A Ship for The King Read Free Page A

will, perforce, hand over my part in the management of the Swallow to your goodself, assuming, of course, that you are willing to undertake it.’ Here Mainwaring held up his hand to prevent Strange from interjecting. ‘I would not impose on our friendship and would yield eight sixty-fourths in the Swallow to make you both master and majority shareholder if you agree.’
    â€˜That is a most generous offer . . .’
    â€˜And take Mr Rat as apprentice – not with the object of making of him cheap labour, but advancing him quickly in seamanship and navigation . . .’
    Strange frowned. ‘What on earth for?’
    â€˜Gideon, the country has need of competent seamen, men to command, not simply to hand, reef and steer. A youth who knows nothing else, who is bred to the sea, and one, moreover, who thinks that all his ambition lies thither, is the perfect clay with which to mould so necessary an object. Take him and make him . . . that is all I ask.’
    Strange shrugged. ‘Very well. I shall if you wish it, but think you he has the mind for it?’
    â€˜By my reckoning the lad is sharp and shrewd and I may well have need of him. To such natural talents he has nothing to add beyond a hunger and with it, I suspect, a hunger for knowledge would surely follow his appetite for apple cores.’
    Strange rubbed his chin in contemplation. If he was less eager to espouse Mr Rat’s cause, he was even less eager to challenge Mainwaring’s judgement. His partner was not infallible by any means, but he was not often wrong in judging men. Had he been prone to such a fault he would not have so transformed himself. ‘So,’ he said, ‘may I ask why you intend to relinquish your business here and go to London?’
    â€˜I have been granted audience of the King,’ Mainwaring said casually, blowing a cloud of smoke into the thick air and staring at it as it roiled upwards towards the low, stained and dingy ceiling.
    â€˜By heaven, you have not!’
    â€˜Indeed, Gideon, I have.’ Mainwaring turned and looked at his friend. ‘You are surprised?’
    Strange shrugged. ‘Were it any other shipmaster in Bristol, I should be astounded, but you – no, I am not surprised, though I am continually amazed. However, think you that our gracious King might not have a motive in so commanding you?’
    â€˜Undoubtedly His Majesty has a motive . . .’
    â€˜I mean one more devious than mere curiosity at setting his royal eyes upon a lately pardoned pirate.’
    Mainwaring laughed. ‘Lately pardoned? Come, come, Gideon, you are unjust, I have been pardoned two years. Besides, what mean you by devious? They say His Majesty is a mighty devious shrewd prince, which surely is a necessary quality for one whose business is with ambassadors, bishops, courtiers—’
    â€˜And catamites,’ Strange interrupted.
    â€˜Catamites? Mean you to impute some unnaturalness to Jacobus Rex, Gideon? Have a care or you will end your days in two pieces upon Tower Hill – if you are lucky.’
    â€˜Come Hal, ’tis well known that the King has his favourites. This boy George Villiers, lately made Marquess of Buckingham, is said to be pretty and with a delicacy about his features better fitting a lady than aught else.’
    â€˜I suppose it is said so in every tavern from here to Wapping, and it may well be true, but what has this to do with me?’
    â€˜Why, that the King, our master, may have many favourites and you have already attracted his attention thanks to your pardon. How you managed it is a mystery to me, but I would warn you that there must be a price to pay.’
    â€˜Come, Gideon, I was granted that on account of taking a Moorish ship in the Thames, besides other captures of the King’s enemies, one of which yielded you your freedom.’
    â€˜True, and for that I am grateful, and it is in