Page 47 of Unlikely Heroes
Meridee took a step back instead of forward, unable to think why England’s darling wanted to chat with her. She thought of her introduction to him three years ago, when she came to Portsmouth as a woman in love to plead the cause of one poverty-stricken sailing master to teach at this all-but-unknown school. Surely a man as busy as Horatio Nelson wouldn’t remember that.
He did. Admiral Nelson bowed to her curtsey, then turned to Able. “Master Six, you should have seen this lady pleading your cause several years ago. Wise of you to marry her.”
“It was the smartest thing I ever did,” Able said, tucking her close. He laughed and squeezed her, which made Meridee blush. “I can’t say with equal confidence that it was the smartest thingsheever did, marrying a penniless bastard.”
“Oh, you,” was the best she could manage.
“And now we take him away,” Nelson said. He looked down the hall to another man coming toward them. “Mrs. Six, we need Nick Bonfort, too.”
“No!” Even though she knew how badly Nick wanted to go to sea with the other Rats, the word came out so quickly. The quiet boy who was always sick at sea had easily won her heart after he borrowed her maiden name. “I mean…”
“You mean no,” the admiral said gently. “Nick Bonfort is like one of your own, isn’t he?”
“They all are, sir,” she said, “Nick a little more. I’m certain Able…Master Six…has told you why.”
“He has. He also knows, as you do, that Nick wants to serve in the fleet with the other Rats,” Nelson said. “I am only grateful that my daughter Horatia is too young to serve, and of the female variety.”
Meridee knew all the scandal around Lord Nelson and Emma Hamilton, and their child. She also knew she was staring into kind eyes that understood her own love for a dear one. And there was Able, who went to sea in defense of England without question, when she knew he wanted to be home.
“It’s my war, too, my lord,” she said. “I’ll send Nick off with a great whacking kiss…where is he going?”
“With me,” Nelson said. “This man bearing down on us is Reverend Alexander Scott, my secretary andVictory’s chaplain.” He glanced at Able. “When your sailing master mentioned that Nick Bonfort was a lad fond of detail, with excellent penmanship and a good brain, I knew we needed him.”
“Then he’s yours,” Meridee said promptly, knowing she could cry later. She could almost see the joy in Nick’s face when he heard the good news. “My Gunwharf Rats are growing up.” She willed herself to stand a little taller. “When do you want him?”
“I will return to Portsmouth in the middle of September,” Nelson said. “Reverend Scott will send you a note.”
She moved a little closer to the great man, not wanting to be overheard. “Admiral Nelson, Nick is prone to seasickness. I should warn you.”
To her amazement, and then her endearment, Horatio Nelson threw back his head and laughed. “Dear lady, I am, too,” he said when he could speak. “In point of fact, nothing but my enthusiastic love for the profession keeps me one hour at sea.”
Who could not trust a man like this one? “Very well, Admiral Nelson, you may have Nick,” she told him, even as her heart broke. “I know he will be pleased.” She held her head up. “I am pleased a Bonfort will serve with the fleet.”
The implication of what she said made Nelson put his hand to his heart. “He’s just a guttersnipe borrowing your name,” he said, as if reminding her.
“He’smyguttersnipe,myGunwharf Rat.” She hadn’t meant that to come out so vehemently, so full of possession. She reconsidered. Yes, she did.
Again, that kind eye. “Master Six, I would venture that St. Brendan’s has been equally well served by this lady. Equally.”
“I never argue with superior officers, Admiral Nelson,” Able said.
“I rather hope you will, master, in matters concerning navigation,” the admiral replied. He bowed. “I am returning to Merton. I have a family, too.” He nodded to Able. “Where away, Master Six?”
“The blockade in two days,” he said, after a glance at Meridee.
She knew it was coming. Everyone was leaving and the ladies would wait. For a brief moment, she thought of her spinster years living outside Plymouth with her sister’s family, beloved of them, but always on the outside. Was it easier or harder than this? She had no answer, except a smile. “Let’s go home.”
Able crooked out his arm and she put her arm through his, determined to treasure every small touch. He gestured to Lady St. Anthony. “And you, Grace? I have another arm.”
“So do I, Able,” Captain Ogilvie said as he bowed to a surprised Lady St. Anthony. “I’ll get her back before curfew.”
“I will be home sooner than that,” Grace assured them all, with some of her former crispness. “Meridee, do tell Junius I will be back in thirty minutes. Hopefully my little lad is still asleep.”
“May I join you?” Reverend Scott asked Meridee. “Alexander Scott at your service.”
Please don’t, Meridee wanted to tell the tall, courtly gentleman who looked nothing like a seaman. She nodded instead, knowing there was no point in putting off bad news for her that would send Nick into the rafters with joy. “Certainly, sir. I know Nick will want to meet you.”
The three of them crossed the street in silence. Meridee could tell Able didn’t know what to say to her. She only hoped he hadn’t been harboring up this information about Nick, as if trying to determine the best time to tell her, a time with people around so she wouldn’t cry.Stop it, Meridee, she scolded herself.Just stop it. He has no more control over war than you do.
