In Guards We Trust Page 11

  Chapter 9 – Chamber of Knights

  At eleven thirty a horse and buggy sent by the king arrived at Jason’s villa. The coachman, who was dressed in the uniform of the king’s Royal Guard, invited Jason to be seated. Two royal guards stood on a small platform at the rear of the buggy. With Jason aboard, the buggy made its way through the narrow cobbled streets of Monte Vista which zigzagged up to the palace overlooking the city. Curious pedestrians glanced inquisitively at Jason as they progressed. Some men tipped their hats to him and Jason nodded in response. It was the perfect day for such a ride.

  The ornate palace gates opened before the buggy reached them and they passed through and under the perimeter wall. They continued along the road leading up to the palace’s main courtyard, which was dominated by an impressive fountain at its centre. The palace itself was an imposing three story high building. It was no accident that its design and architecture was reminiscent of that of the palace at Versailles in France, albeit that it was on a smaller scale. So impressed had King Julien’s grandfather been with the French palace that he, much to the chagrin the French sun king, had commissioned the same architect to design his palace.

  After he had alighted from the buggy, Jason made his way up the imposing marble steps leading to the palace. Two royal guards stood on guard at each side of the main entrance, the large wooden doors of which stood open. Jason was met by another royal guard who escorted him to a waiting room on the first floor of the palace. Three sumptuous couches covered in a deep emerald green velvet-like material served as the centre pieces of the room. Various portraits of previous monarchs adorned the walls. A magnificent crystal chandelier directed one’s attention to the roof which was lavishly decorated with stonework carved in the shape of grapes. Large bay windows permitted a breath-taking view of the city, the harbour and the Mediterranean Sea which stretched out beyond the horizon.

  As Jason admired the view, his attention was captured by three figures on horseback heading up the path towards the palace courtyard. The same woman he had seen at the beach sat astride the leading horse. As before, she wore no hat. The same two members of the royal guard rode alongside each other, a short distance behind her.

  As the horses came to a halt in the courtyard two women approached on foot to assist the rider. Their assistance was curtly refused and she dismounted smartly. She revealed an alluring smile as she paused to speak to the guards who had accompanied her, no doubt thanking them. The guards politely acknowledged her thanks. It was evident that they were as enamoured with her as he had instantly become that day on the beach. Almost as if she sensed his gaze, she looked up at him. He felt a little embarrassed at being spotted. She frowned at him for a second before turning away. Before he could bring himself to smile at her or to raise his hat, she was already headed off towards one of the entrances to the palace. The two women followed smartly behind.

  Jason was left to castigate himself about his being caught staring so obviously at her and for his failure to swiftly recover his composure. His thoughts were interrupted by the usher who entered the waiting room to announce that it was time for him to be presented to the king.

  ‘Announcing his lordship, Jason Cavendish, son of the Duke of Scarborough.’ Jason stood at the entrance to the Chamber of Knights.

  ‘Your majesty,’ Jason said as he removed his hat and bowed before the king.

  ‘Come in Lord Cavendish, please be seated. I believe you have been introduced to his grace, Duke Le Riche.’

  ‘Yes I do, your majesty. How good it is to see you again your grace.’ Jason had met the Duke a few years ago during a tobacco auction held at the Monte Vista Trade Centre.

  ‘The pleasure is mine, your lordship,’ the duke retorted warmly.

  ‘We will be having lunch shortly. What will you be drinking?’ the King asked. Before Jason could answer the king turned to the usher and a butler who were standing dutifully near the entrance to the chamber.

  ‘Leave us!’ he barked. ‘I will see to the drinks myself.’ The king arose and walked to a large mahogany cabinet which was fitted to a corner of the chamber. Once they had settled on a robust Spanish Shiraz, and after Duke Le Riche had refilled his glass of water, the king returned to his seat and he directed the conversation away from the wine.

  ‘You served in the royal navy for two years after studying law?’

  ‘Yes, for two years.’

  ‘You received your own command at a particularly young age?’

  ‘Your majesty is well informed. I was the beneficiary of substantial luck.’

  ‘When you left the navy, you elected not to assist your father to administer his estate. Instead you formed your own trading enterprise.’

  ‘I decided I wanted to make my own fortune. I wanted a life of independence, travel and adventure. Today, I have a fleet of seven trading ships.’ Jason did not reveal that his father had become intensely religious since his mother’s death. It had become impossible to have any conversation with his father without frequent reference to the ‘good Lord’ and ‘the Lord’s will.’

  ‘Your vessels travel mostly between the United States and Montuga. You bring American tobacco to the trade centre in Monte Vista and the return voyages carry a variety of luxury items from Monte Vista to the United States.’

  ‘Yes, your majesty. Wine, whisky, cognac, shoes, clothing, spices, books and material. It depends upon what the Americans order’.

  ‘The vessels you use are former navy vessels?’

  ‘Yes. They originate from diverse navies. Two were captured during the last war with France. I was a privateer at the time. The rest were purchased from various navies after that war. All of them have been converted into merchant ships.’

  ‘I understand that your ships still have cannons?’

  ‘We reduced the number of cannons on all the ships, your majesty, so that we could have more place for cargo. However, we retain some large cannons to cater for pirates or encounters with hostile ships or navies.’

  ‘Good,’ the king commented. He exchanged a glance with the duke. ‘It is as we thought.’ His brow furrowed slightly as his attention returned to Jason.

  ‘You are not known to the Cardinal. I assume that this is because you are not Catholic. Church of England perhaps?’

  The casual manner in which the question was posed did not prevent Jason from concluding that the king had obviously enquired about whether Jason had attended the High Cathedral. It was too early in the conversation for Jason to ascertain the king’s intentions. Weight would no doubt be attached to his answer. He decided it would be in his best interests to lie.

  ‘Yes, your majesty. Church of England.’ Jason had, after the death of this mother, long since abandoned his Christian beliefs. He soon thereafter discovered that most people he encountered were Christians, the majority of whom seemed intolerant of non-Christians. Pretending to be religious had become a way of life.

  ‘How many of your crew are able to operate cannons and muskets?’

  ‘All of them. Many of my crew are former navy recruits. My ships operate loosely along naval lines. If we are attacked, everyone is expected to defend the ship and its cargo. I am pleased to say that none of my ships has ever been attacked by pirates.

  ‘I am informed that although your ships have never been attacked by pirates, you and your ships have on occasion sought out and attacked pirate ships.’

  ‘Your majesty is reliably informed,’ Jason replied with a wry smile.

  ‘What possesses you to do that?’

  ‘I am a trader with a merchant fleet. Pirates prey on ships such as mine. That is reason enough to destroy them. I also do it for adventure and for gain. If we capture a pirate ship with a valuable cargo, the crew and I keep it.’

  ‘You hang the pirates?’

  ‘Yes, your majesty. The law of the sea permits it.’

  ‘You are not motivated so much by justice as you are by revenge?’

  It was difficult for Jason to ascertain
whether the king was making a statement or asking a question.

  The king noticed Jason’s hesitation and continued:

  ‘I understand that your mother travelled to the Caribbean by ship to visit her sister. The ship she was on was attacked by pirates and she was killed.’

  ‘Quite so, your majesty,’ Jason replied. He could not disguise his amazement at the accuracy of the king’s information. It was not common knowledge that he and some of his crew had undertaken two missions to hunt pirate ships in the Caribbean. Hardly anyone knew that Jason’s abhorrence of pirates stemmed from the death of his mother.

  ‘To change the subject for a moment – Are you familiar with the Treaty of Montuga?’

  ‘I know that it is the treaty between Montuga and France.’

  ‘Correct,’ confirmed the king. ‘My family have ruled this kingdom for almost four hundred years. But, Montuga was captured by France about two hundred and twenty years ago. In 1592, a treaty was concluded permitting Montuga to be a principality within France. One of the conditions was that Montuga would revert to France if the Garibaldi family produced no legitimate male heir to the throne. The treaty also contains a limitation on the size of the Montugan army. We are permitted a maximum of five hundred royal guards.’

  ‘Forgive me for asking your majesty, but I recall someone mentioning that the treaty also prevents Montuga from having a king.’

  ‘Not in so many words. The treaty refers to a principality. For the first hundred and twenty years or so, the various sovereigns of Montuga were styled as Princes. However, this ceased after two legal scholars came across certain old Latin legal texts. The lawyers argued that these texts could be used to support the case that a principality could also be ruled by a king. I believe it had something to do with the Latin word princeps, which can also mean emperor. The prince of Montuga at the time, my great grandfather, decided that he whole-heartedly approved of this interpretation and he arranged for a coronation to which he invited both the French and Spanish kings. Not only did the French king decline the invitation, but he also sent a warning that the proposed coronation would result in France cancelling the treaty. However, the day was saved when the Spanish king sent a letter to the French king indicating that Spain’s legal scholars agreed with the Montugan interpretation of the text and that the Spanish king accordingly intended to accept the invitation to the coronation. As France did not wish to antagonise Spain and risk war, the French king sent a missive under his seal to Montuga confirming that France had withdrawn its objection to the coronation. That document is in safe-keeping together with Montuga’s copy of the treaty itself.’

  ‘Did the French king then attend the coronation?’ Jason enquired.

  ‘No he did not. No French king has ever set foot in Montuga. It has to be said though, that most monarchs seldom travel outside their own countries. Unfortunately it is not uncommon for unscrupulous pretenders to take advantage of a monarch’s absence from his kingdom in order to attempt to depose him. I suppose that such travel restrictions must be endured by a monarch as one of the few burdens imposed by absolute rule.’ The king paused to cough. ‘However, visits by French princes, even crown princes, were not uncommon right up until the revolution. France was also the only major country which has declined to send an ambassador to Montuga. The stated reason was that France could only send an ambassador to foreign countries. France did, however, send special emissaries or envoys to Montuga from time to time.’

  ‘If I may ask, your majesty, how does France’s declaration of a republic affect the treaty?’

  ‘For the present, the new government appears not to have focussed on Montuga at all. This is unlikely to persist. We believe that republican government is unlikely to condone a monarchy within French territory. We fear that the treaty may be revoked. However, it is also possible that France may initially pay lip service to the treaty in order to be seen to comply with international law and in order to gain international acceptance.’

  ‘I see.’ As Jason absorbed the king’s analysis of the dilemma facing Montuga, he realised that the decision he had taken that same morning to seek a new port to which to relocate his business had been the correct one. It was also fortunate that his further decision - the one to form a partnership with other traders aimed at relocating the entire Monte Vista trade centre to the new port - had not been discussed with anyone yet. The duties levied on the goods exchanged and the mooring fees generated by the trade centre constituted the majority of the income of the Montugan treasury. He doubted that he would have been welcomed as a guest of the king if the latter were to have gotten wind of Jason’s newly conceived plan to relocate the entire trade centre. In addition to these thoughts, Jason remained curious about the purpose of the king’s invitation. And then it struck him.

  ‘I have never seen a warship bearing your majesty’s ensign. I assume the treaty precludes a Montugan navy.’ Jason’s remark generated a knowing chuckle from the king.

  ‘Correct. Whilst we are permitted a royal guard not exceeding five hundred men, a navy is strictly forbidden.’

  ‘However, I presume there is nothing in the treaty to prevent a foreign fleet of merchant ships with cannons and armed personnel from anchoring at Monte Vista Harbour, as is presently the case.’

  ‘Nothing at all.’ The king’s grin grew wider. He turned to address Le Riche.

  ‘I think you were right about him,’ the king noted approvingly before refocusing his attention on Jason. ‘Montuga requires a naval option in these difficult times. You are probably aware that Montuga is completely surrounded on all sides by a semi-circular mountain range. The Montugan Alps are extremely high and, due to the many ragged cliffs, the range is virtually impenetrable except in one place, a narrow mountain pass in the North known as the Devil’s Orifice. You can accept it as fact when I tell you that the Devil’s Orifice is fortified by my guards and it is impenetrable.’ The king lit his pipe and continued.

  ‘As you know, the Montugan Alps extend into the sea at both ends of the semi-circle. There are rock ragged rock formations above and below the surface at each end of the semi-circle. The rocks and the strong currents protect Montuga from any attack using longboats sailing from either of the French stretches of coastline which border Montuga. Clearly, any attack launched against Montuga must inevitably come from the sea. This is where you come in.’

  The king grinned for a moment. ‘I wish to appoint you as Montuga’s First Sea Lord. Of course, only you, I, and the duke here will have knowledge of your appointment.’ As he finished speaking, the king paused as he considered Jason carefully.

  Jason attempted to maintain a bland expression.

  ‘You look a little concerned,’ the king observed. ‘You do not need to be. You and your men will be well compensated for your services. At least double any sum you and your crew might earn from your regular operations.’

  ‘It is not that, your majesty. To be able to take on the French navy, I would have to refit the ships. I would have to train all the non-naval sailors to military standard, and I would have to subject retired naval sailors in my employ to a proper naval routine. Many of my crew left the British navy to enjoy a more relaxed working environment. They may not be keen to remain with me if this should change. In addition, word about our military style routines will soon leak to other ships in the harbour. Add to that the fact that people will notice that none of my ships are conveying goods back and forth across the Atlantic any longer. Questions will be asked about how the fleet now earns money. It will not be long before someone realises that Montuga has an unofficial navy.’

  ‘You do us a grave injustice if you imagine that we have failed to consider all the things you have just mentioned,’ remarked the king. ‘You will, of course, tell anyone who asks that the ships in your fleet are to be fully restored to their previous naval capabilities in order to serve as escorts to trading ships wishing to avoid pirates. Piracy from North African ports has recently affected several ships inc
luding a number of American vessels. It is already a matter of record that the American government is threatening to send a warship to the Mediterranean to battle this scourge. You will be offered a contract by the board of the Monte Vista Trade Centre to ensure that the approach to and from Monte Vista is kept clear of pirates. No one need know that the amount paid to you by the Trade Centre will be substantially supplemented by my treasury.’ He paused before adding: ‘… unofficially of course.’

  ‘Your majesty’s offer is most generous. I shall have to consider it carefully. Might I request some time to do so?’

  ‘You are afforded a week. I might have granted you more time, but the circumstances…..’ the king found it unnecessary to complete his sentence.

  ‘I understand completely,’ Jason stated. He doubted that he would accept the king’s proposal. If Montuga were to resist any of the demands France would inevitably be making, it would be inevitable that the French navy would be dispatched to Monte Vista. Jason did not fancy the idea of taking on the French navy with only seven ships. In truth, such thirst for naval conflict as he may once have relished had been properly quenched during his younger days in the royal navy.

  ‘Irrespective of your answer, there is another matter in which I was hoping to secure your assistance.’ The king’s expression became extremely solemn. ‘In the event that the worst should happen and it becomes clear that the palace will be overrun by the French or by revolutionaries from Montuga, I need someone I can trust to ensure that my son, the crown prince, and my daughter, princess Renate are ferreted away from Montuga to a safe destination. If you agree to this, I will ensure that a handsome sum is paid to you upon your arrival at the chosen destination, provided that my son and my daughter are with you and are alive.’

  The discussion was interrupted by a knock on the door. It was the court usher.

  ‘Pardon the interruption, your majesty, lunch is ready to be served. Her royal Highness, Princess Renate is also here to join for lunch as requested.

  ‘Show her in. We can dispense with the announcement,’ the king instructed. The usher left the room momentarily. He returned and stood next to the entrance to the Chamber. Princess Renate strolled into the room with poise. Jason recognised her instantly. He rose instantly, as did the duke.

  ‘Hello Uncle Emile,’ she greeted the duke cheerfully. The sight of an uncle she probably knew and loved since childhood caused the elegant, princess-like demeanour to momentarily give way to that of a young girl. The young girl vanished instantly as the princess laid eyes on Jason. She considered him without giving any indication as to whether she recognised him from earlier, or from the previous day on the beach.

  ‘Good afternoon, your royal highness.’ Le Riche’s reply was accompanied by a bow.

  ‘My dear, may I present our special guest.’ The king remained seated as he gestured towards Jason. ‘This is Lord Jason Cavendish, son of the Duke of Scarborough.’

  ‘I am delighted to make your acquaintance Lord Cavendish.’ Her formal, yet polite tone was accompanied by an equally formal smile which betrayed nothing.

  ‘Your royal highness,’ was all that Jason dared to utter. He resorted to the safety of his formal military demeanour. At close quarters, the princess was more magnificent than he had earlier imagined. He managed a bow. As he waited for her to be seated, he noticed the unusual greenish blue colour of her eyes for the first time. He also became aware of an irresistible urge to kiss her sensual lips. He allowed for a suitable elapse of time after she took her seat before he did likewise.

  ‘Lord Cavendish possesses his own merchant fleet.’ The king was speaking for his daughter’s benefit. ‘I have asked him to undertake the task of ensuring your safety and that of your brother’s in the event it becomes necessary for you to leave the kingdom.’

  ‘It would be my great honour,’ Jason responded immediately, and before he could stop himself. He realised at once that he had foolishly agreed to be responsible for the Princess’s and the Prince’s safe extraction from the kingdom without having settled the terms of payment for this service in advance. In addition, undertaking this responsibility tied him and at least one of the ships to the kingdom for the foreseeable future. His plans to investigate the possible relocation of his fleet to Naples would have to be shelved for the time being. He became annoyed with himself as he realised that now it probably made sense for him to agree to the king’s plan for his merchant fleet to become Montuga’s unofficial navy. Jason had started the day by planning to move his fleet’s headquarters so as to avoid any involvement in a war. His annoyance grew as he realised that far from avoiding a war, he was about to become Montuga’s front line of defence. Such concerns diminished considerably, however, as he glanced at the princess.

  ‘In that case you should know that I will not be leaving without my father,’ the princess said defiantly.

  ‘You will do as you are told,’ the king snapped.

  The princess glared briefly at her father before focusing on Jason as an awkward moment of silence prevailed. Jason could not help wondering whether the king had arranged for his daughter’s presence as insurance in case a monetary incentive proved insufficient. The king must have known that few men faced with the presence of the princess would be able to decline a request to undertake the task of ensuring her safety.

  ‘Am I correct in assuming that the Earl of Somerset is in charge of one of your vessels?’ the Princess enquired. Her eyes sparkled as spoke.

  Although Jason’s heart sank at the reference to his best friend, Oliver Pemberton, he made a point of sustaining a neutral expression. Jason was more than a little jealous of Oliver’s striking good looks and of his second in command’s apparent success in employing his boyish to win the attentions of almost every woman who crossed his path, including several women whom both friends had fancied. His blond hair, blue eyes, tanned strapping body and wicked smile seemed irresistible to women. This state of affairs seemed all the more unfair given that Oliver seemed unable to maintain his interest in any one woman for long.

  ‘Yes, your highness. Do you know him?’

  ‘No I don’t,’ she said curtly as she glanced briefly in her father’s direction.

  Jason was left under the distinct impression that had it not been for the presence of her father, the princess’s next words might have included a request for an introduction.

  ‘Lord Cavendish, there is another area in which you might be of assistance to me.’ The king once again focused on Jason. ‘Do you know of a man by the name of Luciano Monteverdi?’

  ‘I have only heard of him?’

  ‘Luciano Monteverdi is a lawyer who, like you studied at Oxford. He specialises in maritime and commercial law. He now has a successful practice here in Monte Vista.’

  ‘I do not recall having any dealings with him in Monte Vista,’ Jason declared apologetically.

  ‘No matter,’ the king replied. ‘Whilst Monteverdi was in Oxford, he wrote a book entitled, ‘A New Order’. It is a work promoting republicanism and, of course, denouncing any form of monarchy. The book has recently been translated into French and together with the works of certain French philosophers it has been widely circulated in France and, I understand, in Montuga. There are many who feel that Monteverdi’s writings played a key role in ensuring that the ideology of republicanism won the day in France. Monteverdi’s presence in this kingdom presents me with a difficulty. He is one of the leaders of the democratic protest movement in Montuga. What puzzles me for one is that he favours republicanism in his book whilst he claims to favour a constitutional monarchy here in Montuga.’

  ‘What does your majesty require of me?’

  ‘I wish you to meet with Monteverdi. I require you to establish what he and others who may be plotting against me are up to. In particular, I need to know if the republicans in France are planning to work with local republicans with a view to inciting the Montugan people to rise up against their king.’

  ‘I will assist if
I am able, your majesty. Might I be permitted, however, to enquire whether your majesty intends further negotiations with Monteverdi?’ As Jason finished speaking he noticed the king’s expression change. The transformation was reminiscent of a dark cloud passing in front of the sun.

  ‘Let me make myself plain. I do not believe in democracy. The idea that the masses in the streets are able to make a more informed decision about what is best for a country than a king appointed by god himself is an abomination to me. The first mistake democrats make is that they believe that having strength of numbers is a substitute for experience or achievement. Their second mistake is to presume that the right course of action to adopt can be determined by the vote of the majority. Democracy cannot guarantee that the majority will necessarily be right.’ He paused to cough again. ‘I will never negotiate with, or be seen to appease any protestor who wishes me to relinquish the power handed down to me and my forbears from generation to generation.’ The king emphasised his point by banging the table with his fist. ‘I have ruled this kingdom wisely. No one can complain of high taxes, shortages of food, serious poverty or of any of the grievances which may have applied to Louis’s rule in France. In these circumstances, the protests are inexcusable.’

  ‘I apologise for the question, your majesty,’ Jason stated as soon as the king’s tirade had ended. ‘I see now that it was posed in ignorance of the facts to which your majesty has just referred.’

  ‘Of course it was,’ the king agreed. The speed of the return of the king’s friendlier disposition almost exceeded that of its unexpected departure. He continued: ‘May I look forward to your assistance and to your report in this most delicate matter? I look to you for this task because you will be seen as an outsider and you are more likely to be trusted.’

  ‘Of course, your majesty,’ Jason agreed.

  Lunch was a lavish affair involving several courses, the main being roast beef accompanied by a magnificent garlic and mushroom sauce. The princess had little to say during the meal, and much to Jason’s disappointment, she excused herself prior to the desert coarse.

  ‘Goodbye, Lord Cavendish. Perhaps our paths will cross again.’ She concluded with a polite smile. Jason could not determine whether or not the princess’s statement constituted the expression of a wish. He supposed that she was simply being polite. In any event, he found her statement to be particularly amusing when he reminded himself that the task of her safe extraction from the kingdom in the event of an emergency had that same day been entrusted to him.