Exercises upon the Laconia were not as James had imagined they would be. Or rather, his role in maneuvers was certainly unexpected. Given his experiences as midshipman in a frigate's mess and then as a sub-Lieutenant in charge of cleaning a ships' boats, he had expected that he would continue in a service based position. However, Captain Wentworth's estimation of James' character and abilities led him to place him in charge of guns and weaponry.
"Sir, this is... more than I expected. You saw my service record..." Benwick lifted his shoulders indicating confusion.
Captain Wentworth quirked an eyebrow at the young Lieutenant. "I hope you're not questioning my orders so soon in our collaboration, Lieutenant?"
Benwick straightened immediately, "Of course not, Sir. However, Templeton-,"
"Templeton has become too reliant on the bottle for me to place him as Gunnery Lieutenant and maintain my equanimity. Your contributions to our strategic meetings, the clear headedness with which you approached planning for tactical exercises, have been impressive enough to afford you this opportunity." The Captain seemed to pause momentarily as though struck with a thought, "Unless you wish to refuse the commission?"
"Good heavens no, Sir."
"Then let us begin."
It was the morning of the first of a series of war games, the purpose of which was twofold. The Admiralty deemed it pertinent to provide the new crews opportunity to work together prior to being turned out onto the open seas. Making a spectacle of these games would draw more interest from the public and incite greater financial investment into the navy's schemes. The Laconia was set to face off against the Theseus. Benwick had prepared his midshipmen as best he could, organising a supervisor at both the port and starboard sides- enabling him to be present where needed most. They had not been informed from which direction the Theseus would come, but it would not matter. The 1st Lieutenant's (Harville's) whistle would indicate to which direction the Laconia would turn. Each cannon master had two shots to perfect his trajectory and then a specific offensive or defensive pattern to follow. Privately, some scoffed at the Benwick's submitted battle plan, particularly at the notion that a cannon master could perfect his desired range within two shots. However, as was recounted at the Harville's later that evening, the Laconia had succeeded to a rousing victory.
Much laughter surrounded the dining table of Margaret Harville, where sat John and Fanny as well as Mr. Fairchild (the ship's clergyman), Lieutenant Benwick and Captain Wentworth:
"- and would you believe, my dears," continued John, almost crying with glee, "Templeton yells comet! And hits the deck, hands covering his head. I must say I very well near thought the same, such a flash of light I'd never seen before! Until I heard an almost maniacal shout come from where I thought Benwick should be and a cheer from the Portside crew. I looked over and it appeared that ALL of the cannonballs being shot out were lit brighter than the sun."
"Ho! What a sight that would have made!" Cried a fascinated Margaret, "But how did you manage it, Lieutenant?"
"With some generous donations from the ship surgeon and some powerful prayer from Mr. Fairchild here, that's how," returned Benwick, the thrill of victory animating his normal demeanour.
"Oh no, Lieutenant- while I do believe in the power of prayer, I'm sure God's hand was in bringing that powerful brain of yours to the Laconia." Added Mr. Fairchild, "Glowing cannonballs! I never thought I'd ever see such a thing and if I'm honest I'm still not entirely sure what it was all for. The spectacle?"
"Not at all Reverend, I wanted to reduce the amount of shots it took for our cannons to be within the desired range. Naturally, the more precise your shot is the better your chances of snagging your target (everyone nodded at this). Usually there is a great deal of smoke haze and sea spray that can restrict a cannon master's view and I knew that if he could follow the path his first shots took he would be able to adjust his range more efficiently."
"A two-shot set up was a lofty goal Benwick," said the Captain, "however we achieved a seventy-three percent strike rate- a third greater than the Theseus. Not to mention that the spectacle, as Fairchild so eloquently puts it, has certainly pleased the powers that be."
"-and not a single injury, other than Templeton's knock to the head!" Concluded John, causing everyone to chuckle.
After the party had adjourned to the sitting room and were enjoying coffee and quiet conversation, Miss Harville inquired of James, "it was magnesium, was it not?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"you mentioned generous donations from the ship's surgeon. I'm thinking magnesium."
"Why yes, and Sulphur for some. To change the colour." He replied in an impressed tone.
"How clever!" Exclaimed Miss Harville with quiet admiration, causing James to warm slightly.
"Not really," he confided, "it was deuc- sorry- terribly difficult to paint on and dangerous upon ignition. The method definitely needs some work."
Miss Harville hummed in response, as though thinking. "Perhaps some muslin dressings? You could soak the muslin in the magnesium and apply it to the cannonball before it dries. Is muslin thin enough that it would still allow the cannonball to pass through the cannon?" She looked up to see the Lieutenant staring at her enigmatically.
"I do like the way you think, Miss Harville." Leaving Miss Harville to manage a blush of her own and her brother looking quietly pleased that someone was able to appreciate the keen mind of his rather incredible sister.
The remainder of James' evening was spent in light conversation with the rest of their party as he observed Miss Harville in greater detail. She shared her opinions honestly, spoke kindly to others (although perhaps not as kindly to her brother as she did to the reverend) and moved about the room as gracefully as a lady might. Her full figure, he found, was incredibly appealing and as she kissed her niece and nephew when they had been brought out to share goodnight blessings with their parents he wondered how soft her body might feel against his if sharing a goodnight kiss of their own. In fact, his own adieus were difficult to give, when called upon by the Captain to return to quarters, because it was an image he could not leave alone.