Ramage & the Guillotine Read Online Free PDF Page A

drawn apart from their group and were waiting impatiently.
    Perhaps this was a common occurrence at a great ball attended by more than half the Cabinet: the sudden arrival of an urgent despatch requiring some equally urgent decision and action. He turned back to Gianna and envied whoever was being summoned to the First Lord’s presence; it might spoil the rest of the ball for the fortunate man and make him unpopular with his partner, but it would mean employment. At sea with a good ship and orders for detached service.
    â€œI’m a dull fellow at a ball,” he said apologetically to Gianna. She was not listening but staring up at someone. He glanced up too and was startled to find the post-captain looking down at him.
    The man bowed gracefully to Gianna and after a perfunctory “By your leave, Ma’am,” said to Ramage: “Lord St Vincent wishes to speak to you for a few minutes: his Lordship told me to remain with the Marchesa.”
    â€œMost necessary, sir,” Ramage said, nettled by the man’s disdainful manner. “It says on the map, ‘Here be lions.’” He turned to Gianna, childishly gratified by the puzzled look on the Captain’s face. “if you’ll excuse me—I’ll hurry back.”
    Gianna smiled politely but she said firmly: “No ship. Not for another eleven days, anyway. You tell him.”
    Lord St Vincent had not changed in the two years since Ramage had last seen him: he was still the ramrod-stiff figure with a bowed head who spoke as crisply and as frankly as he wrote.
    â€œAh, Ramage, ‘fraid I have to interrupt your social life for a few minutes. Pity the King isn’t here tonight; intended to present you. His Majesty likes to meet the young officers he reads about in the
Gazette.
Still, there’ll be another opportunity—as long as you don’t blot your copybook, eh?” His Lordship gave a wintry smile. “You understand me, eh?”
    â€œAye, aye, sir,” Ramage said, and realized the First Lord had a better memory than he had thought.
    â€œMr Ramage!” the First Lord said sharply, raising his voice above the orchestra, which had reached an exuberant passage, “that’s a very knowing smile you’ve rigged across your face. I’ve read all the correspondence concerning your recent actions. You’re a brave and resourceful fellow, but make no mistake; I know you’d sooner disregard orders than obey ‘em. Once in a thousand times that’s justified—perhaps once in a lifetime. You’ve done it half a dozen times already. Remember that—and remember that the Navy List is full of brave and resourceful young officers.”
    Only a fool would disregard the warning note in what was, for Lord Vincent, a long speech. “Aye aye, sir,” Ramage said, hoping those three normally safe words would not get him into more trouble.
    â€œMy compliments and apologies to the Marchesa,” St Vincent said gruffly. “Looks as beautiful as ever. Going to marry her?”
    The First Lord was famous for his often-stated view that the moment he married an officer was lost to the Navy, and Ramage was thankful he could answer honestly: “It’s never been discussed, sir.”
    Lord St Vincent snorted and said suddenly: “Just remembered something His Majesty mentioned. He noticed that they don’t use your title in the
Gazette.”
    Ramage was not sure if it was a statement or a question, but Lord Nelson, who had been standing quietly in the background, moved closer and nodded a greeting as he said: “I think it goes back to the Lieutenant’s early days in the Navy, sir. Makes a pretty problem for a hostess seating her guests—does Lieutenant Lord Ramage take precedence over Rear-Admiral Sir John Smith …”
    St Vincent nodded understandingly. “Well, Ramage, hurry up and get your flag and stop being a problem for the ladies, eh? Now,