A New Beginning
The sun shone brightly in the clear blue morning sky. Katherine Norrington stood on the starboard quarter of the English frigate Carlton as she gazed out onto the crystalline ocean. She could now finally understand why her brother, James, had been so adamant about becoming a naval officer in the first place. Katherine felt free for the first time since she could remember. No expectations or burdens placed upon her by society. She only had to answer to the waves and the wind. She had left the stiff-necked framework behind her in England. She looked forward to living in the New World with her dear brother, and exploring where her talents could take her.
Katherine was by nature adventurous and rebellious – a stark contrast to James. She disliked living a life in which she was constantly being told how to conduct herself appropriately. She was a fine young woman at 22 years old, very well educated and confident. She was tall and thin like her brother, with refined features and dark hair. She usually had one or two young men on her heels wherever she went, not to mention the suitors her parents constantly had lined up for her. Katherine rolled her eyes at the thought. She hoped to leave all that behind and discover adventure – and perhaps love – in the Caribbean.
It had been three months since Katherine had last corresponded with James, and eight years since she had last seen him. Despite their differences, they had always been incredibly close, because they shared the common grief of living with their father. Edward Norrington was a successful doctor and London merchant who tended to run the household like he ran most of his ships. Though he meant well and provided a generous lifestyle for his family, he had strict expectations for his children. James coped with the enormous pressure by becoming strict himself. He worked so hard at everything he did, partly due to his meticulous nature, and partly due to his need for approval from the father figure.
Katherine, on the other hand, lashed out at the tight regulations and expectations. She was a free spirit, and her carefree nature often clashed with her father's ideas of an obedient daughter and respectable member of society. She decided six months ago that she had enough of her dull life in England, and booked a passage to Port Royale, Jamaica, where her brother awaited.
Katherine smiled brightly when she thought of James. She loved him dearly. Indeed, the feeling was mutual. He looked over her like a worrisome older brother should. She seemed to be the only person he trusted enough to let his guard down some. They easily joked and laughed in each other's company, but she had always noticed a distinct change in his character once they were in public. He put so much pressure on himself that it hurt even Katherine to think of. Her thoughts shot back to his last correspondence. Apparently the young lady James had proposed to had turned him down in favor of another. How dreadful, Katherine thought to herself. There was no one on this earth she could think of that deserved a loving companion more than James did. Chances are he was now so busy doing his job that he had put the whole fiasco behind him. She figured that was his most likely course of action.
Katherine's smile quickly returned to her face. A new beginning awaited her in Port Royale, and she could not hide her excitement. She waited anxiously to see her new home and her dear brother. Her faced beamed like the bright sun in the sky as the Carlton deftly made her way through the crystalline ocean waves. She watched eagerly as the sailors moved about aloft, working the endless amount of rigging at dizzying heights. Katherine moved about the deck with her finger trailing lazily along on the bulkhead railing as she studied the Carlton's company.
Just off to the Carlton's larboard second quarter was the HMS Hambleton, a new 32-gun frigate to be stationed with the Port Royale fleet and assigned to escort the unarmed Carlton safely to their destination. She was a small, but brilliant warship. Her ornate prow pointed proudly westward as she cut effortlessly through the water. Katherine followed the ship's lines with her eyes from the bowsprit to the taffrail. The Hambleton was of a deep navy blue color as all ships in His Majesty's service. Her main gun deck was highlighted in a soft yellow and naturally drew the eye to the gun ports lying closed and silent. Her stern was simple yet elegant and lacked the ornate decorum that adorned the sterns of larger, higher rated vessels in the Royal Navy. Her three masts carried abundant sails that harnessed the wind, and her sleek hull allowed her great speed. No doubt she would prove to be a useful weapon against the pirate threat in the Caribbean.
In command of the HMS Hambleton was Post Captain Thomas Martin. A veteran of the Royal Navy for 26 years, Martin was making his first voyage to the Caribbean. He had spent most of his career in the North Atlantic and sailing between England and her North American colonies. He was stationed out of the Massachusetts Bay colony for approximately three years and became quite intrigued with the native waters there. The climate suited his cold demeanor as well. Stocky, with naturally graying long hair tied neatly behind him, Martin gave an air of doggedness and tenacity from his very being. He had seen several conflicts with privateers along the Atlantic waters, and boasted a solid record in battle. His service record, however, was tarnished by several incidents throughout the years. As a midshipman Martin was reprimanded for gambling, hoarding rum, and even charged with desertion while in port. In reality he had taken liberty to seek the company of the local members of the fairer sex and had every intention of returning to duty. His superiors, however, did not look highly on his behavior and he suffered the traditional punishment for desertion – flogging and immediate return to duty.
Martin eventually passed his exams and reached the rank of lievtenant, serving with several vessels before eventually achieving command of a sloop of war. He was by no means looked upon highly by his superiors, and it took several years before they grudgingly promoted him to Post Captain and offered him the 50-gun HMS Somerset. It was with this ship that he patrolled the waters off the colonial coast and earned himself a reputation as a gritty fighter and stern commander. Upon his last visit to Portsmouth, Martin was given the Hambleton and orders to sail for Port Royale where he and his new crew would be stationed.
Captain Martin gritted his teeth and drew a slow breath while on board the Hambleton as he looked out at the Caribbean waters. He saw the move to a smaller ship as a demotion of sorts, and was nothing less of bitter at the new orders. He felt an officer of his age and experience should be in command of a large ship of the line, not a flimsy 32-gun frigate. Bitterness enveloped Martin. Adding salt to the wound, he was to be under the command of a Commodore James Edward Norrington – a 31-year-old officer of whom Martin knew nothing about, nor cared to know. The fact that his superior officer was 10 years younger than he annoyed Martin to no end. How is it that I am weighted down whilst others are practically hoisted up the ladder of success? Martin thought through his narrowed gaze. I'll be damned to be humiliated in such a manner. Those pigs in the Admiralty have no idea what it is to serve their country…
"Land, ho!" The cry from aloft interrupted Martin's fuming momentarily as he crossed the Hambleton's deck and made for the helm. "What land is that, Mr. Garret?" he asked as he strode toward his First Lievtenant.
"By the charts sir it is the eastern edge of Jamaica. According to our course and calculations, I suspect we shall reach Port Royale before noon."
"Very good then, Mr. Garret. Carry on, and alert me when we near our destination," ordered Martin as he strode off toward his cabin for a moment of peace.
