St. Vincent - 13. Chapter 13

December, 1796

Granger and Somers trotted up to Calvert and his new lover, but they were so entranced with each other they didn’t notice until Granger was upon them. Granger dismounted smartly and stood there in front of a very stunned Francis Calvert. It was gratifying for Granger to see the surprise fade quickly, to be replaced by a huge grin. “George!” Calvert exclaimed excitedly. “How good to see you!”

Granger took Calvert’s hands in his, and felt his emotions threaten to overwhelm him. Calvert, probably the handsomest man in the Navy, with his auburn brown hair and playful demeanor, stood in front of him, and all the memories of their times together, and of their intimate relationship, flooded back to him. “It is good to see you too, Francis!” Suddenly both of them seemed to remember that they had other men with them, so their demeanor became more formal.

“This is Lieutenant Estabrook, sir,” Calvert said, introducing his marine. He was a handsome man, with the ruddy coloring of a Scotsman.

“Sir George Granger,” he said, introducing himself. Estabrook did little more than glare at him, which was quite rude. “This is Captain Somers.”

“A pleasure to meet you,” Somers said pleasantly, making Estabrook look like a boor.

“When did you arrive, sir?” Calvert asked.

“Belvidera is becalmed in the Strait, so I took a boat here and just arrived this minute.”

“We have been here for three days, sir,” Calvert offered.

“What are your orders?” Granger asked.

“I delivered dispatches to the Governor, and we have finished watering, so as soon as the wind and tide serve, I am tasked to return to England, sir,” Calvert said. This was a stroke of luck, just what Granger needed.

“I need you to carry a passenger to England with you. He is most desperate to get there as quickly as possible.”

“That isn’t a problem at all, sir,” Calvert said cheerfully.

“Your passenger is Lord Chartley, and he is wounded, so he will have to be transferred directly to Intrepid,” Granger said. “Perhaps you will accompany me to see the Governor, and then I can fill you in on the particulars of his mission.”

“We are otherwise engaged,” Estabrook said rudely, glaring at him. Granger, Somers, and Calvert just stared at Estabrook, stunned by such blatant rudeness and insubordination. But Estabrook’s glare was directed at Granger, and Granger recognized that look; Estabrook was seething with jealousy. He must know of or suspect Calvert’s relationship with Granger, and that must be what was upsetting him. There was no other rational excuse for such irrational behavior. Granger was of a mind to rip the man to shreds, but before he could, Calvert interposed.

“Lieutenant, that is an inappropriate way to address a senior officer,” Calvert snapped at Estabrook. “Such insubordination is a black mark not only on you, but on our ship.”

Estabrook stared at Calvert, completely shocked and not a little enraged. Still, naval discipline won over in the end. “I beg your pardon, sir,” he said.

“It is not my pardon that you must beg,” Calvert said, with fire in his eyes.

Estabrook turned to Granger. “I am sorry, sir. I forgot myself.”

“Quite so,” Granger said coldly. He was unwilling to make this any easier for this idiotic lieutenant, and that green monster, jealousy, was not limited to only Estabrook.

“You will return to the ship and prepare for the arrival of our passenger. He may share my cabin,” Calvert ordered.

“If you will permit me, I will go with Mr. Estabrook and see if I can help with preparations to receive Lord Chartley, sir,” Somers said diplomatically.

“Thank you Captain,” Granger said. “Perhaps you would care to use Captain Somers’ mount?” Granger asked Calvert.

“Thank you,” he said, taking the reins from Somers. They mounted their horses and trotted off, leaving their marines in the dust, as it were.

“I’m sorry that Estabrook was so rude,” Calvert said.

“He was jealous,” Granger said coldly, showing that he was jealous as well. “But that is no excuse for insubordination.”

“As I explained to him, sir,” Calvert said. He was irritated, irritated with the situation.

“Yes, you did. You handled that quite well,” Granger said, relenting. He needed Calvert now, and had no desire to argue with him. That was one of the trademarks of their relationship: a fiery passion. It applied not only to sex and their feelings, but to their tempers as well.

“I had engaged a room at the hotel, to wash off the sea salt. Perhaps you would care to join me when we are done with the Governor?” Calvert asked, grinning slyly. Granger ignored the irritant that he’d be basically stepping in where Estabrook was supposed to be.

“I think that’s a marvelous idea,” he said. “How is Intrepid?”

“She is a dream,” Calvert said wistfully, making them both grin. “We’ve spent much of our time on courier duties lately, but that hasn’t stopped us from nabbing a prize or two. Your good luck seems to have rubbed off on me.”

“Perhaps it was your good luck,” Granger said. “If there is time, you must dine with me on board Belvidera. There are many who will want to see you,” Granger said. Calvert had been his first lieutenant when he’d first taken command of Belvidera.

They arrived at the Governor’s house, and General O’Hara was pleasant enough, but he seemed to be as anxious to be rid of Granger as Granger was to escape. In the end, he acquired O’Hara’s permission for Calvert to speed Chartley off to London with dispatches, no great decision on O’Hara’s part, and they were free to return to the hotel.

The staff there led them up to a room with a huge bathtub already filled with water. Granger tried not to let that bother him, noting that they’d had it prepared for Calvert and Estabrook. Finally, they were alone. They merged together with a beauty and familiarity that can only be achieved when two lovers have been with each other for some time. Granger savored Calvert’s taste, his lips that inflamed his desire, his long, sexy neck, and his perfectly formed chest. Granger traced the scars that now graced Calvert’s body, scars that had almost cost him his life. They stayed in the bath, exploring each other with only their fingers and their mouths, until they were clean.

Granger rose from the bath, splattering water all over the place and giggling while he did it. He held out his hand to Calvert and led him to the large bed, then pulled him down on top of him. Now their moves had a more direct purpose. Calvert lay on top of Granger and grabbed the lanolin, lubricating his cock well, and then slid into Granger. This was Granger’s favorite position, with Calvert using his long dick to penetrate him while still remaining on top of him, still maintaining their lip lock. The stimulation was too great, and the need to couple too urgent, for the encounter to last very long, but as experienced lovers, they were able to time their orgasms perfectly so they arrived simultaneously. Granger was surprised at how powerful it was, and how spent he felt after he was done.

“It is only this good if you are with someone you love,” Calvert said, echoing Granger’s own thoughts.

“I do love you,” Granger told him.

“And I love you,” Calvert said.

“More than him?” Granger blurted out. He immediately felt guilty for that, and worried that Calvert would get angry with him, but Granger forgot that Calvert knew him almost as well as he knew himself.

“You have other lovers too,” Calvert said, slightly petulantly, to let Granger know that he wasn’t the only one who got jealous. “But yes, I love you more.”

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t a fair question, but I needed to hear it,” Granger said. He felt tears in his eyes, and cursed himself for his weakness. He’d let his shields down now, let them down with this man he loved, and the emotions were trying to pour out.

“I heard of Captain Travers’ death,” Calvert said cautiously but sympathetically. “I’m so sorry George. I know what that must have done to you.”

“It has been very hard,” Granger said, and gave in to the inevitable and let the tears flow.

“I guess it isn’t so bad to play second fiddle to such a brave officer,” Calvert said, exposing his own insecurities.

“You never played second fiddle to him in my heart,” Granger said. He pulled Calvert’s face around so their eyes were locked. “I loved him, but there was never any question that I loved you more.” Granger was thankfully able to say that truthfully, but only because Cavendish wasn’t factored into the equation. And then there was Chartley, but Granger avoided thinking about him. All that was irrelevant when he saw a huge grin spread across Calvert’s face.

“Your own marine was quite handsome,” Calvert said playfully, trying to pull them out of their morose mood.

“Yours is quite enamored with you,” Granger said.

“What are you trying to say?” Calvert asked defensively.

“I’m saying that you should be careful lest your feelings for each other become obvious.”

“Is this your way of trying to sabotage my relationship with him?” Calvert demanded.

“Francis, be reasonable,” Granger said soothingly. “I have no right to be upset that you have other lovers. I am not trying to cause you problems.”

“Then why do you make it sound as if we’d been having sex in the middle of the Embankment?” Calvert asked snidely.

“Because when I first saw the two of you together, it looked as if you just had,” Granger snapped. “Captain Somers made the same observation, and he did it before he knew who you were, or that we had a connection.”

Calvert stared at him, the rage fading. “We were that obvious?”

“Yes,” Granger said simply. “You are a passionate man. It is hard for you to hide your feelings, but you must, or you will have no future in the Navy.”

“Have you heard something about that?” Calvert asked him, horrified.

“No, but you have been consistently detached from the fleet. Have you stopped to wonder why that is?” Granger asked. They lay there in the bed on their backs, miles apart, letting this latest thing create a gulf between them. Neither one of them wanted that; it didn’t last for long.

“It has not been easy for me since we were separated,” Calvert said, letting down his own defenses. “I could rely on you to help me watch out for such things; you are so good at maintaining appearances while still being the ultimate lover.”

Granger rolled over onto his side and draped his leg across Calvert’s legs, re-engaging with him. “Speaking of the ultimate lover,” Granger teased as he played with Calvert’s hardening cock. They chuckled, but Granger knew Calvert had more to say.

“I tried having trysts, men whom I could find a release with, but they were so unfulfilling after you. Then I allowed myself to have a relationship, and that is becoming complicated. I know you’re right George, I know it is obvious, but I am wont to know how to handle it.”

“I do not begrudge you happiness with other men or women,” Granger said to set the stage. “But you must nip this in the bud. You must not let this get out. As it is, your ship’s company must suspect something. We already created rumors, you and I, and now that you are seen with him, so obviously in love, it will be damning to you.”

“And if that happens, our time together will be even more limited,” Calvert said, identifying the big issue between them. If Calvert became a well-known bugger, then Granger would not be able to risk being seen with him in public. He would do much for Calvert, but he would not turn his back on his family. “I will have to take steps to see that that does not happen.”

“I’m sorry Francis,” Granger said. “I fear that I am the only one close enough to you to tell you the plain truth, but I also fear you will suspect me of having foul motives and hate me for it.”

“I could never hate you,” Calvert said. “I understand what you are doing.” They kissed then, and now that they had cleared the emotional baggage that had been hanging over them, they made love again, and it was even more genuine, more passionate, than their first fulfilling encounter.

“I need to ask a special favor of you,” Granger said as they lay there afterward, their bodies intertwined.

“Is it scandalous?” Calvert asked playfully, making Granger chuckle.

“No, it isn’t,” Granger responded.

“Oh,” Calvert said, feigning disappointment.

“I need you to take a letter and some information to Caroline for me. It must be delivered to her alone, directly into her hands,” Granger said emphatically.

“That is not a great favor,” Calvert said. “I would be happy to do that for you.”

“If you land in Plymouth, or Portsmouth, that means I’ll need you to take a post-chaise to London as soon as you do,” Granger said.

“What is this letter that I must deliver?”

“There is some great scheme afoot to transform my father into a Marquess, and to simultaneously strip Bertie of upwards of 100,000 pounds,” Granger said.

“One hundred thousand pounds?!” Calvert asked, gasping. It was a huge amount of money, probably more than Calvert could imagine. Granger explained the whole scenario for him, and then stumbled upon the other thing that motivated Calvert. He told him about Iggy.

“So it is a race?” Calvert asked.

“It is. Who can get to London first: you and Chartley, or Iggy,” Granger said.

“If we can get a damn wind, there will be no question,” Calvert affirmed. “Why is Caroline involved?”

“She is the only one we can really trust in this, and she is well enough connected to know how to handle it.”

“What about your father?”

Granger sighed. “I hope he will do the right thing, but I am afraid he may be so focused on advancing a step in the peerage that he’ll disregard the small details. He’ll imagine that he can make things right once the deal is done.”

“I understand,” Calvert said. A breeze rattled the windows, and that signaled to both of them that duty called. They made love one more time, and then Granger and Calvert headed down to the pier. They scanned the anchorage but Belvidera was not there yet. Instead, Granger’s eyes settled on his first command. There, swinging gently to her anchor was the Intrepid. Calvert followed his eye. “Would you care to wait on board?”

“Indeed I would,” Granger said, grinning. He boarded Calvert’s gig and stared ahead at the Intrepid. She was a lovely little ship. She was flush-decked, with big 12-pounders for armament, and fast, as was to be expected from a former French corvette. She looked much as she had when Granger had commanded her. “You’ve taken good care of her.”

Calvert leaned in and whispered in Granger’s ear. “She is an extension of us, and I treasure her even more as a result.”

“When you thrash her to pieces in battle, I will try not to hold that against you,” Granger joked. “And that too is like us, when we fight and quibble, only to repair the damage and be stronger than before,” he said, sounding like a hopeless romantic. Granger’s attention refocused on Intrepid after that, as he took in the details of her appearance, details he knew so well. Calvert had kept her much as she had been under Granger’s command; even the gold leaf frieze was the same.

As was naval custom, Granger, as the senior officer, was first out of the boat. The pipes squealed and the correct number of sideboys were there to welcome him. As soon as he was aboard, two of the sideboys vanished, lest a mere commander should inadvertently receive the same honors due a post-captain. Calvert bounded up after Granger, and introduced him to his officers.

“This is Lieutenant Galbraith,” Calvert said, “my first lieutenant.”

“It is a pleasure to see you again,” Granger said, shaking Galbraith’s hand. “I don’t know if you recall our prior meeting?”

Galbraith grinned, showing his teeth that were as rotten as ever. His pockmarked skin and mousy brown hair completed his unattractive look, but he was as polite and charming as before. “It is a meeting I will always remember, Sir George. It was the same day I boarded Intrepid for the first time.”

Calvert introduced his other officers. When he got to Estabrook, the man was rigidly formal and polite, nothing more, nothing less. Granger responded coolly, and decided that such a man who let his feelings rule his actions was worthy of no warmth from him.

Calvert led Granger down to his cabin, the same cabin that had once been Granger’s. It was tastefully decorated, and very masculine. They inspected the cabin Galbraith had partitioned off for Chartley, and then discussed how they would get him over here from Belvidera. They were deep in conversation when a young midshipman interrupted nervously.

“Begging your pardon, sir, but Belvidera is rounding the point,” the young man said.

“Very well,” Calvert said. “Please have my gig ready.”

“Aye aye sir,” he said.

“With the wind this fair, we shall leave as soon as Lord Chartley is on board, if that meets with your approval, sir,” Calvert said.

“That is excellent,” Granger replied. “Thank you for your help.”

“Your family has done much for me, sir,” Calvert said. “It is a pleasure to be able to give something back.” He looked around. “Before you return to your ship, would you care to see the rest of my cabin?”

Granger repressed a grin. “It would be my pleasure,” he answered, and a truer statement was never made. Calvert led him into his sleeping cabin, and they coupled one last time. It was unfortunately brief, so brief that they could do little more than lower their breeches, but the urgency had an eroticism to it.

Granger took his leave of Calvert, biting back the tears and anguish that threatened to engulf him, and returned to Belvidera. Roberts was waiting to greet him, and to find out what news there was.

“Intrepid is sailing for England at once,” Granger said, cutting short Roberts’ questions. “We must transport Lord Chartley over to her immediately. Please have Doctor Jackson meet me in his lordship’s cabin.”

“Aye aye sir,” Roberts said automatically. Granger dashed below and found Chartley much as he had left him.

“It is good to see you back,” Chartley said with a smile.

“It is good to see you as well,” Granger responded. “Unfortunately, there is not much time for goodbyes.”

“Goodbyes?”

“Intrepid is sailing for England at once, and I have arranged for you to transfer to her,” Granger told him.

“That is wonderful news,” Chartley said. “Is she a fast ship?”

“She was my first command, and is one of the fastest and handiest ships in the fleet. More importantly, she is commanded by my former first lieutenant, Commander Calvert, and I have shared with him the reason for your urgency.”

“You can trust him?” Chartley asked nervously.

Granger was almost offended by that, but Chartley didn’t know Calvert, and he certainly didn’t know of their relationship. “I can. He is a good friend, someone I can confide in.”

“As someone who has also shared that honor,” Chartley said, “I will hold him in high esteem.”

“He is also very competitive, and most anxious to beat Iggy to London,” Granger added.

“So much the better then.”

“Will you return to India after you complete your mission?” Granger asked.

“I do not plan to. I hope to remain in England, but I have not decided what exactly I will do.”

“May I call on you when I return?” Granger asked formally, but that question hid a much deeper one. Granger was wondering how significant their brief tryst, and their friendship, was to Chartley.

Chartley looked around nervously, and then pulled Granger to him in a brief but passionate kiss. “I will be offended if you do not. For me, our little encounter was not just an action in the midst of a fever. I hope it was more than that to you.”

“It was much more than that, but I did not want to presume,” Granger said.

The doctor arrived, and began making preparations to transfer Chartley. In a few hours, the task was done, and Intrepid spread her sails and gracefully left Gibraltar.

Granger watched her go, while at the same time he pondered the two men she took with her. Calvert, the man he shared a deep bond with, the man who was still a boy at heart, and brought out the playful side of Granger’s own personality. The man who was an energetic and considerate lover, always willing to try or do anything to make sex more fun. But he was also the man who was impulsive and careless, the kind of man who could get himself and his friends into trouble.

Granger contrasted him to Chartley, who was so much more mature, refined, and steady. Chartley who came from Granger’s world, and who adhered to the same codes of conduct. The man who was such a man, a masculine man, that he made Granger feel almost boyish.

Granger went below to enjoy having his cabin all to himself again, but instead found the solitude to be almost overwhelming, and found there to be a huge void with Chartley gone. It made him depressed, introspective, and confused. When he finally went to bed and lay in his cot that evening, the one emotion that dominated George Granger was loneliness.