Drummer's Jacket, 26 May

And Higgins had collared them both. Which at least meant Oxley hadn't given them away, which was something.

He surreptitiously rubbed his damp palms on his trousers. They were in so much trouble...

"Thank you, Higgins," Cartwright said, choosing not to reprimand the Marine for his chosen method. "The three of you aft, if you please."

Aft? Oxley's heart sank into his shoes and there was a lump in his throat. His "Aye, aye, sir," sounded forced and unnatural and he hastily turned to drag his stock and jacket on - he'd taken them both off to make it easier to do his sewing.

Higgins had let them both go, and the twins fell quickly to throwing on their uniforms, not even paying mind to the fact that they were grabbing each other's things.

"Hell!" Thomas hissed to his brother, belatedly realising he was wearing Andrew's jacket. It was filthy.

"Shut up," Andrew hissed back. He was still scowling - no doubt because he'd ended up with Thomas' shoes.

There was a cough from Higgins, who still stood behind them. "Move it!"

The twins moved.

Crap. Oxley waited till the other two were presentable - well, as presentable as they were going to get - and nervously led the way aft towards the wardroom, where he knocked on the door. It was more of a terrified tap than a proper knock, and he had to fight down an urge to head for'rard and find somewhere to hide for the next three weeks.

"S... Sent for, sir," he managed in response to the growled query from the Master, who was off-duty inside the wardroom.

There were other officers in the wardroom, but Cartwright had ignored them. Ordinarily he would take more care with private reprimands. Only... this was hardly ordinary.

"Come," he called, turning around only after schooling his features into something resembling a stern mask.

Oxley ran through a whole string of foul words in his head as he heard the order, but swallowed and meekly pushed the door open, leading the other two in.

Mister Cartwright looked angrier than Oxley had ever seen, and he wondered just how much this latest meeting with the gunner's daughter was going to hurt.

He was standing to attention without even knowing how he'd got there. This was going to be bad. Very, very bad.

He waited until the three drummers had come in and one of the Shepherds had dutifully closed the door before folding his hands behind his back and looking each of them over impassively.

"I am given to understand you three were the creators of that prank we bore witness to this afternoon," Cartwright began. "Of course I do not expect to ever learn who truly came up with the idea. However, I would be very interested to know who aided you in the preparations."

While there was much he did not know about the Marines he commanded, he was familiar enough with these three to know they could not have carried this off by themselves alone.

Whatever happened, Oxley was not going to drop Foley into it. He didn't think the Shepherds would either. Well, he hoped they wouldn't. He didn't get why the Lieutenant thought that any of them would willingly get anyone else into trouble. it wasn't as though the officer didn't already have three of them to discipline. Why on earth would he expect them to add to that number?

No reply. He hadn't honestly expected one.

"I see," he said levelly. "No matter. There is still the issue of distracting a sailor from his assigned duties - and also of masquerading as a sailor yourselves, Shepherds."

The twins shifted uncomfortably. Cartwright would never know which of them had been the guilty party in that event, either. He pursed his lips and considered.

"As I understand it," he went on. "Corporal Johnson has already spoken to you about this?"

And of course the twins would stick up for each other and both take the same punishment, even though only one of them had done that - and doing it had meant that there had been the correct number of Tars on watch while de Guarde had been on deck in his borrowed red coat.

Had Corporal Johnson spoken to the other two?

"He did, sir?" Andrew ventured, placing his hope in the belief that Johnson had not been specific about the nature of that 'talk'. The corporal had spoken to them, sure, but that was about their supposedly being ill. Right?

Cartwright nodded slowly. "He did. Requesting double watches apiece from the pair of you, when you were well enough for it. As it appears you are."

The twins visibly wilted.

If Corporal Johnson had spoken to the officer about the twins, then what on earth had he said about Oxley? Or... no. He'd pretty much told the officer that it had been his idea, hadn't he? He swallowed. He was probably going to get caned or something.

It wouldn't surprise him, much as he'd rather not face the gunner's daughter.

His facade was cracking. Damn it. "Granted," Cartwright said, striving to hold onto his mask of displeasure. "You were in sick-berth at my direction, which perhaps is your only saving grace. Had you not perhaps lied to the corporal..."

That was a sentence best left hanging, unfinished. His point there had been made.

"Oxley." The lieutenant looked at the older drummer. "You are mates with the seaman De Guarde, I assume?"

Hearing the officer speak his name sent cold shivers down Oxley's spine."Y..." He swallowed. "Yes sir."

"I don't suppose he made mention to you of any interest in this, before it became a plot?"

Oh, damn. Why did Mister Cartwright always ask the most awkward questions? What was he supposed to say?

"Um. Yes,sir...?" he said, hoping like hell that he'd given the right answer and wasn't going to get de Guarde into any worse trouble, if possible.

Of course.

"So it was not, in fact, solely your idea."

"Was me as suggested it, sir." It certainly hadn't been de Guarde who'd come up with it, though he'd been very eager to go along with it - as the Shepherds had, too. But it had been Oxley's idea originally.

"I see."

Cartwright glanced thoughtfully to the side, giving himself a moment to catch himself before he let his expression slip. "I suppose I hardly need impress upon you the inherent wrong that lies within all of this?"

It wasn't as though they'd done anything dangerous - the ship wasn't at sea anyway, and de Guarde did know the different calls and things.

But of course, that wasn't what any officer wanted to hear, was it?

"Yes, sir," he replied. He wanted to shuffle his feet, but there was no excuse for moving while at attention, of course.

Hold onto it, Cartwright told himself sternly. Just a few more minutes...

"Good. I shouldn't like to waste breathe upon making it plain. The lesson, for the most part, I believe has been learned. You lads have had your fun, more's the fortunate no ill came of it, and there shall not be a repeat occurrence. Do I make myself clear?"

Damn. Still, there were other ways to have fun, of course. Shame they couldn't repeat this - it had been so perfect.

"Yes, sir." The reply was flat, listless.

Now, please get on with it and tell us what we already know, Oxley thought. I know it's the gunner's daughter. Jus' get it over with already, sir.

The Shepherds managed a choked-sounding "Aye sir". Good enough. Cartwright set his jaw. No. Not now. It was nearly over.

"Very well. I have spoken with Corporal Johnson and he has agreed. Double-watches for you, Oxley, and three apiece for you, Shepherds - and he shall see to it there is no trickery. After your second watch is over, Oxley, you may see Sergeant Quinn. I'm sure he would appreciate assistance in the arms locker."

"Yes, sir."

Double watches apiece - and then to help Sergeant Quinn. Ugh. it could be worse, though he was going to be needing his hammock afterwards - and those muskets were damn heavy. Sergeant Quinn was probably going to take a dim view of the prank they'd pulled as well, which wouldn't help matters.

Still. it had been good while it had lasted - and was one of the best pranks he'd ever help pull.