Chapter Thirty
The Pool Of London
The overly-crowded shipping lanes and noisy chaos that ruled the Pool of London silenced even the intense curiosity of the children. They'd both dressed quickly and hurried up on deck to join their mother at the ship's rail to watch the docking. They all stared out at the heaving mass of humanity and ships that appeared to be endless.
The early morning sunshine was a welcome change from the intermittent squalls of rain they'd encountered the night before as the Carolyn had stood off-shore waiting for the rising tide to carry them up the Thames. They'd slowly navigated the crowded waterway under the capable hands of the experienced pilot they'd picked up from the shore of the river's wide and unpredictable mouth. The moving sand bars and shifting currents had drowned many an unwary vessel and foolish captain.
The skeletal remains of some of the sunken ships still stood out from the sand, giving a sombre viewing to those who cared to look as they sailed past and into the deeper channels leading up the great river. Carolyn had hugged her shawl closer around her shoulders as they moved further inland and the ghostly remains of the ships sank from view.
"I never knew there would be so many bridges," she remarked now, looking back at the way they'd come upriver. "It's all so amazing. Everything's so much bigger than I expected."
"Who needs a bridge?" Martha commented, shaking her head at the packed shipping lanes as she joined them at the rail. "I swear you could just about walk from one side of the river to the other without ever getting your feet wet."
"I really want to go ashore and look around," Jonathan commented excitedly.
"Me too!" Candy added, leaning far out over the rail to gain a better view. "Think of the shops, Mother. What lovely things they'll have for us to buy."
"I think it will be some time before we can venture ashore," her mother reminded them, shaking her head. "But, I agree. It's going to be such an adventure."
All around them, the smog-laden air was thick with the heavy aroma of the great river's murky waters mixed with the myriad of exotic and domestic smells rising from the docklands below the ship and the great city rising beyond. Carolyn shook her head as she tried to take it all in. She hadn't really known what to expect.
Boston Harbour had teemed with life, but this city took that chaos to a whole new level. Schooner Bay seemed so far away and in another time.
"'Earth has not anything to show more fair. Dull would he be of soul who could pass by a sight so touching in its majesty…'" she softly quoted her favourite Wordsworth poem about the great city sprawled before her.
She looked out over the city and wondered what the great poet had found so fair among the constant shouting and chaotic din of a working port. She tried to remember that there was another London that had belonged to great men like Tennyson and Wordsworth. One they were yet to see.
Her husband had told her that, as a young and green midshipman, he'd even encountered the celebrated poet laureate at the Great Exhibition of eighteen-fifty-one. Carolyn knew there must be more to the city than the grimy docks and heaving mass of humanity. She tried to see it through the excited eyes of her children.
"I can't wait to go ashore and explore…" Her gloved hands tightened on the ship's wooden rail as she rose onto her toes, trying to see everything.
"Looks much the same as any other big city." Martha shrugged. "Boston or Philadelphia. Too many people and too much noise for my liking. I guess I've come to prefer the likes of Schooner Bay. There a body can, at least, think without having to put your hands over your ears."
Carolyn sank back down onto her heels. "Yes, maybe, you're right. I do miss home and our sweet little house."
"But this is a real-life adventure," her son reassured her. "I'm going to go to sea as soon as the Captain says I'm old enough. I want to see everything!"
"Oh, to be so young again…" His mother ruffled his curls with a wistful smile.
"And know what we know now," Martha replied, as they all turned back to the view.
Taking over command of the ship's berthing from the river pilot, Daniel took a moment to watch his family and their excitement with a wry smile. He'd seen enough of London and its fair beauties, as well as its dark tragedies, that it no longer held any great fascination for him. It was a place to conduct his business and leave as quickly as possible.
"There's no sign of Captain Beaumont or his ship," Mr Jarvis commented, casting an expert eye over the closely packed vessels around them. "I don't see his flag anywhere. We made better time."
"We did, indeed." Daniel grinned as he turned the wheel expertly through his hands, guiding the ship closer to her berth. "Then we must consider this race won by the better man. No doubt he will limp in with some excuse, in his own good time."
Piloted by his iron hand and shouted commands, the Carolyn finally moved into her assigned place against the dockside, swinging slowly in among the crowded lines of many other ships and barges. Onshore, dock workers deftly caught the thrown mooring lines before securing them to stout bollards, bringing the Carolyn to rest.
The ship bumped against the dock, creaking and groaning at her sudden confinement before settling reluctantly against the rugged uprights, her new timbers scrapping against them as the incoming tide of the great river continued to rise beneath her. She gave in grudgingly, not liking her imprisonment.
Giving over command of the ship to his first mate, Daniel descended the steps to join his family at the rail. He pondered if he would somehow manage to regain his initial wonder at the sights and sounds around them through their fresh and innocent eyes. In past years, he'd seen too much of the city's darker side.
"We may soon go ashore, Sir?" Jonathan asked breathlessly, turning to him eagerly. "Please…"
His step-father ruffled his curls with a teasing hand. "Only once we have unloaded all the cargo, lad. And then made sure all is secure against the river rats."
He shrugged. "There's still much to do and we have no time to spend idly looking ashore when there's work awaiting every able hand aboard this ship. Malcolm's still hard at work, earning his seaman's pay."
"Oh yes, Sir!" Jonathan stepped back to snap a smart salute. "I'll go, right now, and find him!" He ran for the forward hatch and disappeared below.
"Well, if there's hungry men about, then I guess that means the breakfast will be needing to be served right sharpish," Martha commented. "Come on, Candy. You can be my serving girl. Ellen will see to Henry and we'll have all ship-shape in a trice."
The two hurried away about their business leaving Daniel alone with his wife. He drew closer, hearing her sigh, long and low.
"You also wish to be going ashore, my love?" he asked quietly.
Carolyn turned to him. "How did you guess?" She smiled. "'This city now doth, like a garment, wear the beauty of the morning…'"
"Ah, Mr Wordsworth and his whimsical poetry…" Daniel shook his head. "He didn't see the underbelly of the place as I have seen it. It often crawls with misery and the destitute. The blasted river rats around this place are a constant thorn to law-abiding men, seeking to rob any unguarded ship. The famous writer, Charles Dickens has the right of it. He sees the truth of London in all her many moods."
"No…" Carolyn placed a pleading hand on his forearm. "Oh, please don't spoil it for me," she begged. "It all looks so magical. I have always wanted to come here. Now you've made it possible."
"Very well. I will not spoil it for you, my love…" Daniel picked up her hand and kissed his gift of the sapphire ring she wore on her finger. "I will admit, there is beauty still to be found in its great heart."
He shook his head. "When all the work is done and those of the crew who wish to remain here are paid off. Then we shall go ashore and you will see all the sights. I knew you would not be content to sleep aboard as has been my usual habit these past years."
He leaned closer. "You'll be pleased to know that the admiral has invited us all to stay at his London townhouse. He's well recovered from his bout of illness he suffered last year. No doubt he'll be eager to account for every penny of his profit from the cargo."
"Thank you, Daniel." Carolyn returned his clasp on her hand. "I shall look forward to making his acquaintance and that of his lady. The admiral has been very good to you and Lucius."
She leaned closer to confide, "And a bedroom ashore that doesn't rock from side to side all the time will be a welcome change. Not that I haven't enjoyed our time, alone, in our cabin."
"Yes, it will make a change." Daniel chuckled softly at the sight of her blushing cheeks and down-swept lashes.
His lips thinned. "The admiral is a crusty old seadog with too much time on his hands. He's well used to getting his own way, when his wife allows it. He longs to be able to put to sea again. But now he's been forced to pilot a desk and chaffs at his landlubber's confounded confinement."
He raised his shoulders. "Long may it be before such an onerous fate is mine to bear."
"Yes, because you would not bear it very well, either…" Carolyn smiled in sympathy. "Then I shall look forward to his company. He can tell me all the stories about you that you refuse to impart."
"Speaking of seadogs." Daniel shook his head. "I hear that you and the boys have conspired to try and make a proper seaman of Elroy Applegate. You gave me your solemn word he would improve his game or I will be forced to put him ashore without a new berth or references."
"Elroy has gotten better at his work," Carolyn rushed to say. "He can now keep up with his deck swabbing."
Her husband kissed her flushed cheek. "Any boy or man can master a swab. You'd better keep a close eye on that one. If he doesn't pitch overboard through his foolish daydreaming on the voyage home, I'll be very much surprised."
"Then, I'm sure Elroy will surprise you," Carolyn asserted as she gathered her skirts. "He may never rise above a fourth class seaman, but he will do better in your eyes. And that is what matters to him most of all."
She dropped a quick curtsy. "But right now, I need to go and help Martha feed the children and the crew. Henry will need changing, too. Or we may have our first family mutiny on our hands if they cannot go ashore."
Daniel smoothed his bearded chin between his fingers as he watched her hurry away. He chuckled. Every new day and at almost any hour, his wife never ceased to amaze him. She'd become well-versed in onboard life and that pleased him very much.
He also considered their never-ending list of intimate likes and dislikes. And his wife's veiled reference to it. The privacy of the admiral's townhouse did present some new ideas of what they may add to that list before they sailed for home again.
"Captain, Sir…" Mr Jarvis appeared at his elbow, breaking into his captain's very pleasant reverie. "We need you now. Most of the men have eaten their fill and are keenly awaiting to begin the unloading."
"Coming, Mr Jarvis…" Daniel sighed as impatient reality took over his daydreaming of much more pleasant things.
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In the late afternoon, Claymore sat at his desk, staring at the letter in his hand. "Why is it always me?" he complained under his breath. "What have I ever done to have the fates so set against me?"
The written words were seared into his brain. He'd read them more than once and they still told the same, thorny story. The puffs of smoke from his pipe wreathed his head with annoyance. It was only Monday and already his very small store of patience had been exhausted.
The missive had been penned by one of his most important and frequent clients. The man was demanding to be provided with a suitable house to rent for three days over the upcoming weekend. He was offering to pay twice the usual asking fee for the short notice and he was expecting favourable results by return mail.
It seemed that the man's young and precocious daughter had suddenly decided she wanted a seaside wedding and her doting father was not going to deny her the fervent wish. Claymore would make a suitable house available immediately or the girl's wealthy father would take his considerable and profitable business to another town down the coast which would be more than willing to accommodate his wishes in view of the future business he could put their way.
The tersely written mention of Beacon Bay made Claymore's teeth snap together with displeasure. "Blasted town… Always trying to steal my good business!" he muttered bleakly. "What do they have that I do not?"
"I'm sorry, Sir…" Jack frowned as he looked up from his bookwork. "You said something to me?"
"Nothing that bears repeating." Claymore dismissed him with an irritated wave of his hand. "I have an issue I need to resolve and fast."
He returned his attention to his unwelcome letter. Where, on earth, am I going to find a suitable house at such short notice? I only have three days.
All his best rentals were fully occupied this weekend. And his client always expected to be provided with the best. "But there's no more room to be found at the inn…"
Claymore sighed. He could see his precious dollars flying from his clutching hands and no way to recall them. He knew he couldn't afford to alienate any of his wealthy clients.
Nor could he ignore the implied threat in the letter. He did a considerable amount of good business with the author of the missive who had purchased more than one shipload of fine French furniture.
Claymore's hands were tied and he chaffed at the confinement. "But what can I do?"
A strange feeling of compulsion came over him. It was almost as if someone was whispering something in his ear. Claymore frowned as one name was repeated again in a long, sibilant tone. Gull Cottage…
Jack sighed as he looked up from his bookwork again. "It's getting late, Sir. You want me to go out to the Captain's house before I go home tonight?"
"Yes, yes, of course…" Claymore replied distractedly, pulling forward his rental book in the vain hope of finding some suitable house he'd somehow overlooked. "We have to make sure everything's ship-shape out there."
"All right…" Jack sighed as he slid off his stool. "I'd better hurry if I'm to get out there and back before dark."
He hurried to the coat rack to pull on his hat and jacket. "Good evening, Sir…" He opened the front door of the office. "See you in the morning."
He frowned at his master with concern, seeing his deep distraction. "Are you all right, Sir?"
"All right?" Claymore looked up. "Of course, I'm all right. I… where are you going? We have work to do."
"I… You told me to go out to Gull Cottage," Jack stammered in his confusion. "Make sure everything's ship-shape. You did say it, Sir. Honest."
"Gull Cottage…" Claymore frowned as he stared at his young clerk. "Belay that. I've changed my mind." He waved a hand at the odd chuckle of satisfaction that echoed inside his mind.
He jumped up from his chair as a stunning inspiration struck him. "How would you like the take the end of the week off to squire your young lady around? She's hardly seen you these past few days."
"The end of the week..." Jack stared at him as if he'd suddenly grown two heads. "I… How is that possible? You said we had work to do."
"Oh, the work can wait," Claymore asserted, though it pained him deeply to say so.
Jack collected himself manfully. "Oh yes, sir! I would like that very much! If you're sure."
"Thursday and Friday are yours, then, young man. But do not abuse my faith in you by turning up late to work on Monday!" Claymore shook his head. "If you are so much as five minutes late…"
"Oh, I won't be, sir! Honest!" Jack beamed happily. "In fact, I promise to be ten minutes early!"
"Then you may go straight home now," Claymore continued. "You can safely leave my cousin's house in my care. It's about time I went out there again."
"Thank you, Sir…" Jack made good his escape before Claymore could change his mind.
Claymore stared at the closed door for some time. The plan that had suddenly began to formulate in his mind would take some very careful organisation and execution. But if he managed to pull it off, his wealthy client would be happy and Claymore's pockets very nicely filled with grateful largesse.
"And who's to know?" he muttered to the gathering shadows of the evening.
He shivered, feeling as if ghostly fingers had just been trailed across the back of his neck. And again, that oddly unsettling sibilant laugh sounded inside his mind. His nose began to twitch at the faint smell of sulphur.
"How odd…" He shrugged.
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It was late in the busy morning before the tedious business of unloading the cargo and paying off the crewmen who would remain in London was finally completed. Then the Carolyn was made secure and given over to the guardianship of Mr Jarvis and a watch crew whose duty it was to remain behind and supervise the reloading of the ship with her new cargo for the return journey to Boston and then Schooner Bay. And to keep watch for any pilfering or wharf pirates seeking out the unwary and the unguarded.
There was still no sign of Lucius and the Rebecca. Daniel cast one last look downriver before he shrugged and turned away. No doubt his good friend and business partner would show up in his own good time.
The Gregg family happily disembarked from the ship, finding the heavy timbers of the docks beneath their feet oddly unfamiliar after so many days spent at sea. Two hackney cabs were ordered to convey them into the bustling heart of the city.
After giving their driver the address, Daniel jumped up to join Carolyn and the children. Martha, Ellen and Henry occupied the second cab.
Their journey from the London Pool through the narrow streets of the city was by necessity slow and involved before they left the crowded and noisome places behind. The more expansive heart of the city opened up before them where leafy green squares and expansive parks made Carolyn smile and sit forward eagerly to look out the carriage window.
"Oh, how lovely…" she breathed, admiring all the beauty that passed before them.
"This is the London you read about in Tennyson and Wordsworth," her husband commented, interested to see her so engrossed in the view. "This is what we came to see."
The five-storied townhouse belonging to Admiral and Mrs Mary Kearns was one of a long row of elegant homes occupying one side of Grosvenor Square. Both coaches drew up before the steps leading up to the impressive front door.
It opened as they all began to alight from their coaches and a ramrod straight old man with a very impressive walrus moustache hurried out to stand at the top of the steps. He waved an eager greeting.
"Come on aboard all of you," he said jovially as he moved a few steps down toward them. "It's pleased I am to see you've made excellent time. I'll be expecting a full accounting as soon as you're able, young man."
"Of course, Sir." Daniel tipped two fingers to the brim of his sea cap.
The old man nodded before he turned his head to scowl back up the road. "I see my blasted son-in-law isn't sailing in your wake. Does he take his good time in berthing?"
"I'm sure Lucius will be along in no time at all, Admiral," Daniel addressed the frowning concern in the old seadog's tone as he turned to assist Carolyn to alight the coach. "He sends his best."
"Does he, indeed. Well, I'm sure you're right, lad," the old man huffed. "Come along in, then, all of you. It'll be my pleasure to make the acquaintance of your new family and no mistake. My dear wife's eager to see you again. You can surely beguile her into a good humour like no other man I've ever seen."
He laughed brusquely. "At times, I wish I had your blessed gift for flattery and charm. It would make my confounded confinement to the land much easier to bear."
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