MAES 50: Homecoming
AN: Just how did Jack get home after his accident? What was it that brought about Sophie’s increased sole control over Jack’s lands and people when he was away? When did Mr. Hinksey start to get under his skin?
He had no heart to look round the shut-up house - it was meaningless without Sophie in it - but he did make a quick tour of his garden - no longer his, alas, but now the child of some alien spade - before walking into the yard. “Tell me, Hawker, what horses have we in the stable?” he asked.
-The Commodore, pg. 40, Norton Press paperback
Homecoming
Sophie Aubrey had finally trained herself to stop thinking “It’ll all be better when Jack comes home.”
A few months after her husband’s departure, it was plain certain things had to be taken care of, and by her, long before her husband could be expected to return. First, the death of Mr. Norton, Jack’s aged cousin, had increased the Aubrey property substantially, and certain things simply couldn’t wait that long to be dealt with. She had found herself acting in Jack’s name more often than she’d ever had to before, confirming or denying half and whole promises he’d made to certain people before his departure, deciding what to do with the property, based on her own judgment. At first she had felt vaguely uneasy, taking so much on herself and going against his decisions a little, but she knew Jack trusted her to act in his name, and felt certain that he’d be pleased with certain changes she’d made, once she’d had the chance to explain things to him. He’d want her to do what was best, even if it meant changing certain of his orders - wouldn’t he?
It was after one of these necessary trips to Woolcombe to deal with local problems -a visit cut unexpectedly short - that Sophie was riding home in the open dog-cart with the children, and George suddenly pointed and yelled, “Look Mama! It’s Mr. Briggs’s horse!”
It was indeed. The black gelding stood a few hundred feet away, saddled and bridled but rider-less, nosing at something in the grass.
“Oh dear! I wonder if Briggs fell off! Perhaps he was coming to fetch us with some important news.” Sophie could not imagine any other reason for the horse to have been saddled: the animal was known to be Briggs’ exclusive property.
As they drew nearer and the figure on the side of the road came into clearer view, Sophie felt her heart leap into her throat. It was not Mr. Briggs lying injured there - it was a large figure lying on his back, dressed in a blue naval coat, gray-streaked yellow hair gleaming in the sun…
“Jack!” Sophie screamed, startling the children. Worlidge, the only man among Jack’s seaman-servants who knew how to drive any sort of horse-drawn vehicle, pulled on the reins in alarm as he too recognized his captain.
“Is it Papa? Oh, Mama, is he dead?” Fanny screamed in alarm. Sophie didn’t bother to answer: she leapt from the cart as soon as it stopped, running to Jack’s side and falling to her knees by his head. There was blood in his hair and his face was gray as old porridge.
She heard Worlidge race up behind her. “Ma’am, is he-?”
“He’s still breathing, Worlidge,” said Sophie, in a voice so calm it surprised even her. The pulse in Jack’s neck was steady under her hand, and his breath whistled slightly through his teeth. “I need you to unhitch the horse, ride straight to Ashgrove, and send help. If Jack has come home, Stephen can’t be far off. If he’s there, send him along with four men and a stretcher. If he’s not there, send for Gowers instead. Go on, now.”
Worlidge saluted her - a habit they all had - and dashed back to unhitch the horse. Charlotte, Fanny and George came dashing up, Fanny carrying the picnic basket they’d brought from Ashgrove. “Should we give him some wine, Mama? The men all say that wine is just the thing to revive you.”
“No my dear, he’d likely choke on it. You may wet one of the towels with water and we’ll put it on his head.” Fanny did so and handed her the cloth. Sophie carefully searched through Jack’s bloody hair, looking for the wound. Ah, just there: a deep laceration that would certainly need stitches. She began dabbing the blood away, careful not to move Jack’s head. She heard the girls sit down beside her, and the pop! of her own parasol opening. George was standing over them both, keeping the sun off his father’s face. “Thank you, George. That is most thoughtful of you, my dear,” she said kindly, trying not to show them how worried she was. George smiled faintly in return, but looked with worry at his father.
“Well,” Sophie murmured, stroking Jack’s hair away from his face. “This isn’t the sort of homecoming I’d imagined for you, my love. I do wish you were awake, at least.”
But Jack had not awoken by the time help came. The men arrived bearing a stretcher, and carefully loaded Jack onto it, Sophie fussing about demanding they move him as little as possible and to keep his head quite still. They set off at a slow pace, careful not to jounce Jack, Sophie walking alongside clasping her husband’s hand, the girls following and George leading the procession all the way into Ashgrove Cottage, then carefully up the stairs to Jack’s room, where they laid him on the bed minutes before Dr. Gowers arrived.
0~0
…it was not surprising that the presents given in the Sultan’s name should reflect his chief minister’s satisfaction. Fox had a coral-handled kris of great antiquity and a jade Buddha at least twice as old; Jack a star-ruby in a lacquer box, the fruit of some distant piracy…
-The Thirteen-Gun Salute, pg. 296, Norton Press paperback
0~0
Dr. Gowers came downstairs to report that Jack had awoken, and wished to see his family. The children immediately went running noisily up the stairs, ignoring the doctor’s caution to be quiet, Captain Aubrey was still very dazed. Sophie was about to follow when Killick, who had arrived at Ashgrove just before Jack was carried in, stepped into the saloon and announced, “Mr. Hinksey to see you, ma’am.”
Sophie paused with her foot on the stairs. She’d not been expecting Hinksey today; he usually came on Sundays, or whenever he had a reason to visit. He’d been a great help to her in Jack’s absence; he had a good head for figures and a better understanding of English law than she. Often, he’d given her advice that had done directly against Jack’s wishes, but he had explained things to her so thoroughly and so sensibly that she had usually decided that if Jack were there to listen to him, he’d be persuaded to change his mind, too.
Deciding that the children would keep their father occupied, Sophie told Killick, “Show him in.”
Hinksey was a cheerful fellow, nearly as good-natured as Jack if far more sensible in some areas. He bowed and exclaimed, “Mrs. Aubrey! I was passing by and saw your cart in the yard. I hope nothing is amiss, to have brought you home early?”
“No, not at all. At least not then; all was well when we left Woolcombe, but we found Captain Aubrey lying by the road just on the edge of the property. I am told he returned last night, and set out to meet us at Woolcombe this morning. It seems the horse threw him, for he struck his head on a rock. Dr. Gowers just left.”
“I hope Captain Aubrey is well?” Hinksey’s tone was genuinely concerned, and Sophie smiled. “I do not know, for I have not even spoken to him yet. Gowers said he is awake now, and the children ran up to see him just before you arrived.”
“I’ll not detain you, then. Pray give him my regards. Shall I call again tomorrow?”
“No, I expect Jack will be abed for some time. I’ll let you know when he is ready to receive visitors.” Hinksey bowed and Sophie called for Killick to show him out.
Sophie mounted the stairs in some trepidation. She had not seen Jack for a good long time, and he’d looked different lying there, so pale and still. There was a good deal more gray in his hair than when they’d parted, and other signs of increased age. Sophie knew she too had changed, and she wondered if those changes were as obvious to Jack as his were to her.
She heard the sounds of the children talking all together, though trying to keep their voices muted. They were telling their Papa of their discovering him on the road, asking if Abhorsen threw him or if he fell; did his head hurt much? Where were Dr. Maturin and the rest of the men? Did he see cannibals on his voyage?
She heard Jack’s low rumbling reply, and her heart caught at that familiar voice. Unable to delay any longer, she opened the door to Jack’s room.
He sat propped up in bed, leaning on plump pillows, George sitting on his lap and the girls on either side, Charlotte clinging to her father’s neck, her head resting against his shoulder and Fanny craning her head to try and see through the bandage covering his wound. He looked up and their gazes locked for an instant. A smile spread across his face and his eyes were wet as he held out a hand to her.
“Sophie, sweetheart. I’ve missed you terribly.”
Sophie couldn’t very well fall on him and start sobbing in relief, though she wanted to; but such behavior would certainly upset the children. She crossed the room swiftly, took his hand and kissed it, then bent to kiss his cheek. “Jack, my darling. I’m so glad you’re home, and safe. I was terrified when we found you, and you didn’t wake. I thought perhaps…”
“No matter, my dear. I’ve had worse knocks than this, as Stephen would tell you if he were here. He’s gone up to Diana, of course. He’s just as anxious to see his own daughter as I was to see all of you. More so perhaps, as he’s never met her.”
Sophie felt a chill run through her heart at mention of Brigid. Jack did not know the real facts of the case, but he was sure to learn soon. She decided not to tell him; let Stephen meet his daughter, then choose what to tell Jack.
She forced a smile. “I do wish he were here; there’s no one else I would have sooner trusted with your care, but Gowers is a respectable gentleman, and he’s been tending us in Stephen’s absence. I hope he is well?”
“Certainly he is; did you know he’s practically adopted two other little girls? Their names are Sarah and Emily, and we found them on an island whose other inhabitants had all died of disease. We couldn’t very well leave the poor things there to starve, so they became ship’s boys, and Stephen’s taken charge of them. I expect he’ll bring them round when next he comes here.”
“Oh? Well, I’m sure they’ll be good playmates for our girls.”
“Speaking of our girls,” Jack patted Charlotte’s head and looked at Fanny. “I brought home something in the way of treasure chests for both of ‘em, and one for George as well. They’re just in the corner, there.” He nodded toward three small chests and one larger one.
The girls shrieked in delight and dove for the treasure chests, full of presents for them. George didn’t shriek, but he was no less hasty in opening his own trunk. Gasps and squeals of amazement soon followed as the girls discovered foreign-made dolls made in the Chinese, Malay and Polynesian styles, and George began playing with a jointed figurine of a kangaroo that Jack had found in Sydney. There were necklaces of shells and shark’s teeth, fans made of bright parrot feathers, and other odds and ends Jack thought they would enjoy.
“There is the large trunk for you, my dear. And the package atop is a nice suit of lace.” Jack nodded toward Sophie’s gifts.
“I’ll look at them later, my dear,” Sophie murmured. Glancing quickly to see that the children were occupied, she bent to give Jack a long and unusually passionate kiss. He returned her fervor, clasping her to him and pulling her down across himself.
“I missed you so dreadfully, my love,” she said sincerely, her breath brushing his lips. He kissed her again deeply and replied, “You have no idea how miserable I become sometimes, wishing you were aboard with me, Sophie.” He smiled tenderly, then his smile turned teasing. “However, there’s another reason I wanted to get back to you. I’ve finally got a present worthy of a woman as beautiful as yourself. Charlotte?”
“Yes, Papa?” Charlotte danced over, wearing her necklace of shells and carrying her silk-clad Chinese doll.
“Go open your mother’s treasure chest. There’s a little lacquer box right on top. Bring it to me, please.”
Charlotte did so, and Jack bade Sophie close her eyes. Sophie heard the rustling of tissue paper, then a gasp from Charlotte, quickly hushed by Jack. “Don’t go blowing the gaff, my dear, I don’t want her to see it yet.” Sophie felt something cold and heavy settle around her neck, and wondered what on earth was dangling from the end of this necklace.
“Charlotte, Fanny, do be so good as to lead your Mama over to my bureau, so she can look in the mirror. Make sure she doesn’t peek, now.”
Giggling, the twins each grasped a hand and pulled Sophie across the room. “All right, you can open your eyes,” said Jack eagerly.
Sophie did, and gasped in utter astonishment.
Dangling from a chain of fine gold links, a star ruby nearly the size of a chicken egg glinted from a delicate gold setting. It was just as beautiful as Diana’s blue diamond, and Sophie had never thought she’d own something so fine.
“Jack, where on earth….how much did…?”
Knowing what she meant to say, Jack explained, “I didn’t spend anything for that, or at least not for the stone. It was a gift from the Sultan of Pulo Prabang when the treaty was signed. I immediately thought of you, and had a jeweler put it in the setting when we returned to Java. Now you have something to make the other ladies green with envy, eh?” He sounded smug, and Sophie felt herself blushing.
“Oh dear, I’ve nothing to wear to equal it. Even my best gown -”
“That’s taken care of,” said Jack hastily. “I found a silk in Java that just matched it, and bought the whole bolt. Why, when next we go to an assembly, no woman there will be able to match you. There should be enough for at least two fine gowns, or perhaps you can save some for the girls.”
Sophie’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Jack,” she reached for her handkerchief. “You spoil me, truly you do.”
“Only because you deserve it,” said Jack firmly. “Though I hardly think it’s spoiling a woman to give her a handsome token of appreciation now and again, particularly when that woman is the loveliest wife and best mother in all of England. What say you three, eh?”
The children agreed in chorus and Fanny cried, “Oh Mama, it’s so pretty! May I touch it, please?”
0~0
A few days after Stephen’s visit, Jack was finally allowed out of bed. The children had all come down with the measles and he spent much of the first day up and about reading to them to keep them from growing too fractious. He’d chosen Macbeth, thinking that it was none too early to introduce them to Shakespeare, and the girls had giggled as much as they could. George mostly slept through the whole story.
It was as Jack was coming downstairs, thinking of a bite of lunch, that he heard Sophie laughing. A man’s voice answered her, speaking indistinctly. Wondering if one of the neighboring admirals had come to visit, Jack stepped into the parlor with a smile of greeting on his face - and froze.
Sophie was sitting in her usual chair, leaning toward a man sitting in Jack’s own chair. He looked vaguely familiar to Jack, and he was smiling at Sophie; a secret, fond smile. He looked up, saw Jack, and hastily jumped to his feet.
“Captain Aubrey! I am glad to see you recovered, sir. I don’t know if Mrs. Aubrey has mentioned me to you? Charles Hinksey, at your service.” He extended his hand, a friendly smile on his face.
Jack automatically took his hand, trying to smile in return, only able to make his mouth twitch a little. He didn’t know what Hinksey saw in his face, but his own smile faded and he said, “I’m the reverend for the area now, and I’ve called on Mrs. Aubrey often in your absence, to do my Christian duty to my parishioners. I’m happy to say I’ve been able to assist Mrs. Aubrey in certain legal and financial matters. I daresay she’s explained everything to you?”
“No,” said Jack, forcing his voice to remain normal. “She has not mentioned anything of the sort to me since I returned home. I admit I’m quite surprised by your visit; but it seems to me we have met before? Your name is familiar to me.”
“Perhaps Mrs. Aubrey mentioned me in her letters to you? I’ve been assisting her almost since you left on your last voyage.”
“No. She never wrote of it.”
“Ah,” Hinksey looked awkward. Sophie stepped in. “Indeed, Reverend, I did not mention your name to Jack. He being so far away and unable to do anything even if he knew, I decided not to worry him with such matters. I meant to discuss it with him as soon as he arrived home, but Dr. Gowers said he was not to be disturbed in his mind.” She exchanged a knowing look with Hinksey.
“Oh, I see. Well, ma’am, sir, if you’ll both excuse me, I must finish my rounds of the parish. I shall not detain you; clearly there is much you must discuss.”
While Sophie showed Hinksey out, Jack crossed the room and stood gripping the back of his chair. He suddenly remembered where he’d heard Hinksey’s name before; in connection with Sophie, years ago, before they had ever married…
Don’t be foolish, he chided himself. This is Sophie, for heaven’s sake! She’d never…but he looked so natural sitting there beside her, and he said he’s been a frequent visitor ever since I left. Even if Sophie wouldn’t that doesn’t mean he….no, no it’s impossible. You’re seeing things that aren’t there.
But he couldn’t shake the feeling that had shot through him when he’d seen them sitting so close together, leaning towards each other, Sophie flushed from laughing, Hinksey smiling at her so fondly, so…so…intimately.
Jack heard Sophie’s footsteps returning, and tried to let go of his fear.
0~0
“…You remember Parson Hinksey?”
“The gentleman as courted Miss Sophie long ago, the cricketer?”
“Yes: well it turned out that it was Parson Hinksey as advised it - advised the lease and everything else, all the things they disagreed upon. He was over to Ashgrove at least every week all the time we were away, says Ned, and now he sat in the Captain’s chair.”
“Oh,” said Bonden.
“Taken much notice of by Mother Williams and her tie-mate; and by the children. Looked up to.”
Bonden nodded gloomily: an unpromising state of affairs.
-The Commodore, pg. 199, Norton Press paperback
He had no heart to look round the shut-up house - it was meaningless without Sophie in it - but he did make a quick tour of his garden - no longer his, alas, but now the child of some alien spade - before walking into the yard. “Tell me, Hawker, what horses have we in the stable?” he asked.
-The Commodore, pg. 40, Norton Press paperback
Homecoming
Sophie Aubrey had finally trained herself to stop thinking “It’ll all be better when Jack comes home.”
A few months after her husband’s departure, it was plain certain things had to be taken care of, and by her, long before her husband could be expected to return. First, the death of Mr. Norton, Jack’s aged cousin, had increased the Aubrey property substantially, and certain things simply couldn’t wait that long to be dealt with. She had found herself acting in Jack’s name more often than she’d ever had to before, confirming or denying half and whole promises he’d made to certain people before his departure, deciding what to do with the property, based on her own judgment. At first she had felt vaguely uneasy, taking so much on herself and going against his decisions a little, but she knew Jack trusted her to act in his name, and felt certain that he’d be pleased with certain changes she’d made, once she’d had the chance to explain things to him. He’d want her to do what was best, even if it meant changing certain of his orders - wouldn’t he?
It was after one of these necessary trips to Woolcombe to deal with local problems -a visit cut unexpectedly short - that Sophie was riding home in the open dog-cart with the children, and George suddenly pointed and yelled, “Look Mama! It’s Mr. Briggs’s horse!”
It was indeed. The black gelding stood a few hundred feet away, saddled and bridled but rider-less, nosing at something in the grass.
“Oh dear! I wonder if Briggs fell off! Perhaps he was coming to fetch us with some important news.” Sophie could not imagine any other reason for the horse to have been saddled: the animal was known to be Briggs’ exclusive property.
As they drew nearer and the figure on the side of the road came into clearer view, Sophie felt her heart leap into her throat. It was not Mr. Briggs lying injured there - it was a large figure lying on his back, dressed in a blue naval coat, gray-streaked yellow hair gleaming in the sun…
“Jack!” Sophie screamed, startling the children. Worlidge, the only man among Jack’s seaman-servants who knew how to drive any sort of horse-drawn vehicle, pulled on the reins in alarm as he too recognized his captain.
“Is it Papa? Oh, Mama, is he dead?” Fanny screamed in alarm. Sophie didn’t bother to answer: she leapt from the cart as soon as it stopped, running to Jack’s side and falling to her knees by his head. There was blood in his hair and his face was gray as old porridge.
She heard Worlidge race up behind her. “Ma’am, is he-?”
“He’s still breathing, Worlidge,” said Sophie, in a voice so calm it surprised even her. The pulse in Jack’s neck was steady under her hand, and his breath whistled slightly through his teeth. “I need you to unhitch the horse, ride straight to Ashgrove, and send help. If Jack has come home, Stephen can’t be far off. If he’s there, send him along with four men and a stretcher. If he’s not there, send for Gowers instead. Go on, now.”
Worlidge saluted her - a habit they all had - and dashed back to unhitch the horse. Charlotte, Fanny and George came dashing up, Fanny carrying the picnic basket they’d brought from Ashgrove. “Should we give him some wine, Mama? The men all say that wine is just the thing to revive you.”
“No my dear, he’d likely choke on it. You may wet one of the towels with water and we’ll put it on his head.” Fanny did so and handed her the cloth. Sophie carefully searched through Jack’s bloody hair, looking for the wound. Ah, just there: a deep laceration that would certainly need stitches. She began dabbing the blood away, careful not to move Jack’s head. She heard the girls sit down beside her, and the pop! of her own parasol opening. George was standing over them both, keeping the sun off his father’s face. “Thank you, George. That is most thoughtful of you, my dear,” she said kindly, trying not to show them how worried she was. George smiled faintly in return, but looked with worry at his father.
“Well,” Sophie murmured, stroking Jack’s hair away from his face. “This isn’t the sort of homecoming I’d imagined for you, my love. I do wish you were awake, at least.”
But Jack had not awoken by the time help came. The men arrived bearing a stretcher, and carefully loaded Jack onto it, Sophie fussing about demanding they move him as little as possible and to keep his head quite still. They set off at a slow pace, careful not to jounce Jack, Sophie walking alongside clasping her husband’s hand, the girls following and George leading the procession all the way into Ashgrove Cottage, then carefully up the stairs to Jack’s room, where they laid him on the bed minutes before Dr. Gowers arrived.
0~0
…it was not surprising that the presents given in the Sultan’s name should reflect his chief minister’s satisfaction. Fox had a coral-handled kris of great antiquity and a jade Buddha at least twice as old; Jack a star-ruby in a lacquer box, the fruit of some distant piracy…
-The Thirteen-Gun Salute, pg. 296, Norton Press paperback
0~0
Dr. Gowers came downstairs to report that Jack had awoken, and wished to see his family. The children immediately went running noisily up the stairs, ignoring the doctor’s caution to be quiet, Captain Aubrey was still very dazed. Sophie was about to follow when Killick, who had arrived at Ashgrove just before Jack was carried in, stepped into the saloon and announced, “Mr. Hinksey to see you, ma’am.”
Sophie paused with her foot on the stairs. She’d not been expecting Hinksey today; he usually came on Sundays, or whenever he had a reason to visit. He’d been a great help to her in Jack’s absence; he had a good head for figures and a better understanding of English law than she. Often, he’d given her advice that had done directly against Jack’s wishes, but he had explained things to her so thoroughly and so sensibly that she had usually decided that if Jack were there to listen to him, he’d be persuaded to change his mind, too.
Deciding that the children would keep their father occupied, Sophie told Killick, “Show him in.”
Hinksey was a cheerful fellow, nearly as good-natured as Jack if far more sensible in some areas. He bowed and exclaimed, “Mrs. Aubrey! I was passing by and saw your cart in the yard. I hope nothing is amiss, to have brought you home early?”
“No, not at all. At least not then; all was well when we left Woolcombe, but we found Captain Aubrey lying by the road just on the edge of the property. I am told he returned last night, and set out to meet us at Woolcombe this morning. It seems the horse threw him, for he struck his head on a rock. Dr. Gowers just left.”
“I hope Captain Aubrey is well?” Hinksey’s tone was genuinely concerned, and Sophie smiled. “I do not know, for I have not even spoken to him yet. Gowers said he is awake now, and the children ran up to see him just before you arrived.”
“I’ll not detain you, then. Pray give him my regards. Shall I call again tomorrow?”
“No, I expect Jack will be abed for some time. I’ll let you know when he is ready to receive visitors.” Hinksey bowed and Sophie called for Killick to show him out.
Sophie mounted the stairs in some trepidation. She had not seen Jack for a good long time, and he’d looked different lying there, so pale and still. There was a good deal more gray in his hair than when they’d parted, and other signs of increased age. Sophie knew she too had changed, and she wondered if those changes were as obvious to Jack as his were to her.
She heard the sounds of the children talking all together, though trying to keep their voices muted. They were telling their Papa of their discovering him on the road, asking if Abhorsen threw him or if he fell; did his head hurt much? Where were Dr. Maturin and the rest of the men? Did he see cannibals on his voyage?
She heard Jack’s low rumbling reply, and her heart caught at that familiar voice. Unable to delay any longer, she opened the door to Jack’s room.
He sat propped up in bed, leaning on plump pillows, George sitting on his lap and the girls on either side, Charlotte clinging to her father’s neck, her head resting against his shoulder and Fanny craning her head to try and see through the bandage covering his wound. He looked up and their gazes locked for an instant. A smile spread across his face and his eyes were wet as he held out a hand to her.
“Sophie, sweetheart. I’ve missed you terribly.”
Sophie couldn’t very well fall on him and start sobbing in relief, though she wanted to; but such behavior would certainly upset the children. She crossed the room swiftly, took his hand and kissed it, then bent to kiss his cheek. “Jack, my darling. I’m so glad you’re home, and safe. I was terrified when we found you, and you didn’t wake. I thought perhaps…”
“No matter, my dear. I’ve had worse knocks than this, as Stephen would tell you if he were here. He’s gone up to Diana, of course. He’s just as anxious to see his own daughter as I was to see all of you. More so perhaps, as he’s never met her.”
Sophie felt a chill run through her heart at mention of Brigid. Jack did not know the real facts of the case, but he was sure to learn soon. She decided not to tell him; let Stephen meet his daughter, then choose what to tell Jack.
She forced a smile. “I do wish he were here; there’s no one else I would have sooner trusted with your care, but Gowers is a respectable gentleman, and he’s been tending us in Stephen’s absence. I hope he is well?”
“Certainly he is; did you know he’s practically adopted two other little girls? Their names are Sarah and Emily, and we found them on an island whose other inhabitants had all died of disease. We couldn’t very well leave the poor things there to starve, so they became ship’s boys, and Stephen’s taken charge of them. I expect he’ll bring them round when next he comes here.”
“Oh? Well, I’m sure they’ll be good playmates for our girls.”
“Speaking of our girls,” Jack patted Charlotte’s head and looked at Fanny. “I brought home something in the way of treasure chests for both of ‘em, and one for George as well. They’re just in the corner, there.” He nodded toward three small chests and one larger one.
The girls shrieked in delight and dove for the treasure chests, full of presents for them. George didn’t shriek, but he was no less hasty in opening his own trunk. Gasps and squeals of amazement soon followed as the girls discovered foreign-made dolls made in the Chinese, Malay and Polynesian styles, and George began playing with a jointed figurine of a kangaroo that Jack had found in Sydney. There were necklaces of shells and shark’s teeth, fans made of bright parrot feathers, and other odds and ends Jack thought they would enjoy.
“There is the large trunk for you, my dear. And the package atop is a nice suit of lace.” Jack nodded toward Sophie’s gifts.
“I’ll look at them later, my dear,” Sophie murmured. Glancing quickly to see that the children were occupied, she bent to give Jack a long and unusually passionate kiss. He returned her fervor, clasping her to him and pulling her down across himself.
“I missed you so dreadfully, my love,” she said sincerely, her breath brushing his lips. He kissed her again deeply and replied, “You have no idea how miserable I become sometimes, wishing you were aboard with me, Sophie.” He smiled tenderly, then his smile turned teasing. “However, there’s another reason I wanted to get back to you. I’ve finally got a present worthy of a woman as beautiful as yourself. Charlotte?”
“Yes, Papa?” Charlotte danced over, wearing her necklace of shells and carrying her silk-clad Chinese doll.
“Go open your mother’s treasure chest. There’s a little lacquer box right on top. Bring it to me, please.”
Charlotte did so, and Jack bade Sophie close her eyes. Sophie heard the rustling of tissue paper, then a gasp from Charlotte, quickly hushed by Jack. “Don’t go blowing the gaff, my dear, I don’t want her to see it yet.” Sophie felt something cold and heavy settle around her neck, and wondered what on earth was dangling from the end of this necklace.
“Charlotte, Fanny, do be so good as to lead your Mama over to my bureau, so she can look in the mirror. Make sure she doesn’t peek, now.”
Giggling, the twins each grasped a hand and pulled Sophie across the room. “All right, you can open your eyes,” said Jack eagerly.
Sophie did, and gasped in utter astonishment.
Dangling from a chain of fine gold links, a star ruby nearly the size of a chicken egg glinted from a delicate gold setting. It was just as beautiful as Diana’s blue diamond, and Sophie had never thought she’d own something so fine.
“Jack, where on earth….how much did…?”
Knowing what she meant to say, Jack explained, “I didn’t spend anything for that, or at least not for the stone. It was a gift from the Sultan of Pulo Prabang when the treaty was signed. I immediately thought of you, and had a jeweler put it in the setting when we returned to Java. Now you have something to make the other ladies green with envy, eh?” He sounded smug, and Sophie felt herself blushing.
“Oh dear, I’ve nothing to wear to equal it. Even my best gown -”
“That’s taken care of,” said Jack hastily. “I found a silk in Java that just matched it, and bought the whole bolt. Why, when next we go to an assembly, no woman there will be able to match you. There should be enough for at least two fine gowns, or perhaps you can save some for the girls.”
Sophie’s eyes welled with tears. “Oh, Jack,” she reached for her handkerchief. “You spoil me, truly you do.”
“Only because you deserve it,” said Jack firmly. “Though I hardly think it’s spoiling a woman to give her a handsome token of appreciation now and again, particularly when that woman is the loveliest wife and best mother in all of England. What say you three, eh?”
The children agreed in chorus and Fanny cried, “Oh Mama, it’s so pretty! May I touch it, please?”
0~0
A few days after Stephen’s visit, Jack was finally allowed out of bed. The children had all come down with the measles and he spent much of the first day up and about reading to them to keep them from growing too fractious. He’d chosen Macbeth, thinking that it was none too early to introduce them to Shakespeare, and the girls had giggled as much as they could. George mostly slept through the whole story.
It was as Jack was coming downstairs, thinking of a bite of lunch, that he heard Sophie laughing. A man’s voice answered her, speaking indistinctly. Wondering if one of the neighboring admirals had come to visit, Jack stepped into the parlor with a smile of greeting on his face - and froze.
Sophie was sitting in her usual chair, leaning toward a man sitting in Jack’s own chair. He looked vaguely familiar to Jack, and he was smiling at Sophie; a secret, fond smile. He looked up, saw Jack, and hastily jumped to his feet.
“Captain Aubrey! I am glad to see you recovered, sir. I don’t know if Mrs. Aubrey has mentioned me to you? Charles Hinksey, at your service.” He extended his hand, a friendly smile on his face.
Jack automatically took his hand, trying to smile in return, only able to make his mouth twitch a little. He didn’t know what Hinksey saw in his face, but his own smile faded and he said, “I’m the reverend for the area now, and I’ve called on Mrs. Aubrey often in your absence, to do my Christian duty to my parishioners. I’m happy to say I’ve been able to assist Mrs. Aubrey in certain legal and financial matters. I daresay she’s explained everything to you?”
“No,” said Jack, forcing his voice to remain normal. “She has not mentioned anything of the sort to me since I returned home. I admit I’m quite surprised by your visit; but it seems to me we have met before? Your name is familiar to me.”
“Perhaps Mrs. Aubrey mentioned me in her letters to you? I’ve been assisting her almost since you left on your last voyage.”
“No. She never wrote of it.”
“Ah,” Hinksey looked awkward. Sophie stepped in. “Indeed, Reverend, I did not mention your name to Jack. He being so far away and unable to do anything even if he knew, I decided not to worry him with such matters. I meant to discuss it with him as soon as he arrived home, but Dr. Gowers said he was not to be disturbed in his mind.” She exchanged a knowing look with Hinksey.
“Oh, I see. Well, ma’am, sir, if you’ll both excuse me, I must finish my rounds of the parish. I shall not detain you; clearly there is much you must discuss.”
While Sophie showed Hinksey out, Jack crossed the room and stood gripping the back of his chair. He suddenly remembered where he’d heard Hinksey’s name before; in connection with Sophie, years ago, before they had ever married…
Don’t be foolish, he chided himself. This is Sophie, for heaven’s sake! She’d never…but he looked so natural sitting there beside her, and he said he’s been a frequent visitor ever since I left. Even if Sophie wouldn’t that doesn’t mean he….no, no it’s impossible. You’re seeing things that aren’t there.
But he couldn’t shake the feeling that had shot through him when he’d seen them sitting so close together, leaning towards each other, Sophie flushed from laughing, Hinksey smiling at her so fondly, so…so…intimately.
Jack heard Sophie’s footsteps returning, and tried to let go of his fear.
0~0
“…You remember Parson Hinksey?”
“The gentleman as courted Miss Sophie long ago, the cricketer?”
“Yes: well it turned out that it was Parson Hinksey as advised it - advised the lease and everything else, all the things they disagreed upon. He was over to Ashgrove at least every week all the time we were away, says Ned, and now he sat in the Captain’s chair.”
“Oh,” said Bonden.
“Taken much notice of by Mother Williams and her tie-mate; and by the children. Looked up to.”
Bonden nodded gloomily: an unpromising state of affairs.
-The Commodore, pg. 199, Norton Press paperback