The Special Operations Flotilla Read online

  “No. I took his ship instead, that’s worse.”

  “And left an enemy behind you.” It was a statement not a question.

  He didn’t answer that but started to stand to get out of the bath. She stood, came to him and gave him her arm to steady himself. She also gave him a long slow look from top to bottom with a noticeable pause in the middle.

  “Do I pass inspection?” he asked

  “All looks to be present and correct, but I think we will need to check that everything is still working” she smirked.

  “No time like the present” he said then paused “Can you dry my back? I can’t quite reach . . . . . .” Blaez decided at that point that the kitchen would be a better place to be.

  The rest of the day was spent in bed but he didn’t get a huge amount of rest. That evening he left Caroline sleeping and slipped over to the desk. He took the letter and put it on the fire.

  “What was that?” she murmured.

  “Just some papers” he replied and smiling happily got back into bed.

  Armand returned the next afternoon. He asked Marty to attend him in the common room. When he got there he found most of the crew there as well.

  “Gentlemen” Armand said in his quarter deck voice “your attention please.”

  The room quieted and Marty noticed Bill Clarence stood at the back.

  “I have just returned from a meeting with the Admiral and Mr Wickham in London. The big news is that Nelson has destroyed the fleet that left from Toulon at the battle of Aboukir Bay. The French flag ship, the L’Orient, exploded killing almost everyone on board. The news is in the Gazette and I brought copies with me.”

  “I now have some announcements to make.” He looked around the room and saw that he had their attention.

  “First, the Hirondelle will be bought in by the Admiral. The prize money to be distributed in the usual portions.”

  That got big smiles as they thought about the prize money which would probably be a portion of forty thousand pounds. “Second, the other two prizes and their cargos will be sold privately and Bill” he nodded to him at the back “estimates we will get around ten thousand pounds in total for those.” That raised a cheer. “Now to other matters”. He paused dramatically. “Tom Savage is now rated as Coxswain and John Smith Quartermaster and will go into the Lark” That raised a cheer and some good natured catcalls. “Pete Simmons will be Cox in the Alouette and Fred Bailey the Quartermaster.” More cheers. He called them to order.

  “As a ship ‘as to ‘ave a Captain and a Navy Cutter rates a Lieutenant,” he paused again, glanced at Marty and then down at the ground. The men caught that and a growl went around the room. Armand let it grow then looked up and with a grin said “So Martin Stockley, Midshipman, will attend the Lieutenants Examination Board in Chatham next week and if ‘e passes will be immediately appointed Master and Commander of the Lark”. The room erupted into cheering and Marty had men slapping him gently on the back, in consideration of his ribs, and shaking his hand.

  Armand waited until they settled down and then continued. “We will be receiving twenty new men as replacements and to increase our compliment. The usual sweepings from the gaols and magistrates courts,” he grinned at the men “but you can make sure they understand the way things are here and toe the line. We will also be getting two new Mids who have shown ‘special abilities’ according to our Lords and Masters. That is all. You are dismissed.”

  The room slowly emptied and Armand led Marty back to their office where Caroline was waiting. The look on her face told him she had listened in to the whole thing and she hugged him and gave him kiss.

  “Are you ready for the exam?” she asked.

  “I need to revise some things but yes I think I am” he replied.

  The ‘some things’ kept him awake during the daylight hours poring over books as he discovered that he had forgotten more than he thought. Caroline left him to it and went back to her London home so as not to be a distraction. Blaez sat at his feet the whole time. Armand tutored him and threw typical scenarios at him that he knew the Captains on the board liked to surprise candidates with.

  Monday 17th September saw Marty along with a dozen or so other Mids in the coach of HMS Neptune, that was moored at Chatham, awaiting the interview with the examining board. Some Mids were still poring over books trying to cram until the last minute. Others looked terrified and were visibly sweating. Some looked confident. Of those that went in; some came out crestfallen having obviously failed and others beaming having passed.

  Marty sat quietly just trying to stay calm and focused as his turn approached. The young man next to him went in full of confidence and came out 30 minutes later visibly shaken.

  “My God, they are relentless” he stammered.

  Then Marty’s name was called.

  He stood and straightened his uniform, lodged his hat under his arm and entered the Captain’s cabin. The five Captains of the Board sat behind what would have been the dining table. It had been turned into an oversized desk and they sat with their backs to the transom windows, which tended to silhouette them against the late afternoon sun.

  He heard the door close behind him as he stepped up to stand beside the chair that was placed front and centre of the table.

  “Midshipman Martin Stockley reporting for examination Sir.” He said to the Captain in the middle who he assumed was in charge and to whom he passed his log book and papers. He kept his eyes forward and was introduced to Captains Pellew, Franklin, Lombard and Stonebridge. The fifth one, who he had addressed formally, was Captain Cockburn.

  What followed was an intense barrage of questions from each of the board members on ship handling, navigation, tactics and even the articles of war. Then Pellew, who had been watching him carefully, suddenly asked him what he would do if he was Captain of a Sloop accompanying a squadron of Frigates which was engaged with a stronger force of French frigates and one of the British frigates found itself broadside to broadside with a ship that massively outgunned it.

  Marty asked where his sloop was positioned, what was the sea state and direction and force of the wind.

  Pellew gave him the information and Marty immediately visualized the scenario in his mind, working out the vectors and possibilities. Franklin was just opening his mouth to hurry him when Marty started to recite the orders he would give to clew up his square sails so he could wear around and make use of the prevailing wind using his fore and aft sails only, swing across the Frenchman’s stern and serve him with a broadside “up the arse”. He told how he would double shot his nine pounders and load his Carronades with ball over cannister to do maximum damage. He continued his narrative to describe an audacious swing across the wind to bring them back across her stern a second time.

  Captain Lombard scoffed and said,

  “Have you every commanded a sloop? Those manoeuvres would see you in irons.”

  “Yes sir. I have had the privilege to command one as a prize and one as temporary commander. Both are written up fully in my Log”

  “And did you try this manoeuvre in anger?” asked Pellew

  “Yes sir. In defence of the Falcon when she was set upon by a French thirty four. We had gotten separated by a storm, she was undermanned as we were on our way home with 3 prizes including the Sloop and a Frigate, but she was keeping the weather gauge and holding the Frenchman off. We came in late in the fight and raked his stern after which he blew up”

  “I believe I recall reading about that action in the Gazette” put in Cockburn. “So you were the Mid in charge and did it with just a prize crew. Capital. Capital!”

  Marty just sat and tried to look modest as he answered more questions from the rest of the board.

  “Gentlemen, it’s time for our verdict. Pellew your vote?”

  “He is young, but he has amassed more leadership experience than any of the others we have seen, so I say yes.”

  “Franklin?”

  Captain Franklin was thumbing his way throu
gh Marty’s log book and his eyebrows rose in surprise at some of the entries.

  “Franklin?” Cockburn repeated

  “Damn boy has made more prizemoney than I have.” He spluttered to the amusement of the other Captain’s. “Yes, passed”

  And so it went down the table. Cockburn looked him in the eye and invited him to stand. Marty stood to attention.

  “I am pleased to say you have passed your Lieutenants examination with flying colours. I hope you have your future is as interesting as your past.”

  “You are dismissed.”

  Marty saluted and turned to go when Cockburn said “and please give my regards to Lady Caroline. She is my sister in law you know”

  Marty almost stumbled as he stopped and turned to see the Captain grinning openly at him. Of the others Pellew looked amused, Franklin and Lombard surprised and Stonebridge just raised a single eyebrow.

  After leaving the ship with his certificate amongst his papers, Marty collected his chest and Blaez from the Inn he had left them at and caught the late post to London. He had a short argument with the driver about having a dog inside with him but a crown ended that on a good note.

  Once they arrived in London, he got a Hansom cab to Caroline’s house. The greeting he received was to say the least demonstrative and passionate. He forgot to ask about Cockburn. Blaez settled in and found the kitchens where he made himself very comfortable.

  The next morning he walked to the Admiralty with Blaez on a lead, which he had made from some spare harness leather, and left the address where he could be contacted, and went to visit the De Marchet’s.

  After knocking on the door he was shown into the drawing room by the butler who told him the count was with a visitor and would join him shortly. He stood in front of the fire warming himself and waited with his dog led down at his feet. After a few minutes the door opened and the Count walked in, embraced him and gave him a kiss on both cheeks. “Mon cher Martin” he said “You look well. Admiral Hood told me you would be taking your lieutenants exams this week. How did they go?”

  “I passed thank you” Marty replied “How is everybody? I was away for so long and the letters haven’t caught up yet”

  “Madam the Contessa is well. She will be down soon so you can see her yourself. Evelyn is to marry her soldier boy. And young Antoine is growing fast and reading about all your adventures in your letters and the Gazette.”

  Marty felt a faint pang at the news that Evelyn would marry Arthur but he had moved on and was in love with Caroline now. There he had admitted it to himself.

  There was the sound of running feet, the doors burst open and Antoine rushed through yelling “MARTY!”. Marty knelt down so that the ten year old boy could hug him and then held him at arm’s length. Blaez sniffed the boy and then gave him a big wet lick causing giggles.

  “You have grown Antoine” he said “You will be big enough to go to sea soon” He looked up as the Count coughed and saw the Contessa standing in the doorway looking horrified. He quickly stood and bowed and she embraced him.

  “Please do not encourage him” she said “He hero worships you, you know, and wants to go to sea as soon as he can.”

  “There are worse lives” Marty smiled.

  “Marty has passed for Lieutenant.” Antoine crowed from where he was playing tug with the dog with one of the rope curtain tiebacks.

  “Congratulations, mon cher. When will you get a ship?” said the Contessa deciding that the sacrifice of a curtain tie to distract her son was worth it.

  “I will get the Lark as Armand has the Alouette” he replied “and Tom and John Smith have been made warrant officers on her as well”.

  “Ha! And I wager that those Basque cut throats are on the crew as well” laughed the Count.

  Marty just spread his hands and gave a “could I stop them?” look.

  Marty changed the subject to Evelyn’s wedding. It turned out that she would get married next summer at St Martin-in-the-Fields. The bans were being read already.

  “She is so excited” Said the Contessa “You must come if you are home”

  “Of course I wouldn’t miss it for the world if I am in port” he replied

  He stayed for lunch and then making his excuses walked back to Caroline’s which was less than a mile away.

  He was in the library when she got home from a social visit with one of the many ladies groups she attended.

  “You didn’t tell me Captain Cockburn was your brother in law.” He mentioned over the top of the paper he was reading.

  “He is married to my oldest sister Julia. I didn’t think to mention it.”

  “He was the chairman of the examination board. He sent his regards”

  “Oh my! I hope it didn’t disadvantage you!” she said in horror

  Marty laughed “No. He is too smart to let that happen. He waited until the vote had been taken before he let that be known. All the same I was surprised that it was public knowledge that we were seeing each other.”

  “Oh Marty” she smiled fondly “you are so worldly but so innocent at the same time. After the duel we were the main subject of gossip all over London and since then we have been watched minutely. See here” she passed him a broadsheet.

  He took a moment to find the item she was referring to and his eyebrows shot up in surprise and he said “Oh my lord I had no idea!”

  What he read was a gossip column that purported to reveal the latest social news and scandal.

  Lady Caroline Candor has most definitely broken all the hearts of the beaus that have been seeking her hand in marriage. She has been seen again with the dashing young Naval Officer who fought a duel for her honour. The two lovebirds were arm in arm walking through Kensington and a beautiful pair they make!

  “Oh my God! I had no idea!” Marty cried horrified at the exposure.

  Caroline laughed and said

  “Don’t worry, it’s just noise to amuse the ladies who have nothing to do with their lives apart from gossip. It’s not like being in the Gazette, that is really important”

  When they went out to the Theatre the next evening, Marty couldn’t help feel as if everyone was watching him and he didn’t like it, but Caroline’s presence beside him more than made up for it.

  Thursday morning he was eating breakfast and feeding Blaez titbits of bacon and kidney when the butler brought an envelope in on a silver tray and offered it to him. He immediately saw that the seal was the fouled anchor of the Admiralty. He took it and opened it and in it were two large documents written in the traditional green ink and a note written in blue. The first document was his commission as a Lieutenant and the second his orders to take command of the Lark and to get her ready for sea by the end of the month. They were signed by the secretary to the First Sea Lord. The note was from Wickham asking him to attend him in Admiral Hood’s office the next day at ten o’clock.

  Caroline came in and asked what was in the letters. He told her and she sat on his lap and kissed him soundly in congratulation.

  “We must go shopping” she declared “You need new uniforms and a dress sword”, and then sat back and chewed her lip in thought.

  Damn she looks beautiful, Marty thought.

  “We must also get furniture for your cabin, and you could do with a couple of new suits while we are at it. Shoes too and . . . . “ Marty shut her up with another kiss.

  The rest of the day was spent at his tailor where he was measured for new uniforms and two suits styled in the latest fashion. Caroline insisted on buying him a dress sword, which was made by Wilkinson of Sheffield, and while they were in the shop she also got him a set of seven shaving razors in a rosewood box, each marked with a day of the week. The shoes, she insisted, had to have silver buckles and he also had to have a new pair of hessian boots. She also got him a beautiful mahogany writing box fitted out with the latest pens. The furniture he chose was scaled to fit in the cabin of a Cutter and was plain, strongly built and practical.

  He asked for it all
to be sent directly to The Farm as he had a feeling he would be heading back to Kent fairly soon.

  The next morning at ten minutes before ten he was found in the waiting room of the Admiralty, which had the usual selection of hopeful Mids and Lieutenants waiting for a berth on a ship. There were two however that caught his eye.

  One was around five feet six or seven and stocky. He had broken his nose at some time and it had a bit of a list to starboard. He had fair to mousy hair and blue eyes that had a direct look with an almost fierce intensity.

  The other was tall with a shock of black hair, had broad shoulders and exuded a physical presence. He noticed he had dark eyes that were verging on brooding and an almost Italian or Spanish cast to his features.

  The Clerk called out “Lieutenant Stockley, Midshipman Campbell and Midshipman Thompson.”

  Marty stepped forward and so did the two Mids. They looked at him in surprise as he was still wearing a Midshipman’s uniform.

  They were led up the now familiar corridors to Admiral Hoods office and his secretary took them straight in. This time there was a table set up with five chairs and Hood was sat at one end and Wickham at the other. Hood indicated that Marty should take the seat to his right as he greeted him.

  “Congratulations Mr Stockley on your promotion to Lieutenant” Hood opened then looked him uo and down “I trust you have ordered your new uniforms?” he added with an eye on Marty’s attire.

  “Thank you my Lord and yes I visited my tailor yesterday” he replied.

  “I’m sure Lady Caroline made sure you will go to sea well provisioned for” smiled Wickham.

  “Most probably sir” Marty grinned back at him.

  “Now to business” interjected Hood “Let me introduce you to Midshipmen Campbell and Thompson” He pushed two dockets across to Marty. “Here are summaries of their careers to date. You can read them later.”

  Wickham looked up and said “Suffice for now is that they have both shown they are proficient in their duties as Midshipmen and have shown particular talents for the kind of tasks that we undertake. Mr Campbell” he nodded to the shorter of the two, “speaks French, thanks to a French mother, and has shown an adventurous spirit having been kicked off his last ship for being involved in a professional bare knuckle fight in the Haymarket.”