HMS Valiant - 31. Chapter 31

December, 1799

HMS Valiant,

The Mediterranean Sea

George Granger read the Articles of War, that onerous code of rules under which His Majesty’s Navy operated. He could probably have recited them from memory, but he used the book as a guide, to ensure he didn’t miss one. When he was done, he nodded briefly to Hercule, who began to administer the punishment. The first of twelve lashes tore into the back of a young seaman named Houghton, a man who had an unblemished record until this point. He had gotten into a fight with another seaman, Seppings, and they’d both pulled out their knives, so there was no avoiding this action. Houghton took his punishment like a man, without even a cry of pain, and then he was cut loose from the gratings, and taken down to see Dr. Jackson, who would give him some ointments to ease the healing of his back.

Seppings was next, and the process repeated itself. Granger was proud that he took his punishment with just as much stoicism. When the thing was done, Granger turned to Weston. “Dismiss the men.”

“Aye aye, my lord,” Weston said. Granger watched as the men returned to duty, looking for any signs of sullenness, but these men were probably of the opinion that the two fighters had gotten off lightly, or at least fairly.

Granger longed to return to his cabin to mentally compose himself, but he was concerned that the men would know he was doing just that, and would think him weak. Instead, he began to pace the deck as he had done so many times before, pondering this recent punishment, and the overall state of morale on board Valiant. As if to explain the reason for it, a muffled moan rose up from below, as Lady Elgin wailed against whatever was vexing her. She had not come out of her cabin since they’d sailed, and her servants had spoken to no one, not even Winkler. All they heard from her was the occasional muffled moan or cry, as he just had.

While the woman was certainly unpopular on board, and possibly because it was difficult to feel sympathy for her, her presence and presumed punishment had cast a pall over the entire ship. Moods were bad and tempers were short, even amongst the officers. This morning, it had boiled up below decks and the result was a fight, and this flogging. The woman was like a curse, determined to damn them to hell as long as she was on board.

That made Granger even more reluctant to stop in Tenedos, as he was anxious to deposit the Elgins and their party in Constantinople and be done with them. At the same time, he was concerned that unless they stopped, he would not be able to uncover whatever scheme she was involved in. She was obviously planning to meet with someone ashore, and to deliver that cypher, but whom was she meeting with? And what was the purpose? The mystery was too great, and the need to solve it paramount. Unfortunately, the answers to those questions lay in Tenedos, and that convinced Granger that he would have to stop there.

Having finally made that decision, he began to speculate as to what would happen when they got there. Lady Elgin would go ashore, and she would take the cypher. Would they be able to monitor her every move? What if she was able to deliver it without Granger discovering who her intended recipient was? What if she were to actually fulfill her mission under his very nose? Sending her ashore with that document was like carrying a torch around Valiant during a battle. God only knows what would be burnt to ashes.

And then Granger formed an idea, and felt that idea begin to energize him. He finished his walk, and abruptly returned to his cabin, pausing only to hand Winkler his coat and to pass the word for Patton, his clerk.

Patton arrived almost immediately. He was a quiet young man, probably all of 24 years old, with a mousy and unimpressive appearance but for one thing: his purplish blue eyes that shone brightly, revealing the intelligence that lay behind them. “You sent for me, my lord?”

“I did,” Granger said. He poured them both a glass, and gestured for Patton to sit in one of his leather chairs in his gallery, something that he usually reserved for officers and friends. The gesture was not lost on Patton. “Do you recall the document you copied for me recently?”

“I do, my lord,” he said, then got nervous. “I vowed that I would say nothing of it to anyone, and I have fulfilled that promise.”

Granger smiled, disarming the nervous young man. “You and I have travelled many miles together, and you have served as my clerk for over three years now. I have never had reason to question your loyalty or honesty, and I am not doing that now.”

“Of course not, my lord,” Patton said. “And thank you.”

“You are welcome,” Granger said. “I do not know if you remember much about the original document, but I am wondering if it would be possible to create a copy of it, one that was so similar it would be indistinguishable from the original.”

Patton pondered that for a moment. “I think it would be possible, my lord. There is a member of the crew, a man named Gormley, whom is rumored to have a past history of counterfeiting.” Gormley was a carpenter’s mate, so presumably he’d turned his skill with paper toward its more direct ancestor: wood.

“Perhaps that is why he is now a sailor,” Granger said with a smile. It was not uncommon for men who were in trouble, at risk of being apprehended by the authorities, to opt for service in a King’s ship instead.

“I suspect that is likely, my lord,” Patton said with a sly grin. “The paper that was used for that document is common, and I am fairly sure I have some aboard.”

“As you have probably discerned, the paper you copied is a cypher,” Granger said. “I am not sure what the code is for, but it is almost certain that Lady Elgin will attempt to pass it off to someone, most likely when we arrive at Tenedos.”

“We have already copied the document, my lord,” Patton said, not following Granger’s train of thought.

“That is correct, but I am concerned that if Lady Elgin goes ashore with that code and manages to pass it off to someone, it could create substantial problems. As I am wont to discover her plans, I must let that part of the plan progress.”

Patton looked even more confused now. “What would you have me do, my lord?”

“I was of a mind to attempt to draft a substitute code, one that she would not be able to tell was different, but one that was substantially altered from the original,” Granger said. It took little time for Patton to process that, as was evidenced by the smile on his face.

“The code would be delivered, but it would be nothing but gibberish, my lord?”

“That was my thought,” Granger said. “You would only have tonight to get it done. What would you need?”

“I would need Gormley’s help and cooperation, my lord, along with some quiet seas and a remote place to work,” he said.

“Then assuming the weather does not change, we will heave to this evening, and that should give you the calmness you need,” Granger said. “You can use my office for your project, which should give you and Gormley ample space.”

Patton nodded. “I would also need the original document, my lord. I did nothing more than copy it before, but this time, we’d need to reproduce it as it is, complete with creases and any damage.”

“I will work on that,” Granger said. He got up and walked over to his safe, and took out the original code. “In the meantime, perhaps you can spend some time with this, and develop the new alternate code, one that will be meaningless, but will appear similar to a person scanning it.”

“Aye aye, my lord,” Patton said. Granger passed the word for Elgin, and waited patiently for him to arrive. It was a full quarter of an hour before he appeared, looking as spruce as ever, and in excellent spirits.

“You asked to see me, Granger?”

“I did,” Granger responded. “I have decided to accede to Her Ladyship’s request to stop in Tenedos, with one proviso.”

“And what do you require?” Elgin asked cautiously.

“The document, the cypher that my clerk copied,” Granger said, referring to the document. “I want to review it, and make sure it was in fact copied correctly.”

“You do not trust your clerk?” Elgin asked, in a slightly patronizing way.

“I trust my clerk, but I have time this evening to review it, and I think that something this important is worth checking a second time,” Granger said, making sure Elgin could hear annoyance in his voice.

“That would seem prudent,” Elgin agreed. “I have put that document back with her other papers, but as she is indisposed right now, I should be able to retrieve it without notice.” Granger began to wonder what had indisposed Lady Elgin, but put thoughts of her out of his mind. She was reaping what she had sown.

“My lord, it is almost dawn,” Winkler said, nudging Granger gently. He’d fallen asleep in one of his chairs, having been up all night evaluating the progress of Gormley and Patton.

“Quite so,” Granger said. He stood up slowly and stretched his tired limbs, then strode into his office. “Good morning,” he said to Gormley and Patton.

“Good morning, my lord,” they both said shyly. For Patton, that was his normal demeanor, while for Gormley, it was more representative of how uncomfortable he felt working in such close proximity to his captain.

“We have just now finished the document, my lord,” Patton said. He handed Granger two pages.

“Which one is it?” Granger asked.

“Begging your pardon, my lord, but can you tell?” Gormley asked playfully, and then got nervous.

Granger ignored him and focused on the two documents, marveling at how similar they were. He inspected both sides, looking to see if there were any markings that could distinguish the original from the copy, but found nothing. “I can see nothing different.”

“Then I would submit, my lord, that we have succeeded,” Patton said with a smile. He looked at both documents, folded one up, presumably the forgery, and put it back in its envelope. He handed the other document to Granger. “This is the original, my lord.”

“Thank you, gentlemen,” Granger said. He gave each of them five guineas, and admonished them to say nothing to anyone. He knew Patton would be silent, but he wasn’t sure about Gormley. In this situation, he would have to hope the man listened to him. He put the original document in his safe, then summoned Elgin to break his fast with him, and gave him the forgery. Elgin reviewed it carefully, and seemed to be satisfied that everything was in order, and then took it back to his cabin.

No sooner had he left than Genarro knocked and entered his cabin. “Sir, we have sighted land.”

“I will be there directly,” Granger said, and followed the young man onto the quarterdeck.

“We’ve sighted land, my lord,” Weston said. “Looks to be Tenedos.”

“Then we have made a perfect landfall, Mr. Weston,” Granger said. “Please make sure our salute is ready.”

“Aye aye, my lord,” Weston said, but did nothing, because he’d already had those arrangements well in hand.

They approached the small island with its even smaller harbor. It was shaped like a crescent, appropriately enough, with a fortress dominating the center. On one side of the fortress was the town, and on the other was a mole that was quite substantial. The Ottoman flag, a red banner with a crescent and an eight-pointed star, flew jauntily from the flagstaff on the fortress. “Raise our colors, with a large flag at the main mast,” Granger ordered.

“Aye aye, my lord,” Llewellyn said, and attended to that. Travers had been learning the signals, but Llewellyn was an expert at it, probably even better than Kingsdale.

“Quite an edifice,” Elgin said, as he joined Granger on the deck.

“Indeed,” Granger agreed.

“It was a ramshackle Ottoman fortress, but it was recrafted and modernized by the Venetians when they ruled this part of the world. I am unsure as to what type of artillery it contains,” Elgin said.

“Hopefully we will not have to find out,” Granger said with a smile. “I plan to leave the day after tomorrow.”

“I think that is reasonable,” Elgin said. “It shouldn’t take long to get to Constantinople from here.”

“Much of that will depend on the winds, tides, and the pilot we receive,” Granger responded. “But it is about two hundred miles.”

“We’re ready to begin the salute, my lord,” Weston prompted.

“Proceed,” Granger said. Valiant’s guns began to go off in a steady rhythm, matched by those on the Ottoman fortress.

“There’s a boat approaching, my lord,” Llewellyn informed him. Granger looked at the pinnace and saw a burly looking man sitting next to a man in a much more resplendent uniform.

“It would seem they have sent a major to greet us,” Granger noted, more to guide Weston in arranging the appropriate honors. The boat hooked on, and the major was piped aboard.

“Welcome to Tenedos,” the man said in French. “I am Major Bahir Celik.” He was older, probably in his late forties, and a bit portly.

“Captain Viscount Granger, of His Britannic Majesty’s Ship Valiant,” Granger responded. “And this is Lord Elgin, His Britannic Majesty’s Envoy to the Sublime Porte.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Granger. Your fame precedes you. And it is also a pleasure to officially welcome you, Lord Elgin, to the realm of His Sacred and Imperial Majesty, Padishah Selim III,” he said with a bow.

“We thank you for your kind greetings,” Elgin said, and both he and Granger bowed back. “My wife is with child, so we have stopped to give her a day to recuperate on land before ascending the Dardanelles. I hope that is not inconvenient.”

“It is not only convenient, it is an honor, my lord,” Celik said. “The Governor would be pleased to invite you to stay ashore with him until the time for your departure.”

“We would be most appreciative,” Elgin said.

“This is the pilot who will guide you into port, my lord,” Celik said to Granger. “He speaks some English.”

“Thank you,” Granger said. He spoke briefly to the pilot, and then watched as the man guided Valiant into the harbor. This port had obviously been built in ancient times, as it was clearly designed for much smaller craft. Granger estimated that it was only about 600 feet wide, and was dwarfed by Valiant’s 160 feet of length. Granger was quite nervous as they conned the huge ship into the small port, and had little time for either Celik or Elgin. Only after the anchor had been dropped and secured did he cede control of the ship to Weston and turn his attention back to Celik.

“It is rare to have such a large ship visit us, my lord,” Celik said. He gestured to the shore, where there was a crowd of people staring at Valiant. “You have excited some attention.”

“Let us hope that is a positive thing,” Granger said with a smile.

“I wonder if I may impose upon Your Lordships to come ashore and call upon the governor.” Celik asked. “We can also make arrangements to land Lord Elgin’s retainers.”

“We are at your service,” Elgin said, answering for both of them.

Granger pulled Weston aside. “No one is to leave this ship, or have contact with the shore, until I return.”

“Aye aye, my lord,” Weston said.

Granger followed Celik into the boat, while Elgin took a bosun’s chair. It was but a brief boat ride to the pier. Once they disembarked, they strode a couple of hundred feet to the fortress, and wandered through it until they came to the Governor’s office.

Celik entered first, and in a booming voice, announced Granger and Elgin, somewhat slaughtering their titles and honors, but doing an adequate job. “My lords, this is Kemal Bey, Governor of Tenedos.”

Granger was surprised at how petite Kemal was, and how feminine. “Welcome to Tenedos,” he said in a high-pitched yet friendly voice. Granger’s mind processed the voice and mannerisms, and found they reminded him of the Duke of Lerma. That young man had been captured and castrated by the Oranians. Granger deduced that Kemal must also be a eunuch.

“Thank you for your welcome, Excellency,” Elgin said. “Such a beautiful island for a brief respite on our way to Constantinople.”

“I am glad that you have chosen to stop and visit us,” Kemal said.

“Lord Elgin has accepted Your Excellency’s invitation to stay on shore until he departs, the day after tomorrow,” Celik told Kemal. Granger began to wonder if this was all pre-ordained, and began to speculate as to whether either one of these gentlemen was Lady Elgin’s contact.

“That is wonderful news,” Kemal said. “Perhaps we can show you to your accommodations, and arrange to have your wife and retainers brought ashore?”

“That would be wonderful, Your Excellency,” Elgin said with a bow. “Please give me a moment to confer with Lord Granger.”

“But of course,” Kemal said. Elgin and Granger moved slightly away from the governor, and Granger spoke in hushed tones.

“Your wife will attempt to deliver her package,” Granger noted. “It is up to you to find out who she gives it to.”

“I am aware of that,” Elgin said, in a petulant way.

“If you do not, then the message will be delivered, and whatever mission the Guild has cooked up will be at least partially fulfilled,” Granger said sternly, reminding Elgin of what was at risk. Granger had no intention of sharing his plan with Elgin, that he’d substituted a false cypher for the original. If he had, Elgin might not have been as diligent in finding out who the recipient of the cypher was. Elgin simply nodded, and then Celik led him off, leaving Granger alone with Kemal.

“Your arrival is most timely, Lord Granger,” Kemal said, more to assure himself that he had Granger’s attention.

“Indeed, Your Excellency?” Granger asked curiously.

“There are several British soldiers here, recovering from wounds received during the siege of Acre. They are all of them healthy now, and are desirous of seeking a passage home.”

This was a development that Granger had certainly not been expecting. “How many men, Your Excellency?”

“There are two officers, and twenty soldiers,” he said. “The soldiers are from your ships, primarily the Tigre, while one of the officers is from a different regiment.”

“That was most hospitable of you to allow them to recover here, Your Excellency,” Granger said.

“After the sacrifice they made, and the way they stopped the French invasion, it was a debt of honor,” he said. Granger had to force himself to focus on what he said, because his voice was so child-like it would be difficult to take him seriously otherwise.

“Such niceties are often overlooked in today’s world, Your Excellency,” Granger observed. “May I meet these men?”

“Nothing could be easier,” he said with a smile. “First I will summon their commanding officer.” He uttered some words to a footman in that guttural language these people used then filled the time by asking Granger about his voyage.

“You sent for me, Your Excellency?” Granger heard a familiar voice say. He turned sharply to see Major Jardines hobbling into the room. He was using a cane, and the left sleeve of his uniform was empty and was pinned to his coat. He saw Granger and his eyes lit up. “My lord!”

“What a pleasure it is to see you again, Major,” Granger said in English, with a genuine smile. He walked toward Jardines and embraced his one hand with both of his good ones. “I had heard you were wounded, but I had heard no more since then.”

“We stopped the French at Acre, my lord, but it cost me an arm and a crooked leg,” Jardines grumbled.

“They are badges of honor,” Granger said, then remembered his manners and turned back to Kemal and reverted to French. “Major Jardines and I are old friends. The Major was instrumental in helping me travel to Egypt from India.”

“Indeed?” Kemal asked.

“His Lordship was able to find Lord Nelson and guide his ships to destroy the French fleet at Aboukir, Excellency,” Jardines augmented. “His Lordship served with distinction as the Captain of the Fleet, which means he was effectively Lord Nelson’s second in command.” That was a huge stretch in the definition of the role of a Captain of the Fleet, but Granger opted to let Jardines control this part of their conversation, and said nothing.

“Then we are even more honored to host you here in Tenedos,” Kemal said to Granger with a polite bow.

“Excellency, would it be possible for me to show Lord Granger the fortress and introduce him to the other men who are here?” Jardines asked politely. And then something extraordinary happened. An expression flashed across Kemal’s face, one that could only be explained by jealousy, but it was replaced soon enough by his calm demeanor.

“But of course,” Kemal said. “I will host a grand reception this evening to celebrate the arrival of our guests.”

“I will look forward to that,” Granger said. He bowed to Kemal, and then followed Jardines out of the chamber. He led Granger down a corridor, to a series of rooms. He ultimately led Granger into a well-appointed boudoir.

“This is my home, such as it is,” Jardines said with a smile.

“It is quite luxurious,” Granger noted. “What is your status here?”

“I am here recovering from my wounds,” Jardines said, a bit defensively.

“And who has nursed you back to health?” Granger teased, but Jardines just frowned at him. “I did not mean to anger you, I was merely teasing you.” It was a rare day when Granger’s attempts at humor missed their mark.

“You did not anger me,” Jardines lied. “I am serving informally as an aide to the governor.”

“You mean you are fucking him,” Granger accused.

Jardines eyed him, as if trying to decide whether to argue with him or not, and then nodded. “Yes.”

“I have learned not to interfere in the relationships of others,” Granger said playfully. “It was my original intention to attempt to seduce you, but I would not want to cause problems for you, or for your governor.”

“It has not been an issue until this moment,” Jardines said nervously. His tone told Granger that he could probably seduce Jardines, but that Jardines didn’t really want him to.

“I had heard you were wounded, but got no news as to how you were injured,” Granger said.

“I took a bullet in my left arm,” he said sadly. “The surgeon removed the bullet, but the wound became corrupted, and the entire limb had to be removed.” So it had become gangrenous. He was lucky he survived at all.

“That was a narrow brush with death,” Granger noted.

“It would seem that you and I are tough to kill,” Jardines said. They sat in two comfortable chairs to continue their chat. “I was all but dead when they brought me here, but I was able to recover.”

“I am glad to see that,” Granger said. “I have thought about you often, and it has tortured me to have no news of your health.”

Jardines smiled, but changed the subject. “How is Arthur?” How appropriate that he would ask about Arthur Teasdale.

“He is doing quite well,” Granger said. “I told him of our journeys, and he was happy that you seemed to have gotten some internal peace.”

“I am just as happy that he has found a way to be happy,” Jardines said, but with a bit of sadness.

“When I returned, I petitioned His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence to allow you to return to England, or to at least leave this barren country,” Granger said, referring to the Middle East. “Arthur was most vocal in supporting my request.”

Jardines smiled. “That was nice of him, and of you.”

“The Governor asked me to take you and your men home,” Granger said, appearing to change the subject.

“That is excellent news,” he said. “Lieutenant Waltham is the marine officer here, and he will be glad to get his men back to England.”

“You are not going with us?”

“I am not allowed back there,” Jardines said, with a distinct amount of bitterness.

“You are wrong.”

“I beg your pardon?” Jardines asked.

“You have been granted permission to return to Devonshire, or Ireland, but you may not go any further than that,” Granger said.

“So I cannot go to London,” Jardines mused. Granger watched him, and could have let his reaction annoy him, but he recognized that he’d thrown a considerable piece of news in Jardines’ lap, so he maintained his happy façade.

“You cannot,” Granger said firmly. “If you will not pledge to limit yourself to Devonshire and Ireland, you cannot return.”

“You have given me quite a decision to make,” Jardines noted. This was starting to completely confuse Granger. He had thought that Jardines would be ecstatic, but he didn’t seem happy that his banishment had been at least partially lifted.

“And what would your alternative be?” Granger asked.

“I could stay here,” Jardines said. And then Granger understood, and recognized what the issue was.

“You love him,” Granger accused gently, referring to Kemal.

Jardines said nothing for a moment, and then looked directly into Granger’s eyes. “Yes.”

“Does he love you?”

“Yes,” Jardines answered, and then seemed uncomfortable.

“I have been with a eunuch before,” Granger said, to prompt him.

“Indeed?” Jardines asked. When Granger said nothing, he continued on. “It is very different, and requires a lot of patience, but fortunately I am equipped for that.”

“If memory serves, your equipment is more than adequate,” Granger flirted.

“That helps as well,” Jardines said.

“I would think that it may be best for me to deposit Lord and Lady Elgin in Constantinople, and then stop by here on my way home to pick up Lieutenant Waltham and his contingent,” Granger said.

“That will give them some time to prepare for their departure,” Jardines said, but that was not really an issue. The troops should be ready to move when ordered.

“I was thinking that would also give you some time to ponder what you wanted to do,” Granger said gently. “If you want to return with me, you may. If you do not, you can stay here, and you will still be able to come back, providing you adhere to the conditions laid down.”

“If I do come back, I pledge that I will stay in Devonshire, or wherever else I am restricted,” Jardines said, to ease Granger’s mind on that topic. “Thank you for giving me some time to think this through.”

“We have been many things to each other. We have been enemies, we have been friends, we have been comrades in arms, and we have been lovers. Of those, your friendship is what I cherish the most,” Granger said.

“Thank you, George.” They got up and embraced, in a hug that was not romantic, but full of emotion. “Now you must meet the other British exiles.”

“As you wish,” Granger said. He followed Jardines to a building that appeared to be either a makeshift hospital or barracks, as the need arose. A young but spruce lieutenant was there to greet them, his red uniform looking quite good.

“Lieutenant Avery Waltham, my lord,” Jardines said, then introduced Granger to Waltham.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, my lord,” Waltham said. He was in his early twenties, with dark brown hair and nice green eyes.

“The pleasure is mine,” Granger said. “Were you wounded as well?”

“I was afflicted with the Typhus,” he said sadly. “I have recovered.”

“You were lucky,” Granger noted. “I am tasked to take Lord and Lady Elgin to Constantinople, and then I am returning to England. I was planning to stop here on my return voyage to retrieve you and your troops, and take you with me.”

“We would be most appreciative, my lord,” Waltham said, and seemed positively ebullient.

“I would anticipate that I will return within a week or two,” Granger augmented.

“We will be ready when you return, my lord,” Waltham pledged. It was interesting that he did not even ask Jardines if he would be going with them.

“Excellent,” Granger said. He chatted with all of the men, and then went to attend the governor’s reception. Lady Elgin was there and seemed to be subdued, but there was a look of grim determination in her eyes.