Free Honour Redeemed by David Donachie Page A

from a very early age, especially since Sir John Markham refused to follow the practice of his ascendancy peers and ignore his very existence.
    He not only acknowledged George as his child; he visited both him and his mother regularly, and such was his standing locally that he forced others to acknowledge them too, though the fact that they resented the need was ill disguised. School in Dublin had been little better than Wexford. He’d known peace when Sir John, as Governor of New York, had taken him to America, and allowed the boy to revel in the life of a Headquarters brat. To be gazetted an Ensign in the 65th foot was a dream come true, and he’d marched to war against the colonists, head high and proud. But that had all ended in his first real battle.
    If relations with the ship’s captain had been bad from the start, they were now even worse. Hood’s intention to allow him a marine commission had sent de Lisle into a towering rage, during which he’d written an intemperate letter to the Admiral. The reply, couched with equal severity, and including a reminder to the captain of a 24-gun frigate of precisely where he stood in the naval hierarchy, had first cast him down. But it wasn’t too long before it caused him to redouble his efforts to undermine the personhe blamed for the whole affair, a task in which he was aided by every other officer aboard the Hebe. Personal dislike was now supported by the belief that Markham had, by making the Admiral angry, blighted all their prospects.
    ‘I await an explanation, sir,’ snapped de Lisle, dragging Markham back to reality.
    ‘I did what all my experience suggested was correct, sir. If that displeases Colonel Hanger it can only be because he is ignorant of war, or a damned fool. I suggest you speak to either General d’Aubent or Major Lanester, who will give you a true appreciation of what we achieved.’
    ‘According to Colonel Hanger, you sat uselessly on the enemy flank until the army attacked and took the French field guns. Then you appeared out of the woods when the enemy was in retreat, and it was safe to do so.’
    ‘And you, sir, like a fool, believed him.’
    ‘How dare you speak to me in that tone! Might I remind you that you carried the honour of my ship in your actions? And once again you appear to have been found wanting.’
    Markham blew then, the strength of his voice seeming to move the still air under the awning. ‘The honour of your vessel, sir, is akin to your own, and would not comfortably reside in a flea carried by a ship’s rat.’
    ‘You will withdraw that remark!’
    ‘No, sir, I will not.’
    De Lisle didn’t shout in reply. In fact, his voice was soft and silky, as if he had achieved some prior purpose. ‘You will consider yourself under arrest, Lieutenant, until such time as I can convene a court. Colonel Hanger may not be able to haul you before the judgment of the Army, but given your present status, I will be able to see you brought before a naval hearing. I’ll see you damned, Markham, as much for what you are as for the gross insubordination which you have demonstrated since we left Chatham.’
    ‘Did Colonel Hanger hint at a reward for this, or actually promise you something tangible?’
    De Lisle reacted as though he’d been slapped. Yet, once that shot in the dark had been fired, it was so obvious. His captain was a climber, with all the attributes of the type, which included an ability to sacrifice both principles and people to ambition. Hanger was very rich, and well connected in both London and the Mediterranean. At home, he caroused in the company of the Prince of Wales. Here, he’d lately become betrothed to Lizzie Gordon, the niece of another man of influence, the recently ennobled and promoted Admiral Lord Keith.
    ‘I should be wary of him, Captain de Lisle,’ Markham continued. ‘Colonel Hanger has the morals of a snake.’
    ‘I doubt your opinion of his moral standing would impress the colonel