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“Well he didn’t, so now we have to beg you,” Richard said a cold bite in his words. “But is that what you want? For us to beg? Fine, I don’t care. PleaseCaptainWinthrop. Take the boy to sea. Give him what you were given. Don’t force him to gasp out his last breath in that black pit knowing no one is going to savehim.”
“Richard,” Devin cried and pulled his brother against him as the man wept. “It isn’t that I want you to beg. Not at all, the navy is changing. Children… well they need to be schooled,and…”
“Is there nothing you can do?” Grace asked. “I want him to have a chance and yoursuccess…”
“Again, my success waschance. Those aren’t the same seas. He’d certainly do well and there’s no shame in such a career but…” How did he explain how awful it really was to be sent from home for years on end, no family but your crew, no home but the ship you sailed on? It was in no manner worse than to have your family dead and buried, but looking at Grace and seeing her mixture of hope he could save her child the fate of the others, and her fear that like her other son she’d never see him again, he had no idea how to explain it tothem.
“Must it be a navy ship?” Miaasked.
“Why do you ask? What else is there?” Ronald queried, and helped his wife situp.
“That’s brilliant, Mia,” Devin said and lifted her hand to his lips. “Can you arrangethat?”
“I could have him put on with Papa,” Mia said. “His ship is due in. I’m not sure when exactlybut…”
“What?” Grace asked, wiping at tears with the back of her hand. Devin reached in his pocket and withdrew the handkerchief. What was the matter with women they never had theirown.
“If you don’t care that his must be navy, he can be a merchant seaman. It’s far better pay and you won’t have to wait twenty years to see him as such ships come regularly to the same ports nearly on a schedule, but you can ask at the office when they’llarrive.”
“How would we do that? And how would we know those ships are safe?” Ronaldasked.
“Mia just told you, she could put him on board with her own papa,” Devin said then turned to smile at her. “But any of her crews would see to hiswelfare.”
“Not just mine, any in the fleet. Once he was sound with basic seamanship, he could take his pick of routes to sail. He’ll certainly see more of the world than he would in the navy. They’ve such shallow runs,” Mia said, getting in her barb against thenavy.
“Your father is on a merchant ship?” Beth asked. She too failed to produce a hankie to wipe her face and Devinsighed.
“My papa is yes. He sails theMolly.”
“And he has some sway to be able to take Robbie on that ship?” Richardasked.
Mia gave him a strange look. “They are lubbers, Mia. They’ve no notion about any of this,” Devin told her then went on to explain how Mia’s papa was the owner of theWind and Pearl Shipping Company. A commodore, or a man with a large number of ships at his command. But it was when he told them how Mia herself was raised on board he saw the relief wash overeveryone.
“It’s a fine way to start and he’ll learn other trades as he sails, so if he doesn’t take to it he can return to shore and put those skills to work. There is no lifetime commitment to a merchant ship,” Miafinished.
“He’ll be safe,” Ronald breathed out and Grace nodded her head though she held back tears knowing she’d be sending her boy to sea and she’d not see him every day as she couldnow.
“He will. And…” Mia hedged. “If you have a mind for travel, I can always send you out to a port he’d eventually set to. It’s a nice thing Papa does around the holidays for his crews with families moreinland.”
Grace gasped and flung herself at Mia. “You would do it? I mean you don’t know usand…”
“We’re still family,” Devin said, and the woman pulled away from Mia to fling herself againsthim.
“And anything to keep another poor sod out of the inept navy,” Mia said soinnocently.
“Mrs. Winthrop,” Devin said scowling while she tried not to giggle. “I’ll have you know the navy isn’tinept.”
“Well, it will be if you don’t get back to class and teach those lubbers how to manage a lateen orboom.”
“Damn,” Devin cursed, reaching in his pocket for his watch then climbing to his feet along with everyone else. “I must get back, but we can speak more on this at home tonight. Mia willyou—”
“Of course, Captain,” she said her smile making him again regret having to leaveher.
He was almost out the door when he realized what she’d said though and he knew he’d regret this too, but he needed to try. “And Mrs. Winthrop the navy doesn’t use alateen.”
“Which is why they’re inept, even fishermen out sail them,” she holleredback.
Devin shook his head as he went out. His wife would never be convinced the sailing abilities of the navy outmatched everything on the water and always would. But, as he tried again to teach young men who’d never been to sea how to navigate with no points of reference, he did wonder if when the men who joined were all like these men, without experience, maybe the royal navy wouldn’t be as great as it wasnow.
