26th May, morning at anchor

It was unfortunate this had ended up being such a fuss, considering it had really accomplished nothing.

"Well, I can't deny that I wish we could have cleared this up a bit more quietly, but in truth there's been no harm done," Bolitho said. Then he took on a more stern expression. "However, now that we have established that you are truly a member of the crew, I hope you realise that you are once again subject to naval discipline."

Oh hell, here it came. Perry swallowed a lump in his throat and cast a nervous eye at his wife, hoping she would not understand what the captain was saying. "Yes sir." It would only distress her more to see him hauled off for punishment now as a direct result of her efforts on his behalf. He rubbed her shoulder reassuringly but gave Bolitho a resigned and significant look, positively willing him to understand his meaning. "But please... let my wife go safe now. She won't cause no more trouble." They might well flay him alive at the grating next - he knew that the lieutenants in particular were furious - but he would endure anything as long as she did not have to know about it, poor little mite.

"I already said that she may leave, Perry. Did you not hear me?"

Of course Bolitho would not wish the woman to witness any sort of punishment. In truth, he was not entirely certain that he was going to punish Perry in the first place, but if he did, he would not think about doing it until his wife was long gone.

Perry was in enough trouble as it was, and for once he knew better than to protest that he'd been waiting for the men to unload the casks of wine, because she couldn't very well leave while they were doing that, now could she? Instead he simply said "Yes sir. Sorry sir," and led his wife to the gangway. He murmured a private goodbye to her, but one of the marines held him back from seeing her over the side.

The men had finished their unloading - six barrels plus a bag that he recognized, probably personal effects for him - but he could not see his wife until she had pushed off from the ship, raising the sail with some difficulty, but as always she found a way to manage it on her own even if it was not the most graceful of operations. The boat was already quite distant before she was able to look back and wave. The marine did not stop him from waving back.

Bolitho watched as Perry waved farewell to his wife, allowing the sailor to have a few last moments of peace. He waited until the boat had finally sailed away from the ship before giving his next order.

"Perry, even though you are not guilty of a crime, causing such an undue fiasco is not something to be tolerated aboard ship," Bolitho said, nodding to the Marine standing nearby, "So you will be taken below and placed in irons for now, until your punishment is decided."

Perry exhaled and nodded. It was no more than he had expected. He cast one last lingering glance at the rabelo in the distance before allowing the marine to haul him away.

Higgins kept his expression perfectly blank as he took a firm grip on Perry's arm and led him away to the ladder. This whole affair only further illustrated the reasons why he was wise to have never gone for a sailor.

Bolitho watched as Perry was taken below, then he turned to the lieutenants.

"Mr. Bush, Mr. Leat, Mr. Cartwright, I would ask that the three of you join me in the Great Cabin, if you please."

Leat only cast a sideways glance at Bush before he stopped himself, merely mumbling "Aye, sir." and following the captain aft. Pray to God this would only be about the woman, and not the rather colourful nature of his eye...

"Aye aye, sir," Cartwright said blandly. He expected some mention to be made about the alertness of the men in the guardboat, a matter he was already intending to speak with Corporal Johnson about.

"Aye sir," Bush said, not entirely relishing having to relive the whole affair for the Captain, as they would surely have to do.

[Conversation between the captain and the lieutenants continues here]