Escape

LONDON, ENGLAND, FEbrUARY 28TH 1815

" N apoleon has escaped."

The astounding news spread like wildfire along the docks. Niven King heard the shouts despite being indoors at his desk. He and the clerks employed by Withenshawe Shipyards dropped quills and hurried down the narrow wooden stairs to the outside.

Pandemonium reigned. Stevedores rushed hither and thither with no apparent purpose. Gangs of sailors gathered in large groups, all trying to outshout each other. Whores swore at no one in particular, angry their lucrative trade had been interrupted by the shocking revelation.

Impatient to establish the veracity of the news, Niven caught the arm of a seaman as he ran by. "Tell me," he growled.

For a moment, he feared the tar's clenched fist might collide with his chin, but the stern set of his own jaw must have conveyed his determination.

"Boney escaped from Elba two days ago," the sailor growled. "He's heading for Paris with seven hundred men who left Elba with him but they say his army grows larger by the day."

A chill raced up Niven's spine. Like almost everyone else, he'd thought the abdication and exile of the Corsican had put an end to war. An historic congress had been convened in Vienna to discuss how to ensure a lasting peace in Europe after the devastation and turmoil wrought by Bonaparte. Niven's cousin, the Duke of Ramsay, and a fellow duke, Niven's patron, were currently in Vienna. They were serving as aides to the Duke of Wellington, the United Kingdom's envoy to the talks, and must have already learned of the escape. "I wonder what will become of the ambitious Congress of Vienna now?" he mused aloud.

"Bugger off," the sailor exclaimed, yanking his sleeve from Niven's grip.

Niven let him go. The general panic was understandable. He wondered if his brothers in Scotland had heard the news. Payton especially would be livid. He and his Spanish wife had rejoiced when Napoleon's forces were finally driven from Spain less than a year ago. However, it seemed the warmonger hadn't given up his quest to extend his empire, and Frenchmen were still willing to pledge loyalty to their Little Emperor.

His gut in knots, Niven returned to his desk, suddenly missing his Highland home more than ever. While the marketing and warehousing of his family's famous Uachdaran whisky was still his main responsibility, Withenshawe had been impressed with his progress and asked him to take responsibility for other duties. He'd become involved in many aspects of the Withenshawe shipping company and was now more or less managing the whole enterprise in the duke's absence. Getting away from his brothers in Scotland had made a man of him. At twenty-five, he was no longer an immature young man incapable of making his own decisions. The duke often sought and agreed with his opinion on matters. He'd even asked Niven to take care of his London townhouse in his absence. It was closer to the docks where he worked which did away with the long journey from his ducal cousin's mansion in Mayfair.

The Duke of Withenshawe had three sons, but Niven had never met them. Officers in the British Army, they'd served in Spain and southern France under Wellington. Hence, they played no role in the business, though their somewhat unusual names were listed as directors. The duke must be distraught—his sons would once more be called upon to fight.

Like the rest of the world, Niven had looked forward to a period of peace and prosperity. With the threat of Napoleon removed, the King brothers might have expected increased sales of their whisky throughout Europe. It seemed that wasn't to be.

Vienna, Austria

The news of Napoleon's escape threw the Congress of Vienna into turmoil. Kenneth Hawkins, Duke of Ramsay, was disgusted by the resulting behavior of many delegates. "Distinguished statesmen from more than twenty different countries have turned into whining schoolboys deprived of their tuck shop money," he complained to William Halstead, Duke of Withenshawe. "I haven't seen such bickering and outrage since Eton."

Happily married less than two years ago, he'd chafed at Lord Castlereagh's request he accompany him to Vienna as his aide. It was a singular honor to be chosen by the Foreign Secretary, the United Kingdom's original representative, but he missed his darling duchess and their infant son keenly.

It was of some consolation that his esteemed friend, William Halstead, Duke of Withenshawe, had also been appointed as an aide to Castlereagh. The Congress sessions were dry affairs fraught with misunderstandings and language barriers. Having a kindred soul with whom to share honest opinions was a boon. Over the years of their association, Kenneth had learned a great deal about being a successful duke from the older and wiser Halstead.

However, William resented being torn away from overseeing his vast array of business enterprises, although he conceded that Kenneth's cousin, Niven King, was doing a fine job of managing the shipping empire in his absence. William apparently had three grown sons, all military men. As far as Kenneth knew, they had nothing to do with the business. William had thought Napoleon's abdication would make Europe's sea ports safer. Now, his sons would be expected to fight Napoleon again.

Castlereagh's policies quickly alienated other members of the Congress and damaged his relationship with them beyond repair. He was replaced by the Duke of Wellington, Napoleon's nemesis. Kenneth's hopes of a return to England rose, but Arthur Wellesley insisted his ducal aides stay on. A junior duke didn't argue with the acknowledged hero of the Peninsula Wars. At their first meeting, Kenneth mentioned he and his cousin, Payton, had been in Spain at the time the French lifted the siege of Cádiz, but Wellington made no response. Obviously, the great man wasn't interested in hearing about an underling's adventures with a band of Spanish partisans.

Kenneth's feelings about the Corsican's escape were mixed. He was shocked and worried for the future. However, Wellington had been chosen as the military leader best suited to nip Napoleon's resurrected ambitions in the bud. He was to be replaced as the United Kingdom's representative at the Congress by some earl or other, and his aides were to go home with him. At last, Kenneth would be reunited with his beloved Cat and little Freddie.