The sea captains wife, SAREJESS [free romance novels .TXT] 📗

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.