Nelson's Folly

Chapter One

December 1792

Fanny awoke, shivering. She gritted her teeth and, careful not to wake him, got out of bed and hastily pulled on the shawl that lay on the chair and a pair of thick woollen socks. She returned to bed, pausing at the chamber pot before climbing beneath the covers. Undisturbed by her movements or the light of the frigid moon, Horatio slept on, mouth open and snoring. Twenty years in the Royal Navy had taught him to sleep soundly anywhere.

The old grandfather clock chimed in the parlour, as a cold Norfolk wind whined through cracks in the window sash. The sigh of the draught reminded her of years gone by in Nevis, where Caribbean trade winds blew soft and warm all year. She drew the bedclothes tighter, an ember of resentment glowing.

How her life had changed since then – she had once been mistress of Montpelier and now she found herself in a borrowed frozen rectory in Norfolk! When they’d first arrived, Edmund – Horatio’s father and a clergyman – had moved to a smaller rectory at his second church so they could have this place to live. They survived on a penurious budget, one that did not stretch to include a coal fire to heat their bedroom.

She rolled over to find a more comfortable position on the mattress. It was only ever intended to be temporary. Everyone had expected Horatio to get another command in the Home Fleet and they’d planned to buy their own house with money Fanny was due to inherit. But that hope dimmed. The inheritance was still in probate. And Horatio had never been given another command. Fanny had put two and two together. She recalled Nevis merchants complaining about the officious British captain who’d interfered with their American trade. Horatio claimed he’d done nothing but enforce the law. And then he’d made more enemies by writing home about corruption in the dockyard in Antigua. He always had an answer: he’d merely been doing his duty. She tried to look on the brighter side. She was still young. There would be more children. He would get his ship and the prize money for a new house. She fell back to sleep.

*

The day dawned with a feeble sun and grey sky. It was still dark at eight when the maid brought in the bowl and a jug of hot water and woke her up. Horatio had risen and she could hear him washing in the adjoining room.

He called out as he heard her stirring. ‘Fan, I’m walking to the village to meet the mail. I want to get the latest on the war situation. Are you coming?’

Although they lived half a mile from the centre of Burnham Thorpe, with Josiah away at school now – he’d begun boarding the prior year when he’d turned twelve – they had picked up the habit of walking along the river to Burnham Market where the London to Norwich coach stopped. They would pick up mail and buy produce in the market then walk back along the field path to Burnham Thorpe, returning in time for dinner, which, in England, was served after midday.

‘Yes, dear,’ she responded to him. ‘At least it looks like a clear morning, for a change.’ She poured the water into the bowl and started to sponge herself.

War was on people’s minds. Another war with France. More taxes to pay, more men pressed for service, horrible threats of invasion. When Fanny was growing up, they had fought the Seven Years’ War with the French. How glorious the victory had been, but when the American colonists rebelled, back came the French for revenge. But now they were revolutionaries like the Americans, spreading the poison of their ideas to England. There was no doubt in her mind that war would break out again – and very soon.

She met Horatio at the breakfast table in the parlour, which was warm at least, the maid having banked the fire and prepared scrambled eggs, bread, butter and conserves which were waiting for them. Fanny sipped her hot tea while Horatio drank a small glass of beer. He was dressed in the style of a country squire, she noted approvingly. New breeches, stout shoes and a woollen tweed coat to keep him warm. He looked so chipper, his eyes bright and clear. He was happy. There might be news.

‘We’ll be back before dinner!’ she called out as they left the house.

Their route took them down the gravelled driveway to Wallsingham Road, where they turned onto the path to the Burn and then followed the winding river to Burnham Market. January rains had swollen the murky stream to its banks, the lower branches of the weeping willows which lined it now swept up in its current. On the other side of the river, grey fields stretched to the horizon, the fallow ground, whitened by frost, blending into the leaden skies. Tramping along, their breath evaporating in long trails, they walked in companionable silence for five or ten minutes until Horatio turned to her. ‘Fanny,’ he said intently, ‘my command simply must come soon.’

‘Yes, I know,’ she replied, a sudden wave of anxiety hitting her at the thought of him leaving. She took care to turn away towards the river and carefully compose herself as he talked on.

‘I am convinced that providence will have a special role for me to play in this war and I will do that to my utmost.’

‘I have lost my mother, my father and my first husband and I cannot bear to think of losing you!’ she exclaimed, the words out of her mouth and tears welling before she could regain herself. In the silence that followed, she continued. ‘But I am most happy you will have a command. Perhaps we will be able to afford a house after this is over. I will look after Josiah and your father and your interests while you are gone.’

‘Fanny, we need to talk about Josiah.’

‘What do we need to discuss, Horatio? Josiah is comfortable at his school. He will flourish there. Then soon enough, he will study at Cambridge or Edinburgh.’

‘No, Fanny. He’s to come with me. I intend to take five or six local lads with me when I go. One will be Josiah.’

Her heart beat faster. She held her breath and tried to keep her voice light. ‘Horatio, after all this time, what’s caused this . . . this change of plan?’

‘I think this will be good for Josiah. He will grow up to be a real man. So long as he works hard and has a good spirit, he’ll do well in the navy. He’s a good lad and he listens to everything I say. He’s a bit quiet but he’ll learn to be a sailor.’

‘But we have already agreed that my family in Edinburgh will article him in their law practice.’

‘Fan, you know better than I, we’ve got no money for Cambridge or to article him with Lockhart. Nisbet’s trust is still in probate – and we were counting on that money from your late husband to pay for his son’s education. And we never received the support I counted on from your uncle, either.’

‘Horatio, we will find the money. Josiah might even win a scholarship. And I promise you, I will get that money.’

‘Fan, listen to me. The fathers of the other boys I take with me will each pay me a stipend to take their son. That money will cover the cost of Josiah too until he gets his midshipman’s ticket.’

‘But what about his education?’ Her voice was shrill now.

‘And what about mine, Fan? I myself am the product of an education on board a ship.’ He stopped and she turned to face him. ‘I went to sea at twelve and studied my three R’s, and I challenge anyone to find a better mathematician, writer and commander of His Majesty’s vessel than I am. I know that a naval career is uncertain, and nothing would please me more than Josiah becoming an attorney, perhaps even a judge or distinguished barrister. But we simply cannot afford it.’

He fell silent and they trudged on by the river, the path eventually veering off and crossing through a spinney while the river continued to flow north. The conifers closed over their heads and the path became dark with shadow. Fanny felt the weight of sadness descend. Although his argument was sensible, he was going to take her baby boy away. Horatio strode along, absorbed in his own vision. She tried to gather herself, as she knew he was not a man who would want to acknowledge her feelings.

Finally, Horatio broke his own silence. ‘And you, Fanny, have a role to play for me and for Josiah. I want you to be my representative in England. You will move up in society as I am promoted. I will have money then. You will buy good dresses and fine hats. And visit London and Bath and great country houses. We shall write to each other about everything.’

Fanny’s heart melted. ‘I . . . I will certainly do my best, Horatio, but are you sure about Josiah?’

‘I know that you fear for his life, but our lives are in the hands of the divine providence. Josiah could die of smallpox or consumption or have an accident on our terrible roads or take a common cold and perish. Nothing is certain. In his early years on board, he will be safe – even in battle. I will protect him as if he is my own son, for I regard him as such.’

‘But what about me? I’ll be here alone.’

‘No, no, you’ll be fine. You have the family – father, William and Sarah, your friends. You’ll get used to it. Then it will be over and we will be together again. You’ll see.’

They followed the path behind the cottages of the village and out on to the high street. The walk had warmed her up, but she was still upset. The carriages of the better-off gentry were parked on the grass verge. Farmers and merchants were tending stalls and women were buying produce and exchanging greetings. It was the same as ever. The smell of fresh bread and the song of a fiddle would normally have lifted her heart. But it was not the same today.

At the inn, they paused for coffee and cake. As they sat there, Mr Coke of Holkham Hall bustled in, followed by his steward. He paused when he saw them and doffed his hat to Fanny who acknowledged him with a polite inclination of her head. Horatio stood to greet him.

‘Good morning, Mr Nelson,’ Mr Coke said loudly. ‘How does this news from France find you? Eager to do battle with the enemies of the nation?’

‘Yes, ready when called, Mr Coke. Soon they will need men who really know how to fight.’

‘I look forward to renewing our acquaintance with you, Mr Nelson. Call on me, if you would! Mrs Nelson!’ He tipped his hat and moved off to join an older man who was seated at another table.

‘What was that about?’ asked Fanny.

‘No doubt he wants something. Now excuse me, Fanny, I must go see if the mail is here.’

He was gone only a few minutes and when he returned, he had a bright smile and, with a little jig, he waved a letter in the air.

Chapter Two

January 1793

The yellow carriage, courtesy of the Admiralty, drew up at the parsonage. After all the penny-pinching years, Horatio experienced a momentary frisson of pleasure at the thought someone else was paying. He gave Fanny a farewell kiss while the driver stowed his cases. Then they set off for Kings Lynn Road. His elation grew as he leant back on the firm leather seat, stretching his legs and savouring the rattling pace. It was the first time in five years he had received orders to attend the Admiralty but by no means the first time he had visited. On those other occasions, he’d travelled uninvited by his own shilling on a crowded public coach and, once at the Admiralty, he’d had to wait his turn for meetings which were invariably perfunctory.

It was dark by the time they stopped at the Crown Inn at Hockerill at half past four. As Horatio waited for the driver to unload his luggage, a troop of army recruits passed by, their recruiting sergeant bellowing and their shambling attempt to march a testimony to their lack of training. Cannon fodder.

The inn was crowded with gentry and Horatio was given a shared room with three other gentlemen. ‘On their way to London to seek commissions in the army and navy,’ the innkeeper explained.

‘Younger sons without prospects.’ Horatio muttered as he paid for his room.

He was hungry and sat at the crowded common table. The man next to him was recounting a recent journey through France, describing with enthusiasm the guillotine’s fascinating efficiency. A fashionably dressed man reported that his London hotel was jammed with French refugees and claimed that he had bought a number of oil paintings from them at knockdown prices. The discussion at the table soon turned to parliament. While Fox was supporting the French Jacobins, Burke, who had sympathised with the American revolutionaries, was fearful of the revolutionary spirit. War was on everybody’s mind.

Horatio was asked about the navy and said a few words. There was a polite question or two before the conversation turned back to the regiments the men were planning to join. Wealthy young fools thought Horatio contemptuously.

The carriage reached his uncle’s house, on the summit of a hill overlooking Kentish Town and the spread of the metropolis beyond it, early the following afternoon. Other than the view of London, the house might well have been in any village. It was the home of a successful servant of the crown. Though modest in size, it was a comfortable double-fronted house built from grey flint and framed by red brick, with a roof of blue-violet slate. Its fruit trees and borders had been pruned and tidied for winter, but elm, sweet chestnut and beech trees lent the house a quiet park-like dignity. The driveway was lined with rowan trees, now without their leaves and berries. Horatio remembered visiting and playing in this garden as a boy, climbing the trees and imagining he were a sailor looking out to sea. The carriage stopped in the turning circle and Horatio got down and approached the heavy oak door, which opened before he reached it. Uncle Suckling, diminished by age but still very much himself, vigorously gripped Horatio’s arms and welcomed him with a