Farnham appeared annoyed. St. John sat down behind his desk. “It has been some time since we have had the privilege of your appearance here.”
Devlin shrugged dismissively. “The Straits are a busy place, my lord.”
Liverpool poured the brandies from a crystal decanter, handing one over to Devlin and passing the others around.
“Yes, very busy,” Farnham said. “Which is why deserting theLady Anneis an exceedingly serious offense.”
Devlin took a long sip, tasting the brandy carefully, and decided his own stock was far superior, both on his ship and at home.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” St. John asked.
“Not really,” Devlin said, then added, “she was in no danger.”
“No danger?”Farnham choked on his brandy.
Liverpool shook his head. “Admiral Farnham is asking for your head, my boy. Was it really necessary to leave theLady Annein order to chase that American merchantman?”
Devlin smiled slightly. “TheIndependencewas loaded with gold, my lord.”
“And you knew that when you spotted her off the coast of Tripoli?” St. John asked.
Devlin murmured, “Money, my lord, buys anything.”
“I know of no other commander as audacious as you. Who is your spy and where is he?” St. John demanded.
“Perhaps it’s a she,” he murmured. And in fact, the wench in Malta who ran an inn often used by the Americans was just that. “And if I do employ spies, I am afraid that is my affair entirely—and as it does aid me in the execution of my orders, we should lay the question to rest.”
“You do not follow orders!” Farnham said. “Your orders were to convey theLady Anneto Lisbon. You are lucky she was not seized by enemy ships—”
He was finally annoyed, but he remained slouched. “Luck has naught to do with anything.I control the Straits.And that means I control the Mediterranean—as no one can enter her without getting past me. There was no danger to theLady Anneand her safe conveyance to Lisbon has proved it.”
“And now you are rather rich,” Liverpool murmured.
“The prize is with our agent at the Rock,” he said, referring to Gibraltar. He’d towed theIndependenceto the British prize agent there. His share of the plunder was three-eighths of the total sum, and a quick estimation of that figure came to one hundred thousand pounds. He was wealthier than anyone would ever guess, and he had far exceeded his own expectations some time ago.
“But I do not care about the fate of theLady Anne,a single ship,” Liverpool said. “And while you directly disobeyed your orders, we are all prepared to ignore the matter. Is that not right, gentlemen?”
St. John’s nod was firm, but Devlin knew it killed Henry Farnham to agree, and he was amused.
“I care about finishing this bloody war, and finishing it soon.” Liverpool was standing and orating as if before the House. “There is another war on the horizon, one that must be avoided at all costs.”
“Which is why you are here,” St. John added.
Devlin straightened in his chair. “War with the Americans is a mistake,” he said.
Farnham made a sound. “You are Irish, your sympathies remain Jacobin.”
Devlin itched to strangle him. He did not move or speak until the desire had passed. “Indeed they are. America is a sister nation, just as Ireland is. It would be shameful to war with her over any issue.”
Liverpool said bluntly, “We must retain absolute control of the seas, Devlin, surely you know that.”
“His loyalties remain selfish ones. He cares not a whit for England—he cares only about the wealth his naval career has afforded him,” Farnham said with heat.
“We are not here to question Devlin’s loyalties,” Liverpool said sharply. “No one in our navy has served His Majesty with more loyalty and more perseverance and more effect.”
“Thank you,” Devlin murmured wryly. But it was true. His battle record was unrivaled at sea.
“The war is not over yet, and you know it, Devlin, as you have spent more time than anyone patrolling the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean, as well. Still, our control there is without dispute. You will leave this room with your new orders, if I can be assured that you will effect them appropriately.”
