Ocean Wonders
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”I think I can say that we all agree, Mr. Bancroft,” said Lord John as the two men rode together along the path behind his house, “that Captain Aubrey is a most gallant young man.”
“Oh no?” replied the other. “No, I should not think so. There are others who deserve more credit for their courage and fortitude during the action at Tenedos; there are also officers of equal courage whose names do not make quite so good a sound in print—”
“—but there can be few who have shown the steadiness of mind which made it possible to carry out a bold plan under heavy fire when every second must count.” Lord John was smiling slightly.
“Yes? Well, let me tell you that if he had been killed or wounded I should have thought him worth a thousand like him—the same sort of brave fellows.”
Lord John did smile again at this.
“It seems to me you do not appreciate your son’s abilities, my dear fellow,” he said.
“Why? Because I do not think any man deserves credit for bravery who cannot be relied upon to perform what is required of him without an unnecessary show of skill; that would be to give credit where none was due.” The other laughed.
“I know nothing about these matters myself,” he went on after a moment’s silence, “and I am not one of those who consider any officer a hero merely because he has done well and escaped unhurt.
However, if you were to come round with Mrs. Bancroft and stay for luncheon you might see for yourself how well my son does perform his duties, and then perhaps—” He broke off as they turned into a small lawn surrounded by flower beds fringed with white roses. A maidservant was waiting for them.
“Mrs. Bancroft will be here in a moment; she is just coming out from the drawing room.”
The old gentleman looked at Lady Hamilton and smiled again.
“I hope we shall be seeing you again before long, sir,” he said. “You must be tired after your long journey; I wish you a good day.”
He gave his horse a pat and wheeled him away towards the house, leaving Lord John to escort Lady Hamilton up the path toward the main building.
“I am delighted,” he remarked, looking back over his shoulder at the tall figure striding along beside him, “to find that your opinion of the gallantry of Captain Aubrey is unchanged.”
Lady Hamilton shook her head.
“No, I fear it has altered a little. It was only that he came near being killed, though, of course, I understand that he is always doing such things. But if that is his usual way of performing his duty, I should not care to place any reliance on him.
I could never feel sure that if the ship should go down he would have the sense to keep clear of danger and take to a boat.” She stopped abruptly at the top of the path. “Do you know, there is something I do not like about that fellow,” she continued, still gazing straight ahead. “He looks as if he wanted to kill somebody.”
Lord John smiled pleasantly.
“I should not be surprised,” he observed. “But perhaps your ladyship has already met with his lordship. His lordship, I believe, is the admiral of some navy. I do not pretend to understand all these distinctions—I suppose there are a good many in England and Scotland too—but from what you told us last night, I gather that he is an old friend of Lady Hamilton’s brother, the Earl of Ellesmere.”
Lady Hamilton nodded.
“That is so,” she said. “And you know he always looks as if he was going to kill someone.”
She spoke in a low voice, but as she paused at the top of the path Lord John glanced up sharply in case the servant might overhear.
“Well, you will find him rather different when you meet him,” he said quietly. “I am not certain that it is safe to speak very freely just yet, but you may be sure that my father will not let you hear anything which does not bear directly upon our business here, so you need not hesitate to talk.”
They walked forward a pace or two in silence until they came to the door of the big house and entered the hall.
A footman opened a pair of doors and bowed them through to the dining parlor, where they were greeted by a pleasant-looking middle-aged woman in a blue frock coat; she led them upstairs, talking gaily, and soon they had reached the room which served as her ladyship’s dressing-room.
This was in a quiet corner of the house, away from the general bustle of visitors, and was furnished simply but elegantly in keeping with its mistress. Here Lady Hamilton removed her outer clothing, leaving them in a basket by the dressing table; then she seated herself in a chair and looked around her curiously.
The maid, whose name was Hannah, bustled away to fetch her ladyship’s hat, bonnet, cloak, and gloves, while the older lady sat and gazed around her with the air of a connoisseur enjoying a new sight.
“This is quite charming,” she said, taking the chair opposite to Lord John. “Where did you get this furniture?”
The latter shrugged.
“In France, I suppose,” he replied. “It belonged to my grandfather.”
His hostess nodded.
“How wonderful! And the wallpaper—what a lovely shade of green.”
Again Lord John shrugged.
“One gets used to the color,” he explained. “It is not exactly a favorite of mine—one likes one’s own things best—but I cannot imagine it being changed.”
There was another pause in their conversation, during which time Lady Hamilton examined every item of furniture, and finally, she leaned back in her chair.
“I wonder,” she said reflectively, “whether we could manage without those mirrors.”
Lord John glanced at the large mirror across the dressing table; it was covered with a piece of lace and hung above a small writing table. He was thinking of his own mirror aboard Jack’s ship—it took courage to look in it when a man had been fighting, and the reflection often frightened him.
He was aware of the sound of footsteps on the stairs and looked around. The maid Hannah, carrying a tray of breakfast for her lady, smiled at him politely and passed on into the next room; Lady Hamilton rose.
“Thank you very much for coming to see me in the morning,” she said. “I am afraid that I must now be going back to bed.”
Hannah bowed, smiling.
“Yes, ma’am.” She moved off into the next room, leaving them alone again.
Lord John was standing by the sideboard, pouring out the coffee, when she returned with his breakfast. As he handed it over to her ladyship, he asked her whether she intended to stay for dinner; she shook her head, smiling.
“No, thank you,” she said. “I have promised to dine with Lady Dalhousie and her daughter, who is also staying here; I thought I would go over with them after breakfast. I hope your friend Lord Nelson will be able to join you.”
“Oh, yes,” Lord John replied easily. “He has sent word he intends to come down later. I hope your husband is well?”
His voice was low as he spoke; she gave a little start and then laughed, a short dry sound.
“You do not say so,” she said. “Well, I shall see him tonight; perhaps you may call on him then. Good-by, Mr. Fraser.”
She rose, bowing briefly, and left the room. Lord John watched her as she crossed the corridor, turning back once or twice to wave a hand at him. Then he poured himself out some more coffee and began to eat his bacon and eggs and toast, feeling rather uneasy.
Lady Hamilton came down to the drawing room in her riding dress and riding boots, which looked very pretty; she was wearing gloves but had tied her hair up under a silk scarf so that it was loose about her shoulders and fell in long ringlets down her back.
Her manner seemed cheerful enough; she smiled at everyone except Lord Nelson, who remained stony-faced. The other guests appeared to be all in their night dresses, for none wore hats; it was cold outside; a fire blazed in the grate, but only a few men were smoking cigars.
Lady Hamilton’s carriage waited just inside the door. She paused, looking round the room, then walked forward and kissed Captain Aubrey on his cheek.
“Good morning!” she called out. “What are you doing still abed, gentlemen? Are you too lazy to get up?”
They grinned sheepishly at her and Lord Nelson coughed discreetly.
“No, Madam,” he answered, glancing down at the table and raising his glass to her. “We are enjoying our lie-in this morning after the exertions of last evening.”
A number of heads turned toward the captain at this; the ladies looked shocked, though the men appeared pleased at having a woman among their company for once. Lord Nelson raised his glass again.
“To my dear wife,” he said. “My darling wife.”
There was general laughter and applause at these words, and the lady clapped her hands together.
“Ah, well done! My compliments to your valet, if he has such a thing, for the fine linen on the back of your shirt collar, Admiral! You should see the gowns he has sewn for me, with the laces so long they trail on the floor when I walk—”
“Madam!” Lord Nelson cut in, holding up both hands. “That is an impertinence which I must protest. A captain’s uniform does not permit lacing of any kind.”
At this there was general laughter; Lady Hamilton laughed aloud and clapped her hands for more. Lord Nelson bowed, smiling.
“I beg pardon,” he said. “I did not mean to demean the rank of a commodore in the Royal Navy by comparison with an admiral’s dress, which I have often admired. May I propose you all take a turn on the terrace? It is a splendid day; we might even try a game of quoits before lunch, or I know that the tennis court would be very acceptable to Mrs. Hamilton.”
There was a general assent to this proposal; the lady went off to change her clothes while her husband and the others adjourned to the terrace for the games. There was a small crowd of ladies waiting to see them depart, so it was some time before the party emerged from the house; Mrs. Hamlington was among those waiting to see them off, and she greeted her husband with a warm smile.
“Good morning, Jack,” she cried. “I am sorry to have missed seeing you in your uniform—but I hope I shall see it again tomorrow at luncheon, won’t I? What is a quoit?”
The End