HMS Valiant - 19. Chapter 19

October 21, 1799

HMS Valiant

Lisbon, Portugal

Granger was up at dawn, and since they would be refilling their water, he indulged in the luxury of a fresh water shower. Winkler helped him dress; putting on his best uniform, and then Granger had breakfast. He had just finished his meal when da Colma arrived. Granger greeted him warmly, and offered him breakfast, but da Colma politely declined.

“Our plans for today have changed,” da Colma said.

“Indeed?” Granger asked.

“His Royal Highness has asked that you call on him,” da Colma said. “That means that we must travel to the Queluz Palace. It is ten miles away.”

“I am happy to call on His Royal Highness,” Granger said, which was really his only response.

“Excellent,” da Colma said. “Then let us go.” Granger told Weston his plans, then followed da Colma into his boat. It was a short distance to the dock, where Granger found a very nice carriage, and a large squadron of dragoons to escort them. There were twenty-four of the fellows, and they wore dark blue coats, a different shade than Granger’s uniform, with a blue so dark it was almost black. Their uniforms had red facings that appeared to be the same color red his Marines wore. Granger and da Colma climbed into the carriage, and they clattered off, with half the dragoons in front of the carriage, and half following it.

“This is quite an escort,” Granger observed. Being surrounded by these troops made him feel a bit better, on the one hand, since it was unlikely there was an organized force that was big enough to attack them. At the same time, it also made him uncomfortable, to think that he had to have two dozen dragoons guarding him if he were to travel around in this country.

“I promised you that I would keep you safe, so in order to ensure that I do not break my word, I have perhaps enlisted more troops than are necessary,” da Colma said, making Granger chuckle.

“I think I have more guards than His Britannic Majesty when he travels about London,” Granger joked.

“And more than His Royal Highness when he goes about Lisbon,” da Colma said. “But I am not responsible for posting their escorts.”

“I am glad I have someone in this city that I can trust,” Granger said, and while they had been jocular before, his sincerity when he said that was genuine.

“It is an honor to have earned your confidence,” da Colma said with a smile. He had indeed earned it, when Granger had been in Rio, as he had helped guide Granger through the morass that was Brazilian and Portuguese politics. Da Colma pointed out various sights along the way, keeping Granger entertained.

They arrived at the Queluz Palace, which from the front was not all that impressive. “The joke here is that this palace looks like an expensive birthday cake,” da Colma said, making Granger chuckle. Granger and da Colma exited the carriage, and then went into the palace. Da Colma spoke to a chamberlain for a bit, and then returned, looking mildly frustrated.

“Your audience has been delayed,” he said. “That gives us time to see the gardens.”

“I am at His Royal Highness’ service,” Granger said. He was not worried about a delay; he rather expected it. Da Colma led Granger out into the gardens, and that changed Granger’s entire impression of the place. It was dull and austere from the outside, but from the courtyard, it was quite ornate. The comments about it resembling a birthday cake made even more sense from this vantage point. The gardens were pretty, so Granger and da Colma strolled through them, talking about the world and its current state, until a chamberlain came to retrieve them.

Granger was led into the Hall of Ambassadors. It was a long room, with a checkered floor of blue and white tiles, ornate gold walls, and ceilings with colorful frescoes. At the end of the room was a slightly raised platform, where an ornate but relatively normal chair was occupied by a man who must be the Portuguese monarch. “The Right Honorable Viscount Granger, Knight of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, commanding His Britannic Majesty’s Ship Valiant,” the Chamberlain said in a loud, booming voice. Granger noticed they didn’t mention his Spanish honor. Granger bowed low, as he would to his King, and then approached the throne, bowing again.

“We are pleased to welcome you to Portugal, Lord Granger,” the Prince said in French. He had hair that was starting to recede, and a very small mouth with pouty lips. His nose was straight and sharp, which made an interesting contrast to his chin and cheeks, which were full and flabby. It was difficult to tell when he was sitting down, but Granger thought it likely that when he stood up, the Prince would have a pronounced belly.

Prince John VI of Portugal

“It is an honor to be welcomed by Your Royal Highness,” Granger said.

“We have read of your capture of the Santa Brigada and the Thetis,” he said. “That was good work.”

“I must thank Your Royal Highness for your kind words,” Granger said. He was trying to figure this man out, this man whom so many had spoken of. Some had pilloried him for being a rake, and an uncouth rabble-rouser, while others painted him as being none-too-smart, and overly cautious.

“We received your letters last year, telling us of your difficulties when traveling through our territories. We were most disappointed to hear of your treatment.”

“My greatest concern, Your Royal Highness, was that I had somehow offended you. I was especially worried about that affair in Madeira, and that exposing that smuggling ring had vexed Your Royal Highness,” Granger said.

The Prince smiled slightly. “We are not always lucky to have the smartest and most ethical people serving us. We appreciated that you discovered the malfeasance in Madeira, although it seems that some of our governors did not. We have hopefully dealt with that. I think that the next time you travel to one of our dominions, you will be treated much better.”

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness,” Granger said. “While I had unpleasant encounters in several ports, I was well-received in Rio de Janeiro, and Colonel da Colma was instrumental in helping me outfit my ship for the rest of my voyage.”

“We are glad to hear that,” he said, smiling briefly at da Colma. “I hope you will enjoy your time in Lisbon.” There was a pause, which Granger interpreted to mean that the interview was over. He bowed and backed away from the throne, then bowed again before backing out of the room.

They got back into the carriage, and only after they were on their way back to Valiant did da Colma comment on their meeting. “Thank you for your kind words to Prince John.”

“I am not sure if they will have much of an impact, but they were sincere,” Granger said.

“I think they will have a much bigger impact than you think,” da Colma said. “Your recent capture of the Spanish treasure ships has only increased your esteem in the eyes of His Royal Highness. He was honest when he said that you should have no further troubles if you venture to his dominions.”

“That is good to know,” Granger said. “So it is only in His Royal Highness’ capital that I am unsafe?”

“That is not the only place, and you are certainly not unsafe here today,” da Colma said, making Granger chuckle.

“I feel quite comfortable here with you,” Granger said, and raised his eyebrow suggestively, making da Colma blush slightly.

“I fear that your ambassador is stirring up those who are your enemies,” da Colma said, to ease his embarrassment. “He has been motivated by Lord and Lady Elgin.”

Granger smiled and nodded, reactions that surprised da Colma. “You once gave me a prediction, that if I were to return to Brazil in a few years, you would be the viceroy, and Mr. Cochrane would be our envoy there.”

“That would appear to have been incorrect,” da Colma said.

“Perhaps it was, or perhaps your timeline was a bit too short,” Granger said. “In this situation, I will offer you a prediction, one which I feel much more certain about.”

“Indeed?”

“I suspect that within a year, Mr. Walpole will no longer be His Britannic Majesty’s envoy to Portugal,” Granger said. He had heard the rumors of displeasure when he was in London, rumors that had been all but confirmed by Lord Grenville when they’d conversed at Carlton House. “So as you can see, I need not worry about a man who is facing his own retirement, even if he is not yet aware of it.”

Da Colma laughed. “I can see why you would not. I think that perhaps Mr. Walpole has been too long in Lisbon, and has become a bit too removed from events in London.”

“I think that can happen to an envoy. I can see how a government values his connection to those who are important in the country to which he is sent, and his time in that country generally helps build those connections,” Granger observed, as he thought about that position. “At the same time, immersion in the host country must cloud his views of what is happening at home.”

“I think that is true,” da Colma said, “and as you have noted, as that relationship goes on for a long time, so too does the distance grow.”

Da Colma took Granger back to Valiant, and then bid him goodbye. He had indulged in a tryst with da Colma in Rio, but da Colma did not seem to want to repeat it, and Granger really did not have that desire either. Da Colma was a friend, to the degree that he could be when allegiances may be challenged, but he was not a lover. Granger did not expect to see him again before he left Lisbon, an expectation that turned out to be only too true.

October 23, 1799

HMS Valiant

Lisbon, Portugal

“My lord, a boat is approaching,” Molyneux said. “It looks as if there is a dignitary of some sort aboard.”

“Very well,” Granger said. Other than his trip to Queluz with da Colma, he’d stayed aboard. He had no desire to go out in Lisbon. Granger wasn’t very fond of the Portuguese, and from what he could gather, they weren’t very fond of him. He would be more than happy to be rid of this place. He strode out onto the quarterdeck, where Weston was waiting to report to him.

“We hailed the boat, and it carries His Majesty’s envoy to Portugal,” Weston explained. “We’ve already rigged the bosun’s chair.”

“Excellent. Prepare the necessary salute,” Granger ordered.

“Aye aye, my lord.”

Granger watched as the men lifted the bosun’s chair, swung it over above the deck, and then gently lowered Robert Walpole down. He was over 60 years old, and had served as His Majesty’s ambassador to Portugal since 1771. Granger eyed this older man who was dressed in Portuguese fashions, and did not seem British at all. “Welcome aboard, Your Excellency,” Granger said politely. “Won’t you join me for a some refreshments?”

“Thank you, my lord,” Walpole said, but in an irritated tone. Granger led him into his cabin, and handed him a glass of red wine. “I am quite vexed that Your Lordship chose to call on His Royal Highness without calling on me first.” Granger found his abrupt manner, and the way that he broached the issue of his annoyance, to be quite boorish.

“As a visitor to this port, I assumed that if Your Excellency had wanted to interview me, Your Excellency would have come out to greet me, or sent an appropriate official for that purpose,” Granger said evenly. He did not necessarily expect an older man like Walpole to travel out by boat to call on him, but he certainly could have sent one of his aides. “As you did not, I did not feel required to make an effort to pursue Your Excellency for an audience.”

“Your Lordship is clearly unaware of the niceties of diplomacy,” Walpole said with a sneer.

“On the contrary,” Granger said calmly, controlling his anger at this man who had the nerve to tell him that he was acting improperly, when he was not. “I have demonstrated that I am, in fact, adequate in that role, to the degree that His Majesty’s Privy Council gave me wide powers to make changes to diplomatic posts on my last voyage.”

“But you do not have those powers now, my lord.”

“I do not need them, Your Excellency,” Granger said. “I am close enough to England that I can dispatch a letter to Lord Grenville if I need to.”

“Just as Your Lordship wrote on matters pertaining to Lord Elgin, my lord?” Walpole asked acidly.

“Just as I did for Lord Elgin, Your Excellency,” Granger said firmly, letting that threat linger.

“And I am most disturbed that I learned of your victory over the Spanish from a Portuguese newspaper, my lord, and not from you,” Walpole complained. Granger had to force himself not to laugh in Walpole’s face.

“Did not Lord Elgin make you aware of our battle, Your Excellency?” Granger asked, feigning ignorance.

“His Lordship did not,” Walpole said. “It was a naval matter, so I would have expected Your Lordship to tell me about it.”

“Then I would suggest, Mr. Walpole, that you make an effort to contact naval officers who enter this port,” Granger said, repeating his point about Walpole’s rudeness in not calling on him. “I think that if you contact Lord Grenville, or perhaps converse with some of your diplomatic brethren, you will find it is an inexcusable act of rudeness to ignore the arrival of a warship from your own country, especially one as substantial as Valiant.”

“I am quite aware of my obligations and my duties, my lord,” Walpole snapped. Granger just stared at the man, stunned by his idiocy.

“You are not, Your Excellency, but you will not listen to my words, so we will have to hope you hear them when they are uttered by others,” Granger said firmly. Walpole did not seem to realize that he was making a dangerous enemy out of Granger, a fact that Granger found disturbing, not because he required subservience from Walpole, but because it made him question Walpole’s judgment. Instead of trying to smooth things over, Walpole merely changed the subject.

“Lady Elgin is so upset at her treatment aboard this ship, she has all but refused to continue her voyage with you, my lord,” Walpole said. He assumed that such a revelation would upset Granger. He was wrong.

“I was purposely detailed for this mission, Your Excellency, because Lady Elgin’s temperament is well known in London,” Granger said. “I am unconcerned as to whether she continues on this voyage or not. I would suggest, though, that if Lord Elgin returns to England with her, I cannot see that he can expect further employment by His Majesty’s government.”

“I think you are perhaps over-emphasizing your importance in this situation, my lord,” he said.

“Mr. Walpole, if there were no issues with Her Ladyship, why would I be sent to take Lord and Lady Elgin to Constantinople? Surely you must realize that I am not the most popular person at the Porte?” Granger asked. Spencer had tossed out that nonsense about his presence being a warning to the Sultan, but Granger had largely been able to discount that. It was just Spencer’s way of glossing over how horrible Lady Elgin was. “In fact, that was the primary reason I was chosen for this mission. It concerns me greatly that someone who occupies an important diplomatic position cannot discern the subtext here.”

Walpole ignored that point, even though it had seriously annoyed him, and changed the direction of his conversation. “I cannot think that Your Lordship would be so cold as to ban Her Ladyship from having contact with your officers and your crew.”

“It is not your place, Your Excellency, to determine how my officers interact with Lady Elgin. If you have come out here to tell me how to run my ship, then you may leave,” Granger said. He was stunned that Walpole had presumed to come out here and negotiate for different conditions for the Elgins. He would tolerate no interference from this man.

“I did not mean to give Your Lordship directives,” Walpole said, backing up in the face of Granger’s anger. “I was merely inquiring as to your reasoning.”

“You were not, Mr. Walpole, you were overstepping your bounds by a considerable margin. That diminishes all your prior assertions about your diplomatic skills. But to show you a courtesy you have not extended to me, I will explain my reasoning. During the last dinner I hosted where Her Ladyship was present, she so insulted one of my officers that it almost resulted in a challenge to Lord Elgin. Her incredibly bad manners would have ended up causing a duel, were it not for the honorable way that Major Treadway and Lord Elgin handled themselves,” Granger said. “Her Ladyship does not know how to conduct herself in polite society, so I have made sure that she can cause no problems with my officers, who are quite aware of how to act.”

“Perhaps that is not accurate, my lord,” Walpole said. Granger had addressed him in a patronizing way, and that had made him so angry his face was red. “Perhaps it is not Her Ladyship that is unable to act correctly; it is your officers, my lord.”

“I will certainly relay your words to those officers, Your Excellency,” Granger said calmly. “One of the men at dinner was the Earl of Barnfield, whose father, the Marquess of Hartford, is one of His Majesty’s gentlemen of the bedchamber, serving in that position alongside my father. The other is Major Treadway, who is related to Lord Spencer. I am sure those gentlemen will be amazed to hear your verdict on the conduct of their relatives, and I cannot help but believe they will question what authority you feel you have to even make that kind of assessment.”

“I meant no disrespect to those gentlemen, my lord,” he lied.

“If I were to repeat your words to those gentlemen, they may well believe you have insulted their honor, and they may feel compelled to seek satisfaction from Your Excellency,” Granger said. “I would recommend that you bear that in mind when you cast aspersions at His Majesty’s officers.”

Walpole said nothing; he just stared at Granger for a minute, completely flummoxed. He had not only insulted Granger, but had managed to insult other powerful people. This conversation was certainly not progressing as he thought it would. Granger was hard-pressed not to laugh in the man’s face as Walpole desperately tried to manage his facial expressions, even as Walpole failed miserably at the attempt. He ultimately opted to change the topic of conversation again. “And how did your interview with Prince John go, my lord?”

“Quite well,” Granger said. Walpole waited for him to expand on that, but when Granger didn’t, he gave Granger a truly evil look.

“I must inform Your Lordship that I feel it necessary to bring these matters to the attention of His Majesty’s government,” Walpole said imperiously.

“And what matters are you referring to, Your Excellency?”

“Your treatment of Lord and Lady Elgin, and your refusal to divulge the details of your conversation with His Royal Highness Prince John,” Walpole said.

“Your Excellency is more than welcome to bring up those matters,” Granger said. “In the meantime, I will draft a memorandum regarding my conversation for Lord Grenville, so he can provide it to you if he sees fit, and if you are still serving as His Majesty’s envoy in Portugal.”

“You are suggesting I am to be recalled, my lord?” Walpole asked, his eyes bulging. Granger said nothing, even though he knew that just such a plan was in the works. Having met Walpole, he now understood why.

“I made no such suggestion, Your Excellency,” Granger said. “I am merely offering Lord Grenville the chance to decide whom to share the details with.”

“Then I will have to wait months for simple news which Your Lordship could easily convey to me right now.”

“So it seems,” Granger said coolly. “Unless Your Excellency has some other matter that we need to discuss, I fear that my duties require me to end our interview.”

“I was just trying to warn Your Lordship of the enmity Lady Elgin bears you,” Walpole said.

“I am aware of her enmity, Your Excellency. I think that you would have been better served in trying to evaluate her suitability to be an ambassador’s companion, and in perhaps explaining to Her Ladyship what is required of someone of her station,” Granger said.

“Your Lordship should be careful,” Walpole said. “Her Ladyship will no doubt leave a string of envoys and governors in the Mediterranean who will be sympathetic to her case. Those men will undoubtedly relay their opinions back to London.”

Granger laughed at that, which really bothered Walpole. “His Majesty’s governors are quite able to see right through Lady Elgin, Your Excellency.” Granger didn’t add the phrase ‘while you were not’ because it was obvious in the context.

“I think they will be concerned about the traumas Lady Elgin has endured, my lord,” Walpole said.

“I am surprised to hear Your Excellency say that,” Granger said. “I am wondering which of these governors or envoys will be so quick to condemn me and take up her cause? I cannot think of any of them who would be so short-sighted, and so blind to the reality of the situation.”

“I guess we shall see about that, my lord,” Walpole said. He was so mad; it almost looked as if there were smoke coming out of his ears.

“I guess we shall, Your Excellency, but please allow me to give you a preview of those with whom we will encounter. When we arrive in Gibraltar, we will be greeted by Governor O’Hara, who is a friend of mine. You will possibly recall that I served on the Gibraltar station, under his orders, with some distinction?” Granger had exchanged friendly letters with O’Hara, especially since his return from Paris. He would trust Granger’s judgment on this matter, especially after he spent some time with Lady Elgin.

“I am aware of your capture of the Oran ruby, my lord,” Walpole allowed, remembering Granger’s key achievement of that deployment.

“Thank you, Your Excellency,” Granger said, turning Walpole’s rather snide statement into a compliment. “After we leave Gibraltar, we will travel to Minorca, where we will meet with Governor Sir Charles Stuart. Sir Charles is the brother of Lord Bute, a close friend of my father’s, and a friend of mine as well. Lord Bute was my guide when I was at the Alhambra, and received the Collar of the Order of Charles III from His Most Catholic Majesty.”

“Another notable achievement, my lord,” Walpole said, but a bit more humbled.

“I must thank Your Excellency for saying so. It is an honor I treasure, even though we are regrettably at war with Spain,” Granger said.

“I find it hard to imagine that you regret that, my lord, since you have been so successful at seizing His Most Catholic Majesty’s treasure, both here and in the Pacific.” Granger almost laughed at how Walpole had inadvertently irritated himself by further crowing about Granger’s achievements.

“While those funds are certainly welcome, I value my relationships with the Spanish much more than the money, Your Excellency,” Granger said, making the man seem like a greedy merchant. Walpole said nothing, he just glowered at Granger. “And when we arrive in Sicily, we will be under the aegis of Lord Nelson, a man whom I most recently served under during the Battle of the Nile as his Captain of the Fleet, and whom I also consider to be a personal friend.” Granger briefly touched one of his gold medals, the larger of the two, the one he’d been awarded for his service during the Battle of the Nile. “I was awarded this medal by His Majesty for my role in that battle.”

“That was truly a monumental victory,” Walpole said, since it was.

“It was spectacular,” Granger agreed, even as he remembered the carnage and death. “There has been no other naval victory like it.”

“Indeed,” Walpole grumbled.

“Your Excellency will also note, perhaps, that this other medal I wear is a result of my presence at the Battle of St. Vincent, when I was able to spirit Lord Nelson back to his ship, so he could engage in that battle, one which did much to ensure his fame.”

“Capturing both the San Nicholas and the San Josef is the stuff of legends, my lord,” Walpole agreed.

“It truly was,” Granger said, then sat back in his chair and eyed Walpole with barely concealed contempt. “So tell me, Your Excellency, which of these governors will be writing to London, attempting to discredit me?”

“I was merely trying to improve relationships between Your Lordship and Lord and Lady Elgin,” Walpole said, beating a retreat in the face of Granger’s logic.

“Your Excellency was, in fact, attempting to threaten and bully me into letting Lady Elgin have virtual command of my ship and of this mission,” Granger said. He allowed Walpole to see some of his anger. “You have linked yourself to the wrong person, Your Excellency. That makes me question your judgment, and it will undoubtedly lead His Majesty’s government to question it.”

Walpole stood up, furious with Granger over words which Walpole was worried were only too true. “I will discuss this matter with Lord and Lady Elgin, my lord,” he said. “Regardless, I think that you have already spent too much time in Lisbon.”

“How ironic that you think that, Your Excellency,” Granger said. “I was pondering the same thing about you.” And with that, Walpole turned on his heel and all but stormed out of Granger’s cabin. Granger followed at a more deliberate pace, if only to make Walpole look more idiotic, then gave orders for him to be hoisted back into his boat.

October 27, 1799

HMS Valiant

Lisbon, Portugal

Granger stood on the quarterdeck, grinning ruefully as he saw the boat carrying the Elgins, rowing urgently out to the ship. It was almost noon now, and they had missed the morning tide. They could possibly leave on the evening tide, but that would be too hazardous, to risk a departure at night. That meant they would not be able to depart until tomorrow.

The boat was hailed, and the response confirmed what everyone already knew: that Lord and Lady Elgin were returning to Valiant. Lord Elgin ascended the side of the ship, while Lady Elgin took the bosun’s chair. “Good afternoon, Granger,” Elgin said in a pleasant way. “We are aboard on the 27^th, just as you prescribed.”

“You are indeed aboard on the 27^th,” Granger said, “but you are late, and we will not be able to sail until tomorrow morning. As per my instructions to you, we will thus only have a five day stay in Gibraltar.”

“What nonsense is this?” Lady Elgin demanded, but Granger pretended as if he hadn’t heard her, and so did everyone else. He just focused his attention on Elgin.

“It will be a shame to truncate our visit there,” Elgin said, acknowledging with as much grace as possible that Granger was right. He got a truly foul look from his wife. “This is the chef I have hired,” he said, introducing Granger to an older, swarthy Portuguese man.

“We will find a berth for him, and we will make sure that he is acquainted with the cooking facilities on board,” Granger said politely. A simple glance at Weston was all that was required to make that happen.

“I am most appreciative,” Elgin said. “We have also brought some food and supplies with us.”

“We will have those hauled aboard and stored where your chef can get access to them,” Granger said.

“Thank you, Granger,” Elgin said politely. “Then we will go down and re-familiarize ourselves with our cabins.”

“Excellent,” Granger said, and watched them, and their entourage, go below.

“They brought no livestock, my lord,” Weston said, as soon as they had gone.

“I encouraged His Lordship to buy a bullock, or at least a sheep, but he refused to spend the money on one, my lord,” Andrews said.

“I suspect that will make them wish for a speedy trip to Gibraltar,” Granger noted wryly.