FitzH1943

My word! Never a dull moment. Now, what's next? Maybe an Ambassadorship to Paris as someone before me has suggested. Perhaps as the Kings Emissary to India to convey the news of the Peace treaty? Maybe a trip on a fast packet to Lord Nelson? Whatever lies in Lord Brentwood's future, I am sure it will be exciting.

I am 81 now and I can say that the displays of courtesies that are so beautifully reconstructed in this chapter between the children and the introduction to their Majesties was not too far off those my generation followed when first introduced to our Grandparents and other family Grands. That happened shortly before our First Communion over 75 years ago now. And after the Mass, we were all paraded into the Church Hall where we were presented to His Lordship, the Bishop. And, to us young people, we were certainly aghast that such an august person, after our bow and the kissing of the ring, would be able to welcome us using our first names. Of course we were so awestruck that I, at least, failed to notice the young priest standing just behind His Lordship announcing our names to him. T'was a grand affair indeed.

It is a well known fact that throughout history Kings, Queens, Emperors and Empresses have on their own accord distributed honours. The Royal Victorian Order was used, at times, by our late Most Gracious Queen through her long and glorious reign to reward the many levels of the Order to acknowledge services individuals have rendered to the Crown. In today's list or rank of Orders, the Order of the Bath is third after the Most Noble Order of the Garter followed by the The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle {associated with Scotland}. I believe {but don't quote me} the Order of the Bath was in the personal gift of the Sovereign but today I understand this Order of Chivalry is bestowed by the Sovereign upon the Advice of his Ministers. I do think Captain Francis Calvert did deserve this honour. I do not think, given his humble background, that he would have been awarded this Noble order of Chivalry on his own merits. Someone or a group of notable someones what have had to recommend him to the Sovereign's notice. But I think, as we have followed him through the many books of this wonderful story, he is well deserved. Now, they must certainly marry him off to a someone who probably looks like a camel so that Captain, Sir Francis Calvert can have someone one his arm at all the functions he may be required to attend. But, then again, that dear Opera Singer may just light a fuse but married he may be but not to the Kings most favorite daughter. The truth of the matter is the lovely Princess Amelia did fall in love with as equerry, desiring to marry him. He was 21 years older than she. He was an Army Officer who later rose to the Rank of General. The Queen was told of the affair by a servant but turned a blind eye. It was hoped that such discretion would prevent the King from discovering the liaison, which may have risked sending him into one of the bouts of mental illness to which he was becoming increasingly prone. Though she never gave up hope of marrying him, Amelia knew she could not legally marry the equerry due to the provisions of the Royal Marriages Act passed by her father's Parliament (at least until she reached the age of 25, after which she could receive permission by the assent of the King's Privy Council. Before her passing she would tell her brother, the Prince Frederick, that she considered herself to be married, taking the initials A. F. R. (Amelia FitzRoy). The equerry was the Honourable Charles FitzRoy. Upon the untimely death of Princess Amelia at the age of 27, in Weymouth, on 2 November 1810, her will dictated that all of her possessions be given to Charles FitzRoy. I just love how our Author can take an actual factoid of history and re-craft it to fit his story. We know that in our story, Captain Calvert supposedly had relations with the young Princess but she died single. Now that leaves open the opportunity for the now knighted good Captain to be married off to a dithering camel. lol lol lol Now for my timely walk to my favorite watering hole.

Bloody marvelous chapter. Granger has a liaison with a Sicilian Prince and then both are joined by a wonderful Opera singer. All go to sleep well satisfied. Then the next morning we see Granger acquiring a willing Mistress and he then goes to the Palace to find Capt. Calvert being almost a prisoner by the pretty little Princess whose life he saved from drowning. Then, when using his trump card of mentioning Her Majesty and rather than having the cow dung hitting the fan {although I recognize there were no electric fans back then} in comes Captain Calvert who in passing discussion with his friend informs him that he lost his cherry to that pretty Princess. He admits it was an enjoyable but not as enjoyable as that he had had recently. And, one wonders why they are all walking around with smiles on their faces. Bloody marvelous I say, what,what?

Although I do not find it unusual at the circumstances, I think His Majesty well understood what Lt. Chalmers was suggesting. Given that the letter contained mere speculation and musing of third parties, His Majesty did the right thing. He was aware of Captain Calvert's military acumen and, as is suggested that Her Majesty did have the thought of placing a suspected catamite with the King's most precious daughter gave her some hope that the good Captain would not attempt to seduce one of the Crown Jewels. However, in my long experience {going on 81 years now} I have met very few alpha males, who were young, well built and had a sense of social skills who, given the opportunity, no matter how brief, would not succomb to their carnal desires. Yes, Capt. Calvert has no knowledge of sleeping with women but any two novices put into the right situation, will quickly learn.

Yes, definitely a bonding purge. However, I wonder how our two gentlemen {remembering that there are already rumours of Calvert preferring men} will fair if Granger is required to leave the ship, as he is eventually expected to do when her rightful Captain returns, and then returns to London? Will Calvert follow him, I wonder? And will then the tongues begin to wag as we all know just how those of the Court care so little about reputations. Thin ice ahead for the pair m'thinks.

This is the first time I have read this story. There are not that many writers who can write a story with so many characters and, yet, keep all the characters alive or, in Andre and Billy's cases, passed away. The reality that has struck me in these 48 chapters is the realism. Any gay reader who lived through those yeas can easily relate to the story, the secrecy in which gay men had to live, and the various historical events which took place during that time. I was serving as an officers steward aboard a merchant ship entering Manila Bay when we saw several U.S, destroyers leaving. Our Captain noticed that the destroyers were flying a large battle flag at half mast. He ordered the Radio Officer to inquire and when he heard the news, I saw him remove his cap and bow his head. After a brief time, he made an announcement in both Swedish and English informing the crew of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. As rough and tough as ocean going seamen usually are, that evening at dinner I don't think there was a dry eye in the wardroom. I remember serving aboard H.M.C.S. Lauzon, a frigate in the 9th Escort Squadron based at the Naval base in Halifax, when the Captain made the announcement that the nuclear submarine, USS Thresher, was missing and presumed to have imploded in the Eastern Atlantic. Now, it's quite normal for Canadian and US sailors to destroy a bar or two when ships of those navies are visiting the same ports. Having served in a Shore Patrol on many such occasions, I was always surprised at how much damage can be caused by so few sailors when they get to drinking remembering that in those days Canadian warships had rum rations every day whereas the Americans {poor fellows} were always dry. The Canadian Navy at that time was still scaling down their fleets from the high numbers during the war years. We had not built any new warships and what submarines we did have on the East Coast were actually WW II built and crewed by British and not Canadian seamen. But the Thresher was brand new and on a trip where she was still carrying out sea trials. She was nuclear which made us all, not only grieve for the brave lads who had perished, but worried about whether there would be some horrific nuclear explosion. What did we know back then? Thank you, Mark for a wonderful story.

Sorry Guys. Mark is such a talented writer that I tend to just read along, as I am sure his many readers do, for the simple pleasure of just reading his good and enjoyable stories.

I am not sure if I should say this but "All's well that ends well". Capt. Calvert is recovering and their intensely personal relationship is slowly being re-kindled. Caroline has been controlled and, quite obviously, George has the confidence of His Majesty, the King.

I have followed Mark for years now and I thought Northern Exposure was the last in the Bridgemont Series but when I did lament that fact, Mark so kindly wrote and said the series will continue. Thus, I am so happy the new story has begun. Thank you Mark. Regards, FitzHugh

Well! That went well. But I'm not nor ever have been a great rice eater. Not even during my few trips to the Far East.

I am enjoying this story tremendously. I feel like somehow I could interchange parts of my own story with this story. Crazy how life turns out.

It is certainly a glimpse, however small, into Adam's past. But somehow, I still can't get it out of my mind that eventually one day the Z will miss school and go back to Adam's place and eventually they will end up in Adam's bedroom with Adam's legs on the Z's shoulders and you know the rest. Artie comes home after school goes up the stairs, sees Adam's door open and finds his boyfriend well into Adam. Life's not fair but I've seen it happen.

I know what Dizzy's mother is going through. I know it from practical experience. My mother's boyfriend so pissed me off, I drew a knife but my mother moved between us. Now I couldn't stab my mother, could I? But it was a clear sign to me, and I never stayed under her roof again. Single parent homes can be so complicated. I know what the Z of our story must be feeling.

Charges, definitely. A month or 6 for assault wouldn't be bad either. His attitude would probably have the other inmates beat him roundly.