The day had dawned clear and warm with a humid sea breeze blowing its way across the harbour and onto the land around Saint Augustine.
Sir Raymond Knight had not slept well. After the trial, which ended in complete dismissal of all charges against Lancaster, he had gone along with Gabe, Markham and Stephen Earl to have a "victory wet" at the Mermaid. That is when he saw her. Domingo Chavez had a daughter, a goddess. Knight was immediately struck by the woman's beauty.
Her hair fell in ringlets and was black as a raven's wings, her eyes as green as the emerald sea; and her lips… lips as red as a ruby. She was medium height, slender and moved with a graceful light step. She had looked into Knight's eyes and he felt as if he'd always known this lovely creature he'd just met. He knew instantly however that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Gabe had been talking about the sudden uproar of laughter during the trial when Lum had said matter-of-factly, "but I seen him when he spat it out." Glancing Knight's way, then following his gaze to the beautiful Spanish girl it was all to clear to Gabe what held Knight's attention. He felt a pang of jealously as he thought of Faith in Savannah, not a day's sail away.
However, being the good shipmate he was, Gabe declared to all at the table, "Damme, but I do believe Sir Raymond has been struck by one of cupid's arrows." Pointing out the beauty that had captured Knight's eye, Markham and Earl had joined in on the tirade,
"Damned if he ain't." The results of which cost him a round to shut everybody up.
Now glancing at his watch, Knight found it was time to report to the flagship for a meeting. Well he'd go to the meeting and if duty allowed he'd stop by the Mermaid and maybe meet up with this dark-skinned woman who had already captured his heart.
Nancy… damned if the name wasn't lovely too.
By the time Lord Anthony's captains had gathered in his dining area the sea breeze had died but the heat and humidity remained ever present.
The attitude of Captain Buck when he entered the dining area seemed to be as oppressive as the heat and humidity. Today there would be no jokes or toasts.
Today was business.
When Lord Anthony entered with Bart at his side everyone sat anxiously awaiting… news, new orders or whatever his lordship had on his mind.
"Gentlemen," Lord Anthony started off, "we are doing little to achieve our mission with our current plan so therefore we are going to make some changes. First, we are going after information. Something we have very little of. I want every ship, island trader or bumboat you encounter on your patrols stopped, searched and questioned."
While no one spoke, all knew for his lordship to be taking such aggressive action the Governor must be
applying pressure. However, other than the action in which Neptune had been captured, all had been relatively quiet. Swan had captured a small island schooner that held a party of rebels raiding coastal villages.
Noting the look of dismay on his officers' faces Lord Anthony continued on, "These are trying times gentlemen and desperate measures are called for. You will be given your sailing orders before you leave. Now is there or has there been anything unusual within the city or the harbour that you've recognized?" Gabe started to speak but held his tongue. Dagan had told him of a conversation with Bart while having a wet and enjoying a bowl of tobacco. A jollyboat had passed close to Warrior's stern. The passengers in the boat were mostly drunk and speaking very loudly. Bart had turned to Dagan and said, "Damned Dagos, everywhere you turn they's one and now we's can't even have a quiet evening without their blabbering spoiling it." After hearing Dagan out Gabe went topside to view the harbour and verify Dagan's concerns.
When no one spoke up Lord Anthony said, "We'll leave it to two old tarpaulins to see and hear the obvious.
Not to make a scene gentlemen but on your way back to your ships take note of how many Spanish vessels are at anchor here or inside the harbour. Listen to the talk in boats plying back and forth. It's mostly Spanish. When we are in port our ships are being attacked, when we're out they're not. The Governor was undoubtedly right about spies in the Spaniard's quarters."
"But Lord Anthony," Lieutenant Kerry from the Pigeon had stood, "we are not at war with Spain and Saint Augustine used to belong to Spain so how do we get rid of the Spanish without creating a national incident and maybe even bring them into war with the Colonies?"
"Well sir," Anthony answered the young lieutenant,
"nobody said anything about getting rid of the Spanish.
What I said was gather information. If that brings us to open conflict so be it. Most feel it will only be a matter of time and both the French and the Spanish will enter the war with the Colonials. I'm almost certain the French will."
"Now before you go, Captain Buck will give each of you your orders. Thanks to Captain Markham who recently captured the little island schooner, Rose, we now have means of communication with the Governor. Pigeon and Audacity will now be used to communicate between the flagship and the patrols."
This brought smiles from the gathered officers who knew it was a compliment for the admiral to address a lieutenant as a captain even if he was commanding a ship.
Gabe, Markham, and Earl were saying their goodbyes to Bart when Knight approached in tow with Buck.
"Damme sir, but I do hope this war hasn't spoiled our fearless captain's romance," Markham chimed.
Seeing the mischief in Markham 's eye, Buck asked,
"Who pray tell has been smitten?"
In unison the group replied, "Sir Raymond."
"Humph!" Buck said with an exaggerated frown.
"Well, maybe I should do the honorable thing and keep this maiden well entertained while our brave captain is away doing his duty. I'm sure it's a service Sir Raymond would perform for me if I was away on King's business." This caused a round of applause and laughter by all but Knight who seeing his cox'n was ready said, "I shall depart to my ship but you gentlemen can go to hell." This brought out an uproar again. Markham laughed till tears poured from his eyes. Buck then raised
his hand to quiet the group then said, "Dry your tears Captain Markham. Then if you and Captain Anthony can make your way to his lordship's cabin without demeaning some poor soul along the way, make yourself available to your admiral."
Then turning to Captain Earl, Buck said, "Let's share a glass while his Lordship talks to our wayward lads, and then he will tell you about orders." Looking out Buck could see Knight's gig approaching Neptune. "Tsk, tsk," he said, "had our Sir Raymond not been in such a hurry he could have enjoyed a glass with us. Now, however, he will have to gather the gig crew together and that time will be spent rowing back to the flagship."
Seeing the Fifth Lieutenant Johns, Buck ordered,
"Please make to Neptune. Captain repair on board." This brought a chuckle from Earl but he'd seen the black-haired beauty that infatuated Knight and damned if he wasn't a bit smitten himself.
Oh well, Knight will be good and thirsty by time he returns in this heat. Do him good, Earl thought, I should have seen her first.