Page 59 of Lady Edith and the Registry Office
The facility was for those sailors who were disabled enough not to be able to support themselves, and Commander Phelps was the assistant to the governor of the hospital, Admiral John Colpoys.
As Nathaniel entered the Queen’s Building, several men in uniform walked past him. He took a breath. It felt odd to have been in the Navy for so long but now to have no direct ties to the service.
He approached a man sweeping the floor and asked where he could find Commander Phelps.
The orderly directed Nathaniel to follow him. “The commander should be done inspecting the Charles Ward very soon, my lord. I will show you to his office.”
A moment later, they ran into Nathaniel’s friend.
“Commander Phelps!” He shook the man’s hand.
“Harbury!” When the men finished shaking hands, Phelps turned to the orderly. “Thank you for assisting Lt. Harbury, Jones.”
Once the orderly left the immediate area, the commander said, “Follow me, Harbury. We need a quieter spot to discuss the subject you asked about in your letter.”
The commander exited the open chamber and walked down a corridor before stopping before a door with his title emblazoned upon it: Assistant Governor. Once inside the room, he sat behind a scarred oak desk and motioned for Nathaniel to sit on a hard-backed chair.
Phelps asked, “Refreshment?”
“No, thank you.”
“You wanted to know about current press gangs.” The man settled back into his leather upholstered chair.
“Are the gangs still active in London?”
“I was once a part of that horrible tradition, but I’m happy to say I know of no active gangs in Town,” Phelps replied.
He raised a brow. “Could there be a group of men operating of their own volition targeting former sailors?”
“A former sailor would be hard to catch a second time. I see no reason to impress men into service. The navy doesn’t need more sailors; we’re trying to reduce our ranks. There would be no incentive to press a man into service during peacetime.”
What the commander said made sense. There was no proof the missing veterans had been spirited away by the Royal Navy.
“Thank you for your time.” He rose to his feet.
“I’ve heard about your registry office. It’s a good thing you’re doing.”
He shrugged, suddenly eager to be away. “It’s the least I could do for those men.”
“Harbury, you don’t have to feel guilty for being alive.”
Easier said than done. “Thank you for your assistance, Commander.”
He didn’t remember exiting Phelps’ office or how he came to be outside the hospital.
“Are you ready to depart, my lord?” A footman held open the door of his town carriage.
Nathaniel shook himself.
“More than ready.” He entered the coach without another word. He might have walked home if the hospital was closer to Grosvenor Square.
Memories of the bodies on the beach fought for prominence with memories of better times serving with Commander Phelps. He thought about his time at the naval college in Plymouth and the first ship he sailed on. The commander was right: he shouldn’t feel guilty for being alive.
But he did.
* * * * *
Nathaniel returnedhome to find no response from Lady Sandhurst to his missive. His butler informed him Alicia had requested a dinner tray in her room.
