***
Early the next morning, and while sitting on his patio drinking coffee, Jason was surprised to see a French naval ship of the line entering Monte Vista harbour. He was studying the ship through his telescope when Claymore interrupted him to mention that that the crown prince and a young boy had come to visit him.
‘Your royal highness.’ Jason bowed as the two visitors were shown in.
‘This is Philippe,’ Ruan said, as he pointed to the young, dark haired teenaged boy next to him. Uncharacteristically, Ruan was unshaven and there were dark rings below his eyes.
‘This is Jason. You don’t mind if he calls you Jason, do you?’
‘I’m pleased to meet you, Jason.’ The boy’s voice was croaky and his eyes bloodshot. He attempted a brave face as he extended his hand.
‘Hello Philippe,’ Jason replied. He then turned to Ruan. ‘I do not see your carriage. Did you walk?’
‘We walked,’ Ruan confirmed. ‘We needed to get out of the palace. My father has handed Philippe’s father over to the French Commander who arrived from France yesterday. That French frigate has come to take them all to France.’
‘I heard about the arrests last night. Philippe, I am so sorry to hear about your father. I do not know if there is anything I can do to help you feel better, but if you can think of think of anything, you have only to ask.’
‘Can he stay with you for a while? I think he needs to be away from my father and the palace for a while.’
‘Of course, Claymore will show you to one of the spare rooms. Do you want to go there now, or would you prefer to remain with us for the present?’
‘I wish to be alone for a while, if that is in order.’ As Claymore led him away, Philippe cast an eye in the direction of the harbour. He also glanced at the telescope on the table. Tears welled in his eyes.
‘There is a room with a view of the harbour if you want. You may borrow the telescope if you wish.’
‘No,’ Philippe replied mournfully. ‘I’ve said goodbye. I don’t want to see my father again.’ He left the patio, and followed after Claymore.
‘I cannot believe my father agreed to this,’ Ruan complained. He was also almost in tears.
‘I understand that the French have agreed to recognise the treaty of Montuga. If your father had refused, it would have been grounds for war and the end of the kingdom. Your father was left with no choice.’
‘So instead of war, he chose disgrace. The Marquis d’Artois is a decent man. He is one of my father’s oldest friends. He should have chosen to fight.’
‘Your father did what he had to do. Montuga cannot survive an attack from France. If your father had refused to co-operate, his fate would have been to end up as a traitor on a French guillotine.’
‘What about your fleet, First Sea Lord? France would have to get past your fleet to land troops here. You could stop them.’
‘I have only three non-refitted merchant ships available now. But, even if I had all seven my ships available, I doubt we could successfully take on more than twelve French ships at the most. You must realise that there is a limit to what my fleet can do for Montuga.’
‘So you would have done the same if you were king? You would have handed Philippe’s father over to the French?’
‘If I was the king, I would have done exactly the same thing,’ Jason confirmed.
Ruan frowned as he reached for the telescope and directed it towards the harbour.
‘They have them chained to each other like animals. Everyone, I am looking at is as good as dead. I can see Philippe’s father.’