“And good day to you, Mr. Stockton,” Ashfield said excitedly, coming from behind his desk. “May I show you something, sir?”
“Certainly,” Garrett said, assuming the man wanted to make sure he saw the painting on the wall. Instead, the secretary held out his hands before Garrett and made tight fists and then opened and spread his fingers wide. “The grip in my hands has improved greatly.” He repeated the action a couple more times. “And it’s not just the movements of my hands, sir. All my joints, hips, knees and shoulders feel better than they have in years. Even my wife has noticed I have more of a happy bounce to my step.”
“Well, if the wife has noticed then it is good news.”
Ashfield beamed.
“Do you think it’s the powder I gave you that’s made the difference in your movements?” asked Garrett.
“It has to be,” Ashfield said without equivocating. “It’s the only thing I’ve done differently. And I’ve not had any ill effects from the mixture, though I have to admit, the first few mornings I didn’t know if it would stay down after I managed to swallow it. I’ve found strong coffee or a nip of brandy helps hide the taste.”
Garrett chuckled. “That’s good to know.”
“Yes, sir. I hope I will continue to get even better, but if I don’t, it’s worth the relief I already have. I have about half of the documents you wanted copied. Would you like for me to go ahead and return those to you today?”
“I’m glad to hear that, and no. It’s best we keep them all together.”
“Thank you, sir. I’ll do that. Mr. Urswick and Mr. Brownley are waiting for you.”
Garrett walked over and knocked on Urswick’s door, and then looked back to Ashfield and said, “Well done on the ship.”
Ashfield beamed again.
“Mr. Stockton,” Urswick greeted as he opened the door wide for Garrett to enter.
Garrett nodded to him and then toward Mr. Brownley, who was rising from his chair. The Prince’s emissary was a man of average build, height, and girth. What set him apart from most other average men was his haughty attitude in most things. Garrett had never met a man who wore his collar points higher, and Brownley wore his position of being in the Prince’s inner circle just as lofty.
“Good day, Mr. Stockton,” he said, with his chin held high. “I trust your stay in London has been advantageous so far.”
Garrett shook the man’s hand. “Pleasant. How’s the Prince?”
“He’s well. It appears you are, too.”
Urswick looked at Garrett and said, “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll step outside for a few minutes and handle some other things. You can let me know if you need anything.”
Garrett nodded to his manager, who closed the door as he left the office.
“The Prince was glad to hear you’re back in Town, Mr. Stockton. He will soon have need of your fast ship and your temperament.”
Garrett frowned. “Will another country’s ships be chasing me, as happened when I sailed out of Greece three years ago?”
The man gave a humorless chuckle. “Well, of course, we never know, do we, Mr. Stockton? But as always, we hope not. I can say that this time you won’t be carrying delicate artifacts from historical sites, armaments or gold, so there should be no danger to your men. I hope that reassures you.”
Somewhat, Garrett thought, but remained silent. It really didn’t matter what it was, he didn’t want to do it. Just a year ago, the thought of sailing for the Prince again would have excited him. He couldn’t remember a time he wasn’t ready to leave London within a week or two of arriving. Now, all he could think was that he didn’t want to leave Julia. The thought of it twisted his gut. There was no doubt he owed the Prince more than he could ever repay, but he wouldn’t leave Julia and her son for anyone.
“Right now, I’m not sure exactly which port you will sail into. That has yet to be settled. I should know within a month. I can tell you that your cargo will be animals.”
“What?” Garrett grimaced.
“It’s a long story but I’ll try to make it brief. There’s been private talk among some gentlemen who want to start a Royal Zoological Society here in London. Much in line with the one that’s been successful in Paris. One of the men made the Prince privy to their discussions, and he became immediately interested in the idea. They’ve already started preparing an area and offered to help bring animals into London, and—”
“Wait, Mr. Brownley,” Garrett interrupted. “I don’t carry animals on any of my ships.”
The man gave him a sniff of disdain. “I understand that you haven’t done it before.”
And not likely to now, Garrett thought. He wasn’t in need of money, as he had been the first time he carried cargo for the Prince. Garrett had been to the Tower Menagerie. It was clear the animals weren’t properly cared for and he had no desire to bring more to that facility.
“The Prince will have to employ another shipping company.”
“Give me the opportunity to explain what the Prince has in mind, Mr. Stockton, before you make up your mind. Until now, animals have been caged for the benefit of people who want to look at them or poke them—not study them. I mean, who doesn’t want to see an animal as large as an elephant or as tall as a giraffe? The purpose of the Royal Society will be to create a natural habitat for the animals so they can be studied. Not simply for the sport or enjoyment of mankind. You must realize this will be entirely different.”
“Why don’t they take care of and study the ones they already have in the Tower Menagerie?”
“Well, of course, the Prince wants to create this and be the first to do it. Have his own animals.” Mr. Brownley sniffed again. “He doesn’t want to redo what someone else has already started. This new organization he is considering will see to it that the animals will be treated quite differently from the animals currently at the Tower. As you should know by now, it doesn’t matter what the Prince is involved with, he wants it to be done right and up to the best possible standards. He spares no expense to see to that. Both are the reasons I’m talking to you.”
“I’m not interested.”
“If you don’t mind, I haven’t finished, Mr. Stockton. The Prince wants the animals healthy and, shall we say, unbroken—the same way he wants every piece of china he receives from the Orient to arrive undamaged. He’s heard the stories, as I’m sure you have, how animals are sometimes mistreated on long voyages. That is why he wants you. He trusts you to see that the animals will be taken care of properly by the men handling them and that they suffer as little as possible. He wants this Royal Society get started and be bigger than the one in Paris. The Prince’s mission is always to do it grand or not do it at all.”
“I’m not interested,” Garrett said again. There was no doubt that he was once indebted to the Prince. But Garrett figured he’d paid the Regent in return several times over. He thought of Julia and Chatwyn again. He wanted to be with them. Chasing butterflies in the park or throwing a ball in the back garden. After all his years of traveling, Garrett was now feeling as if he’d come home. He wasn’t leaving. “My sailing days are over, Mr. Brownley. And my shipping company won’t ever be carrying animals.”