Tromp’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. I see what you mean.”
“Well, I don’t!” van Walbeeck exclaimed. “How does this issue affect the operational status of our combined fleet?”
Eddie shrugged. “As Sir Sehested pointed out, almost seventy percent of the flotilla’s crews are Danish. They were trained and furnished to the union of Kalmar and hence to the USE thanks to my father-in-law’s keen interest in technology and training his subjects in its uses. But, unlike me, their first authority is King Christian IV, and I suspect they will listen to a known junior councilor of his court,”—Eddie glanced at wide-eyed Sehested—“before they listen to me. At least in matters of national loyalty, and of discerning which banner they must serve and obey first: that of Denmark, the union of Kalmar, or the USE. But perhaps Sir Sehested will shed some light on the crux of this matter by answering a simple question: if I were to refuse to carry out King Christian IV’s directive, would he, in turn, order the Danish members of my crews to stand down from their duties until I complied?” Eddie turned to look at Sehested and felt his wife lean closer to him.
Hannibal Sehested gestured vaguely at the fleet anchored beyond the shuttered blockhouse windows. “I am the agent of my sovereign’s will and so, would be compelled to do as you say. If pressed.” He looked at Eddie, and then Anne Cathrine, and lastly at Tromp, very intently. “And I assure you, I truly pray you will not press me to do such a thing.” His eyes pleaded more desperately than his words.
So, Hannibal wasn’t such a bad guy after all. He was just a man doing his job, and not liking it too much, right now. Denmark had ties with all the allies who were literally or figuratively present in the room. As part of the union of Kalmar, it was de facto allied to the USE. His king’s daughter was not merely married to but genuinely and thoroughly smitten with an up-timer and his people’s ways. And there had long been amity and exchange between Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Sehested would clearly not enjoy being placed in a position where he was an agent of potential discord among those forces, all allied in their mission against Spanish domination in the New World.
Eddie nodded. “I understand your duty,” he said to Hannibal. “However, in order to fulfill my duties to all parties, I must also predict that ordering our Danish crewmen to stand down would potentially jeopardize our alliance with the Netherlands, with which the USE is now involved in a crucial co-ownership of New World oil supplies.” Eddie turned to Tromp. “Am I right in assuming that the United Provinces would be disinclined to comply with King Christian IV’s requirement if they are not offered at least a token of appreciation for their willingness to overlook the highly irregular and manipulative manner whereby the requirement was issued to them?”
Van Walbeeck was not able to hide his sly smile as he bumped his elbow into Tromp’s. The admiral cut his eyes at his friend and murmured, “Apparently, a token of appreciation would ensure our compliance.”
“Very well,” said Eddie, who at last stole a second to look at his bride—and nearly lost his composure. Anne Cathrine was smiling at him with an admiring, horny ferocity that made it necessary for Eddie to shoo away visions of her ravishing him here on the tabletop right after she peremptorily dismissed the other three men from the room. He swallowed and pulled his eyes away. “So, er, given that King Christian IV has charged me with accomplishing the task of retaking St. Maarten, and insofar as it requires Dutch cooperation to do so, I hereby secure the willing aid of the United Provinces by ensuring them that, in recognition of their cooperation and amity to help Denmark accomplish that which she could not accomplish alone, that her captains and commercial factors shall enjoy full and tariff-free access to St. Maarten, in perpetuity. This includes all harbor facilities, all trade, and free and equal access to the salt pans of the island in the interest of resuming their former salt-fish production there.” He turned back to Tromp and van Walbeeck. “Is this acceptable to the representatives of the United Provinces, presuming we do not undertake operations until some time next year?”
Tromp, eyes still narrowed, smiled and nodded slowly as if watching a pupil solve a problem several steps more advanced than he should have been ready to address. “It is most acceptable, Commander Cantrell. It will be my personal pleasure to work with you in securing St. Maarten for the Danish crown in 1636, given its generous assurance that the United Provinces shall have free and equal use of its facilities in perpetuity.”