Sir Thomas drew the spyglass away from his face and closed it, a hundred miles from Dover the early morning mists dampened his sea cloak His Majesties ship of war Romulus continued towards England. Her great expanse of sail filled with wind while on the quarterdeck Sir Thomas master and commander of the vessel brooded. It was late October 1805 and Sir Thomas like all the rest of the men who had served under Lord Nelson felt a deep pain for the hero of the Nile and a hundred other battles lay dead preserved in a brandy barrel on rout to England. Ahead of H.M.S. Romulus Sir Thomas could just make out the form of H.M.S. Victory Nelson’s last command. Ploughing through the cold ocean carrying the mortal remains of the great sea Lord home to an England which had yet to learn of the death of the hero fallen in Trafalgar’s battle. Sir Thomas had always looked to Nelson for guidance for although he was older then Nelson he knew that the young Admiral had the strength and the knowledge to bring home a victory when pressed to do so. It was not that Sir Thomas had known the man intimately in fact they had seldom spoken man to man but Nelson had a way of making every man in the fleet believe and feel that he was on an intermit basis with him. For Nelson had a way of showing that he cared for those under his command indeed he could have written the text book on the art of naval warfare. For it was Nelson’s way to drill the ships crew in gunnery until he was satisfied it took many hours of sweating and groaning before Nelson was happy with the gunnery practice. This example other captains had put into practice and soon the tied of the war began to turn in England’s favour. For a moment Sir Thomas cast his mind back to the meeting aboard Victory only a few short hours before Trafalgar Nelson had known how to inspire men to greatness and he had done just this on each occasion he addressed his commanders. At the end of the meeting the sea Lord had asked Sir Thomas to remain for a moment after the other officers had left. “Well Sir Thomas we are to face old Bonys fleet once again will you drink a toast to our success?” asked Nelson as he decanted to glasses of Brandy from a bottle. “Indeed may the enemy fail in all there attempts and pray God that He keep us and preserve you for the fleet needs you right now.” Replied Sir Thomas ‘Indeed a happy sentiment I however hope that we will carry all before us and there will be a vast amount of prize money to be had” replied Nelson “To a safe harbour and a treasure trove of prize money” remarked Sir Thomas as he lifted his glass high towards the light. Now sir Thomas smiled at the memory how happy they had been when they had parted company for the last time Lord Nelson had taken his hand and held it for a lingering moment the great sea lord and the captain old friends exchanging a brief moment of brotherhood. Nelson was good at that now he lay dead never more to inspire men but his deeds and the memory of the man would long live on in the service of which he was so proud. Sir Thomas shivered for a moment in the cold pre dawn damp ahead he could just make out the tall sails of Victory as they dipped and rose with the swell of the ocean. Below he could hear the men getting ready for the next watch the ships mate had been down to rouse them op for the watch. James Braithwaite the young midshipman who had performed so bravely in the last battle approached knuckling his forelock he said Lieutenant James presents his complements and asks if he should ask the galley to prepare an early breakfast for you?” ‘Thank you Mr Braithwaite my complements to Lieutenant James and yes I will go down to my cabin directly” said Sir Thomas. The young officer turned and left the quarterdeck. In the mean time Sir Thomas returned to his musings. It saddened him that the cost of winning the battle had cost England so dearly he thought for a moment of Lady Nelson then of Lady Hamilton the great sea lord’s mistress. How would this loss affect them? Then he thought of every home in old England where a son a father a husband a brother had been lost to Bony’s war. How different it would have been if the war had not been so long fought boys snatched out of the school yards, Farmers and labourers from there toil to fight in far off corners of Europe how he hated war. Nevertheless, what could England do for to have surrendered to the Corsican would have meant the end of England and what would have become of those who for generations had worked so hard to build up England? Under the foot of Le emperor what would have been the lot of men like Sir Thomas? No England had to fight until at last the war was won. Sir Thomas was a man of mild disposition yet the very thought of an England under French domination made his blood boil for an England under the boot of France would not be England for England was for Englishmen. His mind turned to his wife and there children of course he would give his all to protect his family and if it meant dying in the service of the nation then so be it. He was an Englishman and that was what Englishmen did they did there duty to God and country. Mean while in a far corner of Surrey Lady Ann Sterley stirred in her bed it seemed to her that her husband must be near for she had dreamt he was home.


Chapter two the sea captains wife

It seemed for a moment as lady Ann stirred in her bed in the moments between sleeping and waking that her husband was already at home. Thomas she sighed as she woke. But he was not there for Sir Thomas was still over a hundred sea miles from the coast of England.

Upon becoming fully awake she felt content for like all the woman of her family she had the gift of foresight which told her now that soon her husband would be home, rising she lit a candle and crossed the bed chamber and opened the door which lead to the room in which her friend Emily Parker slept. Emily Parker whose husband was even now standing on the deck of the ship near Sir Thomas woke with a start for it was unusual for Lady Ann to be awake at such an early hour the first light of another dawn was just embracing the far horizon.” What alls you Ann?” asked Emily as she sat up in the big bed.

“It is naught to worry you about but I have just dreamt that Thomas and your William are close to home” replied Lady Ann. That is good news it has been such a long time since they were home” said Emily who had a long time ago learned to trust the instincts of her friend.

“So Sir Thomas will be home for the arrival of the little one” said Emily “Indeed I am exceeding glad of it” remarked Lady Ann who rubbed her large belly.

I am sure that Lord Nelson has lead them once more to victory remarked Emily with a sigh for she was a woman of strong passions and had been following the developments between Lady Hamilton and the sea Lord with great interest over the last few years. For Emily though she was deeply in love with William Parker was one of those woman who felt positively faint if the great sea Lord would happen to look in her direction. Though she be of a mature age the tender heart of a girl still beat strongly within her breast.

Now in the distance the sound of the church clock of Notheringay tolled the hour five times it struck the woman listened in silence in reflection another night had passed and soon the children would be rising for the children of the Sterley and Parker families had always risen at the hour of seven o’clock. Had the habit of first coming to greet there mothers soon after rising before dressing.

Today would be no different for the children of Oakland Park above all things knew that the one person that the might turn to for help in times of distress was there mother Lady Ann. For she was of an ancient and honourable family come down from the Highlands at the time of James I to serve there king in any matter that required a masterful and diplomatic hand. The laird of Glen Bukkie been a wise old man knew which way to trim his sails thus the Moorcroft’s of Glen Bukkie had come south to be of service to there royal master

For this service James I of England and the sixth of Scotland quite contrary to his nature gave them generously from his royal bounty. Now in the current age the Old Lord of Moorcroft was an ancient relic who seldom ventured forth from his estates leaving the venturing to his sons and Grandsons.
The younger of which was Lady Ann’s beloved brother John who had of late made a visit to Oakland’s Brother and sister had been glad of there reunion for it had been some years since they had been together for the honourable John Moorcroft had for some time been away on a very secret and important mission to the Imperial court of the Czar of all the Russia’s and had for some year lived in the capital city of that great expanse called Russia for the honourable John Moorcroft t spoke French without a trace of his own English and had been a great favourite of the ladies at the court of Alexander czar of Russia. It was said of John Moorcroft that it was known in certain circles that the great Russian leader would consult him on matters of importance pertained to matters of foreign policy of all Russia.

To the world at large it seemed that the honourable John Moorcroft was acting against his country by serving the court of Russia but few a very select few who knew that he was acting upon instructions of the Prime Minster and that he was far better placed to be of service to England then many currently expected. True to form the current members of the Moorcroft family served England in the same capacity as there forefathers had done for generations.

The visitors to Oakland Park thus having been dealt with let us now return to morning in question Lady Ann rung for tea to be brought to her room in the mean time the two old friends spoke of things of little importance for the sun was just rising and they were taking the time to savour the moment.

Some where with in the great house three boys were waking for Tom Sterley every day was an adventure for he was filled with the joys that the young have so freely available tot hem this morning his friends George and Peter Parker were still sleeping and he had taken it into his head to wet them with a bucket of ice cold water this he did not out of evil intent but rather because he was board and the Parkers had overslept and he wished them now to be awake for it was time to be abroad and playing there was a lake full of fish and fowl to hunt.

Tossing the water upon the lads as they slept evoked a roar of protest from the brothers Parker who now like ghosts rose from the sheets covered in bed linen and wet night shirts.

Chapter 3

It is a strange thing to know that a heart that beat with bravery was now cold the funeral barge now proceeding down the river to Westminster carrying last mortal remains of the brave sea lord who had given so much for England now nothing more then a husk. Sir Thomas was in a thoughtful frame of mind as he watched the procession from the quarter deck of HMS Romulus below standing with heads bowed the crew no doubt also spent a moment in reflection on who would now fill the gap left by the titan who had walked among them. For after all Nelson it was felt was the friend of every man jack for he had always had a kind word for those who served under him.

Sir Thomas had always been of the opinion that one should take that which is good in another man and try to improve ones own character by emulating that behaviour, thus Sir Thomas endeavoured very much the attitudes and manner of Nelson when he addressed the tars for all his efforts HMS Romulus was a happy ship and it was seldom that any man was made to kiss the gunners daughter for Sir Thomas had an aversion to flogging he abjured the fact that a majority of Navel officers still held to the old ways such as flogging as a young midshipman many years earlier he had witnessed the death of an old salt the manner of the poor mans death was so violent that when he some times thought about it he still shuddered for it had been a fine day when the ship upon which he had been serving had come under a most unfortunate set of winds that it had almost been lost old captain Bosworth had been so angry that he had summoned the crew up on deck and had the helmsman strapped to the gun the beating which the man endured was one which was a common sight but one which the young Sir Thomas had not been accustomed he knew that his father punished wrong doers but had never first hand witnessed such punishment. The whip having been used upward of thirty times had long since drawn away the mans skin exposing the soft flesh of his back. By unfortunate accident one of the ends of the whip hooked the flesh and tore away a piece of flesh which fly skywards and landed on young Thomas's face. as an office he was duty bound to stand fast until the crew had been dismissed after the flogging he found it exceptionally difficult to do so and only by the utmost use of his will power did he mange to do so he promised himself on that day that if he ever became captain he would never use the whip as a punishment unless it was under exceptional circumstances.

The funeral over Sir Thomas dismissed the crew to go about their business while he made ready for a most interesting evening for Sir Thomas and his beloved wife Ann had been invited to a grand ball to be held at Carlton house home of Prince George. Admittedly the prince and Sir Thomas did not find much occasion to like each other for neither could find it with in themselves to flow forth with feelings of friendship since a certain event some months previously when by unlucky fortune they had both bet against each other over a certain nobleman's actions both predicting a certain outcome thereafter the noble man had acted quite differently to both of there predictions whereupon each believed the other to have had a hand in it. Thus the prince and Sir Thomas were no longer friends. Lady Ann had warned Sir Thomas at the time that to bet against the prince was folly but he had done it any way thus the result was a friendship which the two men had been in together since their youths was now over.

However tonight was going to be different if the prince as it was rumoured was in of his benevolent moods then mayhap there was a chance of happy reunion where brotherly love might once more beat in the hearts of both men. It was more likely that this would not happen for Lady Ann was of the opinion that this would be one of those occasions when the prince would once again publicly humiliate Sir Thomas. for the prince had of late sort out every occasion to do this much to the anger of Sir Thomas and the sorrow of Lady Ann for she loved her husband and took it as a personal affront when he was insulted.

Sir Thomas and Lady Ann had taken apartments at Whitehall for the funeral and it was to the same that Sir Thomas now hurried for it was still early in the evening and he had hopes of partaking of a small meal with his wife before they repaired to Carlton house for the prince was notorious for keeping the guests with whom he spent the evening waiting until half past One o'clock in the morning before allowing the dinner to be served.

The snow had fallen and it was a bitterly cold the streets of London were dangerous the snow had melted and frozen again into had packed ice leaving the ground black and smooth causing the unwary pedestrian and coach driver alike prey to slipping and falling a number of horses had already fallen in the road in front of Whitehall there anguished cries mercifully cut short by a pistol shot to the brain. Sir Thomas had warned taken note of this condition and had accordingly warned Joel the family’s coach driver to take the utmost care of how he traverse the streets lest any of the horses pulling the coach fall victim to the ice. Thomas’s concern for the safety of the horses was also connected with the safety of his wife and the unborn child she carried. For an accident in the street could be a violent affair and could result in the loss of the unborn child if the carriage became unstable and rolled.

The carriage stopped outside Carlton house at 8 o’clock in the evening, Sir Thomas escorted Lady Ann up the staircase and into the grand entrance here footmen and other servants stood ready to take the cloaks and coats from the guests. Who greed of their heavy clothing moved to the ball room where servants moved through the crowd of invited guests with trays of drinks.

The ball room was splendid with a thousand candles lighting the room the mirrors on the high roof reflecting the light down in to the ballroom. Here gentlemen dressed in a vast array of uniforms danced with their female companions who were for the most part dressed in white, pink or red gowns.

The air was filled with a heavy sent of perfumes as many at the ball had taken the precaution of using au de colon to hide the smell of their unwashed bodies. It was a well known fact that the price liked to gamble and it was in one of the pallor’s that the prince was now to be found dressed this night In a uniform of his own design his vast bulk covered in an extravagant jacket which stretched to his waist but also open to display a splendid mauve shirt which was tucked into a pair of white breeches which proceeded down a very expensive pair of leather boots. The price it seemed was sharing a joke with a close companion who was lapping up every word.

It seemed now that Sir Thomas and Lady Ann like many others would have to wait until midnight to partake of the meal promised in the mean time the couple danced a little and when Lady Ann grew tired she sat and spoke with other ladies present whilst the gentlemen partook of a game of whist which had been laid out in the pallor where the prince had made himself at hom

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 30.03.2010

Alle Rechte vorbehalten