***
Later that morning, Jason was granted an audience with the king and the duke. His declared willingness to make his fleet available to Montuga on the terms suggested by the king was warmly welcomed. Jason was not disappointed by the total monthly sum offered in exchange for the use of his fleet. Much of the money was required to entice Jason’s sailors to remain with him and with his unofficial navy.
Although the actual purpose of upgrading the fleet was only disclosed to Jason’s officers, Jason was unsurprised to be informed that most of his crew doubted that the refits were necessary to deal with pirates. It led to speculation as to whether Jason’s merchant navy was being converted into a private navy to protect Montuga from an inevitable French naval attack by sea. A few of his men decided that they were not prepared to risk their lives against the French navy. Some chose to return to their homes in England and Scotland. Others sought and found alternative employment on other merchant vessels in Monte Vista Harbour. The majority, however, decided to stay with Jason and his fleet. Some did so for the money; many did so out of loyalty to Jason. Still more stayed for the adventure and some stayed for assorted combinations of these reasons.
The reward the king offered for the safe extraction of the crown prince and the princess to London was also more than generous. The king advised that he had already arranged that the said sum to be deposited with an attorney in London and he provided Jason with the relevant details. Jason was advised that no-one, other than the king, the duke and Jason himself were to be privy to the fact that London had been chosen.
Jason explained that it would take around two months to refit his fleet in order to have it equipped for its new duty. He went on to provide the king with his report regarding Luciano Monteverdi. The report concluded that Monteverdi did not constitute a threat to the monarchy. The king was relieved to hear that Monteverdi no longer supported the republican notions he had earlier penned. The king apparently feared that Monteverdi was a man capable of awaking an enemy within at a time when the kingdom considered republican France as an enemy on the lookout for a suitable pretext to invade Montuga. As they concluded their business, the king approached Jason, placing his hand on Jason’s shoulder.
‘The duke and I are most grateful to you for this information. We are also delighted that you have agreed to assist us. I trust that you understand the importance of the position you now hold in the kingdom. We have endeavoured to be generous. But the responsibility on your shoulders is not one for which gold can serve as adequate reward. Your reputation for the pursuit of fortune and adventure is known. However, you have been approached because you are also known for your honesty and loyalty in your dealings. You are held in high regard by your sailors and by those with whom you do business. I trust that in time, I, the duke, my children and this kingdom will earn your loyalty too. If one fights for money one is but a mercenary. It is far better to fight for a cause in which one believes, or for those whom you love. About your sailors, I have no concern. Most of them stand ready to fight for someone they love.’ He paused. ‘I am informed that most of them will fight for you!’
The king proceeded to emphasize the importance Jason’s new position by informing him that the usher had been issued with a royal decree granting Jason unimpeded access to the palace, the duke and to the King.
The unexpected announcement rendered Jason speechless. The duke ended the ensuing silence by changing the subject.
‘Out of curiosity, what was your impression of the system of government in the United States?’ Jason was caught a little of guard by the duke’s question. The king’s recent tirade against democratic government was firmly etched in Jason’s memory. Jason’s reply needed to be a measured one.
‘Your grace, I come from England where the king shares power with a prime minister who is the leader of an elected parliament. I am therefore not unaccustomed to some public participation in government. As far as the American system is concerned, I must confess that I have not spent much time considering it. In any event, I would venture to suggest that the country is still too young to allow for meaningful comparisons between their system and those of other countries. At this stage, all that could be said, in fairness, is that the American system appears to be not without promise.’
‘Not without promise,’ the duke repeated. ‘I think that is well said.’
The king did not respond.
Jason was left to conclude that the duke’s views were possibly more liberal than those of the king and that his question had been aimed at a point of disagreement which existed between them. Jason could also not help wondering whether he was possibly being considered for some as yet undisclosed future role in the kingdom. Perhaps they had plans for him to play an advisory role in relation to any alternative system of government which the kingdom might be compelled to introduce in future.
As if to emphasize Jason’s newly established, although still unofficial status, he was informed that his name had been placed on the guest list for the crown prince’s royal ball which was to occur at the palace that evening. The ball was one of the social highlights of the year. Invitees were limited to royalty, the Montugan nobility, leading citizens and foreign ambassadors and their wives. In earlier years, the king and queen either hosted such balls themselves or they had attended as honoured guests. More recently, however, the king offered his declining health and the passing of his wife as reasons why he no longer particularly enjoyed such occasions.
The ball had been postponed and later cancelled in the previous year as a result of the protests. It was thought that an extravagant ball which catered to the pleasures of the few might serve to offend the sensibilities of the many. The duke had suggested that the arrival of French troops at the Montugan border possibly also warranted the cancellation of this year’s ball. The king had decided against it.
‘We need as much normality in this kingdom as possible whilst we still have the power to permit it,’ he explained.