2. Seasick
For the purposes of this fanfic, Midshipman Peter Calamy is alive and well.
Victor just looked at his sister for a minute or two. Then he burst out laughing. 'Oh, alright, very funny…'
'What's so funny?' Violet was slightly irritated.
'Well, I'm presuming you mean we switch places. We can't possibly do that. It's all that…' he gestured at the copy of Twelfth Night she was holding in her hand. '…sort of thing that you're reading.'
'Look, just listen for a minute.'
Victor sighed but said nothing, which she took as a sign to continue.
'Here is the plan. Does Father intend to see you off?'
'Yes, but I'm making my own way from here to Portsmouth. It's not too far. I'm going on horseback.'
'Right. Well, you dress up in your new uniform and leave as usual. Go up to the old church and I will meet you there. We'll swap clothes.' She sat back, pleased with her plan. Victor raised a disbelieving eyebrow. 'So I meet you at the old church.'
'Yes.'
'So you have my midshipman's uniform and all that,'
'Yes.'
'…and I wear your dress…'
'Yes…No! Vic, you're not taking this seriously!'
Victor giggled.
'Sorry. Sorry. I will be serious. I promise.'
'Look, this is no laughing matter! I'm going to have to agree to marry Edward Hemps, and probably get beaten every time I get on his nerves, and you're going to have to go to sea, and be a sailor for the rest of your life, and probably get killed, because you're a rotten shot.'
Victor sobered up quickly. 'Alright, when you put it like that…'
'Listen. I'll just pretend to be you, and you can sneak off and get on that ship to Brazil. Then there'll be nothing Father can do.'
Victor considered it. He wanted so much to go to Brazil, and study the animals and plants out there. It would be wonderful. But he couldn't allow Violet to go in his place on the ship. It was just too dangerous. Presuming, of course, they even believed she was really a boy.
'I can't.' he said aloud. 'It's too dangerous. For you, I mean. And what would you do? They'd discover you eventually. You'd have to come home.'
'I've thought of that,' Violet grinned. 'The HMS Surprise is going to Spain first.'
'Yes. So what?'
'Do you remember Aunt Jane, Jane Tavers?'
'Oh yes, she was always very nice. We haven't seen her for years, ever since she had that falling-out with Mother and Father.'
'Exactly. Just after that, as she was leaving to go to Spain, she told me if ever I needed her help, I could come and see her. So when the ship docks in Spain, I will sneak off and go and find Aunt Jane. I'm sure she'd have no objection to me staying with her for a while. Eventually, I could maybe come out to Brazil and live with you, if she doesn't want me to stay permanently.'
Victor was silent. He'd initially had no intention of even entertaining Violet's suggestion, but it did seem as if she had it all planned out. Maybe…was it possible? There was one further objection, though. 'They'll never believe you're me.' He said aloud.
Violet's mind had been whirring at top speed. She'd always had a wonderful imagination, and now she was putting it to good use. 'They haven't seen you. Father only showed them a picture. I'm sure I'll fit into your uniform. Our faces are identical. You'll have to cut my hair, and I can guarantee with my hair cut like you, they won't know the difference.'
'Oh Violet,' Victor sighed, 'I don't know. I have a feeling this won't end well.'
'It's better than what will happen if I stay here and you go to sea!'
'But this rumour of war…it's far too dangerous for you!'
'We're not at war yet. Remember, once I get to Spain, I'll disappear. Even if they do look for me, they'll be looking for a young boy, not a girl.'
'Imagine what Father will say when he knows you've…well, me really…run away from the commission. He'll be furious.'
'It's a good thing he won't be able to get his hands on you then, or on either of us, really. Please say yes, Vic. This is as much for me as it is for you. I can't marry Hemps. I really can't.'
Victor relented. 'All right. All right, I'll do it.'
The sun was barely above the horizon, and the little village around the DeVere's house was not yet awake. The great house itself was certainly not awake, and would not be for several hours. Mr and Mrs DeVere were not early risers. Mr DeVere decided his son could quite easily see himself out of the house, and had departed the previous evening with instructions to send a note when he reached Portsmouth, and to 'Be sure to behave in a way to uphold the family name, my boy.'
'Not much chance of that.' Victor thought privately.
He was nervous. Suppose Violet was discovered before he could get out of the country? Suppose she was somehow hurt. Although, if he was honest, there was more chance of him getting wounded than Violet. She'd always been the faster runner, the better horse rider, certainly a better shot. His father had sometimes remarked bitterly that Violet was the better man out of the two. He'd already changed out of his uniform and folded it neatly, wearing instead his comfortable old clothes, not too fine. He didn't want people noticing and recognizing him.
'What took you so long?' he whispered when Violet finally arrived.
'I forgot the scissors.' She replied, 'I had to go back.'
She quickly changed. The clothes were heavier than she expected. The coat was stiff and uncomfortable, and she could hardly move her feet in the leather boots. Fortunately the waistcoat and trousers fitted well. She hoped the rest of the clothes locked in the trunk fitted well. Just in case, she'd brought a needle and some thread. Sewing wasn't her strong point, but surely it couldn't be too hard to alter the clothes.
'Now for my hair.' She decided, handing Victor the scissors.
'I don't think it's a good idea,' he objected. 'I'll make a mess of it.'
'It doesn't matter. It will grow.' She took a deep breath. 'Just hurry up. Get it over with.' she added the last part under her breath.
'All of it?'
'Well, no, just about to here, about the length of your hair.'
Violet's hair was to her waist, and soon she had a large pile about her feet. Victor did not do too badly, and when he finished, she turned to face him, and an onlooker would not have seen any difference between them. He smiled, and then she smiled, a perfect mirror reflection of each other.
They travelled together for some miles. A little way outside Portsmouth, they judged it prudent to separate. Victor looked for all the world like a young farmer, or farmer's son, with a grubby woollen cap pulled well down over his forehead and Violet like a young midshipman, with a brand new shining uniform.
'Goodbye.'
''Bye.'
Both wondered if they would see the other again. As they headed their separate ways, Violet felt strangely motivated to laugh and cry at the same time. 'Stop it,' she chided herself, 'you're a young man.'
All the same, she felt – there was no other word for it – frightened as she fought her way through the crowds. She was grateful the stiff boot soles gave her a few extra inches. People smiled approvingly at the young midshipman. As she made her way towards the docks, men smelling strongly of whiskey clapped her strongly on the shoulder (she was nearly knocked over more than once) and shouted, 'Good on yer, lad! Go and show old Boney what we're made of!'
The HMS Surprise was much, much bigger than she'd imagined. Violet stood for a few moments, staring open mouthed at the huge vessel.
'Takes your breath away, doesn't it?' a voice at her shoulder made Violet jump. She spun round to see a young man probably the same age as herself standing behind her. He was a handsome lad, with dark hair and blue eyes and a nice smile. He smiled now, shyly, and extended his hand. 'Mr Calamy at your service. I suppose you must be Mr DeVere?'
'Yes.' She smiled and extended her hand. 'What gave it away?'
'The uniform and the trunk.'
'Oh. Of course.' Violet felt rather silly, but he laughed good-naturedly.
They shook hands, and Mr Calamy offered to escort her onboard to meet the captain. 'Although it'll probably be Lieutenant Pullings you'll speak to.' Mr Calamy led the way across the crowded dock to where a tall young man was standing with his back to them. 'Mr Pullings, sir,' he began, 'this is the new midshipman.'
'Ah, Mr DeVere. You're a little late.' He turned around and surveyed Violet. She felt dwarfed next to him, and strangely nervous. He had long hair tied back, piercingly blue eyes, and an ugly curved scar on one cheek, marring an otherwise handsome face. His heart sank as he sized up their latest recruit. The boy clearly wasn't used to work. The hand he shook had a weak grip and had a ridiculously soft and smooth skin. That won't last long. He thought to himself. The boy looked younger than sixteen, if he was honest. He fitted the portrait, although he seemed somehow smaller and different, somehow. The clothes did not fit particularly well, which you wouldn't have expected of a well-off family like the DeVeres.
'Papers please.' He asked bluntly, and Violet handed them over without a word. Mr Pullings glanced up from his inspection of the papers to see her looking intently at him. This was somewhat new. Brand new midshipmen didn't give their superior officers so brazen a stare. They fidgeted and shuffled, shy and apprehensive. But no. this particular midshipman seemed confident, at ease, even. He certainly is a funny looking boy, Mr Pullings thought. His face looks even more delicate than in the portrait. He can't be sixteen, surely. But then, why would he lie? Even if he was only ten years old, he'd still be allowed on board. Lord Blakeney is only twelve. Still, it's none of my concern. We'll make him or break him, I suppose. He handed the papers back. 'Go with Mr Calamy on board, he will see to your luggage and teach you best he can about the ship. We leave with the tide.' And that was that.
Mr Calamy instructed two rugged looking sailors to get Violet's luggage on board a small rowing boat, and then they were off. The boat bounced about violently, and Violet felt a twinge of nausea. Oh dear, she thought, I hope I won't be seasick. It didn't seem to bother Mr Calamy and the two sailors in the slightest. The HMS Surprise loomed over them, blocking out the sun. Violet looked up at the huge ship, with its masts shooting up to the skies, rigging and sails flying out with the wind, and for the first time, she felt afraid. I've never been on a boat before. And then, I do hope I won't have to climb the rigging. The feeling of nausea and fear in the pit of her stomach got worse and worse and worse.
