Killigrew of the Royal Navy by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911591863
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Ltd
Published: 2017-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

‘I say, Sir George!’

Emerging from the portals of the Reform Club with one of his parliamentary colleagues, Sir George Grafton heard his name called out and glanced down Pall Mall to see Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Napier limping towards him. ‘Oh, Christ,’ he muttered. ‘Look out, William, it’s that lunatic Napier. I thought we’d seen the last of him.’

Unsmiling as ever, his companion merely inclined his head with a dour expression.

Sir George pasted a broad smile on to his face. ‘Why, Sir Charles! Good morning to you, sir. May I be one of the first to congratulate you on your recent appointment to the command of the Channel Fleet?’ God knows, I worked hard enough to get you sent back to sea so you’d keep your interfering nose out of parliamentary business.

‘Why, thank you, Sir George, thank you. Although I must say, it did come rather unexpectedly. And just when I was starting to find my feet in the House of Commons, too.’ He chuckled. ‘You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d say one of my political enemies was trying to get me out of the way.’

‘Nonsense, Sir Charles. There are no enemies in the House of Commons. Only adversaries.’

‘I fear my command of the finer intricacies of Shakespeare’s tongue is not up to the task of discerning the difference. But then as you know, I’m just a simple, bluff old sailor at heart.’

In a pig’s ear, thought Sir George, and indicated his companion. ‘You’ve met Mr Gladstone, I take it?’

‘I know of his father,’ said Napier. Mr Gladstone senior owned a plantation in the West Indies and profited from the trade in apprenticed labour, shipping coolies from India in conditions little better than slave ships.

‘Mr Gladstone is one of the rising stars of our party,’ said Grafton.

‘Our paths have crossed,’ said Napier. ‘Although not yet our swords.’

‘And nor will they ever,’ sniffed Mr Gladstone junior. ‘I have always felt that duelling is the kind of childish behaviour that gentlemen should avoid. And, I might furthermore add, it is contrary to the laws of our nation.’

‘I was merely speaking metaphorically, Mr Gladstone. Of our parliamentary swords.’

‘Oh,’ sniffed Gladstone.

Napier turned back to Grafton. ‘Sir George, I wonder if I might have a word with you in camera.’

‘By all means, but I pray you be brief. I have important business to conduct…’

‘As have I. Channel fleets don’t run themselves, you know.’

‘You must excuse me, Mr Gladstone. I’ll speak further on this matter with you at a later date.’

‘I shall look forward to it,’ said Gladstone. ‘Good day to you, Sir George, Sir Charles.’ He doffed his top hat to them, and wandered off in the direction of the Haymarket.

‘Now then, Sir Charles. How may I be of assistance to you?’

‘Shall we walk a little way?’ suggested Napier. ‘It’s a splendid morning, and the exercise will do us good.’

‘As you will.’

The two of them set off down Pall Mall towards Trafalgar Square, Napier limping. ‘I’m just trying to tie up my parliamentary affairs before I hoist my flag on HMS St Vincent,’ he explained.

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