Spies and Surprises
Chapter 1
New Assignments and Old Acquaintances.
Whitehall, London
Commander Worrall was a fat, partially bald old man. I knew his ways very well, he would trot around behind his desk for precisely seven and a half minutes and then sit down to brief me for my next assignment. It was a game he used to seem to enjoy, finding at least three things wrong with my last mission. This time it was that my latest cover had been too associated with the navy; I had been gathering information in Barcelona whilst the Spanish royal family had retreated there. I had made several important contacts, even Worrall had to admit reconnaissance was my speciality. Now I was back in England watching an obese pig wear a carpet out in front of me. At last he dropped himself down on a spindly chair that I was amazed could support his immense weight. He took a sip of some disgusting liquid out of a hip flask, some of the beverage being absorbed into his bushy beard, and focused his tiny red eyes on me again as if he was a bull and I was a red flag. I hated him completely, he hadn't seen war or death at all, sitting on his comfortable chair in the Whitehall naval base.
"Are you even listening to me Miss Carson?" He boomed making the the papers on his desk quiver. And of course he forgets to use my full name, I thought fighting to keep a look of annoyance off my face. I settled for rolling my eyes a minuscule amount.
"Yes Commander Worrall, my hearing is perfect. However yours may not be, my name is Sophie Carson-Beaumeir." I said curtly, drawing a shallow gasp from the man. His three chins wobbling in surprise. Oh great now I'm in big trouble. I cursed inwardly.
"I did not pick you for your smart French mouth Miss Carson-Beaumeir. So why did I choose you then?" He yelled. I knew that correcting him was pushing my luck and that now I would face the consequences, but I could not stand his refusal to say my surname properly. I was half French on my mothers side and that seemed to have made him hate me especially. He disliked me even more because of my supposed 'attitude' towards those in power.
"You chose me because I s
peak French and Spanish as good as one of their own." I said my voice completely dead pan and without expression. He smiled evilly at this, his head lolling over to one side as he fixed me in his harsh gaze. the stare of Commander Worrall was enough to send some agents from his office in a state of terror, I prided myself on the fact that this had never happened to me.
"No" he growled, his face scrunching into a mess of pink flesh. "No, I chose you because you are an orphan, no family to speak of, no humility, and most importantly you are alone. You have always been alone." I stepped backwards, shocked at this open contempt. I drew blood as I balled up my fists and clenched my jaw. This was a test. Only a test, I told myself. I knew that if I did not hold my tongue, and keep my temper in check he would charge me with insubordination. Of course they could never set up the grating and flog me but I could lose a sizeable amount of my pay.
Gathering all of the resolve I had, I smiled sweetly back at him, mentally steadying myself for another barrage of words. To my surprise he did not continue. Instead he frowned and handed me a thick folder.
"Your next assignment, do well Miss Carson...er...Beaumeir, this order is from up top." He grimaced once he had finished speaking. Evidently disliking how I was trusted enough to be sent on an important mission. I curtseyed, not exactly as low as I could have, and walked out of the room.
Portsmouth Docks
The carriage I was riding in halted at the side of the road. As I stepped down the driver put out his hand to help me, In an absent minded move I batted it away as my attention had been fully captured by the magnificent vessel I saw before me. Whilst it had been in dry dock it had been given a fresh lick of paint and I decided that it looked better now than it would be when it had completed it's mission. If it completed the mission at all. Picking up my smaller box I observed the crew moving about their business, whilst the driver heaved up my sea chest. Pulling out my paperwork from a small leather bag I ascended the gangway.
"Ah, Miss Carson-Beaumier, it is a pleasure to have you aboard." Said a man who I guessed was the lieutennant, he had a scar running across one cheek. I thought he was rather handsome.
"Thank you, I need to speak with the Captain, if it is possible?" I replied in a polite tone. I was hoping he wasn't going to ask too many questions as I had not thought up a cover for my presence on the ship yet.
"Sorry, Miss at the moment the Captain is busy, boring naval classified talks at the moment I think." Ha! If only he knew! With great difficulty I looked seriously back at him.
"Oh, nothing i want to get mixed up in then." When somebody called him he nodded and muttered a quick goodbye before striding off down the deck. I now turned my thoughts to the massive chest i had been lumbered with and decided to drag it down to my allocated berth.
Now I was back on deck again waiting for the Surprise to way anchor and be off to sea. I stood on the starboard side looking out into the vast, ever choppy water of the Atlantic. I let my senses soak up the feeling of being at sea again. the smell of the salty water, the sound of waves breaking against the hull, the feeling of cool air rushing inland off the sea. My walking had already adjusted back to the rolling, steady gait of a sailor.
"No, Jack won't allow a woman-God be praised your right Nagle!" The other replied laughing. I payed no attention to the men, I was not shocked to hear their remarks, after all it was not common to find a woman on one of His Majesty's ships. I leaned over the side studying my reflection, I was not exactly what people may call beautiful. I had hair that was a strange shade of brown as if it could not decide whether to be blonde or brunette. My favorite features were my sea coloured eyes and light pink lips. Not that I had ever caught the attention of any men. I turned around to study the intricate array of ropes, working out how each of them helped control the ship would keep the boredom at bay for a while I mused. The Surprise was indeed a fine ship. Not large or particularly well gunned but swift and manoeuvrable. Its Captain was legendary, even among the navy, there had been some background information in the folder from Commander Worrall about some of the more important crew members. 'Lucky' Jack Aubrey had never lost, and had brought back three prizes, earning him respect among his equals and his crew alike. Then there was Thomas Pullings, his lieutenant, who had served alongside the Captain all his life. There were two more lieutenants; Mowett and Peter Calamy. Remembering the third lieutenant brought back unwanted memories so I pushed them aside and decided to find that elusive Captain Aubrey, the rest of my orders were safely stowed inside my sea chest copied out in code. No one was above suspicion.
"Its you, isn't it?" Questioned a rather accusatory voice. Even though I was surprised at being addressed like that I didn't jump. I analysed the voice, it was not that of a common seaman, it was well pronounced but deeper than a boy's yet younger than that of a tested man, and it had weight behind it like the speaker was self assured. I reasoned that it must be the voice of a certain third lieutenant. I turned slowly, delaying this long postponed reunion for as long as I could.
"I am Miss Carson-Beaumier, and you are?" I asked trying to keep as much civility and innocence in my tone.
"You know my name." His blue eyes glared directly into mine, anger radiating from every inch of him. I had closed off my heart years ago now all that was left was cold stone and iron. Once I would have broken down and told him how sorry I was, but now I only stared straight back at him and remarked;
"Once, I knew you once." And turned around again to go back to my small birth. I could only imagine the look of indignation on his face, as I strode away in a far too unfeminine gait.
OK! So that's my first chapter! Please rate and review, any criticism is welcome. If you can guess what the connection between Sophie and Peter is or have a theory please drop me a comment.