Chapter Nineteen
A nna knew there wasn’t a graceful way to land on the deck. It was a simple matter to release her death grip on the rope and lurch into John’s embrace. ‘Ah, such grace,’ he whispered in her ear, which made her laugh.
He kissed her right there on the deck. Her nautical audience— oh, the Navy! —sighed in unison, which gave Anna the giggles, even though her face was red, her hair a mess and her dress rusty with dried blood from the wounded sailor. At least she was wearing a clean petticoat.
She thought Captain Beattie would make some comment to the bright-eyed rabble observing the whole scene with glee, but he merely turned to the other man with epaulettes on each shoulder and bowed.
‘Your deck, Captain Thomas,’ he said. ‘Thank you for the loan of it. I’m taking this lady below.’
‘Where is your ship?’ Anna asked.
‘This way, Miss Fontaine,’ he said most formally, but with a smile. ‘I’ll show you my domain.’
With a nod to Captain Thomas, who wasted not a moment in shouting, ‘As you were, men,’ sending everyone back to their occupations, John took her hand and walked her across the deck.
He gestured. ‘There she is, my Swallow .’
She heard the pride, and wondered about the Swallow , which she had naturally seen in Plymouth, but which looked so much smaller now as she stood on the much larger flagship.
John seemed to read her mind. ‘Aye, Swallow is small, but she is quick, nimble and formidable.’ He looked at her. ‘Rather, I suspect, like you.’
She said something that she barely remembered after it left her mouth, because he kissed her again, quickly.
‘We are now on the Queen , Admiral Collingwood’s flagship.’ He pointed up. ‘The Admiral’s flag.’
He rested his hands on her shoulders, all humour gone. ‘What can I say? Thanks to the US Navy, you’re here, too.’ He turned to see the Yankee Captain hoisted on deck. ‘And here is Captain Tyler.’
‘He wanted to meet you.’
‘I am in favour of meeting him, too,’ John said. ‘Not everyone aboard this ship will agree, but we need to know this new nation.’ He went to the opposite railing to greet her rescuer and introduce himself. She joined the captains.
Captain Tyler nodded to her. ‘Miss Fontaine, I have just informed Captain Beattie that I have something of interest to discuss, if Admiral Collingwood wishes to hear me.’
‘I believe he will,’ John said. ‘Let us find out.’
He steered her towards a far grander companionway than on either the Jaunty or the Hartford . ‘Collingwood already requested the children below-deck, where you will discover who really rules the waves.’
It was a hopeless matter, but she patted her hair anyway. ‘I look a fright,’ she protested.
‘Then I’ve never seen a prettier fright. Here we are.’
She hesitated when they approached an ornate double door with a Royal Marine guard who snapped to attention. He ushered her and Captain Tyler through.
Anna knew that the stern of a ship, any ship, was the Captain’s domain, but this was far grander, with a Turkish rug on the floor, and books held in place on shelves by strips of wood. A youngish man sat at a desk, writing.
‘That can’t be the Admiral,’ she whispered to John.
‘His secretary and gatekeeper to the inner sanctum,’ John said. ‘And here is the crew member I mentioned who really rules the waves.’
She stared at a pointy-eared brown and white dog who, with a composed air, regarded Allan and Pru watching him.
‘He does rule the ocean waves,’ Anna heard from another open door. ‘My dog, Bounce, and his current entourage.’
That was her introduction to Admiral Collingwood, a tall man, taller than John, who probably had to duck below-deck. Leadership and dignity seemed stamped on his face, dress and bearing, but were overruled by the kindness in his eyes, especially when he regarded Bounce and the children.
Anna curtsied, and he bowed. ‘Miss Fontaine, a wily post captain has lured you aboard my ship with the promise of matrimony. Come, come, lass, should you trust a Navy man? Ministers from pulpits everywhere counsel against it.’
‘Admiral, you are not supporting my cause,’ she heard beside her, which told her worlds about this august seaman’s familiarity with his officers.
‘On the contrary, Captain Beattie,’ Collingwood said. ‘I am delighted for you.’ He came closer. ‘As you were, Bounce.’
The dog gave a massive sigh and collapsed on his side, which was all the invitation Allan Beattie needed to flop down and cuddle close. Pru hesitated a moment, then sank down beside boy and dog.
There was something almost homelike about this room, with a well-used sofa decidedly rump-sprung and an equally ornate Turkish rug, where Allan and Pru now sprawled, at least until John held out his arms and Allan scrambled up and ran to him.
‘I wanted to stay on the deck with you,’ his son told him, ‘but Admiral Cuddy wanted to give you a moment with Missy. Why do you need a moment with Missy? She is always around.’
‘She is, thank God. As for why I need a moment with her, you’ll understand when you’re older.’ John motioned to Pru. ‘And you, miss, thank you again for watching out for my little rascal.’
‘He’s easy,’ Pru replied, practical as always.
‘I thank you all the same,’ John said simply, and with a little bow that rendered Pru speechless.
‘Come closer, my dear,’ the Admiral said to Anna. ‘Captain Beattie, perhaps it is not too late for both of us to remember formal introductions.’ He bowed to her. ‘I am certain this is Miss Fontaine.’ He turned to the Yankee. ‘And you, sir?’
John introduced Captain Tyler, who nodded to the Admiral. Anna didn’t think Americans were interested in bowing.
‘Admiral, it is an honour to meet you.’
‘Captain Tyler’s Hartford saved the Jaunty .’ John took a deep breath and tightened his grip on her. ‘And my dear ones.’
‘For which we are all grateful, Captain Tyler,’ the Admiral said. ‘Welcome aboard. Yes, I am Collingwood, in charge of this pack of jackals.’
‘It’s a fine pack, sir,’ Captain Tyler said. ‘If I could have a moment of your time?’
‘Aye, Captain Tyler.’
It was Anna’s turn for a quiet sigh of relief. She was not one to seek out attention. Better let the men converse. She glanced at the children, suddenly wishing she was young enough to flop down beside them with Bounce, who groaned with the pleasure of two minions scratching his ears.
But no. Admiral Collingwood included her.
‘Miss Fontaine, our American Captain tells me that you and the little ones had a time of it from a French rogue who obviously didn’t get our distinct message at Trafalgar.
’ He turned to Captain Tyler. ‘Now this Yankee tells me that he has appointed himself chief guardian of the Jaunty , on its way to the Rock.’
‘With your permission, of course, Admiral Collingwood,’ Dan Tyler said smoothly. ‘I know it isn’t far to Gibraltar, but his ship is not in trim. I would follow him for his safety’s sake.’
‘But we are the Royal Navy, sir, and you are not,’ the Admiral said, not sharply to Anna’s ears, but more with curiosity.
‘The Jaunty was a ship in distress,’ Tyler said simply. ‘I defer to you, certainly, if you would rather one of your fleet escort her to Gibraltar, but I am willing.’
‘Very well. You have my permission to give aid where needed,’ the Admiral replied. He smiled. ‘Captain Tyler, let me escort you topside and ask about your fleet in the Mediterranean.’
‘Hardly mine, sir,’ Tyler said as he followed the Admiral out of the door. ‘We answer to President Thomas Jefferson.’
‘Upstart,’ Anna heard the Admiral say before the door closed, leaving her with John, the children and Bounce.
‘At least we seamen have gone from fighting each other to teasing, instead. Come here, Anna Fontaine.’ John said it gently, which was part of her wonderment about him.
She had seen him at his most desperate, seen him coldly angry at a vile curate, seen him just now on the deck of a ship of the line, taking charge and then relinquishing it because he knew his place. She moved gladly into his arms.
‘I have missed you,’ she said, for his ears only. ‘I was frightened on the Jaunty .’
‘I can only imagine,’ he whispered into her hair. ‘Then to physic a wounded man. Captain Tyler said something about a magnificent lady—I believe he means you?’
‘Hardly that,’ she told him, thinking of the fear and uncertainty she’d only admitted to herself and now to him. But did she have to blurt out, ‘Here I am, sir. What now?’
It sounded like a jarring note to her ears, but John said nothing. And you, what do you really think about this? she wanted to ask.
‘Admiral Collingwood is keeping you and Pru here tonight. I’m taking Allan with me to the Swallow for the night, some father and son time. I have had too few of those.’ He touched her cheek. ‘What say you to a flagship wedding the day after, and then sailing with me to Gibraltar? Aye or nay?’
‘Aye,’ she whispered shyly. ‘I didn’t get seasick and come all this way for nothing.’
He held her close, and she felt the laughter she did not hear. ‘No, you did not. Anna Fontaine, you’re a practical sort. Did you imagine any of this before I knocked on your door?’
Did you? she asked herself, and settled on, ‘These are strange times.’
‘I won’t deny that,’ he told her. He cupped gentle hands around her face. ‘I do not know what lies ahead. Does anyone? Trust me.’