(Creation by Jo)

Testudo Aubrey

By Bailey

1809 was a busy time in the United States.  Independence had been won, but at what price?   Even now over thirty years later, England couldn’t seem to break free from wanting the ‘colonies’ to rejoin the empire.  His Majesty had involved his navy in skirmishes with America and France and pirates still roamed the Atlantic and Caribbean even though they didn’t use the Jolly Roger anymore.  Still, things were happening for the colonies.  They had formed a ‘more perfect union’ and were expanding.  The new country was beginning to prosper in earnest and it made things uncomfortable with its former owner.

H.M.S. Surprise slowly sailed into Boston harbor.  The captain, Jack Aubrey, had a passenger aboard who was to meet with representatives of the United States congress.  The captain was to see that Mr. Carlyle was put ashore and then wait for him to conclude his business.  H.M.S. Surprise would stay in port until that time.

As was expected, a small frigate pulled alongside and asked their business in port.  With tension between the two countries, it was only prudent that the hosting country know why a ship of war from a belligerent county was entering their harbor.

Captain Aubrey had answered the questions that were shouted to him from the frigate and once the frigate captain was satisfied, they were escorted to a place where they were allowed to anchor.

Mr. Carlyle and Captain Aubrey were shuttled to the docks via the ship’s dingy.  Once they reached the dock they disembarked. both men carrying a satchel.  As they put down their luggage a gentleman approached and identified himself.  Mr. Carlyle was satisfied that the man was the liaison for the conference.  Carlyle and Captain Aubrey had spoken earlier about whether the captain should accompany him to the conference, but Carlyle felt it would only complicate things having a military man in the midst of negotiations. 

He shook Aubrey’s hand and tried to reassure him that all would be well. “Thank you again, Captain, for your concern, but I will be fine.  I believe this may take several days.  In the meantime, I believe you said you have friends here you would like to contact.  Please leave word where you will be staying should you change your mind and find different accommodations than the White Horse Inn.  I will have someone contact you once our negotiations are complete.”

“I will certainly do that.  Good luck with your conference.”  Aubrey bowed slightly and turned to one of his able seamen.  “Let Mr. Mowett know that I will be staying at the White Horse Inn for at least the next three days, possibly longer, and I will alert him to any changes.”  With that his seaman saluted and returned to the dingy. 

When he turned back, Mr. Carlyle and his escort were gone.

The day was overcast and cold but at least it wasn’t raining.  Captain Aubrey picked up his satchel and walked to the road that ran the length of the docks.  He waved down a carriage and rode to the White Horse Inn.

Jack had been to Boston on several occasions in the past.  He liked the city.  It was not as refined as London or some of the other large cities in England, but the slightly rough side appealed to his own rough side. 

Once he established himself in his room, Jack decided to stroll to Chadwick Portsmouth’s residence, only a short distance away.  Although it wasn’t his usual way, arriving at someone’s residence unannounced, Jack knew Chad would be glad to see him.  They, after all, had been friends since they were young boys. 

Although his stroll was not a long one, it was up hill the entire way and he found himself slightly winded by the time he arrived.  He had to remind himself that he wasn’t as young as he used to be.  He was turning forty in April and the lack of exercise on a warship, even one as large as Surprise, was contributing to his current state.

Chad’s home was large and beautiful.  His family was wealthy and though he left much of his earnings in England, his business here in America was doing quite well.  Jack took a moment to admire the house and then knocked on the door and a middle-aged black woman answered.  He smiled, “Mandy, it is good to see you again.”

The woman smiled back. “Captain Aubrey.  It is good to see you, too.  I will announce your arrival.”  She took his overcoat and went off to tell Mr. Portsmouth the good news.

Jack had known Mandy since before Chad had moved from England to the United States.  She was a kind and gentle soul and took very good care of Chad and his family.  She was a servant not a slave.

“Jack! Jack! It’s so good to see you!”  Chad approached the reception foyer at a rather unsophisticated gallop down the connecting hall.  He threw his arms around his long time friend and laughed, “What timing you have, Jack!  We are preparing for a party tonight.  You’ve arrived at just the right moment.”

Jack smiled and returned the hug.  Although his father had not been a person who allowed physical affection, his friend Chad and his family had always expected it, with both Jack and his sister.  Jack had learned from them that hugs were necessary to a warm relationship.

“How long will you be here?”

“A week, perhaps.”

“Come, come in!  Sarah is over-looking the last of the details for tonight, but she said you must come and give your approval.”

They walked into the ballroom and Jack had to smile.  Chad’s wife had outdone herself.  The room was festooned with fan-like banners and flowers in soft pastels.  It gave the look of a party yet seemed relaxing, and the aroma from the flowers was wonderful.

She saw them enter and quickly moved to Jack, giving him a hug.  “Oh, Jack, I’m so glad you came.  You’re just what this party needs.”  Sarah was in her mid-thirties, with auburn hair and bright blue eyes.  He’d always thought of her as stunning.

“You are just as beautiful as the last time I saw you, Sarah, and just as clever in making a beautiful party.  It looks wonderful.”

She smiled.  “Where are you staying, Jack?  Wherever it is, bring your things and stay here.”

“I would love to, Sarah, but I have already made arrangements and my 1^st mate knows where I can be found.  But thank you just the same.  At any rate, I’m only up the way at the White Horse Inn.”

“Well, at least you’re at a decent place and very near.”  Chad was happy that they would be close enough to spend time together.  God only knew when they would see each other again.  “Roddy and Susan will be happy to see you.   They’re at a church function; they should be back soon.  They miss their “Uncle Jack”.  Chad's smile faded for a moment. “We were sorry to hear of Sophie’s passing.  How are the girls?”

Jack looked down. The loss of his beautiful Sophie had been the hardest thing he’d ever faced.  She died of fever while he was gone.  He’d returned two months after her death, expecting to tease and make love to her, make her smile like no one else could.  She was the love of his life and his candle in the darkness.  The letter his father wrote found him three days after his return; it was factual and rather cold, like he was. 

On his return his girls, Candice and Tulilah, had received him as if he were the grim reaper himself.  They barely talked to him and when they did it was to inform him that he never loved their mother and never cared about them.  The two weeks he spent at home were the longest he’d ever lived.

He looked back up. “They’re fine.  As fine as anyone who lives with my father can be.”  He hesitated a moment. “Well, if I’m to go to a party this evening, perhaps I should return to the inn and prepare myself.”

Just that moment two young voices shouted, “Uncle Jack, Uncle Jack, where are you?  A young man, just turned thirteen and already handsome with chestnut hair and dark brown eyes, came bounding into the ballroom.  He had the look of his father when he was that age, except for the eyes. Right behind him was his twin sister, the feminine version of himself.  Jack immediately smiled.  In his heart they were as much his children as his own.

He hugged both of them and complimented them on how much they’d grown.  Susan was nearly a woman and a beautiful one at that. “Chad, I believe you will need a stronger door.  Susan’s suitors will have it knocked down in no time.”

“They’ve already started, Jack.” 

They all retreated to the smaller sitting room and talked for another hour.  Jack kept looking at Chad and marveled at how much he looked and acted like his friend, Dr. Stephen Maturin.  If he didn’t know better he would think they were related.  They were the two best friends he’d ever had.  It was good to be back among the Portsmouths again.  It was three years now since he last saw them.  The Surprise had spent a week in port before sailing back to England, back to the news of Sophie’s death.

“Well, I should go and let all of you get ready for this evening.”  Chad walked him out after receiving hugs again from Sarah, Susan and Roddy. 

“I’ll have the carriage brought around.”

“No, Chad, it’s only a short walk and I can use the exercise.  Besides, it’s all down hill.”  He gave Chad a quick hug and smiled.  “I shall see you soon.”

Chapter Two

Jack arrived promptly at seven thirty, scrubbed and clean, his long hair pulled back into a tail.  Mandy greeted him again, took his coat and he moved back to the ballroom.  Sarah was at the door to greet her guests and her face lit up when he walked in.  “Jack, you are the last of our guests to arrive and you are the handsomest man here, except for my husband.”  She laughed and he recalled Sophie saying much the same thing.  “Chad is bringing up more wine from the cellar.  He should be here momentarily.”

There were about thirty people at the party, including all four of the Portsmouths and himself.  It had been a cold walk from the inn and he was enjoying the warmth of the room.

Sarah slipped her arm through his and pulled him along.  “I want to introduce you to some of our friends that I don’t believe you’ve met before.”

First she introduced him to an elderly woman named Martha Cartwright.  Jack bowed and kissed her hand in greeting.  Next was a man who claimed to be a lawyer and was aspiring to become a politician.  His name was Samuel Manson.  Jack noted that Sarah rolled her eyes when he began his rhetoric.  She excused them and moved on to a beautiful blonde woman. 

Jack couldn’t help but assess her.  He started with her hair, which was done up in a very pretty coiffure.  It was real hair, not a wig, which impressed him.  Next he moved down to her beautiful emerald green eyes, which were brought to life even more by the deep green satin dress she wore.  She had a medium nose and soft petals for lips and a diamond-shaped face with a more rounded chin.  Her bosoms were perfect and the waistline of her dress told of a nice figure under all the petticoats.

“Captain Jack Aubrey, may I present Mrs. Lily White.”  Sarah could see Jack, with his sense of humor, could barely keep from laughing at the name.  “Mrs. White, I would like you to meet Captain Jack Aubrey of His Majesty’s Ship Surprise, currently anchored in Boston Harbor.”

Jack smiled his most devilish little boy smile and bowed as he took Mrs. White’s hand and kissed it while she in turn curtsied to him.  “Mrs. White, I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

She answered him, “As I am to make yours, Captain.”

Chad was standing on the other side of the large room.  He waved when he saw Jack and Jack nodded his head.  Mandy moved next to Sarah and explained that Chad needed Sarah’s help.  “I beg your pardon, but I must excuse myself for a moment.  I’m sure it will take only a moment.”  Sarah smiled and walked to where Chad waited.

Greeting someone was easy for Jack as he had been taught to do it since childhood and it came automatically.  However, Jack was not comfortable in the company of women; that is to say, gentlewomen.  He always felt somewhat lacking and wasn’t good at small talk.  And so, he stood for a moment not knowing what to say.  He sorely wished Sarah had not left him alone with Mrs. White.

Lily had noticed Jack the moment Sarah brought him in the room.  He was on the tall side, slightly thick in the middle with dirty blonde hair.  As they approached the people Sarah introduced him to first, she was close enough to see his face clearly.  He had a strong, straight nose, sea green eyes, a sensual bowed mouth and a slightly cleft chin.  He was, she decided, an altogether attractive man.

“So, Captain, how is it that you managed to anchor in Boston Harbor, what with the unrest between our countries?”  Mrs. White was waiting for an answer.  Had Jack been more observant he would have realized that the question was meant as a tease and he could have used his exceptional wit and sense of humor to dispel the question.  However, he was simply too nervous to respond as he would have at the captain’s table aboard his ship.

“I am sorry but I am not at liberty to discuss it.  Please suffice it to say we have permission from your government to be here.”

He had misread her so she decided to keep things simple.  “I’m the sorry one, Captain.  I should not have asked such a question.”

He shook his head, “No, no not at all.”

She could see he was uncomfortable so she tried to find a topic he could be happier discussing.  “So, sir, are you married?” She could see the moment she asked that it was a touchy subject. 

Jack blinked his eyes for a moment and answered, “I was.  She died of fever nearly three years ago.”

Lily took a deep breath and sighed.  “I am so sorry to hear that.  Do you have children?”  Surely that would be a safe topic. 

“Yes, I have two daughters.  They live in England with my father and step-mother.”

“It must be difficult being away from them for such extended amounts of time.”

“Actually, I believe were it not for the fact that they live with my father, they would be happy never to see me again.”   He snorted nervously.

He had such a sad look on his face she couldn’t help but put her hand on his arm. “I am sure that cannot be so, sir.  You’re their father. I’m sure they love you.”

He could see that she was really trying to reach out to him, to comfort him somehow and it touched him far more than he could say.  In a quiet voice he told her, “I believe they did before Sophie died.  They used to greet me the moment I arrived and spent most of their waking moments with me until I left.  However, I was not there for her, for their mother when she died, and it turned them against me, that and the fact that they have to live with their grandfather.  You see before they had Sophia to buffer his difficult ways; now they have only my step-mother and she is little better than he.  So you see they have every right to hate me for leaving them, as I did my wife.”

Jack took a deep breath and looked around at the other guests.  He didn’t know why he’d opened up to this woman so completely.  He’d never done that before except with Chad and Stephen, always keeping his private life private.

“Did you ever think that maybe your girls are just scared and they are using you to focus their fears?”

This was going too far.  “I’m afraid, Mrs. White, that I have yet to meet your husband.  Would you present me to him?”

Lily was momentarily caught off guard but recovered quickly. “Yes, Captain Aubrey, I would, but he died two years ago along with my two children, like your wife, with fever.  I’m sorry I’ve made you uncomfortable.  Please excuse me.”

He watched her walk away and felt rebuffed by her even though she was completely courteous and kind.  He handled women so badly.  Perhaps that was part of the problem with his daughters.  If he’d had boys it might have been easier.  He knew that what Lily said was true and he wished he could do something to remedy the situation.  Leaving his girls with his father was a poor idea.  He wouldn’t be surprised if his own father had planted the seed of hate.

He couldn’t let Mrs. White think she’d offended him.  It wasn’t her fault.  She was only trying to make pleasant conversation so he decided to find the lady and apologize.

The band was just tuning up and getting ready to play some lively music when he spotted her on the other side of the room.  She was speaking with another woman and a gentleman he met the last time he was here.  They excused themselves and went to the dance floor for the first dance, leaving Mrs. White standing alone.

Jack approached her and said, “Pardon me, Madame, would you forgive my bad manners and poor temper long enough to grant me this dance?”  He was surprised that he got the whole sentence out without stuttering.  If she said no he would understand, but he was so nervous that he almost missed her response.

Lily smiled, “Yes, Captain, I believe I would.”

He led her to the dance floor just as the band began a waltz.  They moved beautifully together.  Jack may have trouble making conversation, but he was a very good dancer.  Even the other dancers noticed the couple as they whirled and flowed.  He was enjoying the feel of her in his arms.  He briefly thought of how he and Sophie would dance, sometimes without even the benefit of music.  Jack would hum with his baritone voice and they would dance to his music.  “Oh, Sophie,” he thought, “how I loved you.”

When the music ended he escorted Lily to the punch bowl and drew a cup of punch for her.  Then he poured a glass of wine for himself.

“You’re an excellent dancer, Captain Aubrey.”

“Thank you. It’s possibly the only thing my father foisted on me that I truly came to love.”  He blushed a little, “I’m being bold I know, but I have very little time in port and I would like to know you better.  Would I be too out of line to ask you to call me Jack and I call you Lily?”

 Lily’s face lit up in a wicked smile and she answered him so only he could hear her, “Captain Aubrey!  Are you expecting to take liberties with me?”

At first he looked stunned, then he realized she was teasing him.  It felt good to have someone so beautiful play with him. “Only, Madame, with your permission.”  His eyebrow raised and a small smile came to his lips.

She laughed out loud.  “We shall see, Jack.  We shall see.”

The rest of the evening was spent talking with some of Chad’s friends that Jack met on previous occasions, teasing Roddy and Susan and eating fine food and drinking good wine.  But most of all, it was having Lily on his arm for once he had asked that they call each other by their given name it was as if he’d asked her to the party.  They were all but inseparable the entire night.

When it finally came time for them to leave, Lily accepted an invitation to have lunch with him at the Inn the next day.

Chapter Three

 Time seemed to fly by.  Surprise had spent an entire week in port and was waiting for Mr. Carlyle to arrive at the docks.  They would leave back to England upon his arrival.

Jack had spent the week with Lily and the Portsmouths, laughing and generally having a good time.  He currently stood on the deck looking at the docks.  He wasn’t looking for Carlyle; he was reliving his time here in Boston.

After the party that first night he’d returned to his room and readied for bed.  It was different this time.  He lay there thinking of Lily and fondling himself.  After Sophie died he’d only taken whores to relieve himself when he felt this way.  Tonight was different; he didn’t just want sex, he wanted Lily.  That wasn’t wrong, was it?  His beautiful Sophia was dead.  Surely she would want him to have another woman in his life after all this time mourning her, wouldn’t she?  What was he thinking?  He was leaving Boston soon. He hardly had time to solidify a relationship with Lily and convince her to have sex with him.  Bollocks!  The woman was a lady not some tart on the docks!  Of course she wouldn’t consider sleeping with him, especially not so soon!  Try as he may he couldn’t get her out of his mind. He finally gave into the vision his imagination provided of her removing her clothes and he brought himself to satisfaction.

Lily was, he found out, a very perceptive woman.  She managed to ease from him all his misgivings about leaving his daughters with his father.  She suggested that he send them to Sophie’s family, but he had countered that they were non-existent.  Sophie’s parents had died only months apart and her only sister died in childbirth along with her first baby.  Her grandparents on both sides were dead, so there weren’t any relations that he could ask for help.  His own sister, Constance, had run away from home years ago with a boy their father didn’t approve of.  They hadn’t heard from her again and Jack had no idea where she was.

They spoke of his childhood and he explained how strict and even cruel his father could be.  He had expected Jack to join the army, as he had, and when he found out that Jack had joined the navy instead he turned away from him completely.  It was only when Jack married Sophie that they again saw one another.  She had wanted to make things right between them and had issued a wedding invitation to his father, hoping they would set things right during the reception. As a wedding gift to Sophie, Jack had made the offer of reconciliation, but his father had to comment on his commission before accepting it.  He felt Jack would have been further up the ladder in the army since he could have used his father’s name for reference.  Even though Jack had moved up the chain of command very quickly his father always belittled Jack’s accomplishments and left him feeling that nothing he did was good enough for him.  It was something that Jack was subjected to from his earliest memories.

He had bought a nice home in the country where Sophie could live, away from London.  The small farm was self sufficient and provided them with all they needed.  Servants took care of the farming and Sophie was the lady of the house.  She didn’t need Jack’s pay to live on and he had invested it wisely.  He was hoping to some day retire and have the security of a nest egg that would give them extras.  Of course when such prizes as the Acheron came along, he also reaped the rewards for capturing her and her cargo.

When Jack’s father became very ill, Sophie had gone to London to live with him and take care of him.  That was when Candice was just a baby.  The farm was left to an overseer and he sent whatever money the farm made beyond what it needed to keep going.  Sophie had put that into an account as well.  So, as it stood, he had quite a large sum of money saved and a farm should he need to sell it.

Lily had stirred some ideas in his head.  They talked about everything under the sun and he’d taken her to bed on the third day they were together.  She was fun, wanton as a whore, and demur as a lady.  They didn’t just make love, they made fire.  He couldn’t get enough of her.  Just holding her was important.  He found that even the Surprise was having a hard time calling him home and the ideas he now had were becoming more and more important.

The last night of his stay, Lily asked him about why England and America were at such odds.  “Well, part of it, Lily, and I could be held as a traitor for saying this, is the fact that his majesty wishes us, all sea captains, to force into service men from the United States to help man his majesty’s ships.”

“But, Jack, they’re Americans, not British subjects.  That’s illegal.”

Jack shook his head. “I know and I feel the same way, but it is my duty to man my ship with whomever I can find to keep her in service.”

Lily was stunned. “And you would do this?  Take a man from his country and use him without his consent?”

“I understand that it seems wrong, but I am his majesty’s subject and bound by my oath to him in fulfilling my duties.  I take no pleasure in doing it and so far I have not had to.  I am hoping that I never will.”

“But you would?  How could you?  It’s wrong! You have no right!”

They had argued and he saw a woman he’d never seen before, a strong and capable woman under the beautiful clothes and coiffed hair.  She had told him that if his majesty asked that sort of thing from his navy, then he was wrong to do it.

Jack retorted, “Madame, I have heard enough!  You may not agree with what he asks, however he is my king and I will not listen to you tear at him.  Good night!”  He had stormed out and fumed all the way back to the inn.

He regretted the argument and his last words of dismissal.  He had wanted their last night to be long and sweet.  What was worse, he knew she was right.  The king had no right to expect his navy to become pirates of human bondage.  It was bad enough that Englishmen were conscripted into service without their consent, but to take a man from his own country when it is known that he is not a British subject was nothing less than slavery.

Jack watched as a dingy approached Surprise.  A man in the dingy handed Mr. Mowett a packet.  He read the outside and came to hand it to Jack.  “He says he is to wait for an answer, sir.”

“Thank you, Mr. Mowett.”  Jack retreated to his cabin to read what was in the packet.

“Dear Jack,

            I am heartsick at our parting.  It was not what I had hoped or planned for your last night in port.  I am sorry, for my part.  Please don’t leave for England with anger in your heart for me.  Please say I haven’t lost your affection.  I look for a positive response to this plea.

Your Lily

He immediately responded:

My Dearest Lily,

        I cannot accept your apology, for you have nothing to apologize for.  I am the one who was unable to accept the truth as you spoke it.  My anger was not directed at you, though it seemed so at the time.  It was directed at me.  I have seen and done many things that were against my nature, and I did them in the name of His Majesty.  Always I could dismiss them as a part of my job as captain of a British war vessel.  However, I could not in good conscience do this particular act.  In fact, I am thinking most seriously about resigning my commission.  I would then be able to take care of my daughters myself.  I must admit in all candor, that I would miss going to sea.  It is a part of me now.  More importantly, should I resign, I would be in England and you would be here.  It would mean that I may not see you again for a very long time, if at all ,and that would pain me deeply. 

        Please know that the time we spent together was very important to me, as are you.  Think of me from time to time and know that you also will never be far from my thoughts.

My greatest affections,

Jack

Jack sealed the letter with candle wax and took it up to the deck.  He handed it to an able seaman who in turn gave it to the messenger.  Mr. Carlyle’s dingy was just coming alongside as the messenger's dingy was moving away. 

Jack watched the messenger until he reached the dock.  He felt both lighter and heavier.  Lighter because the anger of the night before hadn’t ruined what they felt for each other; heavier, because he was leaving her.  There was a hole in his heart much like there was when he left Sophie.

Chapter Four

Jack and Stephen had just finished playing a very sad and somber piece of music.  It was the work of a young man who had a promising future only to have it cut short by death.  Stephen could tell by the music and the quiet way Jack was acting that something was amiss.

“So, Jack, you didn’t enjoy your time ashore?”

Jack carefully placed his violin in the carrying case and laid it aside while Dr. Stephen Maturin did the same with his cello.  They both had a love of music and often played together in the evenings in Jack’s cabin. “As a matter of fact, I did.  I wish you could have accompanied me.  I have yet to introduce you to my friend Chadwick Portsmouth and his family.”

“I was hoping to do that this time, but I didn’t feel it would help you or them to share my cold.  Besides, I had a wonderful opportunity to feel sorry for myself and do some reading and sleeping.  Perhaps next time.”

“I’m not certain there will be a next time, Stephen.  I am seriously considering resigning my commission.”

“What? No! Jack!  What would you do?”

For Jack, having Stephen on board was like having Chad there.  One was his sea brother and the other his land brother.  Their similarity in looks and personality made it easy for him to be himself, although Stephen seemed to challenge him more where Chad simply accepted him as he was. That was, perhaps, because Chad was English born and Stephen was Irish.

“I may pack the girls up and move them back to the farm or…I may move them to America.”  He waited for that to sink in.  “Please do not share any of this with anyone.”

Stephen stood with his mouth open.  He was usually quick with a comeback but Jack’s declaration, especially about perhaps moving to America, had been a complete shock.  He stuttered, “N…No, certainly not.  What brought this about?”

“Changes, Stephen, changes.  I met a wonderful woman and she opened my eyes to so many things, not the least of which is how terrible it must be for my girls to live with my father.”

“She knows your father?”

Jack looked at Stephen as if he couldn’t believe he’d said that. “No, Stephen, she’s never met my father.  I told her about him and I told her how my girls hate me.  She seemed to think that perhaps they are afraid.  She thought it may be that they are uncertain if I will ever come home.  I thought about it and she’s right, they are afraid.  But I believe more than anything, my father has convinced them that since their mother is gone I will not return to them.  Perhaps he’s even convinced them that they will have to stay with him indefinitely.  It’s been three years and I’ve only been home three times and for short periods each time.  He’s a hard man and they’ve had to live with him through no choice of their own.  Believe me, Stephen, I know how horrid that can be.”

Stephen nodded, “And this new woman, what’s her name?”

“Lily.”

“And?”

“She’s very special, a widow who has gone through much the same heartache that I have, so we understand each other.”

“And is she the reason for leaving England?”

“One reason and I haven’t made that decision yet.”

Jack told Stephen all the things he’d shared with both Chad and his family and Lily. They were still talking when Jack’s steward, Killick, announced dinner was ready.

Surprise sailed into Portsmouth, England and Captain Aubrey personally escorted Mr. Carlyle from the dock to a coach and saw him off to London.  Afterward he reported to the Admiralty.

On the voyage home, after several talks with Stephen, he decided not to resign until he could take the girls to the country for a short while and see if they would like it there.  He would have an opportunity while he was there to see if a buyer could be found should he ultimately decide to move them to America.

In Boston Chad had just come from the constable’s office.  Sarah waited anxiously with Susan, for his return.  When he walked in, Sarah stood quickly in anticipation.  He shook his head. “Nothing, Sarah, they can do nothing.”

“But Chad, Roddy’s an American now. He lives here.  He’s not British anymore.”

“According to the Constable, since Roddy was born in England, there is a dispute as to his citizenship.  This has happened before and the outcome has always been that the party born in England is in no-man’s-land.  He is neither American nor British in some cases or both American and British in others.  It’s lunacy!”

“So what do we do?”

“I think the best course of action is for me to send Jack a letter and request his help and see if there is anything he can do.”

“Oh, Chad!  We may never see our boy again!”  Sarah dissolved into tears and Chad had Mandy take her up to bed.  She had hardly slept since Roddy was kidnapped, and to all accounts, taken to a British ship that was in port at the time and held there until it sailed.  Apparently he was not the only one.  There were at least three others, friends of Roddy, who were also abducted along with him as they walked home from the church where they had been practicing for an Easter concert.  

Susan accompanied her mother upstairs.  She was as distraught as anyone.  Not only had her beloved twin brother been taken, one of the young men with him was a boy Susan was interested in as a suitor.

When Mandy came back down, Chad asked her to get Alex, his butler, as he needed to speak to him. Alex came down from his chores upstairs and Chad asked that he go to Mrs. White and request that she come and sit with Sarah.  They had become best friends over the last two years and he felt Sarah needed her company to get through this.  Lily arrived only half an hour later and she immediately went up to check on Sarah.

In the meantime, Mr. Manson knocked on the door and Mandy let him in thinking that Chad may have asked Alex to contact the lawyer to see what help he could be.  She took his coat and went to announce him to Mr. Portsmouth.

Chad came into the receiving room and greeted Mr. Manson.  “Samuel, what brings you here?”

“Chadwick, I just heard about young Roddy.  I must tell you that I was surprised that he wasn’t taken when that British captain, Aubrey, was here at your last party.  They are like scavengers those English hooligans.  I just wanted you to know that one of the things I mean to change, should I win this election, is allowing any British ship, commercial or war ship, into Boston harbor.  I am seeking your support on this now that you can see how treacherous they are.”

Chad was too overwrought from lack of sleep, worry over the wellbeing of his son and concern for his wife and daughter to suffer this man’s blathering.

“Am I correct in assuming that the only reason you have come to my home at such a trying time, is to further your political standing?  I have heard not one word regarding how my family is faring in this time of uncertainty nor have you offered your support for our plight.  Furthermore, Captain Jack Aubrey is like a brother to me.  For lack of better phrase, Roddy is his nephew as much as his daughters are my nieces.  So, sir, I would caution your criticism of Captain Aubrey in this house!  I will not tolerate it.”

“Well, Portsmouth, I always thought you were still British even though you spout your support of this country.  Whether you like it or not, your friend is out there stealing American men to man his ship just like every other British captain.  That has been mandated by His Majesty and they will not go against his direction.”

“You are wrong, sir.  Captain Aubrey is a man of honor.”  Lily was standing at the foot of the stairs.

Samuel smiled a nasty smile. “And you know this how?  Because he told you this while in your bed chamber, Madame?  Oh, I’ve heard how you received him and he was seen leaving your home in the morning.  Are you a traitor sleeping with the enemy?”

Lily crossed the short distance and soundly slapped his face.  “How would you know? Were you entertaining Mr. Johnson’s wife while he’s gone?”  The Johnsons lived next to Lily and she had seen Mr. Manson leave the home very early in the morning.

“Are you accusing me of dallying with Mrs. Johnson?   You tart!”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!”  Chad roared.  “You sir, are no longer welcome in this house.  Leave and do not come back!”

“I will certainly not return.  I believe you all to be spies.”

Chad grabbed him and physically threw him out of the house and slammed the door.

Lily smiled, “Well done, Chad, well done!”

He smiled at her.  “I never much cared for him. Now I won’t need to worry if he finds that out.”  His smile broadened.

Lily sobered, though. “You realize that small men do big things when they are not taken seriously.”

“I wouldn’t worry, Lily. He can say what he wants about our family and he can prove none of it.  It may become uncomfortable for a while but we’ll survive.  I am a bit worried about you and your reputation, though.  He may spread his poison to some of your friends as well as those we share.”

“I could not care less, Chad, and though what I said was true, I would never share it with anyone but you.  Clara Johnson is a sweet person and her husband is worse than Samuel and twenty years older. I’d never drag her through the mire; she has enough to contend with.  However, I will not tolerate him speaking about Jack in that manner.  You know Jack would never do what he said.”  She waited for a response. “You do know?”

Chad shook his head. “I don’t wish to believe that he would, but he may well have to or be called a traitor.  I was going to write and ask for his help, but now I’m not sure I should.  It may place him in a situation I would not want him to be.”

“May I show you this?”  Lily held Jack’s note to her.  She had brought it with her just in case Chad needed convincing. “Jack and I argued the last night he was in port.  It was about this very problem.  He tried to be His Majesty’s man and put me to rights.  I didn’t want him to leave with the argument between us and so I sent a messenger to give him a note of apology from me.  I asked the messenger to wait for a response if he were still in port.”  She handed him Jack’s note.  “Here, read it.”

Chad took the note and carefully read it.  “He may already have resigned. If he has then writing him will do no good.”

“He’s your friend, your brother.  He’s like Roddy’s uncle. You should write him because of that.  If Jack can help, he will, without your asking.”

Chad nodded, “You’re absolutely right.  Jack should be told what happened.  I’ll write him tonight.”  He suddenly realized that Lily had been with Sarah when Samuel had arrived.  “Is Sarah all right?”

“She’s sleeping.  I think perhaps you should join her.”

“You are a true and valued friend, Lily.  I’ll have Alex take you home and I’ll write to Jack.  Then I may very well take your advice.  I suddenly feel as if I cannot make good decisions at the moment.”

Lily snickered, “Oh, I don’t know, I thought throwing Samuel out was a very good decision.”  She called Mandy and asked for her shawl and patted Chad on his shoulder.  “I believe things will come to right.  Tell Sarah when she wakes that I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”

Chapter Five

“Captain Aubrey!  How good to see you again.”  Mr. Carlyle stood with his hand out and Jack took it.  They both bowed slightly to each other. 

“Mr. Carlyle, what brings you to the Admiralty?”  Jack smiled.

“It just so happens that while we were in America I negotiated with the American government to cease taking American men for use in our navy.  The Admiralty has accepted it since his majesty assured me that he will issue such a command.  I know you had expressed some concern regarding that topic when we sailed to America and I would have liked to have told you before this but I needed to get His Majesty’s approval before I could say it.  I believe it is to our advantage.  Men can be found elsewhere.”

Jack nodded, “That is very good news.  Perhaps it will relieve some of the tensions between our countries.”

“Just so, Captain, just so.  Will you be in port long?”

“I’ve just received leave for the next month.  Surprise will be refitted during that time and my men will have a well deserved break.”

“Good for you, sir.  You may again have me as a passenger, Captain.  I anticipate returning to America for one more conference and I suggested that Surprise would be good transportation.  I enjoyed your Captain’s table much more than any other I have sailed with.”

“I’m gratified to hear that, sir.  Surprise will be at your service…with the Admiralty’s permission, that is,”  Jack laughed.

Mr. Carlyle did truly like this captain with his wit and humor.  “Well, I must return to London.  Take care of yourself, Captain.”

“And you as well.”

The men separated, Mr. Carlyle to London and Jack to his father’s home outside of London.

The first day home Jack explained to his daughters that he would be taking them to the country.  Their protests were already anticipated.

Candice stated, “I don’t wish to go with you.  You don’t care about us and I would rather stay here with Grandfather.”  At nearly thirteen she looked so much like her mother that Jack nearly cried at the rejection.  But in this instance he needed to be a sailing captain, not a doting father willing to allow his daughters to control him.

“I think not.  The country air will do you good.  I want you to pack; Dotty will help you.” Dotty was the new nanny that his father hired after his wife died some weeks ago.  “We will be there for at least three weeks.  You won’t need things to read. Your mother kept a fine library there.”

His oldest stomped her foot and reiterated, “I won’t go.”

When she turned her back to him and started away he asked, “Why do you believe that I don’t care for you?”

She turned back. “Because it’s true.  Grandfather said so.  He said that you never loved mother either.”

Oh, Sophie, how can she believe that?

He tried to contain himself but tears pricked his eyes and he was hard put to blink them away.  He answered her very slowly.  “Your mother was the most beautiful, wonderful, kind woman I ever met.  She gave me two beautiful daughters and I’ve missed her terribly for the last three years.  You, my dear, have been sold a bill of goods by your grandfather and I intend to remedy it.  You will pack and you will go whether you wish to or not.  I am your father and it will be so.”

All the while Tulilah, Jack’s younger, more introspective daughter, was listening and was totally surprised that her father spoke that way.  She never remembered him being so stern before.  So without being asked, she went to her room and began packing.

Candice wasn’t certain how far she could push her father, but since he’d never actually put his foot down before, she decided the prudent thing to do was to do exactly what he asked.

Jack watched as his daughters left for their rooms.  He’d never been so blunt with them before.  He’d always been able to tease or cajole them into what he wanted and conversely, they always wanted to please him and did what he asked.  That was before Sophie died. 

He immediately went to see his father.  The old man was sitting reading when he entered the parlor. 

“Sir, I would have a word with you.”

As soon as Jack spoke he looked up with a scowl.  “Since when does a son address his father in that tone?”

“Since his father has been telling his daughters that he doesn’t love them, that he never loved their mother, as well.  Lies, sir, fashioned to make them hate me.”

“I told them what I believed.  She was never the wife you should have had.  She was beneath you.  Her family was not nearly good enough to mix with ours.  There was no way you married her from love.  Oh, she was pretty enough, but really, Jack.  You disappointed me in so many ways; that was simply one of them.”

Jack was horrified at what he said.  “How can you say that?  She moved here to take care of you when you were sick.  She helped you and your wife.  She was never anything but good to you.”

“Not so, Jack.  She hated the country and came here because of it.  I took care of her and your miserable brats for the last years.  I make no apologies for what I said.”

Jack was shaking so badly with anger he could barely contain himself.  “You are fortunate that we are in your home, for were we in mine I would not think twice about giving you what you deserve...a good thrashing.  You may say what you wish about me and it would not matter.  I have never been good enough nor done well enough nor proved my worth enough my entire life where you are concerned.  That makes little difference to me.  However, when you speak of my dear late wife, you bring all the hatred that I’ve harbored for you to the fore.  So, sir, you’ll be glad to know that we will be leaving on the morrow and will not be returning…ever.  You have been nothing but a mean-spirited man and a poor excuse for a father since I can remember.  And you will be alone when you die.”

He turned on his heel and stormed out.  He was unaware that Candice was standing just outside the door listening to the entire conversation.  The girl thought for a moment, perhaps her father had loved her mother and perhaps he loved her, too.  Time would tell.

Jack and the girls spent a rather tense time at the country home.  They did, however, come to some tenuous understanding during that time.  Jack was aware that they were not and probably never would be country girls.  It simply did not suit them.  It was too remote and they needed the distractions that the city could provide.  Not that they had been given any indulgences by his father.  In fact that was one of the things they finally began to tell Jack about.  Apparently their grandfather hardly allowed them out of the house on the pretense that he didn’t want them to become the kind of girls their mother was.  He somehow insinuated that Jack and Sophie had been intimate before marriage as was usual in families of her standing.  Of course Jack had indulged, as any man would, should the opportunity be offered.  He had, in fact, married her because of it.

“Let me make one thing very clear.  I loved your mother.  She was a fine and upstanding young woman when I met her.  She was in no way a loose woman.  That was but one more lie your grandfather told you.  She loved me as well but did not allow me liberties.  I did not know her in that respect until our wedding night.”  He thought back on that night.  “She was a beautiful flower and I was fortunate that she gave me so much as a glance, and I never forgot that.”

By the end of the third week Jack had made the decision to sell the farm.  He had an offer that was reasonable and he was sure that he would not return here again.  It was but a small income and not worth keeping. 

They arrived back in London and Jack had to make the most important decision of his life.  Should he stay in the navy and hire someone to take care of his daughters or should he resign and find other employment?

He left the girls in the capable hands of the hotel’s nanny-for-hire and went to Portsmouth.  He had convinced himself that he should resign.  While walking down the docks he spotted H.M.S. Greeling.  He hadn’t seen its captain, his friend Thomas Wheems, in at least two years.  He decided to see if he was aboard.

Jack walked up the gang plank to the officer of the deck.  He saluted and requested to come aboard.  “Is your captain here?”

“No, sir, he’s gone for a couple of days. Should be back on Wednesday.”

“Thank you.  Would you please let him know Captain Jack Aubrey called on him?”

“Lucky Jack!”  The man realized he should have curbed his enthusiasm, but Jack Aubrey was well known as one of the best, if not the best captain in the British navy.  Jack just smiled.

As he turned to leave, his eyes swept the crew scrubbing the deck.  At first he thought his eyes deceived him.  He could have sworn that Roddy Portsmouth was one of the deck hands.  He took a closer look and he realized it was Roddy.  The boy didn’t act as if he knew him except to salute, then he gave a hand signal that Jack had taught him when he was very small.  It meant ‘trouble’.  Jack inconspicuously gave the signal back.  Roddy did it again and held up four fingers, meaning there were four of them.

His head was reeling.  Roddy was here, conscripted to a British man-of-war along with three other Americans.  He immediately went to the Admiralty to see what he could find out about the new orders regarding American conscripts.  It was clear from the directive that any man who was born or was suspected of being born in British lands were expected to be considered for forced service.  So, since Roddy was British born, the fact that he now considered himself American, made no difference.  In fact, as long as the captain could say he thought the man was originally a British subject, the man could be taken even if it was proven wrong later.  In other words, the king was conceding nothing.

While he was there he was given sailing orders.  H.M.S. Surprise was to escort a civilian ship, the Tempest, to Boston, due to a resurgence of piracy from the French in retaliation for the English firing upon their ships.  Mr. Carlyle would again be a guest of Surprise during the voyage.

A plan was slowly beginning to form.  He sent a message to the hotel where his girls were staying.  He requested that the concierge buy tickets for his daughters on the Tempest bound for America, and that they be escorted aboard.  He sent more than enough money to pay the passage and to make sure that what he asked was done.  He then sent a letter to the caretaker of his farm requesting that he let the man who was buying Jack’s farm know that the money should be sent to Chadwick Portsmouth’s home in Boston.  He sent a letter to withdraw all monies he had in his London bank and have it converted into silver or gold.  It was to be placed on Tempest in his daughters' cabin before they sailed.

He anticipated, Candice in particular, becoming resistant to a sea voyage.  So, he sent a letter to the girls explaining what he expected.  It read:

My Dear Girls,

        I have sailing orders to America and I wanted to take you with me.  You cannot sail on the Surprise; however I have made arraignments for you to sail under Surprises protection on the Tempest.  You have not seen Chad and Sarah Portsmouth in several years and I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity.  Though I will not be with you, I will be very near until we reach America. If I am not available when Tempest puts to dock, gather your things and hail a coach to the Portsmouth's residence near the White Horse Inn.  The coachman should know the Portsmouth’s residence since they are influential in Boston. I will meet you there as soon as I can.

Love,

Your Father

The night before Surprise was to sail, Jack paid a visit to H.M.S. Greeling.  He visited with Captain Wheems and they caught up on the last few years.  After several cups of wine, Jack revealed that though he wanted to see his old friend again, he had in fact come on His Majesty’s business.  “Thomas, I must admit that I came seeking your help.  I need four able seamen and I haven’t been able to find them on my own.  Since you will not be leaving port for sometime yet, I was hoping you would consider selling me the men I need.”

“Sell?”

“Well, I would say it is compensation for the work needed to find four more men for your ship.”

Thomas thought it over. “And what amount are we talking?  It is very difficult as you have said, finding replacements.”

“What would you consider for your trouble?”

Thomas quoted a somewhat inflated price, but when Jack accepted he said, “I will have four men taken to your ship.”

Jack laughed, “Oh no, Thomas!  If I pay that price, I choose.  I don’t want to end up with four toothless old men ready to die at the sound of canon fire!”

Thomas laughed as well.  He should have known Jack would specify.

They decided to get the deal done and went to the mens' quarters.  Captain Wheems shouted for the men to wake up and pop tall.

Jack wandered through the men standing at attention.  He spoke to Thomas when he came to Roddy.  “I’ll take this man,” he looked for an indication of whom else to take.  He was in luck.  All three of Roddy’s friends had lined up next to him and Jack simply said, “and these three here.”

Thomas was pleased.  Even though they were young they were all resistant to serving.  He was well rid of them.  They were Jack’s problem now.

Jack paid Thomas and told him, “I’m returning to Surprise now, so they can follow me.” 

He bid his friend good-bye for the last time and took the four young seamen with him. 

Once they were well away from H.M.S. Greeling, Roddy stopped to give his ‘uncle’ a hug.  “Thank you, Uncle Jack, thank you!”

They did not return to Surprise.  Tempest had arrived in Portsmouth in anticipation of sailing with Surprise in the morning.  Jack took them out to the civilian ship and negotiated their passage.  The next morning, H.M.S. Surprise and S.S. Tempest sailed west to America.

Chapter Six

Jack had taken Stephen into his confidence.  “I couldn’t leave Roddy there.  Stephen, he could have been a slave for all Thomas cared.”

Dr. Maturin only raised his eyebrows.  He was recalling an argument that he and Jack had several years ago when Stephen had pointed out how wrong it was to take men from their homes and families, away from their trade, to man a ship when they had no interest in doing so.

Jack knew what Stephen was thinking. “The difference, Stephen, is that at least the men on this ship are British subjects and they are bound to help protect their country in anyway they can.  Those young men that were with Roddy were born Americans, not even former British subjects such as Roddy.  The entire thing was wrong and I will have words with Mr. Carlyle when we reach Boston.”

“And you intend to resign?”

“I think I must.  If what I did were revealed, I could be hung for treason.”

“But what will you do?  You’re a sea captain, the very best fighting captain in the British navy.”

“I don’t know yet, Stephen.  I don’t know.”

Jack stood at the railing watching the Tempest as she sailed along some half mile away.  He couldn’t help but wonder how his girls were faring.  He hoped that they weren’t sea sick; so many who sailed became so.  He contemplated his next move.  For the moment he had more than enough money to start some sort of business in America if he chose to do that.  However he couldn’t quite see himself as a shopkeeper even though the English were known as shopkeepers.  He would sorely miss sailing.  He was born to command a fighting ship.  He relished solving the myriad problems that captains solved every day.  How would he manage without this position?

“Excuse me, Captain.”

Jack turned and smiled. “Yes Mr. Mowett?”

“Sir, we should be in Boston by tomorrow.  I was wondering if there would be any liberty granted.”

“No, Mr. Mowett.  With tensions running so high between our countries I would rather not have our lads mixing with theirs.  They can take liberty at the next port.”

“And where will that be?”

“I will let you know after we arrive in Boston.  I don’t anticipate Mr. Carlyle staying long and he will be returning to England on Tempest when she returns.  Surprise will not be escorting her back.”

Later that morning, sails were seen on the horizon.  Mr. Mowett beat to quarters and Jack immediately came on deck.

“What is it, Mr. Mowett?”

“Sails on the horizon, sir.”  He pointed to the sails and handed Jack the telescope.  “No indication who she is, sir.  Could be pirates.”

Jack nodded; he hadn’t seen any flag of recognition.  “Signal Tempest to turn to south and take up course to our port.  I want to keep Surprise between this unknown and Tempest.”

Mowett immediately had the signals sent up the flag pole.

As the day wore on, the unknown ship crawled closer until it was apparent that she was going to turn and round Surprise and try to cut off Tempest from her protector.  Jack was wise to the trick and cut back to the south.  Just as he made the turn, the new ship fired on Tempest, barely missing her.

In the next few moments, the unknown ship was plowing heavily into the water with half of her bow missing.  Jack’s cannon’s had all but sunk the pirate in less than ten minutes of fighting.  As soon as he was sure the other ship was in no position to exact revenge, he turned to make sure Tempest was all right.  To his great relief, it was.

Jack ordered boats to be put out and survivors be taken in.  There were only ten in the final head count.

The next morning they sailed again into Boston harbor.  This time the frigate was less willing to allow them in.  They had to wait for someone to contact the gentleman Mr. Carlyle met before to verify that there was a government meeting and that H.M.S. Surprise was allowed to anchor. 

In the meantime, Tempest was allowed to disembark her passengers and unload her cargo but was not allowed to stay at dock once that was done.  She was made to anchor near Surprise and was told that none of her crew was allowed to come ashore.

At first Jack was afraid that he would also not be able to leave the ship.  He asked Mr. Carlyle to allow him to accompany him.  Once he accepted, Jack went to Mr. Mowett and handed him a packet of papers.  “These are your orders, William.”

“Orders, sir?”

“Yes, William, I am resigning my commission effective immediately.  You are now captain of the Surprise and I have every confidence in you.”

He shook Mr. Mowett’s hand and wished him well.  “I will be leaving with Mr. Carlyle.”

William Mowett was so surprised at the turn of events that he didn’t even question them.  He hadn’t even equated the civilian clothes his captain currently wore to the fact that he would no longer be in command of this ship.

As Jack and Mr. Carlyle left in the dingy, Stephen came to wave them off.  Jack had said good-bye to him before giving Mr. Mowett his papers and promotion.  He was truly upset that he would not be sailing with Jack anymore.  In fact he couldn’t think of anything as boring as staying on this vessel without Jack.  Who would he play music with?  Who would make him laugh like Jack had?  He understood why Jack was doing this but it didn’t help lift his mood.

At the dock Jack said his good-byes to Mr. Carlyle, who was as stunned as Mowett had been when he heard Jack had resigned.  “You mean to stay here, sir?  Here in America?”

“I’m afraid I must.  The king is not willing to follow your advice in any meaningful way and I cannot agree to carry out his wishes.  Sooner or later I would run afoul of his law and more than likely be hanged for it.  I have daughters I must consider.”

Carlyle nodded, “Then I wish you well, sir.”

“Thank you.”

Jack found himself standing in front of Chad’s residence once again.  He hadn’t even made it to the front door before it was flung open and all the Portsmouths came broiling out.  They each hugged him and welcomed him in.  His daughters and Lily stood in the receiving room as he walked through the door.  He looked at Lily then to his daughters.  He bowed to Lily. “Mrs. White, it’s so good to see you again.”

She curtsied and answered, “And you, Captain Aubrey.  I’ve had the pleasure of your daughters for the last few hours.  It seems Roddy took up a conversation with Candice on the Tempest and he told her of how you rescued him and his friends.  They were too young the last time they saw each other to actually recognize that they were connected.”

He smiled and corrected her, “It’s no longer Captain, Madame. I resigned my commission.”  He looked to his daughters, who never made a move. 

Suddenly Tulilah shrieked, “Papa!”  She began crying hysterically and he moved to comfort her.  She let him wrap her in his arms and lift her.  

Before he could ask, Sarah said, “Come Jack, I’ve put the girls in their own rooms.”

He followed Sarah upstairs and she showed him Tulilah’s room.  He sat on ‘Tilly’s’ bed with her still wrapped in his arms.  He rocked her as he had when she was just a baby.  She cried for the loss of her mother and for the terror of seeing the unknown ship fire at the Surprise.  In her mind her father was going to die and she had not told him she loved him.  This all came pouring out as he held her.  She finally cried herself to sleep and he lay her down and covered her with a comforter.

He stood looking at her sleep.  She looked like an Aubrey, and she reminded him of his sister, except her hair was more honey-colored.  She had his sea-green eyes and a bowed mouth.  He loved his girls so much.  At least one of them still loved him back.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs Mandy informed him that Mr. Manson and several other men were in the study with Mr. Portsmouth. 

Jack walked in and Manson wheeled on him.  “There, you see!  Portsmouth is harboring an English sea captain, the master of a man-o-war to be specific.  He’s probably instructed his men to begin rounding up more of our young men, at least enough to replace the four he returned.  Portsmouth no doubt instructed him to return these men or face the consequences.”

Jack smiled, “In the first place, Mr. Manson, I am no longer in His Majesty’s navy.  I resigned my commission.  In the second place, I had no idea Roddy or his friends had been taken until I saw him at His Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth England, just prior to H.M.S. Surprise setting sail.  Chad Portsmouth never threatened me and never needed to.  I did what I did for Roddy, for his family and for my self.”

Chad said, “You mean you didn’t receive the letter I sent you?”

“Letter?”

“Yes, Jack.  I sent a letter explaining that Roddy was taken.  I felt you should know.”

“I am sorry, Chad, but I never received it.  Where was it sent?”

“To your father’s home.”

“Well, that explains it then.  My father and I are no longer speaking.  I would imagine that he destroyed your letter instead of forwarding it.  He is more than vindictive enough to do that.”

Samuel again started his whine about Jack being a British sea captain.  Roddy, however, came in and made his feelings known.  “Sir, I take exception to your words and so will my friends.  If it weren’t for Jack Aubrey we would still be on the Greeling.  In fact he paid to have us given to the Surprise, the first mate told us that when he released us.  We never went to Surprise; he took us directly to Tempest and paid our passage from his own pocket.  We were not part of the crew; we were aboard as free men.  You’re right he is a British subject and would never have had to set foot on American soil again if he so chose and would never have had to answer to my father or anyone else in Boston.  So, sir, your accusations do not hold true.”

The men Manson had brought with him began to see how his accusations were ridiculous.  As a last ditch effort to ruin Jack, Samuel implicated Lily.  “Well, he’s was making free with Mrs. White while he was here before and no doubt will again now that he’s returned.  They are both unacceptable in our society.”

Jack made one move.  That was to hit Samuel Manson hard enough to knock him out.  “I will ask you, sir, to keep a civil tongue in your head when speaking about Mrs. White.”  Although Manson couldn’t hear it, the sentiment was received by the rest of the men in the room.  They picked up Samuel and dragged him out to his buggy.  Not one of them protested the hit.

“Uncle Jack?”

Jack turned to Susan, who was standing at the door.  “What is it Susan?”

“I think you should go talk to Candice.  She heard what Mr. Manson said about you and Lily and she was upset.  She was very mean to Lily.”

Jack thought for a moment that this was why he preferred to be the captain of a sailing vessel.  His life was much less complicated at sea.

He found Lily in the back garden.  She was trying very hard not to cry.  “Lily?”

“Oh, Jack!  I wish Mr. Manson had not said what he did.  Candice is not happy with you or me.  She seems to see me as somehow responsible for everything from Adam eating the apple to why you left the navy.”

“What did she say?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me.  What did she say?”

“Ask her.”

“Where is she?” 

“She went to her room.  Jack, don’t be hard on her.  She’s confused and hurt.”

Jack stormed up the stairs and knocked on Candice’s door.  She ignored him.  That was the wrong thing to do.  He opened the door and growled, “When I knock, I expect to be answered.”

His daughter sat on her bed stony-faced.  “I would rather not speak with you.”

“You don’t care to speak with me, but I hear you spoke plainly to Mrs. White.  Would you care to tell me what you said?”

“No, thank you.”

Jack suddenly had a revelation.  Although Candice looked like a near carbon-copy of his late wife, inside she was purely him. 

“Why is that?”  He waited and received no answer.  “Well, I understand you spoke terribly to Mrs. White, and before you draw conclusions, she did not tell me.  In fact she refused to tell me any of the apparently nasty things you said.”

Again he waited for some sort of response.  “Very well, say nothing.  But you should look to your heart.  I never knew you to be hurtful or hateful until your mother died.  I realize that her death affected you and Tilly very badly but you cannot use her death as an excuse to lash out at everyone.  She wouldn’t want to see you become mean and cruel, because she was neither.”

“I hate you!  What Grandfather said is true.  You had your whore here in America.  Why did you bring us?  You should have left us there.  I will never call Mrs. White mother, never!  So you should do yourself a favor and send me back to England.  I’ll get a job. I won’t live with Grandfather.  I heard what he told you about mother and Tilly and me.  He hated us always and you didn’t care.  You left us there so you could sail a ship and sleep with a whore.”

“THAT’S ENOUGH!  Say what you wish about me, but where Mrs. White is concerned, you will hold your tongue.  I did not meet Mrs. White until my last time here.  I loved your mother.  I loved her from the day we met until the day she died and beyond.  I will never stop loving her.”  He paused realizing that he had tears in his eyes.  “I have been more lonely than you can imagine.”  He pressed his eyes and continued.   “When I went to sea after her death, I wrote letters to her as if she was still there to receive them, but I couldn’t mail them.  When I returned home my daughters ignored me and my father had no kind word for his son.  My only consolation was to go to the graveyard and sit at her grave.  I told her all the things that were wrong and the only thing in this life that I wanted was to hold her one more time, just one more…”

He turned to leave.  She had seen the tears and she could feel the sincerity in his voice.  What was this need to hurt him?  She remembered when she was a child how she and Tilly anticipated his return.  He would tell them stories take them shopping and play silly games with them.  And she knew, had always known, that he loved their mother.  They were always touching, laughing, happy when he was home.  Perhaps that was the reason.  He wasn’t home when she died and they were so lost without Mama.  They needed him more than they ever had.  “Grandfather was cold and unsympathetic about our loss when Mum died.  He even said that you wouldn’t care that she did.”  Sophie had asked her father-in-law to tell Jack that she loved him and was sorry she wouldn’t be there for his next leave.  Did he tell him?  “Did Grandfather tell you that mother said she loved you with her last breath?”

It was too much.  Jack had never given in to the loss, had never cried all the hurt from his heart.  Now, hearing that he leaned against the door jam and sobbed.  A moment later he felt a hand on his back.  “I’m sorry, father. I…I love you.  Please forgive me.  I’m sorry.”

He turned and enveloped her in his arms and they both cried for their loss.

After a short while they both composed themselves and Jack asked her to check on Tilly and then find Susan.  Before he turned to go downstairs he told her, “I want to talk to Mrs. White.  I realize that you got off to a bad start, however I believe you need to know that I love her and hope that she will consent to marry me.  Before you form opinions of her please remember that it has been three years since your mother has left us and I need someone in my life to fill that void.  It does not mean that I don’t love your mother; I do and always will, as I said.  But I need Lily; I need her warmth and love.  Life is very cold without it.”

“I can’t call her mother.  It wouldn’t be right.”

“I believe she would understand that and, in fact, I would doubt she would expect you to.  She’s really a very lovely person and she’s very perceptive.  You know she lost her husband and both of her children from a fever?”

“No, I didn’t.” She thought about that. “I’ll go check on Tilly.”

Chapter Seven

Jack and his girls stayed with the Portsmouths for a month while Jack shopped for a home for them.  He had Lily go with him to look at the homes so she could give him advice.  He didn’t understand all the things women looked for to make them happy and he wanted to make all three of his women happy.  He hadn’t asked Lily to marry him yet and he was waiting to find the right home so that he could.

Candice and Tilly had gotten to know Lily and they both had to admit that she was very special.  All of the Portsmouths adored her and obviously so did their father.  She had made a particular effort to let both girls know that she in no way wished to usurp their mother’s memory.

They finally found a home that was perfect for what Jack wanted.  It was the home of a former sailing captain and sat on a hill overlooking Boston harbor.  The old captain had died a natural death at age eighty-eight.  His only heir was his nephew and he lived in New York.  He didn’t care for the property and was selling it through a broker.  There was a large kitchen, a lovely parlor, a study for Jack, several bedrooms and a small ballroom.  The price was right and the home abounded with all the newest amenities.  There was running water and all the bedrooms had washrooms. 

Lily was impressed and excited.  “Oh, Jack!  This is lovely.”  They ventured up to the second floor where most of the bedrooms were.  The master bedroom was large and lovely and there was a widow’s walk at the back, which faced the harbor.  That drew Jack to it.  He longed to go to sea again.  But did he want to leave Lily and what about his girls?  That would be unfair now that he was rebuilding the bond between them.  Well, he had no prospects of doing that anyway so it was a moot point.

He turned to see Lily watching him.  She could tell what he was thinking.  There was no disappointment showing that would indicate she disagreed with his need to sail. 

The sun was coming through the window and her blonde hair sparkled.  Her green eyes looked like emeralds and her lips were the perfect shade of pink.  He walked over to her, took her hand and kissed it.

“So, do you like this house?”

“Yes, yes, I do.  It has everything the girls need and it’s already furnished.  You can keep what you like and sell what you don’t.”

“Do you like it enough to live here with me and my girls?”

“Jack?”

“Will you marry me, Lily?”

She hesitated only a moment.  “I love you, Jack.  Of course I will marry you.”

Jack and the girls moved into the house three days later.  He and Lily were married only two weeks after that.  She asked that Jack wait until she could have a special dress made.  Standing at the altar he had to admit it was worth the wait.  She came to him in white satin with green velvet at the waist and collar and a green choker with an off white cameo.  There was deep green lace on the edge of each of the four layers of the skirt and at the end of both sleeves.  Her shoulder-length half veil was also deep green.  She was a vision. 

All of their friends were there minus Samuel Manson.  The reception was held in the garden.  It was a beautiful late summer day and the guests were enjoying the garden far more than they would have the ballroom.  During the reception, Darla, their house servant came and spoke with Jack.  “Sir, there is a gentleman and lady at the door.  They wish to speak to you.”

“Did you explain that I am attending my reception?”

“Ye,s sir.  The lady in particular was very insistent.”

Jack leaned over and whispered to Lily, “I have someone at the door.  It won’t take a moment.”

“Good, because I don’t want to spend even a moment away from you today.” Lily couldn’t believe he was her husband.

Jack went to the foyer and stopped short.  Could this be?  “Constance?  Constance, is that you?”

The woman responded immediately. “Oh, Jack!  I knew it had to be you the moment I heard your name.”  She moved to him and he embraced her.

They both began talking at once.  Jeffrey Marsh, Constance’s husband, smiled at the reunion.  It had always set poorly with him that Constance had left not just an abusive father, but a much loved brother when she ran away with him.  She and Jack were five years apart in age and Constance, as his older sister, had always been very protective of Jack.

Jack suddenly realized Jeffrey was standing there.  “Jeffrey, it’s been too long.”  He offered his hand and they shook warmly.  “You’ve come at the perfect time.  I have just been married.  You must meet my wife and your two nieces.  Constance, you remember the Portsmouths?  Well, Chad, the youngest son, moved here several years ago with his wife and two children.  They are here and won’t he be surprised to see you!  And how did you know I was here?”

“The broker who sold you the house is Jeffrey’s cousin.  He mentioned that he sold a home in Boston to Jack Aubrey and had to travel down there to handle the sale.  He had just returned.  When he said that you were a former ship's captain I knew it was you.  You see, Jack, after I left father’s home I did my best to keep track of you.  Teresa Wendall knew where Jeffrey and I were and she kept me abreast of your accomplishments.  I’m so proud of you!”  She gave him another hug.  “I’ve missed you, brother.”

He smiled, “And I you, sister.  Come, you must meet my lovely bride and my girls.”

They went to the reception and Jack announced them as if they were royalty.  Lily commented that Tilly looked like her aunt.  The girls were a bit shy with Constance at first, but her sunny smile and laugh drew them in.  The day had become nearly perfect.  The only thing that would have made it so would be to receive word that his father had a change of heart and cared about him and his girls now that they were permanently out of his life.  Instead he received a letter that his father died and all his possessions were left to the church.  It was the last statement that his father had never loved him or his sister.  After all, he’d never tried to find Constance; a loving father would have.

Jack’s only statement when he read the letter to Constance was, “I’m glad the old bastard is dead.”  He really didn’t care that his father was dead, but the letter was simply one last shot, one last time to tell his son how much he didn’t care about him and that hurt.

Now that Jack and Constance were reunited they pledged to keep in touch and visit each other regularly.  Jeffrey and Constance had two children that they wanted Jack to meet.  They both lived in New York so Jack promised to take Lily and the girls there to meet them.

A month after the wedding a gentleman came to call.  His name was Horace Cornwall and he came on behalf of the King of England.

Jack met him in the foyer, then led him to his study. “Mr. Cornwall, what can I do for you?”

“Sir, I have been sent to request that you resume your commission for His Majesty.  He has requested it personally.  England needs sea captains of your caliber.”

“I appreciate what you are requesting and that it comes from the king himself, however, I cannot and will not conscript men from America as if they were still English subjects.  I find that appalling.  So you see I cannot accept.”

“Sir, may I remind you that you are still an English subject and if necessary the king will request that the American government give you up as a traitor.  You will be returned to England to face trial and hanging for the theft of His Majesty’s conscripts.”

Jack lost the decorum that he usually showed to a guest in his home.  This man had threatened him and he wouldn’t tolerate it.  With a stony face and menacing voice he told his ‘guest’, “Mr. Cornwall, please convey to His Majesty, that I will not be coerced into returning to his service.  I no longer call England home and as of this moment I would longer even consider serving England or His Majesty again.  If you send agents to try and force me to return, you will find me less than pleasant to deal with.  As far as the United States returning me, we shall see.  Leave now, sir, and do not return!”

Two months later, three gentlemen came to speak with Jack.  He met them, as he had Mr. Cornwall, in the foyer.  However, when he invited them to follow him to the study, only Mr. Johnson accompanied him after he indicated that the other two should wait for him there.

Jack took note of the fact that they seemed to be escorts, not Mr. Johnson’s equals.  Once they reached Jack’s study and before Jack could ask him what he needed, Mr. Johnson said, “Captain Aubrey, I have been asked to contact you and request that you accept a commission in the American Navy.  We don’t have anywhere near the number of war ships that England has and we must have the very best captains for the ships we do have.  You, sir, are well known as 'Lucky Jack', a name earned fighting the French,” he hesitated, “and various others.  Now that you call America your home we were hoping that you would serve your new country with the same fervor that you served England.  I am also authorized to inform you that the king of England himself has requested that you be returned to England to face charges of treason. Of course that would not even be considered were you a captain in the United States Navy.”

Jack stood there for a moment, absorbing the whole thing.  After sifting through several ideas, he spoke.  “Mr. Johnson, are you telling me that if I don’t accept the commission that you will have me forcibly returned to England?”

“As I said, Captain Aubrey, we need experienced sea captains.  If you intend to live here you should do your part to secure our rights on the open sea.  If you refuse, we can draw only two conclusions, either you are an agent of England here to spy for her, or sir, you are a coward.”

Jack drew a deep breath to steady himself.  He was no coward and this man knew it well.  His fighting record bore that out.  So the only conclusion was that he would be considered a spy if he did not accept.  That rankled him.  There was no proof of his being a spy, so the conclusion was one of intimidation, pure and simple.

“Mr. Cornwall,” he said, “came to ask that I return to my commission with England.  He threatened me and I threw him out.  I will not be intimidated in that fashion!  I am newly wed and not interested in being away from my new wife and two daughters.  I will tell you what I told Mr. Cornwall.  If you try to take me physically, you will find me not so pleasant and you will have gained nothing!”

“Your answer is no?”

“My answer is I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!!! Now leave, sir, and take your henchmen with you!”

Once Mr. Johnson and his escorts left Jack looked for Lily and asked her to come with him to their bedroom.  When they got there, he closed the door and explained the situation to her.

“Well, Jack, can you honestly say you wouldn’t want to command a ship again?”

He stood there looking at her with the widow’s walk as her background.  She was lovely even in a common house dress and a simple coiffure.  He had to admit, at least to himself, that if there were no intimidation involved, he would have been hard put to say no to Mr. Johnson.  He loved his wife and children with a passion, but he needed to use his skills as a sea captain to feel complete.  He needed to feel the wind in his hair, the salt spray on his face.  He wasn’t made for lounging around a land home with nothing to do, unless it was during a leave.  Then it was the sweetest thing in the world.  He longed for it before, but now he felt stale, useless.  He was too young to be retired.

Now, however, how could he tell Lily that he would welcome leaving her?  Especially since she had given him the news that he would again be a father?  He’d not been there with Sophie when she gave birth to either of their girls. Now he might well be away when Lily did should he actually reconsider.  No!  He would not entertain accepting now, not with the threats.  That went against his grain.

“It is a moot point, Lily.  I would not accept a commission from intimidation.  It is a poor way to begin.”

“But if it had been a simple offer, you would have accepted, no?”  She smiled.  Of course he would have and rightfully so.  She’d felt a restlessness about him.  He needed to work again and his only job was as the captain of a ship. “You know I would not tie you to this house, Jack.  As much as I would miss you, I feel these last months have been torture for you.  I know you’ve gone to the harbor and watched the ships.  I’ve see you watch them from here, right here, from our bedroom.”  She turned to look out the window of the widow’s walk.  “I married a sailor, an exceptional sailor, and I never believed that you would not return to the sea.”  She paused then, turned back to him. “It would be all right for you to go but you must promise to return, return to us.”

“And what of the girls?”

“Why don’t you ask them?”

“If the subject comes up again I shall.  Until then, there is no reason to upset them.”

Sarah invited them to a small dinner party and Lily mentioned the offer that Mr. Johnson made to Jack as well as the first offer from the English government.  Jack hadn’t said a thing to Lily about the threat from Mr. Cornwall until after Mr. Johnson came.  He hadn’t wanted to worry her.  In fact he had been very careful when out by himself after that conversation.  He wouldn’t put it past the king to have him abducted and returned to England against his will.

Now it seemed that even the American government would not concern itself if they did so.  He felt hunted.

He spoke to Chad while he was there.  “So, I turned down both offers.”

Chad smiled, “I doubt, Jack that it was a simple decline.  Not coming from you and not after they both threatened you.  I know you too well.  'Lucky Jack' would never tolerate it.”

Jack looked down at the floor. “You’re right, Chad, and I was more forceful than was probably necessary.  You know me too well.  I might have considered the American commission if Mr. Johnson had gone about asking in a reasonable manner.  Lily understands and it wouldn’t be as it was when I was captain of the Surprise.  She sailed half way ‘round the world.  The United States has no such interests.  I would be closer to home.” 

“I think you need this, Jack.  Perhaps you should write to the Navy Department and express your disappointment with Mr. Johnson.  They would surely offer the commission again.  They need you more than you need them.  Allowing the king to kidnap you is not to their advantage.”

Jack nodded, “I suppose that is true, however I have no intentions of begging for the opportunity.  I would appreciate it if you would keep this conversation in mind should I turn up missing.”

Chad laughed, “They had better bring a regiment if they intend to kidnap you.”

Not a week later Jack was again visited by an official of the American government.  This time, however, Mr. Johnson was not in attendance and the gentleman who called came alone.  He offered his hand. “Captain Aubrey, my name is Marshall Gillford.  I came to make you an offer that I believe you will accept.”

“Mr. Gillford, if you come bringing threats, please leave now.”

Mr. Gillford smiled, “Ah, Captain, when I heard Alex Johnson tried intimidation on you I knew he’d made a mistake.  Please allow me to apologize for his stupidity and lack of insight.  You see he is not as informed as I am regarding your record.”

“And, sir, how did you become so well informed?”

“We have a mutual friend.  I grew up with Stephen Maturin.  He has told me of your exploits over the years.”

Jack suddenly realized why the name seemed so familiar.  Stephen had spoken about his friend many times.  Jack didn’t know that he had stayed in America after the last time that he sailed the Atlantic to do business.

“Stephen.”

“Yes, Stephen.  By the way, he is in Boston with me.  He wanted to wait until I had an opportunity to persuade you before coming to see you himself.  You see, he’s decided to live here permanently.”  He allowed that to sink in. “And that brings me to the offer I wish to make you.  As you are aware, England has closed off commerce with France and is physically barring the United States from doing business with them.  We would like to see someone of your stature change their minds.”

“Sir, as much as I wish not to serve His Majesty any further, I also do not wish to command a war vessel for the United States.  I did at one time pledge to serve England and His Majesty and I have. That, however, does not mean that because I no longer wish to serve His Majesty that I wish to make war on my homeland.”

“Captain, we want to partner with you.”

“Sir?”

“You would be outfitted with the finest private ship available.  The crew would be civilians, past military, but civilians now none the less.  We wish you to take your ship to France and make commerce.  The ship will have 38 cannon in case you need to defend yourself and the profit would be split between you and the new owners, the people of the United States.”

Jack slowly shook his head. “What you are asking me to do is become a blockade runner, nothing less.”

“Yes, Captain Aubrey.  After all, England is illegally stopping trade between France and the United States.”

“Do you realize that if I accept I will have been an Englishman who once fought France only to become an American who fights Englishmen to barter with France?  Somehow it doesn’t seem right.”

“I will agree, Captain, that it is confusing how easily allies change.  But you would consider it?”

“Mr. Gillford, I would first like to discuss this with my family.  Where may I contact you with a response?”

“You can write the Navy Department but would a week be long enough time for you to decide?”

“I imagine so.”

“Then why don’t I return in one week for your answer?”

“As you wish, Mr. Gillford, and please extend my warmest greetings to our mutual friend.”  They shook hands and Jack showed him the way out. 

That night he explained the offer to Lily and the girls over dinner.  He didn’t tell them what he was going to do; rather, he asked for their opinions.

Lily was first to speak.  “I believe you know how I feel.  As much as I want you here with us, I realize that your calling was to captain a ship.  So if you should decide to accept, you must promise to be careful and to come home as often as possible.”

He smiled, “I will certainly do that.”

Candice sat looking down at her food and Tilly said nothing at first. Suddenly she asked, “Is it all right if we stay here?”

Jack was taken back.  “Of course it’s all right.  Where did you think you would stay?  This is your home.”

Candice pointed out, “Grandfather never wanted us there.  He said so.”  She looked down at her plate again. “I think Tilly is wondering if you are leaving us with Lily without her permission.  After all, she is your wife.”

Lily immediately responded, “Candice, your father doesn’t need to foist you on me.  I want you here. I thought you understood that.  We’re a family.  I may not be your mother, but I care very much for both of you. We will need each other while he’s away.”

“And if I asked you not to go, Father, would you stay?”

Jack reached across the table and took her hand, kissed it and said, “If you need me to stay, then I will.  You three are the most important part of my life.  A ship is employment and responsibility.  I need that but I need you more.”

Neither of the girls would express anything more that evening.  They both excused themselves from the table and went to their rooms.  Jack watched as they left.

“Perhaps I should just find other employment.”

“And what would that be, Jack?” 

He looked at her.  “I don’t know, Lily.  But I can’t let them think that I love the sea more than them.”

She put her hand on his. “I think they know that.  Just give them time to realize it.  After all, you didn’t need to give them a say in whether you accepted.  You could have simply done it and told them afterwards.  They are intelligent young ladies.  They will sort it out.”

Three days later, Jack still hadn’t received an answer from his daughters, and he couldn’t do anything to ruin the trust he’d re-built with them.  He finally made the decision to tell Mr. Gillford no. He was just starting a letter which he was preparing to send when Darla came to his study to tell him a gentleman was in the foyer.

Jack couldn’t believe at first that it was Dr. Maturin.  “Stephen!  It’s good to see you!  Come in, come in!  I met your friend, Mr. Gillford.”

“Yes, I know.  That’s part of why I came.”

“Oh?  He gave me a week to decide.”

“Yes, I know Jack, but I can’t believe you didn’t answer him straight away.  You have the girls here and I hear you married Lily.  What’s to keep you from accepting?”

“It isn’t that easy, Stephen.  Lily is supportive, but you must remember that Candice and Tilly were ill used by my father.  He blessed us by the way, by dying…the old bastard.”

“I would say I’m sorry, but I know how you felt about him.”  Stephen had met Mr. Aubrey on no less than three occasions and could understand why Jack felt as he did.  Jack’s wife, Sophie, was a beautiful and sweet woman and yet he treated her worse than if she were a servant.  Not in front of Jack, of course, but he had in front of Stephen.  Apparently, correctly so, he felt Stephen would never say anything.  “I was hoping that you had decided to take a command.  I understand that it would be a commercial ship not a fighter, but I also hear that she would be more than able to defend herself should the need arise.  I would volunteer to become your physician.”

Jack smiled, “Stephen, commercial ships rarely carry a physician unless they carry passengers.  The mission that Mr. Gillford expressed wasn’t about carrying passengers; it was to provoke the blockade on France.”

Stephen smiled, “So it was, Jack, so it was.  Do you have your violin?  I brought my cello.  Your girl, Darla, placed it in the hallway I believe.”

“It has been a while since we played.”   Jack got Stephen’s cello and they went to the sitting room where there was more room.  They tuned up and began.  Before long Lily joined them and then both girls.  Darla lingered near the doorway, listening.  The music was like nothing she’d ever heard before.

Stephen stayed for three days and got to know Jack’s daughters.  They had been small when he last saw them and they didn’t remember him.  He was an easy man to talk to and they soon became comfortable with him.

After Lily met Stephen she told Jack that he reminded her of Chad and they invited the Portsmouths for dinner the next night.  After years of stories about each man through Jack, they finally met.  It turned out that they were, in fact, related.  Stephen and Chad shared the same grandmother.  Stephen’s grandfather died only months after his first child was born and his widow re-married to Chad’s grandfather.  Now that Stephen had decided to live permanently in America it was good to know that he had family connections here.  In fact, he had none left in Ireland.

Candice finally came to Jack and told him that she and Tilly had decided that he should take the offer.  They both remembered the stories he would tell when home.  It was obvious that he loved being a sea captain and they wouldn’t keep him from it. 

She asked him tentatively, “Am I too old to sit in your lap?”

Jack smiled, “You’ll never be too old for that.” 

She sat down and wrapped her arms around him and he put his around her.  He was moved almost to tears.  She would always be his little girl and so would Tilly. Oh Sophie, Sophie, the gifts that you gave me!

Epilogue

Jack and Stephen went to sea and to war.  The SS Commerce successfully ran the blockades and scored successes on the English Navy.  Jack became known to them and his prior reputation gave him an edge.  Once the British ships knew 'Lucky Jack' was commanding the Commerce, they were less confident in attacking him. 

Lily had given him a handsome and lively son while he was away the first time.  Per Jack’s instructions the little boy was named William John Aubrey, Willy for short.  He soon became the apple of everyone’s eye, especially Jack’s.  He promised the first night that he returned from the sea and found his new born son in the cradle near his and Lily’s bed that he would be a good father and would support him in any endeavor the boy decided upon.

In 1811 they attended Susan’s wedding.  She married one of the young men that Jack had rescued and she named their first son after him.  After all, if it weren’t for Uncle Jack they would never have been married.

By the time the War of 1812 arrived Jack was again a landlubber, having suffered a crippling wound during a skirmish.  He nearly lost his leg and if it hadn’t been for Stephen Maturin, he would have.  The wound left him with a permanent limp.  He came home and was nursed back to health by his wife and daughters.

Although he was no longer ‘sea worthy’, he was asked to become a consultant during the war.  His knowledge of English tactics placed him in a position of authority.  He accepted and stayed with the Navy Department until after a truce was recognized in 1815.  He then retired.  Although he wasn’t sure he could just stay home and not go crazy, once Candice presented him with a grandson to bounce on his knee, he realized that home was exactly where he wanted to be.  Candice and Roddy Portsmouth had married in 1814 and cemented the close relationship between their families.

“So, Jack, do you miss the sea?”

“Not anymore, Stephen, not anymore.”

“Papa…would you and Uncle Stephen please play a soothing song?  Little John is cranky this evening.”

Tilly married a young lieutenant in the American Navy only a year after Candice.  She stayed here with Lily and Jack while her husband was gone to sea.  It was a little less lonely that way, especially when caring for their first baby. 

Constance and Jeffrey kept close contact and they traveled to see each other several times during the year.  Jack and Lily had gotten very close with Jack’s nephew and niece. 

As he played his violin with Stephen, Jack reflected on all that had happened since Sophie’s death.  He never thought while sitting at her grave that he and his children would ever become so happy and content.  “I do still love you, Sophie, and always will, but I am happier now than I ever thought I would be.  Rest in peace, my darling.”

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