Noble Duty

19. Of Plots and Schemes

We sat to join the women, and after Camelia's excitement had eased, Gillian turned to me and said, "It would be best to accommodate her in the great cabin with the officers rather than below with the passengers. Stawell's unstable mind and strange attitudes might lead to difficult situations."

I nodded, pleased with both her concern and wisdom. "True. All the more reason for the repairs in there."

With Gillian's mention of Stawell's condition, my thoughts turned to Sir Cedric, and after I told her about his strange mind and disruptive behaviour, I asked, "Might there be a way to have him relieved of his duties, as was Mister Stawell?"

She pursed her lips and bobbed her head. "Yes, Father described for me the process they use to remove demented Lords from the House. It requires corroborating assessments from three reputable physicians who are experienced in the ailments of the mind."

I looked at Charles. "Are there any such here?"

Mary replied, "My Uncle Harold is one, and it would be highly odd if he does not know others similarly qualified."

"Oh, how wonderful. Armed with the assessments, the Governor should have the power to relieve Sir Cedric from the post."

Charles smiled and nodded. "Yes, and he would have a mandate to fill the vacancy until the Crown appoints a new Comptroller."

"Excellent. What is your standing with the Governor?"

"Relaxed and friendly." He chuckled. "Even more so in the four years since our family performed a play he had written, and it achieved the results he wanted."

"A play? Results?"

"Androboros, a three-act comedic farce that ridicules his political enemies through thinly-veiled characters. The story takes place in a hidden room in the basement of his mansion, where a secret society meets to plot taking over the colony. Our presentations made the community aware of some of the unprincipled connivers and their flimflammery, but few besides us know he had written it."

"Ooh! This bodes well. If we also offer to transport Sir Cedric back to England, the Governor's decision will be easier."

"Yes, certainly. From previous attempts, we have reams of documented evidence of his abuses of power, but when we presented them, he was not yet showing signs of feeble-mindedness. This new approach will work, and Mary can arrange for me to meet with her uncle and begin the process."

With this matter resolved, the topic of the play returned to my mind, and I asked, "Do you often do dramatic presentations?"

"We do. It began by reading Shakespeare's plays to our children, and as they matured, we took to acting them out. A scene or two at first before we did entire acts and, eventually, full plays. We have become a regular entertainment for the community, and now, with the grandchildren involved, our presentations expand."

While we discussed this, Charlie entered, greeting us as he strode across the room. After bending to kiss Mary's forehead, he asked, "Has the decision been made?"

"It has."

"And?"

Mary giggled. "Look at her, and you tell me."

"Oh, I thought the smile was relief that I am here for her to charm and beguile."

"Father!" Camelia's expression flashed to feigned shock and, as quickly, to one of mirth as she flipped her hair. "I am now beyond that stage."

Charlie chuckled. "Then, let us hope there is someone in England who can abide your new one."

"Hah! To relieve you of the wiles and vicissitudes of an old maid."

"Possibly." He grinned and held up a leather folder. "But to make your voyage safer, I must discuss details of the repairs with Captain Overton."

Charlie led Charles and me into the library, where we sat around a table examining the list. After a few questions, I complimented him on his thoroughness and asked, "How long will this take?"

"Four or five days. If all goes well, we might complete it by Friday afternoon, but too late to sail. Let us say you will be ready to depart on Saturday morning."

"Excellent!"

Charles nodded. "And well before that time, Sir Cedric will have been removed from office, so we can trade openly on the wharf."

Charlie looked up from the list with a surprised expression. "What? Removed? How?"

"We have found a way to deem him unfit for office." Charles shrugged and grinned. "If we move swiftly, it should be done in two or three days."

"Bringing an end to his little kingdom and the onerous duties and fees."

"Yes, and a return to how they had been before his arrival."

"Who will replace him?"

"Me."

Charlie tilted his head and furrowed his brow. "You?"

"Yes, while you cajoled with your daughter, I examined how to proceed with the Governor, realising that if we give him a complete, tidy package, his decision will be easy and his action swift."

"What about our office? Will you have time to do both?"

"You and James handle most everything these days. There remains little for me to do but oversee."

I nodded. "And there remains little for me but to find new crew."

"New crew?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, we lost about two-thirds in the attack. But on the islet where we careened to recaulk our weeping seams, we found eighteen marooned from a storm, so we are now about half. Sufficient to sail, but with little rest."

"There are many seeking positions. What are your needs?"

"Mostly able hands eager to learn, but we could use another skilled shipwright." I winced. "We also lost the cabin boy and all of our midshipmen."

Charles pursed his lips, then smiled as he turned to Charlie. "Your young David is intrigued by the idea of being a cabin boy – like Camille and I began."

"True." Charlie chuckled. "Inspired by your tales. This would be a fine way to test the strength of his intrigue."

I nodded, recalling the excitement of the children a while ago. "What age has he?"

"Fourteen. A few weeks short of fifteen."

"About the same as when Father first took me to sea. Might you and I sit and talk with him?"

"Yes, certainly. I was about to suggest this."

"Also, some of our grandchildren have expressed interest in going to sea, and with their tutoring, many would make fine midshipmen." Charles chuckled. "And from the games they play, all want to be captain."

"Excellent! We must talk further."