is he, Lewrie? More tripe and trullibubs upstairs to match the suet down below. What sort of chance do you think Claghorne had in command of a crew that knew him for a man who once was forced to strike? Whether or not there was a chance to fight that privateer, he was in command, and his decision was correct,
simply because he was a senior officer, do you comprehend that, Lewrie? You disobeyed him!â
âSo youâd rather be dead or in chains, sir?â Alan demanded.
âDamn you to hell, sir!â Kenyon spat. âHave you learned no shame, no sense of guilt for what you have done? You cost a good man his life.â
âI saved yours, and every man-jack aboard, sir,â Alan retorted. âBesides, Claghorne was ready to strike as soon as he saw that brig, and nothing you or anyone else could have said would have changed his mind, and not doing everything in oneâs power to prepare a ship to fight, or offering no resistance when thereâs a chance to do so is cowardice, at least a court-martial offense on one charge, sir. But we did offer resistance, and I proved that resistance was possible, so Claghorne should have been strung up, or cashiered. Now itâs not my fault Sir Onsley gave that fatuous clown Parrot, sir. Had he given it a little thought, he would have known it was a death sentence, and â¦â
âGod, I knew you were base, but I had no idea you were such a cold-blooded, dissembling hound, Lewrie!â Kenyon marveled. âHad the colors still been flying, your resistance would have resulted in every man-jack, as you put it, slaughtered with cold steel. And to smear a good manâs name, to call him a clown, a fatuous clown ⦠I once thought highly of you, Lewrie. I asked for you in Parrot. I took you under my aegis when I saw how you were floundering about those first weeks in Ariadne. Iâd like to think that what little you have learned about the Navy was partly my doing.â
âIt is, sir, believe me.â
âI gave you my trust,â Kenyon went on, his heart almost breaking as the enormity of Alanâs perceived sins overwhelmed his anger. âI brought you up from a seasick younker, taught you, gave you room to grow as a seaman, gave you responsibility, and I thought you were growing into a fine young man. But then you let me down so badly.â
âI am sorry you see things that way, sir.â Alan calmed, knowing he would not be able to get through Kenyonâs screen of bile with any logic. âBut I was technically second in command of Parrot at the time, and had a responsibility to do everything I could to prevent us being taken. Lord Cantnerâs knowledge of government secrets, their persons, the shipâs people â¦â
âDonât cloak your actions in any false sense of duty,â Kenyon snapped, back in rancor again. âI told you in my letter Iâd not abide you in my presence, nor in my Navy, and I meant it.
Thereâs a vile streak to you that belongs in the gutter, not strutting about a quarterdeck as a junior warrant. Now Iâm first officer into this ship, I shall make sure you serve her, and the Fleet, no longer than necessary.â
âAnd satisfactory performance at my duties could not alter your resolve, sir,â Alan sighed, steeling himself to use his ammunition.
âNot a whit, Lewrie. I mean to see you cashiered, or broken to ordinary seaman and sent forward in pusserâs slops.â
âThatâs devilish unfair, sir.â
âNot to my lights it ainât.â
âThere are other officers who think highly of me in this ship, sir,â Alan countered. âYour intent will look like persecution.â
âIâve been in the Navy ten years longer than you, Lewrie, I can find a way, believe me,â Kenyon promised with a lupine grin that lit his countenance for a bleak moment. âAnd when you are broken, Iâll shed a martyrâs
Samuel Richardson
M. C. Beaton
Ellen Crosby
Coleman Luck
Helen Hardt
J.C. Isabella
Ramsey Campbell
Scarlet Wolfe
Sheryl Browne
Mia Garcia