Though he did not know their names, there were some familiar faces in the Waiting Room. The two “gammers” were Lieutenants in their mid-to-late fourties, salty “tarpaulin men” who still sported queues as long as marling spikes at the napes of their necks, who haunted the place on a daily basis. And, damned if there wasn’t the very same Midshipman who was rumoured to have been calling every day going on three whole years! No-hopers, all, men with no “interest” or patronage who most-like had no income beyond their half-pay, even some Post-Captains and one Rear-Admiral were there this morning, burned permanently brown and as creased as old parchment by long years of previous sea-duty, but now, for one reason or another, un-employable.
One half-day, every other day, Lewrie told himself; I swear I can smell that stink, too, and I don’t want it on me!
There was an older Post-Captain in a frayed and worn uniform, with ecru woolen stockings instead of white silk or cotton, who suddenly began to cough as if he would hock up half a lung. The old fellow plucked a handkerchief from a side pocket of his coat and put it over his mouth as he began to gargle phlegm and wheeze for his breath.
Perhaps a half a day, once a week! Lewrie amended to himself as officers to either side of the old fellow began to lean away, or head for the courtyard tea cart or the “jakes” as the liquid-sounding hacking went on and on, and the old Post-Captain went red in the face.
“Perhaps, sir…” a Lieutenant nearby suggested, helping him to his feet to steer him outside for fresher, clearer air.
“That don’t sound good,” a Commander with his single epaulet on his left shoulder muttered to the officers hear him. “Consumption, or Pleurosy, most-like. Anybody know him?”
“Lots of Consumption ’board my last ship,” a Lieutenant commented with a wry expression. “Winters in the North Sea, and all our hands cooped up below, with no ventilation, our Surgeon said did it. I’d put my money on Pleurosy, though. The poor fellow don’t look as if he’s been at sea in ages.”
“A bad winter in a boardinghouse, aye,” the Commander agreed.
Lewrie went back to his magazine, but, after another hour or so, he had to abandon his seat for a trip to the “necessary”, then went out to the courtyard for hot tea, picking up his hat and boat cloak on the way. He pulled out his pocket watch as he stood in the queue, finding that it was nigh eleven in the morning.
An hour more, and I’m un-moorin’, he told himself as he turned to idly look about the courtyard.
“Good Lord, sir … Captain Lewrie?” someone called out.
“Hey? Mister Westcott? Well, just damn my eyes!” Lewrie cried in response as he spotted his former First Officer from HMS Reliant, and broke out in a broad grin, leaving the queue to go shake hands. “What the Devil are you doin’ here, Geoffrey? I thought you were t’go aboard a new frigate.”
“Bad luck, that, sir,” Lieutenant Westcott said with a rueful expression. “’Twas to be the Weymouth frigate, a thirty-two, coming in to pay off and refit, from Halifax. Onliest trouble was, she never turned up. After loafing about for two months, Admiralty decided she had foundered somewhere in the North Atlantic and gone down with all hands, without a trace. The hands we’d gathered went off to the receiving ships, and the rest of us were left to twiddle our thumbs.”
“After I wrote Admiralty reccommending you?” Lewrie said with a dis-believing scowl. “I told ’em you’d be best employed commandin’ a ship of your own, even advance ye to Commander.”
“And for that I’m heartily grateful, sir,” Westcott said, beaming one of his quick, tooth-baring grins that some people found fierce and off-putting, “but, it doesn’t seem to signify with the Navy so far.”
I wonder if that has anything t’do with our bein’ part o’ Home Popham’s idiotic invasion o’ Buenos Aires last year, Lewrie considered; Did we all get tarred with the same brush?
“Well, if it’s any comfort, I’ve been twiddlin’ my thumbs down at Anglesgreen all winter, myself,” Lewrie told him.
“Oh, you don’t . .!” Westcott said, looking him over. “Where’s your crutch, or cane?” he exclaimed with joy.
“No more need of either!” Lewrie boasted, even essaying a dance step or two to show off, causing them both to laugh, and explaining his winter regimen. “You’re goin’ in to announce yourself?” Lewrie asked. “I’m for tea, myself, then I’ll be right in.”
“No rush, in my case, sir,” Lt. Westcott said with a despondent shrug. “I’ll join you for tea. Christ, anything’s better than sitting in there all afternoon. I can sometimes conjure that the Waiting Room is the anteroom to Hades … and just as warm!”
They got their tea, with sugar and a dollop of cream that the vendor swore was “fresh-ish” that morning, and wandered a few feet off to sip and savour the warmth on their hands round their mugs.
“You’ve stayed nearby t’Whitehall, in London all winter?” Lewrie idly asked, fearing that Westcott was over-extended for funds.
“Cross the river in Southwark, sir,” Westcott said with another rueful shrug. “Number Nine, Mitre Road. It’s been all quite snug and comfortable, and quite reasonable, too. Some of our prize-money came due, from our fight off the Chandeleurs … in 1803, at long last, hah! And, my father sends me twenty-five pounds per annum, so the half-pay on top of all that has kept me well-fed and entertained.
“And, there’s the landlady,” Westcott smugly added, flashing a grin. “A rather delightful widow in her early thirties.”
“A snug berth … as it were, Geoffrey?” Lewrie posed with one brow up. For as long as they had served together, Lt. Westcott had been known as a man simply mad for “quim”, able to discover a willing wench in the middle of a jungle, or upon a desert island. He was, in point of fact, so libidinous that he put Lewrie in the shade!
In answer, Westcott only cocked his brows and beamed.
“And, dare I ask, sir, if you and Mistress Stangbourne are still on friendly terms?” Westcott went on, between sips of tea.
“A sore subject, Geoffrey,” Lewrie told him with a frown, and a wince. “‘Least said, soonest mended’, and all that.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, sir,” Westcott said, looking abashed.
“So am I,” Lewrie sadly agreed. “I’ll tell you of it, sometime. Here, now! How’d you like a fine supper with me at the Madeira Club, where I’m lodging? Dine you in, let you sample the best of its wine cellar, and put you up for the night?”
“Sounds delightful, sir!” Lt. Westcott perked up.
“Mind, the lodgers retire damned early, but, we could find some amusement after … the theatres, perhaps?” Lewrie suggested.
“I could give my man, Mumphrey, a night off,” Westcott happily mused. “You remember Mumphrey, sir? One of the wardroom servants from the Reliant frigate? Landsman who served a quarterdeck carronade?”
“Vaguely,” Lewrie replied, thinking that Geoffrey Westcott was better-off than he’d realised, if he could afford to pay a manservant to do for him, even on half-pay.
Both men swilled down the last slurps of their tea and returned the mugs to the cart vendor.
“Well, I must go in and do my weekly begging, sir,” Westcott said with a faint laugh.
“As do I,” Lewrie said, as well. “I’d only planned t’stay ’til mid-day, then go find dinner. D’ye intend to bide all day?”
“I had planned to, aye, sir, but all I really need to do is to announce my presence, remind the clerks where I lodge, and that I’m still available, so…” Westcott said, ending with a shrug.
“Aye, let’s sit and plead ’til noon, then find a good ordinary or chophouse,” Lewrie offered. “My treat. Damme, Mister Westcott … no matter our circumstances at present, it is damned good t’see you, again!”
They turned and walked to the doors together. The tiler looked up and began his spiel.