Report from Africa
The H.M.S. Albert, steam sloop, Captain Griffith Davies, captured a valuable slaver, based in Brazil, off the coast of Monrovia on 17 February of this year. The slaver attempted to evade its captors through nefarious deception, but the brave and courageous sailors aboard the man of war noticed the ship’s suspicious activity and boarded after exchanging a volley of shots. None of the British crew was wounded, although two of the slaver’s sailors were slightly wounded. Captain Davies and his crew liberated the men on board and brought the ship’s captain and crew to the Brazilian authorities in Monrovia for judgment. It remains to be seen if Captain Davies will be reprimanded by the British authorities since he did not follow proper procedure.
April 30, 1851
London, The Mermaid’s Arms, a not so respectable pub on the dock serving mediocre porter
“I think we should get some more ale,” Griffith said to his first mate, Clark, as he downed the rest of his drink. “That’s proper procedure,” he snorted ruefully.
Proper procedure in this pub meant that he would get more beer. But proper procedure, at least according to Her Majesty’s government, meant that innocent people would likely die, caught in the conflict between nations. Proper procedure meant that women and children would live in a ship’s hold for months, with meager provisions and unsanitary living circumstances.
So he’d acted improperly, according to the Naval authorities. It smarted, being told he’d done wrong. But he had acted entirely properly when it came to Griffith’s own law, which demanded that people be free to live as they wish, not kept in captivity.
It was one of the many reasons he’d run off to sea when he was sixteen—he’d seen the inequity of his family’s situation, that they were blessed with wealth and land and power, and the families that worked for them were entirely dependent on their largesse. He would not stand by and benefit merely because of the lucky circumstance of his birth. Especially if he could do something about other people’s unlucky circumstances.
Also there was the truth that he and his parents did not agree on anything. They wanted him to follow in the footsteps of all the Davies sons before him, which meant getting the best education and then forgetting entirely about it since it wasn’t seemly to appear too intelligent.
Not that Griffith believed himself to be too intelligent—school had been difficult for him. He wanted to be outside all the time, moving his body rather than sitting in a wooden chair for hours.
Although after several months at sea, this chair in the pub felt quite comfortable.
“Clark?” he said again. “Another drink?”
Clark did not answer. Likely because Clark had already had enough and was currently sleeping on the table.
“More!” Griffith called as he downed the rest of his drink. One of the barmaids nodded.
“Excellent service, don’t you think?” Griffith asked Clark. “Very proper procedure,” he couldn’t help but add in a low aside.
Clark snored softly in reply. Not even appreciating Griffith’s wit.
Griffith shrugged, adjusting Clark’s head so he was lying more comfortably. That was one of the secrets behind being a well-respected captain: making certain your crew was taken care of.
He’d taken such good care of Clark that his mate was getting some well-deserved rest. Albeit in a pub, his nose pressed against a wooden table.
He didn’t see the point of being sober either if he was on land, but unfortunately it took a lot for him to get drunk, since he was so large—he towered over everyone on his crew and couldn’t get comfortable below deck. His jackets always felt a bit snug, too, since it seemed tailors did not actually believe that a person’s shoulders could be as wide as Griffith’s.
The curse of the Davies family.
The barmaid placed another glass on the worn wooden table in front of him. “You need one for your friend here?” she asked.
Griffith shook his head no and tossed a few coins to her, which she caught handily. “Thank you,” he said as he took a long draught. The porter was fair to middling at best, but it was beer, so that made it all right.
They usually ran out of beer aboard the ship sometime around the second month of the voyage, and this most recent voyage had lasted over ten months. Too long without alcohol. Or a woman, to be honest.
He did feel slightly fuzzy around the edges, which was good. It also had the benefit of disguising the quality of the alcohol. And the lack of female companionship.
He might’ve attempted some sort of discourse with one of the barmaids, but several ships had docked, it seemed, so the pub was full to bursting and the women were scurrying about with no time for flirtation. Despite their bosoms full to bursting delightfully out of their bodices. He enjoyed the view at least.
While he’d engaged in anonymous couplings in the past, he found the idea distasteful now. He wanted something more, although he had no hope of finding more for the short time they were ashore. So he’d resigned himself to looking—discreetly, so as not to cause distress—and consoling himself with beer and sleeping in a bed long enough for him to stretch his entire body out.
That was heaven for him. Even if it was a solitary heaven.
Plus, there was Clark to consider—it would be downright rude to leave his first mate here alone. Even if Clark was currently unconscious, so perhaps not the best company.
“It’s you and me, love,” he said to the glass, which was already nearly empty.
He, Clark, and his crew had made shore only that morning, and after filing the ship’s paperwork with the authorities, he had told his crew to do whatever they wanted for the next forty-eight hours. He presumed they were scattered around London, doing exactly what he was doing, give or take a few ales and women.
Or, like Clark here, getting some well-deserved rest.
He took the last pull from his glass as he saw the door to the pub open. His mouth dropped open as he saw who had walked in—not that he knew the lady. How could he? Just that she looked like a glorious angel, a vibrant, dark-haired woman wearing a dark cloak. The glimpse he got of her face indicated she was truly stunning. And was entirely out of place in this dingy dockside pub.
“I wish you were awake for this,” Griffith murmured in Clark’s direction. “And I’m reconsidering my stance on anonymous couplings. Although she is clearly a lady, so that would not be possible.” Too bad, he thought. For him, not for her. He didn’t think a lady would wish to have anything to do with someone like him.
The female wore an enormous bonnet on her head, making her have to turn her head to glance around her, a newspaper tucked under one arm, while in the other she was brandishing a—a tiny sword? A poker for the fire?
Oh. A hatpin. Of course. Because young, beautiful ladies often ventured into disreputable establishments carrying only a newspaper and an accessory.
“The fool,” he muttered, shaking his head as he watched her movements. He felt his body tighten in an unconsciously protective position. He wished he weren’t so determined to rescue anybody who seemed they might need help, but that was what had propelled him thus far, so he supposed it wouldn’t stop just because he was off duty. He shrugged, taking another drink as he accepted his own inability to stay uninvolved.
She held the hatpin in front of her, clearly apprehensive. As she should be. The only women in the pub worked here, and they were definitely not ladies. The noise had been growing steadily in the short time he’d been inside. There had even been a few scuffles, although there hadn’t been any full-fledged fights. At least not yet. She glanced around, her gaze, from what Griffith could see of it, intent. As though she were looking for someone or something. She picked her way over to the bar, a few tables away from where Griffith sat and Clark slept.
Griffith rose slowly from his chair, now relieved he hadn’t had more to drink. This lady had no idea what she was walking into, or she would have at least brought a Derringer pistol.
“Pardon me,” he heard her say to one of the barmaids in what was obviously a cultured accent, as though her clothing didn’t give her status away. But she wasn’t able to finish, mostly because the barmaid she’d inquired of was too busy handing out the ales at the other end of the bar.
The noise in the room began to subside as the occupants heard and saw the lady. Griffith grimaced as he heard the low hum of talk that wasn’t the rowdy conviviality of a few moments earlier. This conversation held a tone of suspicion and interest. Damn it. It seemed likely he would have to interfere.
“Who’s this, then?” The voice came from behind Griffith, and he turned, seeing the man wobble up to his feet, a predatory tone in his voice.
It wasn’t one of Griffith’s shipmen, unfortunately. If it were, he could command him to sit back down. To ignore one of Griffith’s direct commands meant immediate dismissal.
“I am looking for someone,” the lady said, raising her chin—and her hatpin—as she turned away from the bar to face the man.
The man walked toward the bar, a lewd grin on his face. “Looking for me, I’d say. How about we grab a drink and get to know each other? I’ve always wanted to have a la—” But he stopped speaking as she raised her arm, sticking the hatpin into the man’s chest, making him yelp as he took a few steps backward.
“I am looking for someone,” she repeated, punctuating each word with a poke as the man grimaced. “And I suspect it is not you.”
Griffith had to admire her even as he anticipated how the man, and his companions, would react.
Sure enough, the man’s table companions rose, their postures clearly indicating violence. There were far too many of them to take out just with a chair. He’d have to try diplomacy. If that failed, he’d upend a few tables.
“Now, gentlemen,” Griffith began, walking toward the scene as he held his hands out in a placating manner, “there’s no need to make a fuss. The lady—”
The man grabbed the hatpin and pushed it back toward her, even as she struggled to keep it pinned in him. It must have hurt, Griffith had to admit.
“Stay out of it,” the man interrupted without glancing at Griffith.
“I cannot,” Griffith said, stepping up and grasping the pin, yanking it out from the man’s hand. Well, diplomacy and his own size and strength. “I will see to the young lady, and help her find who she’s looking for. There is no need for you to bother yourself any longer.” Sometimes there was a benefit to forever championing the underdog in a lopsided fight. Now he could get a better look, see if she was as beautiful as he thought.
The man opened his mouth as though to argue, then looked up—and up—at Griffith’s height and breadth and apparently thought better of it. He nodded at his companions, all of whom lowered themselves slowly back down into their seats.
Griffith exhaled. It wasn’t that he was dreading a fight, but it would be a shame to waste some of his precious free time busting sailors’ heads.
“And who are you?” she asked in a haughty tone of voice, turning her gaze to Griffith. Unlike the man, she didn’t seem intimidated at all by his size. That was a surprise; most people at least blinked twice when they saw him. Plus, he had just rescued her from an unpleasant situation. The very least he could expect would be some gratitude.
None appeared to be forthcoming.
She was as beautiful as he’d suspected; dark hair swept up underneath her hat, a few enticing strands falling down around her face. Her eyes were dark also, with delicate eyebrows that were raised in question. Her nose was perfect, and her mouth—her lips were full and red, and she had a mole to the right of her mouth that seemed, to Griffith, at least, a visual marker for where his own mouth should start kissing her.
Griffith took his hat off, sweeping low into a bow, as genteel and respectable as he’d been taught so many years ago. “Captain Griffith Davies, at your service. I would be glad to assist you if you can tell me who you’re looking for?”
Her expression was puzzled, and then it cleared as she whacked him hard on the arm. He was definitely not expecting that reaction. “You’re Lord Viscount Whateverhisname! You’re the person I’m looking for!”
Griffith hadn’t heard anyone reference his title in so long he nearly opened his mouth to deny it. Then realized he couldn’t, because it was true.
She was about to speak again when the door opened and a phalanx of men poured in, all wearing the garb of the Royal Navy Police.
Griffith did not think they were here for the ale. He positioned himself in front of the lady in an unconscious need to protect her. Was she wanted by the authorities? Was that why she was here, attempting to hide out?
“Captain Davies!” one of the policemen said, sweeping his gaze over the pub’s inhabitants. “We need to speak with Captain Davies.”
“You need to speak with me?” Griffith said, his tone skeptical. Because while he suspected they weren’t here to drink, he hadn’t thought they might want him. But perhaps this was the day when everyone came to this pub looking for him.
Maybe Queen Victoria herself would show up eventually. And he’d have a word with her about ensuring there was enough beer on board her ships. Not to mention discussing what proper procedure should be.
Two of the men went to either side of him, taking his arms. Hm. They did not want him for a polite conversation, then. Unless they were determined to have his full attention. And he could have told them a full pitcher of beer and a large soft chair could have done just as well.
He glanced from one to the other, considering whether he should shake them off. He could do it, but it would likely just be postponing the inevitable. And he’d hate to wake Clark up just for something like this.
The man who’d spoken pushed through to step in front of Griffith, his face blanching as he looked up. “You’re Captain Davies?”
Griffith bowed, at least as much as he was able to, given that his arms were being held. “At your service. What’s this about?”
“You’re being arrested by the authority of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy. If you’ll come with me?”
“As though I have a choice,” Griffith muttered. His improper procedure must have drawn the ire of Her Majesty’s Navy. He’d like to have a word with Her Majesty even more. It was unfortunate the Queen wasn’t waltzing into disreputable pubs brandishing hatpins.
He glanced toward the lady who had done just that, nodding in her direction. “Perhaps we can schedule another time to speak, my lady. As you can see, I am somewhat busy at the moment.” He winked as her eyes narrowed.