Page 49 of The Ship of Brides
When Anton came, and started paying me some attention, Henry, it’s not even that he stepped into your shoes. There were no shoes for him to step into.
‘...and he started taunting me... and then the others, well, they said as how I couldn’t keep hold of a woman, and you know what it’s like in the mess, sir, well, I’d had a bellyful of it and – well – I suppose I saw red.’
‘You suppose you saw red.’
The children are very fond of him. You will always be their father, and they know that, but they will love America and have all sorts of chances there that they would never have had in a sleepy old village in Norfolk.
‘Yes, sir.’ He coughed into his hand. ‘I’m very sorry, sir.’
‘You’re very sorry,’ said the captain. ‘So, Nicol, you say he’s been a good sort up to this point?’
‘Yes, sir.’
The captain put down his pen and clasped his hands. His voice was icy. ‘You know I don’t like fighting on my ship. I especially don’t like fighting when there’s alcohol involved. Even more, I dislike discovering that there may be social events taking place on my ship without my knowledge that involve alcohol.’
‘Sir.’
‘Do you understand? I don’t like surprises, Soames.’
But here, dear, I have to tell you something hard. If there is an urgency to my letter it is because I am carrying Anton’s child, and all we are waiting for is your permission to divorce, so that we can marry and bring this baby up together.
‘You’re a disgrace.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘You’re the fifth person I’ve seen in here this morning on a drink-related charge. Did you know that?’
The boy said nothing.
‘Rather surprising for a ship that supposedly contains no alcohol except your weekly allocation.’
‘Sir.’
Nicol cleared his throat.
The captain stared at the boy from under his brows. ‘I’m conscious of your previous good character, Soames, and you should consider yourself lucky you have someone of better character to speak for you.’
‘Sir.’
‘I’m going to let you off with a fine. But I want you to be clear on one thing – and you can tell your friends this, and all those waiting outside too. Little escapes me on this ship. Very little. And if you think I am not aware of the little get-togethers that are springing up at an hour when our crew and our female cargo should be separated not just by walls but by whole bloody passageways, then you are very much mistaken.’
‘I didn’t mean any harm, sir.’
I did not intend things to turn out this way. Please do not make this child grow up a bastard, Henry, I implore you. I know I have hurt you terribly, but please do not inflict whatever you feel for me on the little one.
‘You meant no harm,’ Highfield muttered, and began to write. ‘You meant no harm. None of you ever does.’
There was a brief silence in the room.
‘Two pounds. And don’t let me see you in here again.’
‘Sir.’
‘Left turn, quick march,’ called the lieutenant.
The two men saluted, and left the office.
‘Two bloody pounds,’ said Soames, as they shuffled past the queue of offenders, ramming his cap back on to his head. ‘Two bloody pounds,’ he muttered to one of his mates. ‘He’s a miserable bloody bastard, that Highfield.’
