‘Once I return to my flagship, you’ll have official orders to remain in this town. Find housing in Port Mahon proper, where you can keep an eye on theSwallowwhen she docks.’ He looked around. ‘I am going to sell this place.’
Poor, poor man, she thought.
Collingwood lifted his hat to them. ‘Carry on, Captain Beattie. It’s a long war and there is more to come. I expect good things of you in this post.’
‘I will never disappoint you, sir.’
‘Neither of you will.’ He touched Anna’s cheek. ‘Cherish this dear wife of yours, Captain. You are a very lucky man.’ He bowed and left them.
John kissed her cheek. ‘He has smoothed our way, my love. I doubt the world will ever revere him as it revered Admiral Horatio Nelson, God rest his soul. I will always honour Collingwood, too.’
John sent most of his crew back to theSwallowwith the Admiral, assuring Mr Marsing that he would join them by morning at the dock in Port Mahon for a return to Mallorca, where the clean-up continued.
‘They might be the enemy, but they deserve decent burials,’ he told Anna. ‘I’ll find you and our children a good place in Port Mahon. I already have one in mind.’ He nodded to David Bartleby. ‘He’ll stay with you, too. I want you protected.’
‘You’ll get no argument from me,’ Anna said.
‘Now I will have my steward cobble together a meal for us few remaining here.’
It was enough of a meal to satisfy them all. She listened as the remaining crew refought the battle, marvelling at the courage of the brave sailors of the Royal Navy performing a hard duty, with no end to war in sight.
With the meal over and dishes done—everyone pitched in, even the Captain—John sent his remaining crew to the sitting room. ‘Rest for a minute, men,’ he told them. ‘I need a moment with two sailors, and then you can return to theSwallow. Baird and Catherwood, come with me,’ he said. ‘Come, too, Anna and Private Bartleby.’
She watched Baird and Catherwood, wondering if her husband was going to ask them to join their household on Port Mahon. When the sailors glanced at each other, she saw fear. David just looked puzzled.
John led them to the lawn, out of hearing, and wasted no time, surprising Anna by speaking to her. ‘Peter Baird and William Catherwood are Americans. I know your brother spoke of impressing American seamen from Yankee ships we boarded, upon occasion. We forced them to join our crew when our need was great. We gave them no choice.’
‘It seems unkind,’ she murmured. ‘That’s what Will thought, too.’
‘I know. We frequently argued about the matter. However, the needs of the Royal Navy must be satisfied, whether or not you or I like it.’ He leaned closer. ‘I hope you still love me.’
‘John, don’t be silly,’ she chided, which made even the Americans laugh.
‘It is this: Peter and William, when you return to theSwallowtonight, you will be a short swim away fromHartford, which you heard Captain Tyler say is returning to America.’ He took a deep breath. ‘If you swim toHartford, I will miss your good work forSwallow, delivered even under duress. You may stay or leave.’
‘Are you serious, sir?’ Peter Baird said, as if he could not believe his ears.
‘Completely.’ He turned to Anna. ‘You need to know this, dear lady. If word leaks out that I engineered their escape—providing they choose to leave—I will be court-martialled and likely hanged.’
‘Dear God,’ she whispered, wondering at this husband of hers, astounded at such courage. No wonder Will had stayed with him until death. She spoke calmly, deliberately. ‘I thought I could not love you more, but I do.’
‘It’s the right thing to do, Anna.’ He looked at the Americans. ‘You gave me your good work, even when you had no choice. Choose now.’
‘I will swim,’ Peter Baird said with no hesitation. ‘I miss my country.’
‘Godspeed you. Captain Tyler will be watching for you. He’ll hide you, if needs be.’
John turned to William Catherwood. The sailor looked down, then at his captain. ‘I believe I will stay, sir.’ He smiled. ‘There’s a girl in Plymouth. I want to see her again.’
‘Very well. Thank you both. Not a word to anyone, please.’ He clapped his hands. ‘Look lively now. Take the wagon back to theSwallowwith the others. If anyone wonders what we talked of, say I gave you a royal scolding for some misdemeanour and it was brutal.’
‘Aye, sir,’ the Americans said in unison. They draped their arms around each other’s shoulders and walked back to the house.
‘Go along with them to theSwallow, Private Bartleby,’ John said, ‘then return here. But first, a word.’
‘Sir?’
‘Admiral Collingwood will endorse that your rank be restored to Sergeant and forward his request to the Admiralty. Can you find that wife of yours in Cornwall?’
