching the anchorage off Gillingham, and the assistance could make all the difference to the outcome.
A little later, the watchers lost sight of both vessels when they passed behind one of the islands in the haven. By the time they came into sight again they could be seen only by the lanterns they carried. The anchorage soon became a veritable pool of illuminations as all the rowing craft manned by the naval crews went out to mark the safe channel with lamps held up by willing hands.
From the direction of Chatham came a veritable flotilla of small craft. One of the longboats tied up at the steps near the watchers, and the First Lord joined them to speak with Lord Paulit. “I have sent orders by mounted messenger to the squadron in the Downs for them to prepare to sail to the post off Flushing as soon as they receive definite instructions in the morning. That is Commodore Fancourt, is it not?”
“It is,” Lord Paulit answered. “Three seventy-fours and two frigates. Can we send the Regent with them?”
“If Farley is ready to up anchor with the tide tomorrow. They must meet off North Foreland.”
“I will go to find Lieutenant Farley at once,” Lord Paulit said. “May I have your longboat?”
“No, please find another. I intend to go aboard our crippled vessel as soon as it is loosed from the tow.”
Roberta spoke up. “May I come with you, My Lord?”
“Most certainly not, My Dear. It will not be a fit sight for your eyes. Why would you wish to witness such sights and such suffering?”
“Because I feel sure that the tow is the Medusa.” She paused to calm her anxiety. “I have many friends aboard.”
“It may well be, but do not jump to conclusions. You will serve me better if you and Mr. Holmes go to find Captain Hawke and go aboard Spiteful as soon as it anchors. Worthington must coal up as soon as possible. We need him to return to sea tomorrow as well. You must bring me his report of the action.”