Chapter 4

Georgiana sat in the boat beside her husband, glancing out across the Pool of London, filled with the usual Thames traffic of sailing ships, with the lone exception of the smoke-belching monstrosity before her. It was perhaps unfair to call the ship a monstrosity – aside from the funnel in her midsection, sending up puffs of acrid smoke in the morning air, and the large protrusion below it, which held the ship's paddle-wheel, she otherwise had the long, slender lines of a sailing ship.

Yet these new modern contrivances could not be ignored, and Georgiana took up Matthew's arm and asked, nervously, "Are you quite certain it is safe?"

"The Thames and the Margery before her have been plying this route since last summer," he said. "Although I am not certain I should call it plying. I hardly know what the term should be for a steam vessel."

Their taking the steamer ship Thames so far as Gravesend had been his idea, not Georgiana's, although she had thought it a fine enough idea in the abstract. Even if she had known entirely what she was agreeing to in travelling on this boat, however, Georgiana would likely have agreed to it anyway, knowing that her husband was eager to see what steam power was like, in propulsion of a ship.

The sides of the Thames were far lower than what Georgiana was accustomed to, so low the ship did not provide a bosun's chair for female passengers. This they learned when the waterman brought his wherry up alongside the steam boat, and one of the workers there indicated Georgiana should climb up the few stairs there. This she might have done nervously, in fear of slipping on her skirts and falling into the Thames, but for Matthew's steady hands on her waist. He assisted Moll as well, albeit with his hand on her arm, and then he and Bowden followed after with the ease of men who had spent most of their lives at sea.

Matthew was told the price: three shillings each for the gentleman and lady to sit in the Best Cabin and two shillings each for their servants, who would be in the Fore Cabin. He gave over a crown and an extra shilling, much pleasing the man who took it, and the Stantons were directed to the Best Cabin. It was well-appointed, and they were offered tea or porter immediately upon settling into a pair of open seats, but within a few minutes of sitting there with the ship wallowing on the swell, Georgiana's morning illness was beginning to get the better of her, and she asked Matthew if they might go above, in the open air. He admitted this to be his preference as well, and they went back above and found a place on one of the benches at the stern.

Georgiana watched as the remainder of the passengers embarked, the majority of them of such wealth as reflected the difference in cost between the steamer and the sailing packets. They brought with them servants, destined for the Fore Cabin like Moll and Bowden, and among them there seemed to be the greatest proportion of curious young gentlemen, like Matthew, than anything else. When all had embarked, there came a tremendous thumping noise from below, and Georgiana anxiously laid her hand down on Matthew's leg. His hand covered hers reassuringly as that first thumping sound was followed by an unnatural chugging and the smell of acrid smoke filling the air, and the Thames shuddered forward. From this first unpromising start, she began to move more rapidly, although never more naturally, and Georgiana slowly relaxed.

Matthew waited until she was gazing comfortably out along the river, as she might have done on a sailing ship, before asking if she minded if he went to see the engine. She told him she did not – she had rather suspected he would wish to do so. He returned coughing and covered in a layer of soot, and Georgiana hoped their trunks were waiting at the coaching inn in Gravesend, as had been planned, for he would certainly need to change his clothes before they continued with their journey. On the steamer, he did not look so bad, for it appeared quite a few other gentlemen had made their own inspections of the engine, but he was certainly not fit for polite society beyond this ship. Georgiana told him he looked a fright, and when he had thoroughly blackened his handkerchief attempting to wipe his face, she gave him hers as well.

The smell of the smoke began to improve on Georgiana, strangely, after the first hour or so – there was a certain pleasantness in its unpleasantness, she thought, rather like a coal fire. Still, the motion of the ship felt so very unnatural to her, pushing through the water with no obeisance to wind or tide, and she wondered how Matthew could be so interested in such a vessel, when he had commanded far more elegant ships.

As they steamed into Gravesend and touched against the quay there, Matthew checked his watch, and said, "London to Gravesend in a little over five hours – she made a steady six knots, as promised."

"I cannot say that I like it," Georgiana said. "A sailing ship is so much more graceful, and more comfortable."

"I agree with you, dearest. I will be very glad to be back on board the Caroline."

"But you were so enthusiastic about taking the Thames!"

"I wished to travel on the Thames because she is the future, whether I like it or not," he said, offering her a sooty arm, which she accepted after some hesitation, scowling at the chalky, dirty feel of his coat.

Although they had been away from Chatham for some weeks, Georgiana and Matthew had retained their lodgings at the Admiral's Arms there. Once Matthew had changed and Murray had driven them the short distance from Gravesend to Chatham, it took them very little time to settle in to the place which was to be their home for the few days before the Caroline came out of dry-dock and they could take up residence in the captain's cabins. They resumed their social calls as well, particularly to Admiral and Mrs. Russell.

Admiral Russell had been Matthew's captain when he first went to sea and Mrs. Russell had lived on board her husband's ships for many years, making them favoured company for both Georgiana and Matthew. Now, Georgiana found Mrs. Russell's guidance helpful as she prepared for her first time living at sea. Gibraltar could hardly be called far, but it would be the farthest Georgiana had ever been from England's shores, and Mrs. Russell's suggestions on the clothes she should take and the grocery she should order, once the ship was ready to receive it, were invaluable.

The Russells were with her as Georgiana watched the water began flowing into that vast space that comprised the dry-dock, slowly encasing a hull that was once again neat and trim, after having been badly damaged when the Caroline had struck ice in the Baltic Sea. Physically, Georgiana felt unwell, but her mind was much more agreeably occupied in her excitement for the trip she was to take and the child she would have. She could see Matthew on deck occasionally, but he was focused on the safety of his ship as the Caroline was towed out into the Medway, and Georgiana knew this was likely to be all she would see of him until at least the next morning. There was much that needed to be done to prepare the ship for sea, and until it was done, he had indicated it would be best for Georgiana to stay in their apartment at the inn, while he would need to resume his presence within his own cabins.

Georgiana did not mind a night apart. After spending months without Matthew's presence, it seemed a little thing to her, and it gave her and Moll an opportunity to spend the evening going through her trunks to ensure everything was in order. Moll was perhaps even more excited than Georgiana about the journey, but she was beginning to learn to contain her excitement, and only once let loose a stream of horrific language, upon accidentally pinching her finger when closing one of the trunks.

Georgiana woke once early the next morning, was sick, and attempted to return to sleep, of which she was successful until she was awakened by what sounded like a scuffle in the hallway outside her apartment.

"Ye ain't to go in there 'till milady's risen and dressed," said the voice of Bowden, her footman.

"Come now, Bowden, we'm come for the piano-for-te," said another voice, one Georgiana did not recognise. "We'll be quiet-like."

"You ain't been quiet since the day before you was born, Hancock. An' the captain won't take nicely to you wakin' his lady wife. The captain loves his lady wife, an' that's why I'm to look out for her when he ain't around."

"Leave off, ye swabs!" Now Moll's voice was added to the argument. "Bugger off and check back in an hour, and if milady is still asleep, ye may check back in another hour. Milady needs her rest."

"I wish I got half so much rest as milady," said Hancock.

"Well, then it's a shame you was born an ugly dog-faced son of a Portsmouth Poll, 'stead of a lady of quality," said Bowden, although it became clear by the laughter of all in the hallway that the insult had been meant, and taken, as a joke.

Matthew had purchased a square pianoforte for Georgiana that had been especially modified for use at sea, and it had been residing in the sitting room of their apartment at the Admiral's Arms. From the conversation outside, Georgiana gathered that some of the seamen from the Caroline had come to transport the instrument to the ship, and she smiled a little at how her servants had disallowed them of doing so. She rose and checked the time, surprised to see how late it was, although she determined she would wait another quarter-hour before ringing the bell for Moll; she did not wish her servants to think they had not been successful in their attempt to allow her to remain asleep.

Georgiana was eventually dressed, allowing a rather impatient pair of seamen access to her apartment so they could carry off her pianoforte and then her trunks. She took only a little tea and toast for breakfast, then walked down to the Medway with Bowden and Moll. In these circumstances, Bowden was an even more invaluable servant than usual, for he could scan the river with his one good eye and determine which of the boats plying its waters belonged to the Caroline, hailing one of them take them to the ship.

The ship appeared in a much greater state of readiness than she had the day before; her masts were all restored, and once Georgiana had been hoisted aboard in the bosun's chair, she looked up to see Matthew at the top of the mainmast – a height that would have made her dizzy just to think of, even if she was not with child. He was unaffected by such things, however, and waved down to her, then returned to the discussion it appeared he was having with the master, Mr. Travis.

She led Moll into the captain's cabins, which consisted of two smaller cabins, a sleeping cabin and a day cabin, side-by-side and leading to the great cabin at the stern of the ship. Georgiana saw that all her trunks had been laid neatly against the wall in the sleeping cabin, and her pianoforte had been set up and tied tight with a pair of bolts and ropes against the wall in the great cabin, with Matthew's cello case beside it.

Georgiana suffered a few moments' hesitance as to what she should do next – she would have liked to get Moll settled, but although she presumed Matthew would give her maid one of the cabins off the wardroom, she did not know which one it should be. Nor did she know where Moll was to dine, for Georgiana's former maid, Hughes, had been so afflicted with seasickness in her time aboard the Caroline that eating had never been a consideration. Georgiana realised it said much about Moll that she had taken her position and come on board willingly, with nary an inquiry into either of these things. Matthew entered the cabin then, however, carrying a cloth with which he was somewhat effectively wiping what appeared to be tar from his hands.

"Good morning, Lady Stanton. Are you well?"

"I am, now," said Georgiana, "I was a little ill this morning."

"Ah, yes, I am sorry I sent Hancock and Swift over so early for your things; I was not thinking."

"Oh, did they come over early?" Georgiana asked innocently. "I was not at all disturbed."

"Good, I am glad it was no disruption to you," he said. "Are you all settled? For if so, we may show Miss Kelly to her quarters within the wardroom. The master's wife, Mrs. Travis, lives with him in one of the other cabins, and the marines sleep between the wardroom and the rest of the men, so it is the safest place for you, Miss Kelly, although I must make clear you would not dine with the wardroom officers."

Moll could not have learned half of the language she knew without having been around rough men before, and indeed, she looked little concerned for her safety. Moll could be brash and bold, and yet Georgiana did not think a young woman her age could have learned all the ways of the world, nor all the ways of men, and so Georgiana was glad Matthew had made her safety such a consideration.

They went down the companion ladder one deck, Matthew very carefully assisting Georgiana on what was rather a cross between a ladder and a very steep set of stairs, and were now in a space sided by cabins, with a wooden bulkhead further aft of them. Through the wooden window bars of the bulkhead could be seen the wardroom: the dining-table for the officers in the middle, surrounded by little cabins. Matthew pointed out the one which was to be Moll's, and Georgiana thought it to be a miserably small space, particularly as it was so dim, but Moll seemed quite pleased on inspecting it.

"I never had a space to meself before," she said. "My lady, do you think I might have time to go ashore and purchase some fabric, to make a curtain and the like?"

"Of course, I can certainly spare you, so long as there is time before we sail," Georgiana said, looking to Matthew.

"Yes, there is still ample time – it shall be another day or two before we are fully victualled," Matthew said, looking down the length of the ship. "Taylor! John Taylor, there!"

One of the men looked up and came towards them.

"Taylor, this is Miss Kelly; she is my wife's maid, and she wishes to go ashore to purchase fabric. Please escort her in all that she needs, today."

"Yes, sir." Taylor saluted, looked expectantly at Moll, and then the two of them made their way up the companion ladder at a much faster clip than Georgiana and Matthew did, when they returned to the great cabin. Inside, they found Hawke, who was Matthew's valet by land and steward by sea, surrounded by several crates, with more being carried in by Bowden and another seaman.

"It all just arrived, sir, from Pemberley," Hawke said, "I've no idea where we're to put it all, with your stores and what the lady has ordered."

The crates were opened, to reveal fresh pine-apples, cheeses, hams of pork and mutton, a great many jars of preserves, and sacks of dried apricots and currants.

"Well, we certainly shall not starve, on our way to Gibraltar," Matthew said. "Did you ask your brother to send all of this down?"

"No, I did not. It was very generous of him," Georgiana said, and she could not help but think guiltily at how generous he had been, given how she had disappointed Fitzwilliam just before leaving Pemberley, by telling him that she and Matthew intended to settle eventually in Hampshire rather than Derbyshire. It had taken her some time to raise the courage to do so, and she still felt the sting of having disappointed her brother, despite her promises that she would still visit whenever she could. It was very good of Fitzwilliam to set aside his disappointment and send these things to her – unless, perhaps, his aim had been to send her off with a taste of Derbyshire, so as to change her mind.

"You ordered additional grocery as well?" Matthew asked.

"I did – some things Mrs. Russell recommended. Should I not have?" Georgiana realised that she was unsure of her role here; if they had let a house, the management of the meals would certainly have been her responsibility, but in the short time she had lived on the ship before, Hawke had planned the meals under Matthew's direction.

"Do not worry yourself on that account – you should always feel welcome to order whatever you think might aid in your comfort," he said. "I suppose we should have spoken of this sooner – do you wish to manage the meals and the entertainments here in the cabin?"

"Yes, I believe so," Georgiana said. "I would like to have some responsibilities – although perhaps at first we might manage them together. I do not know the dishes that can be done here, versus those Cook did at Pemberley, and I would wish to ensure we maintain the pace of invitations your officers have become accustomed to."

"That sounds very good," Matthew said. "Hawke, for now, if it does not all fit in my pantry, you may store the items that must be ate first in the day cabin."

Hawke and Bowden began to do just that, and as Matthew seated himself at the cabin's table and made to look over a great stack of papers there, Georgiana decided to find her writing desk and write to Fitzwilliam, thanking him for his generosity. She was thus when there came a knock at the door, and Matthew bade whomever it was to enter.

It was his second lieutenant, Holmes, and Georgiana looked at him curiously. He had never been a favourite of hers; the first lieutenant, Rigby, was far more amiable, and the third lieutenant, Egerton, was quiet but good-natured. The latter two men had served under her husband for many years, and she had gathered from Matthew's letters from the Baltic that they were far more competent than Holmes, who had been assigned by the Admiralty for the Caroline's latest commission. It had been Lieutenant Holmes's watch, during which the Caroline had struck ice, and although Matthew had not come out and blamed him directly for the incident, Georgiana suspected Holmes had been at fault. Certainly, his face looked even harder than it had been when last Georgiana had seen him, although he saluted Matthew and said, "Sir, Daniel McClare wishes to speak with you, if you have a moment."

Matthew replied that he did, and a young seaman came in quietly and gave his own salute, saying, "Captain-Sir, while the barky was under her repairs, I sent for me sweetheart, and we was married last week."

"My congratulations to you, McClare."

"Thank ye, sir. Only I wish to know if she can come wi' me."

Matthew asked McClare if he had his marriage licence, McClare replied that he did, and the licence was given over to Matthew for inspection.

"She will be welcome on board, but you know she must share your space."

"Yessir."

"And I would appreciate it very much if you will allow my wife's maid, Miss Kelly, to mess with you and Mrs. McClare."

"Oh, Mrs. McClare will be right glad of the company, I'm sure of it, sir."

When McClare had left, Matthew said, "Well, that solves the last of my problems, with regards to Moll's accommodations. I did not like the thought of her messing at a table full of men, but nor did I think she would like to eat alone in her cabin every night, with the wardroom officers dining so near."

"No, I do not think she would have liked that at all," Georgiana said. "Do you always allow women on your ships?"

"I do, but they must be family – wives or sisters," he said. "The men are nearly always allowed shore leave, and they may do what they choose there, but I will not run a floating brothel."

Georgiana had spent enough time in Portsmouth and Chatham to know what he spoke of – the boats full of miserable, ill-dressed girls that tied up alongside many of the other warships. She tried not to imagine what the scene must have been like, on the decks of those ships where there could be no privacy at all, but it was difficult to banish from her mind.

"Why would any captain allow such a thing?"

"To allow shore leave without much of a ship's crew deserting, the ship must be a happy one, so that the crew have a desire to return after they have drank their fill and poxed themselves sufficiently," he said. "Unfortunately, there are a great many ships in the navy which are not such. But to be in port without the men having opportunity to – well, do what many men most wish to do when they have been apart from female company for so long – most captains find it preferable to mutiny."

"It seems to me that it would be easier simply to have a happy ship," Georgiana said. "But then I suppose not every captain is so good at his role as you."

Over the course of the next two days, the Caroline completed her preparations for sea. Water was pumped down into the tanks in the hold, and the great casks filled with salted pork and beef were hoisted up and lowered down carefully into that space, along with countless smaller casks, sails, spars, and cordage. Added to these were the purpose for their journey, the little strongboxes of coin which were carried on board by the marines. Georgiana watched what of this she could from the windows of the great cabin; as it was often raining, and chilly even when it was not, she only went on deck for a little while each day and preferred to remain inside, where a coal brazier kept the cabin tolerably warm.

The cabin was a reasonably comfortable space, although Georgiana thought it could be made more comfortable, with a female touch. She had sent Moll back out for more fabric and planned to embroider some cushions for the sofa as her first project. Matthew had, however, already seen to the alteration most necessary for her comfort, in having the carpenter, Mr. Randle, cut loose one panel on the side of each of their cots and install hinges upon those panels, so that the sides could be let down and the two cots lashed together to form one bed when the seas were calm.

Georgiana did not have the luxury of waking beside her husband on this morning, but this was only because he had left their joined cots very early, for this was the day they were to sail. The carpenter had also fitted a small bell within Moll's cabin and run a line up through the deck to the sleeping cabin, and so Georgiana could now ring for her maid as she would have in a house. She dressed with Moll's assistance, ate what little she could, and then, with Bowden minding her ascent, made her way on deck into a steady breeze.

The men were heaving away on the bars of the capstan, as they had so many times over the past few days to bring aboard the supplies, but this time they were bringing up the anchor. She assumed Matthew would be too busy for her company, but she saw Mrs. Travis standing by the rail and went over to greet her. Mrs. Travis was much older than Georgiana, but in their short acquaintance Georgiana had found her to be pleasant company, and as she had also sailed with her husband for many years, Mrs. Travis was able to give a thorough description of all that was happening as the anchors were brought in and the sails sheeted home.

She wondered where Moll had gone to, for Georgiana thought surely the young woman would enjoy this as well, but then she saw her, forward, standing in the forecastle with Rebecca McClare, both of them eagerly watching all that happened. Then came that most beautiful moment, when the combination of tide and wind acted upon the ship, so that it made its first ghostly movement forward, and then began with purpose to glide down the Medway. There was something so very stately and elegant about the ship, with her sails dropping into place, gliding through the water like a swan, something that felt the very opposite of the paddle steamer. Matthew came past, then, and smiled to her, and Georgiana thought he was thinking the same thing as she, although he did not have time to stop and tell her so.