Following their private sea trials, Elizabeth and Aldrick lay in a blissful cuddle on the bed. After a long silence, he said, "We will don neither waistcoats nor frocks this evening. Instead, we will dress in the style we have adopted for the heat of the tropics and the mid-summers here, shirtsleeves with a cummerbund added to provide the formal pretence."

"What is a cummerbund?"

"A broad silk sash wrapped around the midriff to cover the juncture of the breeches and shirt. The fashion originates in India, and the silks are most often brightly coloured."

"I wish you had told me prior to leaving. What shall I use?"

"I have a large selection from which you may choose." As they rose from the bed, he stood behind her, cupping his hands beneath her breasts and hefting. "I love the way these move, but I have thought you might use bindings to steady them beneath your shirt so as not to titillate others."

"And the bulge of your manhood down the leg of your breeches does not flop about and entice?"

"That hangs there naturally."

"As do my breasts hang naturally from my chest. Shall we bind your foretail and sack?"

He shook his head, grinning at her reasoning.

A while later, after Aldrick had adjusted the cummerbund at her waist, Elizabeth draped a silk sash around her neck. Then standing in front of the mirror, she arranged it in a wide loose x across her bosom and tucked the ends into the sides of the cummerbund.

Aldrick smiled in approval, then he asked, "Does the x mean they are forbidden?"

"For others. But for you, it marks their presence lest you forget them." She gave him an impish grin, then chose a bright red silk sash, folded it and tucked it into the front of Aldrick's cummerbund, adjusting its end to fall beyond his mid-thigh bulge. "Now, we both are proper."

"And marked." He opened the door and led her out into the great cabin. "This evening we will be joined by Mister Stacey and Mister Charles, plus two hands selected by the Coxswain."

"Is this another tradition?"

"One I wish to expand. I see it as a means to become better acquainted with the entire ship's company and get to know them beyond their duty. Grandfather and Father dined with selected officers, midshipmen and mates a few times each week, but I wish to include those from before the masts."

Elizabeth nodded as Aldrick guided her into a deeply cushioned chair facing the stern windows. "Yes, the hands are part of the ship as well."

"Indeed. My thought is to entertain an officer plus a midshipman or a mate and two hands each second evening."

She nodded as she appraised the four empty chairs set with theirs in a semicircle in front of the windows. "Instil a sense of inclusion."

"Exactly. We must. The ship cannot be sailed without them, nor can..." He paused as the steward approached.

"Shall I bring wine for you now, Sir?"

"Thank you, James. We will wait for our guests to arrive."

"Very well, Sir."

After the steward had withdrawn, Elizabeth said, "I find it strange to not have a clock." She moved her hand to imitate the rhythm of the ship's movement. "But a pendulum would not work here."

"If we could find another way to make a clock regularly precise, we would surely win the longitude prize. It depends upon time."

"But here, you depend upon sandglasses. What about a sundial?"

"With the ship's rolling, pitching and yawing, it is not possible. It needs not only a stable position; it must also be aligned to the sun." 

"And the tables we had spent weeks copying, how will they show time?"

"We will together learn the method of measuring the angles between the stars and the moon, and reducing them through calculations with the tabulated angles for the date." 

"And then longitude?"

"Yes, through another series of calculations we may..." He paused at the sounding of two bells followed immediately by the knock on the door.

Elizabeth chuckled. "They have been waiting outside for the bell."

"Yes. Punctuality is among the things we instil." As the steward opened the door and ushered the four in, Aldrick rose. "Welcome. Please join us here."

They settled into the chairs, and after the steward had served wine, Aldrick had each introduce themselves and describe their duties aboard. While they listened to the Bosun, a whistle sounded. Aldrick rose and strode across the room to the brass voice tube, removed the cover from the funnel and spoke, "Captain here."

"Sir, Officer of the Watch. We are northeast of Margate, and we have sails downwind closing on a steady bearing."

"How far?"

"Her hull has just emerged above the horizon, Sir."

"Thank you. I will be immediately up." Aldrick covered the mouth of the funnel; then after excusing himself from his guests, he ascended the ladder to the quarterdeck.

Wilson pointed to the ship. "She's been steady there for a long time, Sir."

"Have we a recent position?"

"Aye, Sir. A running fix on the Margate light tower. It is well abaft, and the water is now clear to both port and starboard."

Aldrick looked at the compass, the transit board and the chart, then after scanning the horizon and water, he said, "Come starboard two points. Then when she is clear, and it is safe to do so, come back to East."

"Aye, Sir. Two points to starboard, then East again when safe. Shall I report when clear?"

"No, there is no need." Aldrick received Wilson's confirmation, then he descended to rejoin his guests, and once resettled, he asked the Bosun to resume.

When the Bosun had finished, Elizabeth asked, "What was that about? Your going to the quarterdeck?"

Aldrick shrugged. "Captain's responsibility. Mister Wilson was following my standing orders, among which is to immediately report any danger. We were on a collision course with a ship, and —"

She lifted a hand to her mouth. "Pointing straight us? How close?"

"No, not pointing at us. She was about two points on our starboard bow, and she remained at the same angle as we closed on her. If the angle does not change, our paths are converging, and if no action is taken by either ship, we would collide." He lifted his arms wide apart, then brought them together as he extended them to the front. "Like this.

"So, what did you do?"

"We are the windward ship, so we have altered course two points to cause the relative angles to change."

"And if the other ship has also altered, negating your action?"

"If she is British, she should understand and abide the new regulations."

"And if she is not British and does not understand?"

"Mister Wilson will call me again."

Elizabeth smiled, then pointing to the young man across from her, she said. "This answers the question posed by Seaman Jackson while you were away."

Aldrick turned to him. "And what was the question?"

"The fellows... Well, we was cogitating on things for me to ask. They want to know what you do but give orders and sit up here in luxury."

"The main thing is to ensure the safety of the crew and the ship. And to do this, it is important to know the role of each aboard and what is involved in their tasks. An officer begins his training by working in each position aboard until he fully understands it."

"Even tending the fires in the galley stoves, fetching water and scouring kettles and pots?"

"I did that on my second voyage." Aldrick examined the young lad's face. "I see this is your first time aboard, so you are already ahead of me in your training."

A smile filled the lad's face, and he puffed his chest. "How long from the galley to here?"

"It took me a dozen years. Some do it faster, some slower. Only a few make it all the way."

The lad's smile faded. "How do I do it faster?"

"Perform your duty as best you can, always seek to do more, and those above you will notice and move you to greater responsibility."

The smile returned to the lad's face as he nodded.