A Baltic Affair

Chapter 2 Trade Disrupted

Chapter 2

Trade DisruptedThe Baronet, as Petroc had determined him to be, was a charming guest, and so too were his family. The enigmatic Miss Carrington-Carr proved to be the daughter of a London Merchant who had come to Saxony to take a post as governess and companion, though the Freiherr and his Lady treated her as one of the family. Her services as an interpreter made the conversation easy for all concerned.

As Petroc rapidly discovered, the Freiherr was an astute man, and his knowledge extended from ships and their uses to matters of trade between nations and the management of his professedly modest estates.

“We have family in Svenska, a cousin who is the – how do you say – the steward of our business in that land.” The older man beamed, his eyes twinkling. “Also in Lübeck and in Hamburg. Die Hansestädte will not be too much troubled by the Franszosen – but eure blockade – that is a very big problem.”

“Indeed, sir, I can see that, but did I not understand that the French have driven you and your family out of your estate?”

“Ja, that is korrekt. But, we will return. This Napoleon, he will not always triumph. Der König von Preußen gathers allies, and der Tsar, he changes sides when it suits – and they did not find what they looked for.” He laughed. “They look in the wrong place.”

Petroc smiled, his eye catching that of the eldest daughter as she rested with her sister beneath the stern windows. Her intelligent face and the attention with which she listened struck him as attractive; though, he felt certain she must be at least ten years his junior. Something in the smile and in her eyes also suggested that she was following their conversation rather more easily than her father was managing to do. This was confirmed when she turned her attention to the orders being given on deck, audible through the open skylight.

Petroc gave his attention to the Freiherr again as he explained the reason for their taking the risk of venturing to sea in the small trading barge.

“We had come to Greifswald to see Miss Carrington-Carr aboard one of her father’sschiffs. Then the Fransmänner seized the schiff.”

“Yes…but, sir, surely venturing out to sea in a coastal vessel was a great risk. Did you hope to reach another port and perhaps take ship from there?”

The Freiherr laughed. “Nein. We knew your schiff was approaching. The Pride of Ebbsfleet was at anchor off Gager, waiting for another schiff to join them. I brought meine familyand meine Frau’s maid Elisabet across the Insel…er, island…to the Schaproder Boddenund then to the boat.” He shrugged for emphasis. “And, there was a little unpleasantness with a French officer. Peasant! He wished to arrest Miss Carr and made remarks most improper.” The older man’s eyebrows snapped into a frown. “He will not make such mistake again.”

Petroc decided not to press for more details. He could see from the expressions of the ladies that whatever the French officer had intended had provoked the Freiherr beyond civility, so he left it at that. In due time, he would discover what had transpired. He stood, taking care to position himself between the deck beams, though even here, he had to duck his head slightly. Speaking to the Freiherr, he said, “If you will excuse me, sir, I must attend to matters on deck. My servant will clear away my belongings from these quarters.” He smiled as he again caught the daughter’s eye, feeling a stirring of interest he felt might be mutual. “I’m afraid we are a very small vessel and the company is large, so there is not much room aboard for passengers – especially ladies. I shall do my utmost to make you comfortable, though I fear it will be several days before I may transfer you to a larger vessel or bring you to a port where you may be safe.”

The Freiherr obviously did not follow quite all of what Petroc had said, but his daughter said something briefly to her father and he nodded. “Thank you. We are very grateful.” He stood as Petroc took his hat and cloak and bowed. “We must not detain you, Kapitän.”

On deck, Petroc listened as Ben Curran, now joined by the second lieutenant, John Hunt, gave a brief description of the shipping huddled in the anchorage between Rügen and the port of Stralsund beyond it. “No sign of anything that looks like a gunboat or even a Frenchman. There are upwards of twenty small vessels though – mostly fishing vessels and inshore trading craft, sir. Two larger Snows or Brigs, none with their yards crossed and all look as if they’re in ballast.”

“Anything visible of fortifications or improved defences?”

“There looks to be a boom across the Hiddensee entrance to the sound between the island and the peninsula, sir. And what looks like a battery of horse artillery at the shoreward end; nothing else I could see from this angle, though,” replied Ben.

Petroc nodded, saying, “Good, well done. It appears the French have left this area lightly defended while they deal with matters further south.” He cast a glance at the cabin skylight and signalled Ben to follow him further forward. Lowering his voice, he continued, “I have learned that our guest is unpopular with the French commanders in his native Province. Apparently, he fought a duel with one of their senior people, and they evicted him from his land and house, perhaps in reprisal. I shall have to find out.”

“A matter of honour, then,” Ben said with a thoughtful look. “Has he said anything of their intentions or of their forces?”

“A little. By the way, I should warn you: I think the daughters may well have a greater command of English than their father has. I have no evidence of it yet, but I have the strongest feeling that the elder understands everything we say.”

Ben grinned. “I shall warn the others, sir. I wonder where she gained that skill?”

“I think through their governess.” Petroc stared upward as the second lieutenant sent some men aloft to set the royals. “I have had my belongings moved to the chartroom. I’ll berth there until our guests can depart.”

“Where are we to meet with the admiral, sir?”

“That’s just it. He is presently in the Gulf of Finland. We are to continue a sweep of this coast to the Gulf of Riga and meet him off the entrance, but our guests need to be taken to Sweden, for which I shall have to seek the admiral’s permission, since Marshall Bernadotte is rumoured to become heir to the king of the Swedes soon.” He grinned suddenly. “That will make an interesting diplomatic problem for London and others – it is said that he has a ‘turbulent’ relationship with the Emperor, so it remains to be seen who he favours once he is king.”

The Sailing Master approached and touched his hat in salute to Petroc. “Cap Arkona is abeam, sir. We should alter course to the East in another half hour if you wish to examine the Greifswald Bay.”

“Very good, Mister Isaacs, make it so. Plot a course to take us close to the island they call the ‘Eye’ – I wish to see if there is a lookout or battery there.”

The Master acknowledged this and left to attend to his duties.

Ben said, “We have little chance of any prize money at this time – unless we find a Frenchman.” He grinned. “Or a Dane. The Admiral’s strictures not to molest our potential allies are a trifle restrictive.”

“So they are,” Petroc agreed, “but at this time we need every friend we can get. Napoleon’s Continental System has hurt our Baltic trade far more severely than I had realized until I spoke to the merchant we met off Wismar. Only Sweden still trades openly, and now that the Tzar has allied himself to Bonaparte, it can only get worse.” He glanced aft. “I shall join our guests to see what else I may learn. Call me when we reach the Eye; I wish to see the bay myself.”

Petroc tapped at the door of his cabin and then entered. He was greeted warmly by the Freiherr.

“Kapitän, you make us very comfortable. Will you take some refreshment with us?”

Petroc smiled. Despite his earlier suspicions, he was forming a liking for this bluff man. “Thank you, I shall. I do not often get such pleasant company aboard.” He accepted a cup of coffee from his servant, and speaking of him to the Freiherr, he said, “I trust that Ceran here has provided everything you need?”

“Danke, ja, alles in Ordnung! He has been most helpful.” The Freiherr glanced at his eldest daughter, who was evidently trying to attract his attention; his eyebrows rose slightly, and then he said, “Silke, du musst Schon selbst fragen.”

Petroc looked across at the young lady and said, “Please feel free to ask me in your own language. If I do not understand, I am certain your governess may translate for me.”

Silke laughed, the sound sending an unaccustomed pang through Petroc. “Unnecessary, Captain. Our governess has taught us English. My father does not think you will approve, but I would like to go on deck and see how the ship is sailed. Do I have your permission?”

Petroc smiled. “I have no objection, Miss Silke, but I must ask that you stay right aft unless I or one of my officers can accompany you to another part of the ship. A small ship such as this has many hazards, and we are cramped for space. If you will pardon my telling you this, the men have not had much opportunity to enjoy the company of ladies for many months, and I would not wish them provoked into unseemly behaviour in your presence.”

She nodded, a smile teasing her mouth as she replied, “Of course, Captain. I know the situation with my father’s trading partners and their ships.”

He returned the smile. “Then perhaps you will accompany me when I must go on deck again in a little while? I may then show you the ship myself.”

At her acknowledgement, the Freiherr drew Petroc’s attention and the conversation turned once again to the restrictions on trade imposed by Napoleon. “It is rumoured that the emperor and the tsar are to meet to make a Treaty that will shut all our coasts to your trade.”

“So we believe, but that, sir, is why our Fleet remains in these waters. This trade is important to us and must be maintained.” He leaned back in his seat. “There are privateers at work as well, and you must know that they can be as dangerous to your own trade as to ours.”

The older man nodded. “That is so,” he said pensively, and then he frowned. “Der French Emperor – bah, a peasant, and those around him, no better. They will fail eventually, but they do much damage now.”

The conversation continued a mixture of German and English, as the two men struggled with each other’s native tongues. In the process, Petroc learned that the family had its seat in Saxonia near Dresden. Besides their landholdings, the Freiherr was also linked to several of the Trading Houses in Lübeck, Stralsund and Danzig. He also learned that the French had attempted to encourage several merchants to equip some of their ships for the work of privateering, but almost all of them had refused.

“Well, I’m glad of that,” said Petroc.

“Captain, I am curious; forgive me for asking, but your name is unusual. Where does it come from?”

The question surprised Petroc. He turned to the eldest daughter to reply. “It is Cornish, Miss Silke. My family has a small estate on the north shore there.” He smiled. “It is a common name in those parts; the English would call me Patrick.” At that moment, Petroc heard the tap at the door that announced the arrival of a messenger from the deck. He stood slowly, careful not to graze his head on the low deckhead or the beams supporting it, and said, “I am called on deck, I think. Would you care to accompany me? You will need a cloak, though it is not wet at present.”