Victory in war and Beauty ashore part 3/3
For description see part 1
A/N I have invented the ladies taking tea but everyone else -and the background events and setting is historical.
Part 3
She had in the end added that she understood now why George had been born when he had because dad had been home for a few weeks that previous Winter. Susan had felt herself blush for all her attempts to be as matter of fact as possible. One wnted ones children informed and safe but the realisation that they now viewed their parents in a new light was - well , at the least, chastening And, she added to herself now, thank the lord that the last shore leave had not, indeed, had the usual result of earlier ones - she was beginning to feel her days of dealing with increasing with child while running a household and managing a family and feeding and caring for paroled officers and, it sometimes seemed ,half the midshipmen and impoverished lieutenants of his majesty’s navy, were deservedly over.
Five were enough, though she sometimes thought Ned would be father to a score if he could. Well in a way he was of course, at least at sea.Like all his fellows he thought of it as women's work by instict - though he was wont to spend a dael more time than many fathers with them on the few opprotunties there were.
And he had had the grace to acknowledge that being there to create children was one matter and being there for much else quite another; and that of the last three he had been there for the birth of only one and for the first steps of none of them. That was one thing - of many - that the county ladies who were married to squires and magistrates never did understand. So many of them, moreover seemed to think they needed only to have their children out of the nursery once a day for a quarter hour ...
Which brought her with a twinge of conscience to Hannah, due to arrive at any moment from the coach stop in the carriage she had sent out earlier to meet it. Hannah and John would make good parents - it seemed it was not to be. She had listened when they last met with pain on her friends behalf to the account of another offices wife who had caricatured all Mary Wollstonecraft’s admirers as unwomanly and unnatural. She had actually gone on to imply that Hannah was some how deliberately refraining from having children as some kind of an act of defiance of womanly duty.
She shook her head vehemently - more ridiculousness and, in this case, cruel, posturing .Hannah had taken it all in her quiet way and had replied in a gentle and rational manner - it was one of several things Susan admired in her and which bound their friendship as much as mutual respect characterised their husbands’. It was worth contemplation some day the way that friendship transcended beliefs or could do. Ned and Jacques, for instance, who were so alike and so very different at the same time and she herself too.
She found Vindication of the Rights of Woman an irritating or perhaps disturbing book and, though prepared to accede that some of its ideas had merit she was by no means convinced in the way Hannah had become of late, but that did not prevent them being friends who enjoyed each other’s company and mutually understood difficulties .
It would perhaps be not quite so stultifying an afternoon at the dowagers after all...the others present numbering one other naval spouse but a good many, including their hostess, who had less to do with the sea and naval life.
She had come only part way down the stairs when she heard the sound of the carriage drawing up outside and, running the rest of the way in just the manner she was always telling the girls they should not do, she had reached the hall and deposited her work on a small table even as the maid was opening the door and admitting Hannah.
Mrs John Bracegirdle ( she sometimes said she thought that they should have ‘RN’ attached to their names as well or maybe ‘RNW’ to delineate and honour the amount that the Admiralty indirectly demanded of naval spouses ) was two years older than her friend and slightly taller though today she looked taller still in her very elegant hat with its high crown.She had bright intelligent eyes and a deprecating and dry wit even sharper than her husband’s. She was also deservedly popular with the children; having always treated them almost as young adults when they were smarting under some perceived injustice of parent or sibling but by being prepared to play whatever grand game was the current favourite.
Being divested of her outer clothes, she accepted eagerly the offer of tea to drink and picked up two bundles , the one she held out to Susan saying “ Just something for the children for a little later
Susan shook her head but accepted the bundle anyway “ I have told Julia she may join us for luncheon as long as Miss Downs says she has finished her work for the morning. Which, since today it is French composition she will undoubtedly have done with more than usual diligence. Or at least more than was formerly usual .just one of the effects of Captain Bergeret’s stay with us .
I should know, being married to one just the same in his effect , but the captain certainly is a breath of life to a household.” Hannah smiled and said quietly “ you have all had a harsh week , I am so sorry my dear. I have had no word from John so I imagine you have not yet from Sir Edward either .They will think it so dishonourable of the government “
Where have they taken him : Exeter gaol?”
“No,thank God, Stapleton. “
Hannah nodded, “Ah, yes ,we heard of it from the women who came to the meeting we held in Bristol. Several of them are Quakers and they had been negotiating taking food to the prisoners . It is at least new built so maybe not such a source of disease and foul air “
“You know I cannot imagine - for sailors - to have no wind and no light. If Ned is ever ...he will go crazy and your John too- and poor Captain Bergeret having no idea of how long ...”
Suddenly Susan stood up “ we are in need of something stronger than tea - “after all we are engaged to see the Dowager this afternoon and the Misses Thorne and Lady Pelham, the mistress of the acerbic comment .She particularly dislikes “ females with radical ideas “ ...so you should find her an agreeable challenge for our day !”
When the maid answered the bell Susan asked for some negus and confirmed that luncheon
would be prepared in another half hour for them and for Miss Julia.
She turned to Hannah, glass in hand: “ what shall we toast first ? What is it they say of us at sea ?
“ Hannah considered briefly :” England , home and beauty ? Victory in war and beauty ashore ?”
“Indeed hmmm so - to the Indefatigable, finest of frigates, and all to whom she is spouse, mistress and mother?”
“May she ever flourish! To her gallant and honourable captain !”
“And his stalwart and wise first lieutenant ..and “
“To all those very beautiful and brave young men aboard her”
“There has even yet not been word of Mr Kennedy ?” John wrote and said that though he did not know him it is clear to him the young man meant much to some who had known him longer
“No, Ned frets about it still -about that time when that depicable rat of a man Simpson came aboard adter the wreck.they can seem to hear nothing - apparently Mr Hornblower refused to let him be listed as dead - and Ned has allowed the practice. Jacques had been saying if he could only get home he has many contacts whom he might ask.Contacts who know that coast and every boat that is ever found there.
Just in case anyone has heard a rumour of a prisoner or there had been an unidentified body to bury.
Jacques truly wanted to help. Hornblower impressed him enormously with his daring and his fine mind but he asked Ned what made the boy so sad even when he smiled”
Hannah raised her glass and Susan refilled it :
“ Then to everyone who is perforce separated from those they love by the war .”
“Yes, to Captain Bergeret - and his Amelie.
“ Fiancee ?”
“Apparently not yet -hard to impress her father I gather - who is one of the leading intellectual revolutionaries “
Fortified by Negus, luncheon and the clarity of the afternoon sky it was a delight to walk to the Hall and then around the lakeside to the dower house where their arrival coincided with that of the carriage bringing the Misses Thorne. These two ladies, of uncertain age but impeccable breeding and manners, greeted Susan enthusiastically .Then, on being introduced to Hannah, admired her hat and then they passed immediately into a discussion of the inequities of Cornwall’s milliners to which Hannah was unfortunately only obliged to reply with monosyllables of cautious assent since their duologue was almost without interruption.
It was in fact about twenty minutes into the general conversation over tea that the dowager, pouring out another cup for Martha Wilson, wife of a captain serving at present in the East Indies and who lived near the dockyard, launched into the topic that suddenly drew all attention on to Susan . “ so they have at last decided that your house guest was a guilty party after all and sent him to gaol then?”
Striving hard to keep the anger down Susan answered “ he has been sent to gaol indeed, Lady Bowe, but it had nothing to do with any criminal act on his part, it is merely politics.
“ my husband was used to say that no innocent men get sent to gaol and he was on the bench for forty years “
“ God preserve us from such men as magistrates then! Susan thought
“She said as calmly she could “ he is in a detention prison for French officers and men and will have to wait until the government has decided he is worthy of exchange but he has committed no crime unless it is to fight for his country and his beliefs.”
“But what appalling beliefs ! dangerous radicalism, not at all safe to have around surely however gentlemanly someone may be”
“And what a charming gentleman he was” offered Lady Pelham “ I am sure I do not know but these French officers are such handsome and elegant young men , I wonder perhaps if they are not set among us to act as distraction - to somehow worn their way into the affections of innocent English girls ..”
“Captain Bergeret has no need to employ dark arts, retorted Susan. His person , address, mind - all commend him as an honourable and worthy man and brave sailor.”
“Well Lady Pellew I warned you at the start of things, finished the dowager determinedly - she looked imperiously at Susan =no good could come of it “
“It seems to me much good come of it in fact.”
“Not least” added Mrs Wilson, smiling , “a very welcome addition to those houses in which they are invited to make up a dance set or to play a hand at cards and all so stylishly too- they deserve some congratulation for enlivening some otherwise tedious public events.”
“But even there”, added the dowager, sententiously,they may be dangerous =if one has daughters of a susceptible age or even for some of our young women who ought to know better. I mean no disrespect to you of course Lady Pellew, for you, I am persuaded, have far too much good sense to be flattered into folly but I have seen evidence - both here and in Hampshire - of married women too readily beguiled into scandalous flirtation.”
“ Ah! but it is perhaps merely revenge” said Hannah, “mischief evident only in the brightness of her eye - but detected by Susan readily enough “.After all so many married men have their loyalties’ divided or their heart and minds elsewhere .Why even Mr Bracegirdle might be said to have his heart part engaged elsewhere, though he is an admirable husband when ashore.”
Perfectly comprehending the way this was going both Susan and Martha Wilson exchanged a glance of amusement .Both the Misses Thorne were clearly desperate to find out if this bold follower of the rights of women would say more
There was a pause in which everyone in the room drew breath it seemed.
“Surely not! “cried the dowager, “from what Lady Pellew told us your husband is a most loyal servant of the king and a fine man”
“That is true indeed = but it must be said that his other lady appreciates what a fine man he is, is that not so, my dear?” she said, tuning to Susan .
“Oh ,undoubtedly so! - Sir Edward has often told me as much - after all his own affections turn in that direction too =you might say that they share their passions in that regard “.
Share ! but Sir Edward would never “=- the dowager still had not even begun to comprehend though the Misses Thorne were beginning to realise and were sitting back in barely contained relish for the denouement.
“But the lady is question is - generous and welcoming of course “added Hannah-
“Though demanding, it must be said, of time and attention.
“Yes, she even needed her bottom scraped last Winter and quite devoured new sailcloth g
owns “
she paused in order to appreciate the faces around her
“The dear Indefatigable! I swear they are fairly enslaved to her charms - and all her ships’ company like them.”
Martha Wilson was to report to her husband in a letter later that evening that the dowager had turned almost purple but then - anxious to be seen to condescend and appear wise and lofty even at the apparent awful influence of the radical Mrs Bracegirdle on her friend, had gone along with their very prettily made apology .
After all our navy were important to our country ‘s whole defence and moral tone -the lady then pronounced.
The day continuing fine some of the company went out to view the flower borders. Martha Wilson said sotto voce to both the other officers wives as they got up to take a turn round the garden “Someone should write up the story of that verbal victory - it seems to me that there is a much to be learned about human folly and delight here as in the most riotous adventure. Someone with the skill to make real the truth that our experiences as women are no less universal in their scope for examining human nature “
When they arrived back in the morning room the now mollified dowager was reading the Times newspaper - as a sign of her up- to-the-mark naval knowledge, she offered this from the news section “ There is an account here of the taking of the French ship the Tribune by the English.
“Ah yes, Captain Williams” said Susan .” A stirring action -and they were undermanned too“.She took the paper as it was offered to her though she had already read the details ealrier in the day and scanned the article.
“This is from the captain’s account of the action itself.
I see that he praises another courageous young midshipman in this letter for his exceptional assistance in that action - a young man called Charles Austen. Quite an extensive part in the capture.
“That would be the Hampshire Austens,” said the dowager. “Somewhat impoverished clerical family these days but good stock. Live near my daughter in law and her husband’s estate. There is another brother in the navy I believe -and one a curate maybe, and some sisters too. One gel has an outlandish name- something classical Clytemnestra or some such?- no, Cassandra= that’s it ! and the other something utterly plain Mary, perhaps, Anne? No Jane I believe it is .A respectable family indeed.
On the carriage ride home there was much celebration “ Quite a frigate action” said Susan, delighted.
“On a parallel but deadly tack with the enemy between us and then - “
Simultaneous broadside ! “Sir Edward shares his passions in that direction” - really, Susan, you are incorrigible
"Today the victors : “The Rights of Woman and the ]Incorrigible both 38 guns Captains S Pellew and H Bracegirdle
Hmmm.Incorrigible -its a thought Now there would be another word Jacques could not pronounce. Still, we clinched a notable victory and with a following wind you should not have to revisit the Dower house for some long time."
“ generous and demanding !- Fire as you bear !” The laughter continued.
“And this evening Fleet should be home to see you - he has leave from his tutor for two days.”
Hannah’s smile was wide and the carriage deposited them at the door to the sound of children’s voices.
Thus it was a truth not yet quite universally acknowledged, but locally appreciated, that a naval spouse may never earn a medal, but may certainly taste the spoils of victory.
_--------------------
Charles Austen went on to be part of Pellew's squadron in later life and the Austen family were subsequently neighbours to Julia Pellew and her husband Lawrence Halstead in Alton.Halstead and Austen were indeed captains at different times of the Phoenix martha's thoughts on someone to write their lives bore fruit the year of Pellew's last action in Algiers in August 1816.It was to visit his daughter in Alton that he went immediately after comign ahore for what was, it turned out,the lsat time. Jane Austen had finished her novel of naval life and shore society Persausion that Summer.One of its minor characters is said to be based on Pellew.And as to whether they ever met- that is,I hope,another story :)
A/N I have invented the ladies taking tea but everyone else -and the background events and setting is historical.
Part 3
She had in the end added that she understood now why George had been born when he had because dad had been home for a few weeks that previous Winter. Susan had felt herself blush for all her attempts to be as matter of fact as possible. One wnted ones children informed and safe but the realisation that they now viewed their parents in a new light was - well , at the least, chastening And, she added to herself now, thank the lord that the last shore leave had not, indeed, had the usual result of earlier ones - she was beginning to feel her days of dealing with increasing with child while running a household and managing a family and feeding and caring for paroled officers and, it sometimes seemed ,half the midshipmen and impoverished lieutenants of his majesty’s navy, were deservedly over.
Five were enough, though she sometimes thought Ned would be father to a score if he could. Well in a way he was of course, at least at sea.Like all his fellows he thought of it as women's work by instict - though he was wont to spend a dael more time than many fathers with them on the few opprotunties there were.
And he had had the grace to acknowledge that being there to create children was one matter and being there for much else quite another; and that of the last three he had been there for the birth of only one and for the first steps of none of them. That was one thing - of many - that the county ladies who were married to squires and magistrates never did understand. So many of them, moreover seemed to think they needed only to have their children out of the nursery once a day for a quarter hour ...
Which brought her with a twinge of conscience to Hannah, due to arrive at any moment from the coach stop in the carriage she had sent out earlier to meet it. Hannah and John would make good parents - it seemed it was not to be. She had listened when they last met with pain on her friends behalf to the account of another offices wife who had caricatured all Mary Wollstonecraft’s admirers as unwomanly and unnatural. She had actually gone on to imply that Hannah was some how deliberately refraining from having children as some kind of an act of defiance of womanly duty.
She shook her head vehemently - more ridiculousness and, in this case, cruel, posturing .Hannah had taken it all in her quiet way and had replied in a gentle and rational manner - it was one of several things Susan admired in her and which bound their friendship as much as mutual respect characterised their husbands’. It was worth contemplation some day the way that friendship transcended beliefs or could do. Ned and Jacques, for instance, who were so alike and so very different at the same time and she herself too.
She found Vindication of the Rights of Woman an irritating or perhaps disturbing book and, though prepared to accede that some of its ideas had merit she was by no means convinced in the way Hannah had become of late, but that did not prevent them being friends who enjoyed each other’s company and mutually understood difficulties .
It would perhaps be not quite so stultifying an afternoon at the dowagers after all...the others present numbering one other naval spouse but a good many, including their hostess, who had less to do with the sea and naval life.
She had come only part way down the stairs when she heard the sound of the carriage drawing up outside and, running the rest of the way in just the manner she was always telling the girls they should not do, she had reached the hall and deposited her work on a small table even as the maid was opening the door and admitting Hannah.
Mrs John Bracegirdle ( she sometimes said she thought that they should have ‘RN’ attached to their names as well or maybe ‘RNW’ to delineate and honour the amount that the Admiralty indirectly demanded of naval spouses ) was two years older than her friend and slightly taller though today she looked taller still in her very elegant hat with its high crown.She had bright intelligent eyes and a deprecating and dry wit even sharper than her husband’s. She was also deservedly popular with the children; having always treated them almost as young adults when they were smarting under some perceived injustice of parent or sibling but by being prepared to play whatever grand game was the current favourite.
Being divested of her outer clothes, she accepted eagerly the offer of tea to drink and picked up two bundles , the one she held out to Susan saying “ Just something for the children for a little later
Susan shook her head but accepted the bundle anyway “ I have told Julia she may join us for luncheon as long as Miss Downs says she has finished her work for the morning. Which, since today it is French composition she will undoubtedly have done with more than usual diligence. Or at least more than was formerly usual .just one of the effects of Captain Bergeret’s stay with us .
I should know, being married to one just the same in his effect , but the captain certainly is a breath of life to a household.” Hannah smiled and said quietly “ you have all had a harsh week , I am so sorry my dear. I have had no word from John so I imagine you have not yet from Sir Edward either .They will think it so dishonourable of the government “
Where have they taken him : Exeter gaol?”
“No,thank God, Stapleton. “
Hannah nodded, “Ah, yes ,we heard of it from the women who came to the meeting we held in Bristol. Several of them are Quakers and they had been negotiating taking food to the prisoners . It is at least new built so maybe not such a source of disease and foul air “
“You know I cannot imagine - for sailors - to have no wind and no light. If Ned is ever ...he will go crazy and your John too- and poor Captain Bergeret having no idea of how long ...”
Suddenly Susan stood up “ we are in need of something stronger than tea - “after all we are engaged to see the Dowager this afternoon and the Misses Thorne and Lady Pelham, the mistress of the acerbic comment .She particularly dislikes “ females with radical ideas “ ...so you should find her an agreeable challenge for our day !”
When the maid answered the bell Susan asked for some negus and confirmed that luncheon
would be prepared in another half hour for them and for Miss Julia.
She turned to Hannah, glass in hand: “ what shall we toast first ? What is it they say of us at sea ?
“ Hannah considered briefly :” England , home and beauty ? Victory in war and beauty ashore ?”
“Indeed hmmm so - to the Indefatigable, finest of frigates, and all to whom she is spouse, mistress and mother?”
“May she ever flourish! To her gallant and honourable captain !”
“And his stalwart and wise first lieutenant ..and “
“To all those very beautiful and brave young men aboard her”
“There has even yet not been word of Mr Kennedy ?” John wrote and said that though he did not know him it is clear to him the young man meant much to some who had known him longer
“No, Ned frets about it still -about that time when that depicable rat of a man Simpson came aboard adter the wreck.they can seem to hear nothing - apparently Mr Hornblower refused to let him be listed as dead - and Ned has allowed the practice. Jacques had been saying if he could only get home he has many contacts whom he might ask.Contacts who know that coast and every boat that is ever found there.
Just in case anyone has heard a rumour of a prisoner or there had been an unidentified body to bury.
Jacques truly wanted to help. Hornblower impressed him enormously with his daring and his fine mind but he asked Ned what made the boy so sad even when he smiled”
Hannah raised her glass and Susan refilled it :
“ Then to everyone who is perforce separated from those they love by the war .”
“Yes, to Captain Bergeret - and his Amelie.
“ Fiancee ?”
“Apparently not yet -hard to impress her father I gather - who is one of the leading intellectual revolutionaries “
Fortified by Negus, luncheon and the clarity of the afternoon sky it was a delight to walk to the Hall and then around the lakeside to the dower house where their arrival coincided with that of the carriage bringing the Misses Thorne. These two ladies, of uncertain age but impeccable breeding and manners, greeted Susan enthusiastically .Then, on being introduced to Hannah, admired her hat and then they passed immediately into a discussion of the inequities of Cornwall’s milliners to which Hannah was unfortunately only obliged to reply with monosyllables of cautious assent since their duologue was almost without interruption.
It was in fact about twenty minutes into the general conversation over tea that the dowager, pouring out another cup for Martha Wilson, wife of a captain serving at present in the East Indies and who lived near the dockyard, launched into the topic that suddenly drew all attention on to Susan . “ so they have at last decided that your house guest was a guilty party after all and sent him to gaol then?”
Striving hard to keep the anger down Susan answered “ he has been sent to gaol indeed, Lady Bowe, but it had nothing to do with any criminal act on his part, it is merely politics.
“ my husband was used to say that no innocent men get sent to gaol and he was on the bench for forty years “
“ God preserve us from such men as magistrates then! Susan thought
“She said as calmly she could “ he is in a detention prison for French officers and men and will have to wait until the government has decided he is worthy of exchange but he has committed no crime unless it is to fight for his country and his beliefs.”
“But what appalling beliefs ! dangerous radicalism, not at all safe to have around surely however gentlemanly someone may be”
“And what a charming gentleman he was” offered Lady Pelham “ I am sure I do not know but these French officers are such handsome and elegant young men , I wonder perhaps if they are not set among us to act as distraction - to somehow worn their way into the affections of innocent English girls ..”
“Captain Bergeret has no need to employ dark arts, retorted Susan. His person , address, mind - all commend him as an honourable and worthy man and brave sailor.”
“Well Lady Pellew I warned you at the start of things, finished the dowager determinedly - she looked imperiously at Susan =no good could come of it “
“It seems to me much good come of it in fact.”
“Not least” added Mrs Wilson, smiling , “a very welcome addition to those houses in which they are invited to make up a dance set or to play a hand at cards and all so stylishly too- they deserve some congratulation for enlivening some otherwise tedious public events.”
“But even there”, added the dowager, sententiously,they may be dangerous =if one has daughters of a susceptible age or even for some of our young women who ought to know better. I mean no disrespect to you of course Lady Pellew, for you, I am persuaded, have far too much good sense to be flattered into folly but I have seen evidence - both here and in Hampshire - of married women too readily beguiled into scandalous flirtation.”
“ Ah! but it is perhaps merely revenge” said Hannah, “mischief evident only in the brightness of her eye - but detected by Susan readily enough “.After all so many married men have their loyalties’ divided or their heart and minds elsewhere .Why even Mr Bracegirdle might be said to have his heart part engaged elsewhere, though he is an admirable husband when ashore.”
Perfectly comprehending the way this was going both Susan and Martha Wilson exchanged a glance of amusement .Both the Misses Thorne were clearly desperate to find out if this bold follower of the rights of women would say more
There was a pause in which everyone in the room drew breath it seemed.
“Surely not! “cried the dowager, “from what Lady Pellew told us your husband is a most loyal servant of the king and a fine man”
“That is true indeed = but it must be said that his other lady appreciates what a fine man he is, is that not so, my dear?” she said, tuning to Susan .
“Oh ,undoubtedly so! - Sir Edward has often told me as much - after all his own affections turn in that direction too =you might say that they share their passions in that regard “.
Share ! but Sir Edward would never “=- the dowager still had not even begun to comprehend though the Misses Thorne were beginning to realise and were sitting back in barely contained relish for the denouement.
“But the lady is question is - generous and welcoming of course “added Hannah-
“Though demanding, it must be said, of time and attention.
“Yes, she even needed her bottom scraped last Winter and quite devoured new sailcloth g
owns “
she paused in order to appreciate the faces around her
“The dear Indefatigable! I swear they are fairly enslaved to her charms - and all her ships’ company like them.”
Martha Wilson was to report to her husband in a letter later that evening that the dowager had turned almost purple but then - anxious to be seen to condescend and appear wise and lofty even at the apparent awful influence of the radical Mrs Bracegirdle on her friend, had gone along with their very prettily made apology .
After all our navy were important to our country ‘s whole defence and moral tone -the lady then pronounced.
The day continuing fine some of the company went out to view the flower borders. Martha Wilson said sotto voce to both the other officers wives as they got up to take a turn round the garden “Someone should write up the story of that verbal victory - it seems to me that there is a much to be learned about human folly and delight here as in the most riotous adventure. Someone with the skill to make real the truth that our experiences as women are no less universal in their scope for examining human nature “
When they arrived back in the morning room the now mollified dowager was reading the Times newspaper - as a sign of her up- to-the-mark naval knowledge, she offered this from the news section “ There is an account here of the taking of the French ship the Tribune by the English.
“Ah yes, Captain Williams” said Susan .” A stirring action -and they were undermanned too“.She took the paper as it was offered to her though she had already read the details ealrier in the day and scanned the article.
“This is from the captain’s account of the action itself.
I see that he praises another courageous young midshipman in this letter for his exceptional assistance in that action - a young man called Charles Austen. Quite an extensive part in the capture.
“That would be the Hampshire Austens,” said the dowager. “Somewhat impoverished clerical family these days but good stock. Live near my daughter in law and her husband’s estate. There is another brother in the navy I believe -and one a curate maybe, and some sisters too. One gel has an outlandish name- something classical Clytemnestra or some such?- no, Cassandra= that’s it ! and the other something utterly plain Mary, perhaps, Anne? No Jane I believe it is .A respectable family indeed.
On the carriage ride home there was much celebration “ Quite a frigate action” said Susan, delighted.
“On a parallel but deadly tack with the enemy between us and then - “
Simultaneous broadside ! “Sir Edward shares his passions in that direction” - really, Susan, you are incorrigible
"Today the victors : “The Rights of Woman and the ]Incorrigible both 38 guns Captains S Pellew and H Bracegirdle
Hmmm.Incorrigible -its a thought Now there would be another word Jacques could not pronounce. Still, we clinched a notable victory and with a following wind you should not have to revisit the Dower house for some long time."
“ generous and demanding !- Fire as you bear !” The laughter continued.
“And this evening Fleet should be home to see you - he has leave from his tutor for two days.”
Hannah’s smile was wide and the carriage deposited them at the door to the sound of children’s voices.
Thus it was a truth not yet quite universally acknowledged, but locally appreciated, that a naval spouse may never earn a medal, but may certainly taste the spoils of victory.
_--------------------
Charles Austen went on to be part of Pellew's squadron in later life and the Austen family were subsequently neighbours to Julia Pellew and her husband Lawrence Halstead in Alton.Halstead and Austen were indeed captains at different times of the Phoenix martha's thoughts on someone to write their lives bore fruit the year of Pellew's last action in Algiers in August 1816.It was to visit his daughter in Alton that he went immediately after comign ahore for what was, it turned out,the lsat time. Jane Austen had finished her novel of naval life and shore society Persausion that Summer.One of its minor characters is said to be based on Pellew.And as to whether they ever met- that is,I hope,another story :)