Chapter 1

5th January 1838 

Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour, Hong Kong

A dense, northern fog had set in and around the docks, obscuring everything from view. It was only early afternoon, yet the fog gave everyone the eerie feeling that it was just after twilight. But, in all honesty, Lieutenant Warren Lloyd, of Her Majesty’s Royal Navy, did not mind at all. He was just glad to be back on solid ground after nearly seven months at sea while on the HMS Marianne, where he was First Mate. The HMS Marianne had been his permanent residence for the last three years and spent the majority of that time roaming the South China Sea. During this last expedition they had captured and some-what destroyed two pirate ships, gave chase to a third that got away and rescued an entire cargo of tea and opium. And now there were here, in Hong Kong, to restock the HMS Marianne, deposit the cargo onto a British trading vessel and make some vital repairs before returning to their reconnaissance post.

So, it came as no surprise that Lieutenant Lloyd was very much looking forward to a few weeks of rest (even if it was in the crowed and murky back streets of Hong Kong), to real hot meals without a single trace of fish in them and to giving the remainder of his left leg ample time for recuperation before he had to put his wooden appendage back on.

But fate was clearly not on his side that day.

After shouting some final orders to his crewmen, but before he had even finished walking the length of the pier, he was intercepted by a young, native man.

“You Lu … Li … you Lloyd?” he ask in his broken English.

“Yes, I’m Lieutenant Lloyd.”

“Urgent message you.” He shoved a crisp white envelope into the Lieutenant’s hands and was off before he could even say ‘thank you’.

“Who’s it from?”

Warren Lloyd nearly jumped out of his skin, but instead, spun around on his peg-leg only to find Officer Cedric Moorland peering over his shoulder.

“Moorland! Why in God’s name are you following me? I nearly pulled a pistol on you.”

Moorland just shrugged, giving him a boyish smile, though he couldn’t have been more than three years younger than the Lieutenant. He put him at around six-and-twenty years of age but no more than that. Lieutenant Lloyd really wanted to give Moorland a scathing set-down but, despite being the most nosiest member of his crew, he was also the most friendliest, with a talent for making people laugh. Something that was greatly appreciated by everyone, especially when you had to spend months upon months at sea with the same group of thirty people.

“So, who’s it from?” Moorland asked again.

Lieutenant Lloyd turned the envelope around and examined the seal.

“From the British Ambassador to Hong Kong, apparently.”

“Sir, you haven’t been dallying with his daughter, have you?”

“Of course I haven’t. She far outranks me and I doubt she would have any interest in a lowly one-legged naval officer. Besides, when would we have had the occasion to meet?…” he was about to continue when he realised something. “Wait, does the British Ambassador even have a daughter?”

Moorland just shrugged again, clearly attempting not to smile. Lieutenant Lloyd glared at him, feeling thoroughly like a fool.

“So, aren’t you going to open it?”

“You know, I’d rather read my correspondence in private, thank you very much.”

“He said it was urgent.”

“Moorland…” Lieutenant Lloyd liked to believe that he had some clout, that his crew members greatly respected him. After all, he wasn’t a man to be trifled with and each crewman knew this. So when Lieutenant Lloyd used that tone of warning Moorland saluted, turned on his heal and headed straight into the fog, the in general direction of the Marianne.

The Lieutenant had only limped a few steps further down the pier when he stopped again. Overcome by curiosity he opened the letter, wondering what the British Ambassador would want with him. Inside was another envelope and a short note from the Ambassador telling him the letter had arrived from London with great urgency. He opened the second envelope in which was a much longer letter, dated almost six months ago. When he finally got to the end of the second letter he swore under his breath. Fate was definitely working against him. There would be no rest tonight for him and his leg.

“Bad news, huh?”

“Moorland! I thought I told you to get back to the ship.”

“Actually Sir, you didn’t tell me anything. That’s why I came back to see if you had any specific instructions for me.”

Lieutenant tried, really tried not to laugh. But a chuckle escaped his lungs nonetheless as he, himself, began walking in the opposite direction to which he had been heading before.

“Umm, where are you going Lieutenant?”

“I thought it was obvious, back to the ship. I need to clear out my cabin.”

“Why?”

“I’m required to return to England immediately, and I doubt I will be back any time soon.”

There was a slight panicked edge to Moorland’s voice as he said “but you’ll need to get a leave of absence from Captain Forster, and I don’t think he’ll be too willing to let you go. He said himself that you were the best first mate the Marianne had ever seen…”

“Don’t worry Moorland. If there’s one think I’ve learnt over these last three years is how to deal with Captain Forster.”

“…and you’ll have to report to the Admiral. You know, he thinks that the only respectful way to leave the navy is death.”

“Well, I don’t think even the Admiral will be able to argue against this,” he replied, holding up the letter.

“Orders from that high up, huh?”

“Something like that.” A wry smile stretched across Warren Lloyd’s lips.

By now they were at the HMS Marianne again. But before Lieutenant Lloyd could limp up the gangplank, Moorland put a firm hand on his shoulder, his face utterly serious for once.

“How soon do you have to leave, sir?”

“In all honesty, as soon as I can.”

Moorland gave him a curt nod, then saluted and preceded Lieutenant Lloyd up to the ship. Even Moorland knew that argument was futile once the Lieutenant had made up his mind.

***