Chapter 119
December, 1808
London
Regent William, Duke of Clarence, was growing increasingly livid with his new sister-in-law. Edward and Victoria, having overseen the dismemberment of Prussia's forces over the past months, took the opportunity to visit his homeland after years in Hanover serving their brother, King Frederick of Norway, Elector of Hanover, etc, etc, etc, etc. (for a second son, Frederick did pretty well for himself).
Unfortunately, Victoria proved to be a prude and patently refused to speak directly to Williams mistress and even left the room when Dorothea and the children entered. This was not a matter of precedence in a parade, this was petty rudeness and William was not inclined to take it. Unfortunately, Edward did not possess the stiffest spine in the family and could not press the matter with Victoria. Finally, William hinted the pair should return to Germany sooner rather than later.
The Regent had other problems. Dorothea was demanding that William use his Regency to give their children, at least their sons, Peerages.
Yes. That would go over REAL well in Parliament and with the people.
William pointed out that adding his bastards to the House of Lords probably wasn't what Britain expected of the Regent. He allowed them the title "the Honorable" and that would have to do. If his children were to eventually reach the aristocracy, they'd have to do it the old-fashioned way: Marry it. Or kiss the ass of the young Queen and her sisters. The trio of Royals were well accustomed to seeing their uncle's illegitimate children and were frequent playmates. Maybe Queen Frederica in a decade or two may raise some of his sons to the Peerage. Unfortunately, his sons would eventually take up their mother's call for William to use his power towards their improvement of station, something he adamantly refused as the expense of their relationships with their father as they aged.
In the meantime, the little matter of war retained his attention. The Portuguese War remained in stalemate, though the Infanta and her Spanish allies controlled most of the country. Portuguese "patriots" allied with Britain in defending the major cities. Demographically, it was not a war they could win.
Lisbon
General John Moore gazed on in anger at the lack of reinforcements from Britain. THREE THOUSAND MEN?
What was he supposed to do with so paltry a force?
In truth, the Infanta seemed to be winning the hearts of the people.
Or maybe, since she controlled the countryside, she could recruit more.
Or maybe the countryside was simply more apt to accept the Monarchy as is and the cities more intent on forcing the matter. Maybe if a moderately legitimate contender had cropped up, that may have made the difference. Instead, the alternatives were a half dozen Portuguese nobles whom all placed themselves forward as the "rightful" heir. No wonder so many people accepted the monarchy. Avoiding this political infighting by the gentry was worth putting up with a lot.
Either way, the Portuguese and Spanish forces badly outnumbered his own. Only Lisbon and Porto remained under rebel/British control and the stranglehold was increasing.
To the south, Spanish forces were reportedly besieging Gibraltar as well though Moore didn't know why. Gibraltar could not be taken by land, only by extended blockade by sea. And Spain lacked the resources to do so. Moore didn't complain. If the Spanish wanted to waste 10,000 soldiers sitting around Gibraltar doing nothing, more power to them. He didn't want them showing up in the trenches of Lisbon where they may do some damage.
New Spain, Veracruz
General Juan O'Donaju was uncertain of just what his orders may be in New Spain. His King had ordered the soldier to sail to New Spain to "put an end to the disturbances". Just what that meant was up for interpretation.
O'Donaju was the scion of an old Irish family that, like many others, had fled Ireland under British rule to serve in the armies of France, Spain and Austria. Unlike many, his did not return when the House of Stuart re-ascended to power in Ireland and cast out the English. Indeed, many of his contemporaries, seasoned soldiers, were given high commands in the Irish Army and titles in the Irish aristocracy. Names like Lacy, Dillon, von Browne, O'Reilly, etc were now situated at the height of the Irish society.
But O'Donaju remained in the service of Spain, reaching the rank of General. Ordered to New Spain to assume control of the colony, he was to replace a Viceroy whom had fled in terror before a rebellion. Ordered to "restore order", he interpreted as having some level of leeway in accomplishing this. He determined to negotiate first and attempt to rectify some perceived wrongs.
Reportedly, the Americans had invaded some remote and unpopulated corner of the Viceroyalty but he would deal with that later, once the larger cities in the south were returned to obedience.
Cuba
Admiral Horatio Nelson witnessed from afar as the British and American forces besieged the great El Morro Castle dominating the city along the north end of the harbor. Much of Havana was walled but not was well fortified as it was situated along the south end of the harbor atop a jutting Peninsula. That would be far easier to take than El Morro. Unfortunately, El Morro commanded the heights and could not be assaulted by sea. It would be a long siege to reduce that bastion.
As the soldiers took to the trenches before each strongpoint, Nelson's task would be to break the Spanish fleet in the harbor itself by sailing past the guns and assaulting the Spanish ships at anchor. At least six ships-of-the-line and five smaller vessels had been armed, their cannon pointed northwest towards the narrow channel. Other, less useful, ships were scuttled behind the mighty boom chain stretched across the Harbor entrance to further block the channel.
If the British Fleet (and a handful of American armed ships adding a token presence) were to breakthrough, it would open a huge portion of the city to shelling and hasten Havana's fall. Intelligence implied that the Spanish Naval vessels were poorly manned and rotting in the harbor.
Nelson felt lucky.
