#Gage is here! Frances is also here bc I love her! whooo!!

[vankeppel]

ii

|| age of piracy au

Governor Thomas Gage was a kind man, very easy in manner. Captain Clinton suspected it was this gentleness that allowed him to be loved by the inhabitants, but not feared by his enemies.

“Again, I apologize for the absence of my lieutenant governor. Lord Cornwallis is away on business at the nearby island. Keeping up good relations and all.” Gage waved a hand.

“Ah. Of course.” Clinton stood, nodded stiffly.

“I do appreciate your arrival, Captain. We have been sorely lacking in a naval presence for over a year.”

That reminded Clinton of something he’d been meaning to ask.

“My predecessor...I wasn’t told much about him. I apparently ran into his brother yesterday-“

Gage’s smile soured into annoyance. “Damn. I told Billy not to bother you.” He sighed, his look softening.

“Forgive him, it’s been hard. The Howes are a well settled family in England, but relatively new to spreading their roots across the ocean. Richard was given the naval posting here and it was decided William should follow along. The rest of the family is still in England. Even after Richard’s passing, they insisted William stay here, even more desperate now to establish themselves.”

Gage looked out the window, a little bit downcast. “He’ll probably go into business here, a merchant lord, if you will.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. He did seem...upset.” Although the man had been rather rude, Clinton did feel sympathy for him.

Gage fiddled with his pocket watch. “I held off for so long, too long, in asking for a new naval commander. William was certain Richard would return...a replacement would only confirm his fears.”

“You pity him?” Clinton asked not unkindly.

Gage smiled softly. “I’ve been governor a long time here, so I didn’t mind looking out for them when they arrived. The lads’ father died as governor of Barbados when they were but children in England. Their eldest brother died in the last war while fighting here. The tropics have not been kind to the Howes.”

Clinton picked up on the tiredness in the other man’s voice, realized he looked much older than his forty-something years.

“Well, thank you for the context. I’m sorry for the loss of Captain Howe. I’m sure he did well, here.”

Gage looked at Clinton a moment. “Yes, thank you. I think you’ll do fine here, too, sir.”

———

The clouds provided cover for the old ship as it silently glided near the harbour.

“There she is.” Gentleman Johnny spied the island through his glass.

“This is nothing more than a scare. The mere preliminaries. Our entr’acte, if you will.” Burgoyne paced the deck as the pilot steered closer. He looked at Richard.

“If that new captain’s anything like you,” A sly smile spread across his handsome face, “and I’m sure he is, he’ll come charging head first at us.”

“Not every Navy man is the same. Perhaps he’s smart enough to be different.” Richard shrugged, staring straight ahead.

“Pah! They’re all the same! If difference was allowed I would be in there!”

Burgoyne hopped up onto the railing, hanging onto the ropes by an arm. His long wine-coloured coat billowed about him in the breeze.

“Easy now, almost there.” He muttered.

Once they were close enough to his liking, he turned round, called to Richard.

“If you’ll pass me my hat, there, and call up the crew.”

The hat was a grand affair, a cocked one with a ginormous plume of feathers and laced in faded gold braid. His rings clanked together as he ran a hand through his long hair before placing the hat on top.

His ears perked up at the faint sound of music floating across the water.

“Why...yes...” He smirked to himself.

“They’re here.” Richard tugged at his coat tails.

Burgoyne faced his crew, nimbly walking across the railing as he spoke.

“Why, it seems they’re having a party! Such a shame they forgot to invite us!” He grinned, and the crew roared with laughter.

“Alright! You know what we’re here to do. I want cannons loaded and manned! Make sure to defend the ship, the rest of you...follow me!”

And with a dramatic flourish, he swung from the rope onto the harbour deck.

———

There was a ball, tonight. It was courtesy of an elite family, Clinton hadn’t bothered to learn the name.

He really preferred to stay away from such large engagements. He’d always been uneasy around them, would rather be reading at home or playing his violin.

It was Governor Gage who insisted he come along, inspire the populace with his presence. Indeed, he’d garnered many smiles and handshakes through the evening, everyone dazzled by his dress uniform and what it symbolized.

Of course, these introductions were easy, all Clinton had to do was repeat the same thing to multiple faces. Anytime someone made to start a real conversation with him, he’d quickly find an escape.

“Oh, come now! The evening isn’t even half over, Captain.” A high voice chided Clinton, who was standing in one of the room corners, sipping his glass.

It was Margaret Gage, the Governor’s wife, Thomas on her arm.

Due to frequent introductory business, Clinton had been to the Governor’s house many times the past week, meeting both Margaret and their children. They were obviously a happy couple, content in life.

“Ah, my apologies, Mrs. Gage. I’m afraid these past years on solely ship and sea have taken away from my social aspects.”

“Well, you’ll never get any better if you don’t start now. Join in a dance!”

Clinton had come to like the Gages almost instantly, so he shrugged and set down his glass, following them to the floor.

“There he is, that’s the devil.” William, watching Clinton across the room, whispered to his friend Frances.

She slapped him playfully on the arm.

“Hey!”

“Billy, you hardly know him!” She scolded.

William pouted. “I know that I don’t like him.”

She sighed. “I know you’re still upset, but he bears no responsibility for what’s happened. He doesn’t need your ire.”

William nodded, looked down. Fanny was the only person who could talk to him about Richard like that. He knew she did it in good nature.

He exhaled, looking upward, a few strands of hair falling in front of his face. He smiled down at her.

“Yes, I know. You’re right.”

“Of course I am.” She stuck out her chin and smirked, but her eyes were kind.

“Now, why don’t you introduce me to him?”

And before William could object, she pulled him by the hand towards the Captain.

“Excuse me? Sir?” A female voice piped up behind Clinton, who turned to find a young lady with voluminous curls pulling along...William Howe.

Great.

“Well?” The lady whispered sharply to Howe, who looked quite pained to be facing Clinton.

Not like Clinton wanted to encounter him either.

“Captain Clinton! I believe we’ve...made our acquaintance before?” William forced a smile.

“Ah, yes. How could I forget.” Clinton’s manner was equally as forced.

“My friend wanted to meet you. This is Miss Frances Conolly.”

A repeated gesture again. Clinton felt the tightness in his chest fade. This he could do.

“Captain Henry Clinton. A pleasure, Miss Conolly.”

He took Miss Conolly’s hand in due courtesy, and she smiled.

“We’re all thrilled to have you here, Captain. It’s been a while since we’ve had royal ships defending us.”

Clinton saw Howe flinch.

“Well, I’m ever glad to do my duty, Miss.”

“You didn’t perhaps know Captain Richard Howe, by any chance?” She asked earnestly.

The tightness returned. “Ah, no. I’m sorry.”

Clinton was quickly thinking of a way to get out of this, when, miraculously, it was provided for him.

Of course, he would have preferred something a little less dramatic.

“We’re under attack!”