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"What's all this about, Young? The doctor here claims that Mr. Blakeney believes you to be a woman. Can you shed light on this preposterous notion?"
Cicely looked amongst the faces of those assembled in Jack Aubrey's quarters as the mid-morning sun flashed its beams through the bays. That dawn, she had been awoken from her hammock by Pullings, who told her she was required by the Captain immediately. She had asked why and the lieutenant had told her informally just before they entered that this type of request came when one of a pair had died.
Her heart had begun to pound, thinking about James lying in the sick berth and guilt overcame her. If she hadn't been in the doctor's cabin last night, and she had been with him…perhaps she could have prevented it from happening…he would have been with her going to the mizzendeck instead of him on the quarterdeck…
She had seen Blakeney first, standing by the Captain's Queen Anne chair and the doctor next to him, near the oak panelling. However Cicely had not expected what the Captain had said to her next and she stood open-mouthed, gaping at the room.
"Speak up, Young," Aubrey insisted, "or perhaps I will have the lash on you this morning rather than the morrow."
"Cicely." She turned her head to look at Will who had spoken her name so softly. Why had he cause to tell the doctor? What was she to do now? Maturin cleared his throat.
"Mr Blakeney informed me last night that it was he, not you, who had taken the last of the laudanum from my cabin. Furthermore, it was for my own benefit however I alleged you to be the thief, as I believed no other knew of its location." Cicely looked at the doctor, then back at Will.
"James," said Cicely. "He's not dead?" Blakeney shook his head.
"My complement of crew appears to be complete, Young, however I implore you to tell me of your own free will of your gender, in order for my battle plans to be put into place. Surely you wish to see the Frenchies at the bottom of the ocean, what?" Cicely nodded.
"Then tell me, Young. Did you inform Mr. Blakeney that you are, as it were, not a boy? And if you did not, are you in fact attempting to avail yourself of punishment?" Cicely swallowed.
"Not at all, sir, for I deserve the punishment I await. I should not have attacked Joseph Nagel. However, it is true. I am Edward Hollum's sister. A woman," she clarified, when Jack Aubrey's expression continued frozen.
The words hung in the air for what seemed to Cicely like an eternity. The waves lapping mischievously around the edge of the ship were what filled the vacuous space where dialogue wasn't.
"In that case, hm," said the Captain, coughing slightly and striding to the other side of the desk. "I will need to see this evidentially before I revoke the punishment, as requested by Mr. Blakeney. If you indeed are as you claim, a woman," he added, looking at her up and down to which Cicely felt for the first time since she was seven self conscious, "I cannot in all faith carry this out…"
"But sir," began Cicely in protest.
"…carry this out as it negates the contract you a mizzenlad and I as your captain made." Jack folded his arms, glancing briefly at Pullings.
"I have done all that you have asked," continued Cicely, ignoring now the protocol of rank.
"You would not be fellowed to us…" argued back Aubrey, unused to being argued with.
"I will take this punishment…" she insisted, looking at the doctor. Hadn't she declared it openly to him last night? Didn't God know it? It was for Edward now that she was here, working in his stead, in his place as she could.
"You are a woman, Cicely, unsuited to life on a warship." It was the doctor speaking now, and the men and Cicely turned to look at him.
"I choose to be Robert Young. I will repay my brother's debt." She looked defiantly at the doctor now. He should understand. He must!
"Had I not allowed foolish emotion to rule," she continued, glancing at Blakeney…what else had he told the doctor…"I would not have been discovered."
"However, when you would bare your shoulders, Young…Cicely...you would indeed declare it openly to the world," Maturin continued reasonably. "And as it is illegal as well as and immoral for Captain Aubrey to allow you to work for him; that would be impossible."
"Enough," interjected Aubrey, determined to wrest control of the discussion. "I need evidence before I can proceed. Turn to face the door and remove your tunic and shirt." Blakeney caught Maturin's shocked look.
"Jack, please!"
"I need you to satisfy me of this fact before we proceed," continued Aubrey, folding his arms tighter, still staring at Cicely.
"Either way you are in a great deal of trouble; this is man o' war…we carry men for fighting for his Majesty and as Captain my word is law." Cicely looked back at the Captain, but did not move.
"Mr. Pullings, kindly avail Young of his clothing, will you?"
The lieutenant saluted Aubrey, and took a step towards Cicely. She shot him a look of warning, and began to unbutton the dark red cotton tunic that was covering her shirt, before throwing it and her ragged one-sleeved shirt onto the floor.
She stood before the captain, in her britches that John Fotherington had encouraged her to buy almost two months ago in Sao Paolo and the cotton bindings round her chest.
Just as Cicely was about to undo these as well the Captain shook his head; clearly he had enough evidence that Robert Young was indeed a woman.
"I came to rescue my brother, Captain Aubrey, but I failed. You are an intelligent man, sir, however you must have seen that Edward was not suited to life in the service." Cicely bent to collect her clothes and began to redress. "My brother told me that to work with Captain Jack Aubrey was the greatest honour a man could have bestowed on him, and he took his life because he was ashamed."
"Nevertheless, the law…" interjected Aubrey, now lost for words.
"Hang the law!" shouted Cicely. "I came to work on this ship as a mizzenlad, and though lad I may not be, you are fighting this ship, full of enemy. I implore you Captain, allow me to fight alongside my fellows. You cannot ask any of them to be spared on my account. And have I not proved myself as worthy as another mizzenlad?"
"No," said Aubrey, firmly. "You are a woman and as such you belong to your father…"
"No!"
"…you are his property, Miss Hollum. I have no choice but to detain you in my cabin until the battle is over. I will not subject my men to the indignity of fighting with a woman! Hmph!" Aubrey paced back round to the other side of his desk, and surveyed the horizon. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Come."
"Yes?" said Pullings, as all but the Captain turned to see who was there. "What is it, Bonden?"
"With respect, sir, we have come to ask Mr. Blakeney whether it' were true." Barrett Bonden looked at his midshipman with questioning eyes before they settled on Cicely.
"If what is true?" Pullings glanced towards the Captain, who remained with his back to them all. "Speak up man!"
"With respect, sir, have come to say that he has worked hard for us, and, begging your pardon, we don't think he's stolen anything."
"Have you?" Aubrey turned to face the foremasthand, face glacial in appearance.
"And I come to tell you sir, on behalf o' all the men. James included," he added, glancing at Cicely. "that we believe him to be the best mizzenlad we have ever had. A good lad all round. We, er, wants you to know that."
Bonden looked at the Captain, who looked back at Cicely.
"Do you."
Aubrey stepped past Maturin and Blakeney, before taking a step outside his cabin. All of the salts were crowded there; mostly in their day clothes, some with their brushes and chains. At the back, the middle-ranking officers were trying to shoo them into work, but stopped when they saw the Captain.
"Hmph!" he said, before stepping back inside the cabin again. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Bonden. Mr Blakeney," Aubrey turned to Will. "Please direct these men to their morning work. We have a battle to win later today, and I will not have my ship looking a disgrace."
"Yes, sir," replied Blakeney, sneaking a look at Cicely before scuttling out of the cabin. The Captain resumed his position by the bay windows, scanning again the horizon, before turning to Cicely.
"You have put me in a difficulty, Miss Hollum. If I am to accept you as a crew member, regardless of your gender, I must punish you for your actions against Nagel. However, you are indeed not a lad, and I could not compel any man here to punish a woman in such a way." Aubrey turned from the window and addressed Cicely directly.
"Furthermore, your reason from attacking Nagel originates from your being a woman, not a man, which disqualifies you from being a member of the crew, as it is illegal for me to employ you as a number aboard the ship. I must take this stand, as you are a woman, and legally belong to your father, and I must return you to him. Do you have anything to say before I escort you to my cabin?"
Cicely looked at Maturin, and Pullings. Both men returned her glance but said nothing. They clearly deferred to the Captain, as rank and commission decreed.
"Only that, it is my dearest wish to remain as one of your men. My father believes I am dead, sir, and my reasons for wishing never to see my home again are my own."
"Nevertheless, Miss Hollum. You will return to England, once this battle has been won."
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Jack Aubrey sat up the Captain's chair, in the Captain's cabin of the HMS Surprise. Alone, he surveyed the oak panelling, the desk containing maps and charts, a pair of compasses, a page of trigonometric calculations and his tricorn hat.
That afternoon's manoeuvres had gone successfully, he told himself. Had the Admiral been aboard, he certainly would have commended him.
However there had been an air of discontent; the crew had not been as buoyant as the previous days'…no previous weeks' routines, and while Jack could put the mood down to lethargy and his working of them too hard, he knew the real reason for it.
Aubrey looked at his desk for his quill pen and the yellowblend paper he had been writing on, before looking over the words he had written an hour before. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"All of your men are fit and well," declared Stephen Maturin as he entered, before looking towards Jack analytically. "However the same may not be said of the Captain. May I?"
Aubrey nodded resignedly, and got to his feet, allowing the doctor to check his stance and respiration as well as his eyes and mouth.
"All Bristol fashion," he continued, stepping away from Jack, and the Captain nodded wanly. "Physically at least. It is Miss Hollum that is worrying you." It wasn't a question: Stephen Maturin knew his friend well enough that when he was disengaged from ship life there was something on his mind.
"You have given her your cabin; that is very generous," he continued when Jack did not reply.
"How long have you known, Stephen?"
"As long as you, give or take a few hours. When I came to you early this morning it was after I had attended Fillings, who will live, and also after Mr. Blakeney had acceded to reason. He did put up a fair fight on her behalf," Maturin added, seating himself in his usual chair. "I think the lad is taken with her."
"Indeed," replied Jack. "Which is why Cromwell, God rest the man's soul, saw fit to deny men temptations which may stand in the way of their duty to the country. And that included barring women from the Service." He saw the doctor baulk but remain silent.
"And – " But before the Captain could continue, there was a knock at the cabin door. Mowett, the sailing master entered the cabin.
"Mr. Mowett, what can I do for you?" He saw the man look uncomfortable, standing near the door and ushered him forward. "Out with it, man," added Jack, impatiently as his sailing master became lost for words..
"Er, sir," said Mowett, his ruddy round face lined with concern. "Have we decided whether Robert Young is a woman or a man? Only…I have to get the lines correct for the battle, you understand, the gun-cotton to cut and – " his voice trailed off to nothing, and he glanced at both the Captain and Maturin uncertainly. Aubrey got to his feet.
"Robert Young does not exist. A foolish girl by the name of Cicely Hollum resides in my cabin." He began to pace back and forth along a well trodden set of oak boards between his desk and the bay windows of the Surprise. He coughed.
"She is in fact a woman, Mr. Mowett. Please inform the crew that they are short of a mizzenlad."
"The crew will be shaken, sir," said Mowett, daring to comment at the captain in such an uneven mood. "I am concerned about morale before the battle…" Jack was about to open his mouth to rebuke the sailing master but thought better of it.
"A woman, Mowett!" snapped Aubrey.
"Very good, sir," said the sailing master, saluting before hurrying quickly from the room.
"Hmph!"
"So you will return her to England, Jack?" Maturin asked eventually, noticing the half-written letter to the Admiralty on his desk. The captain turned to address his friend, when another knock came.
"What is it now?" said Jack loudly towards the door, and it opened. The doctor stood and opened the cabin door, allowing the visitor to enter.
"Nagel," said Aubrey, looking at the foremasthand. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm 'ere on behalf of the crew, sir." The man did not look abashed as his superior had done. He spoke with confidence, looking at the Captain forthrightly.
"Mr Mowett told us that Young is in fact a girl, sir."
"Yes, yes, a woman, indeed, Nagel. What of it?" He looked questioningly at the mainsailman, his arms folded.
"I'm come for the whole crew, and we say, well: we don't care, sir. If she's a woman, that is. We want her fighting alongside us; she's a good man…" he clarified quickly, as if he had a whole monologue prepared, "…excepting the fact when she hit me, and tried strangle me, which I would have done in her place, sir, if Mr. Hollum had been my brother even though, begging your pardon sir, he wasn't all that cut out to be a sailor, but a soul he was. But still, we want our mizzenlad, even if she's a mizzenlass. And I don't think she should be flogged on my account, neiver."
Nagel exhaled once he'd finished, looking enquiringly at Jack and hoping all he had said had gone in.
"That is not possible." Jack walked to the front of his desk and addressed the man directly. "Miss Hollum is no longer a member of this crew. She will not be flogged and she will take no part in the battle for her presence is not proper. As a delegate for the crew, Nagel, please inform the men, tell them: that while I acknowledge she served us well, Miss Hollum's work had ceased and she will return to England."
Nagel nodded, glancing briefly at the doctor before nodding deferentially and saluting. Once the door closed, he turned to his friend.
"You see the damage that is done? Her presence here has caused problems already; and this the very eve of battle. What choice will I have other than to lock her in the hold when we fight and defeat the French?" He turned and looked at his friend. "I do not carry passengers, Stephen" he continued, ignoring his friend's look, "this is a man-o-war. A fighting vessel of men."
"But no matter her gender, Jack she has worked for you without complaint or consideration for her own inadequacies as a woman. Surely you can find her some worthy job aboard the ship? Besides if you speak of passengers, I am not subject to these rules of war."
"Hm!" sighed Jack, forcefully. "I make concession for you, Stephen which I cannot make for a woman. I never have," he added, walking over to his friend. Maturin stood up.
"Not even a woman who had the commitment to seek her brother, to have faith in something she believes in? Blakeney informs me that she feels compelled to redeem her brother's soul in heaven by fighting in his stead; a Non-Conformist belief."
"No out of the question! She is her father's property. He will choose the life he thinks fit."
"What about as the wife of the ship's surgeon; would that not be acceptable?"
Aubrey looked at Stephen Maturin. The man was not smiling. Indeed he appeared completely serious, but then, Jack had never known him to joke or quip. He looked questioningly at his friend before speaking.
"Of what you speak, this would be a marriage of convenience..."
"On the contrary, I need someone to transcribe my work as a naturalist. She can read and write, my notes are in an awful state and indeed their needs conflict with the time I spend tending your crew."
"You do your utmost for them already I do not think you could do any more. And besides," Jack broke their gaze and strode towards the window, "it could be months before we return to England and to find a minister – "
"Am I not right to understand that a ship's captain may perform the role? You have that in your duties, do you not?" Stephen crossed the oak to look at the Captain, tying to make eye contact.
"Under extreme circumstances, yes," Jack confirmed, dismissively as he watched an almost invisible grey dot on the horizon move east to west.
"And what would be more extreme than this," pressed Maturin, "when you have a woman aboard with whom you don't know what to do, you are thousands of miles from anywhere to leave her, and she clearly has an independent will. You cannot spare men on her behalf and she would loathe you to, that I am convinced. Should I suppose that you prefer to see her at the bottom of the ocean like her brother?"
"Of course not, but..."
"So it is decided then."
"I will have to look up the ceremony. I have never performed it myself…" Stephen smiled as his friend looked took his eyes from the hazy horizon and looked at him, defeated.
"Now why doesn't that surprise me?"