Loving Lieutenant Douglas by Barbara Devlin

Author:Barbara Devlin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2014-12-14T22:00:00+00:00

LOVING LIEUTENANT DOUGLAS

CHAPTER SIX

December yielded to January with a blustery gale, and Mark celebrated the New Year aboard the Boreas, as she patrolled the trade routes of the North Atlantic. More than a month had passed since he bade farewell to his lady, and yet he dispatched letters whenever they put to port to replenish stores. To his infinite disappointment, he had received nothing from his Amanda, despite her promise to write him.

Standing by the starboard rail of the quarterdeck, with the westerlies rustling his hair, he inhaled the familiar and comforting scent of brine mixed with kelp and dared not hope as they anchored alongside a Packet Service ship from Falmouth, bearing the King’s flag, and official, as well as personal, correspondence was transferred between vessels. Regardless of his attempts to the contrary, he uttered a silent prayer that the canvas bags contained something—anything, for him.

Distraction, but no joy, was found in his examination of the polished boards, the grain of which shone bright in the sun, the falls flemished to his exacting specifications, and the devil had been fresh-paid with pitch at their last port. At the waist, the crew carried out their chores, whistling or singing naughty shanties as they worked. “Kennedy, secure the dry stores in the hold, with the swine.”

“Aye, sir.” The sailor saluted.

The second lieutenant emptied the first bag, and Mark sighed as despondency seeped into his muscles. Never had he relished the mail call, because his family had not written during his tenure at sea. And it was not for lack of caring but, rather, indicative of the characteristic Douglas stiff-upper-lip persona and their expectations to that effect. What he had come to realize since that first fateful meeting in the Northcote’s ballroom was that Lady Amanda Gascoigne-Lake had changed his world and altered his view.

Yes, the mere wisp of a girl had penetrated his thoughts and, it seemed, every fiber of his being. While the navy life had always inspired his soul, it now all but consumed him, given the marquess’s directive. The ocean appeared more nebulous, the canvas more crisp, and the sky more blue. Unfortunately, her absence had also impacted him, with quite the opposite results, and he genuinely ached for want of his Amanda. For the first journey since his days as a young, randy midshipman, he had put four fingers and a thumb to most excellent use.

“You are a fastidious lieutenant, Mr. Douglas.” Captain Nelson scrutinized the gleaming deck, which bore not a speck of dust, from stem to stern, as the legendary naval man was correct in his assertion, and Mark would brook no less than perfection. “You lead by example, which is the best form of management, in my humble estimation, and have held your rank for these eight years, to your credit, so it is time for you to make post.”

“I could not agree more, sir.” Mark recalled the conversation in Admiral Gascoigne-Lake’s study. “And the situation is more pressing than you can imagine.”

The second

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