Miles summoned Asher to his cabin while he was writing his account of the battles for Finley and the court in Boston. Miles was not at all surprised to see Asher was more sober than he was certain the rest of the crew was.

Miles motioned for him to sit and dispensed with the pleasantries. "I'm not certain I want to send you as a prize master on any prizes we may take. I'm afraid the Royal Navy may be looking to arrest you if you return to Boston and will find a way to do so even if the city remains under American control."

Asher nodded. "I understand. I had thought perhaps there would be a risk for me in returning to any port as a prize master. I will do whatever you need of me, of course."

"Thank you," Miles replied. "I don't wish to put you at increased risk. You are already likely more in danger than the rest of us are if we were simply to be captured. You were a navy officer, and the rest of us were not."

"There are still others who would be at increased risk," Asher told him. "Not as great as my risk, but certainly anyone who deserted the Royal Navy to join an American privateer will not be received warmly at any time."

Miles nodded and twirled his quill between his fingers. "That I understand. In that regard, what are your thoughts on Mr. Caswell? I considered allowing him to fill the role of lieutenant when another is in Boston or sailing a prize. If he proves suitable I may make him a prize master, unless he is also in increased danger of being sought out."

Asher nodded thoughtfully. "I don't believe he will be as great a concern to the navy as I will be. Were we to be captured, of course, I would be concerned for him. He certainly handles himself better than the other midshipmen who joined on with us. He is young, but with you or another of the lieutenants to enforce his authority that issue will resolve itself before too long."

"That had been my concern, but if you think him capable, I will offer him the position. Thank you for all your assistance."

Asher smiled. "There is little I wouldn't do for an old friend."

The thought warmed Miles, as there were so few he could consider truly close friends. "Thank you." He set his quill aside and leaned back in his chair. "How has life been these last few years? I know of course that your father arranged your career in the navy, but what else has changed?"

"If you're asking if I have a wife and children, the answer is no," Asher replied, shaking his head. "That life is not for me."

"I know as much," Miles replied. "I seem to recall an evening in which you were quite drunk and admitted to quite an interest in my person."

Asher actually seemed to blush. "And for that reason I very rarely drink anymore. You made it quite clear you were uninterested in such things with anyone, man or woman. Is that still the way of things?"

Miles chuckled. "Yes, it is. I still find it all quite disinteresting. There are far more productive activities I may pursue."

"You never wish for companionship, love, or family?" Asher questioned.

"I have family in Dunnstown," Miles replied without needing to consider the question. "I have my mother still, at least for a time. There is also my brother and his new wife and child. And the crew, of course, is my family. As in any family some members are more agreeable than others," he added with a small smile.

Asher was thoughtful. "Most captains only consider their crews as employees or subordinates, certainly not as family."

"I have always felt I owed a deeper loyalty to them. Our livelihoods and lives are endangered often in any work we take at sea. A family of friends seems a very good family to have. I am happiest when they are all happy and doing their work without complaint. When there is complaint I do what I can to improve the situation. I cannot please everyone at all times, and at times it is best to send someone from the family, but this is all there will be for me in the way of family, and I have always made the most of it. What of you? Do you long for companionship, if not a family?"

Asher looked away and shrugged. "I would not object to a true companion, but such a thing has never been possible for me men such as myself. I do not want a wife. That would be unfair to her. But to find a lover and companion... there is too much risk involved."

"Not on my ship," Miles replied. "Not in Dunnstown."

Asher smiled. "It's a comfort joining your crew after the time I spent in the navy. Things here are almost exactly as your father kept them. Despite what I've only just said, I assure you I won't involve myself unwisely with the crew. I wouldn't want someone to claim I treated anyone much differently than others because I favored someone due to some intimate relationship."

Miles nodded. "Thank you, though I wasn't concerned. I'm quite familiar with the idea that many men enter a profession often devoid of women for the reason that it is devoid of women. As long as there is no strife among the crew, I am not concerned."

"I've wanted to ask how Liza and Jane came to join the crew," Asher commented a moment later. "For a profession most often devoid of women, as you rightly say, it's intriguing to find two on the same crew."

"Liza's husband, John, was a cooper on my crew for three years before he was killed hunting a whale," Miles began. "She had no desire to become anyone's ward, but was unable to secure any other work. She was also too devoted to John to remarry. When I lose crew members I always visit their families to ensure they are well after their loss. It's one reason I keep detailed crew logs. When I visited her she was suffering without work. I originally offered her a place assisting Thayer and Banks, but she was soon mastering nearly every aspect of seamanship and whaling. She earned her place among the crew, and I only briefly needed to enforce my expectations of respect. We both know, even in a profession without women, a good number of men would choose a woman first. She knows I have a strict rule of no babies being born on my ships, as well. I've heard she and Jane both have their lovers, but again, I don't concern myself with anyone's affairs if they cause no issue."

Asher chuckled. "I had heard they are each other's lovers."

Miles considered that for a moment. "I suppose I never asked who was lover to either of them, so I would not be surprised. Jane had an easier time of it once Liza had shown the crew that a woman could be a whaleman. She was looking for work when I was looking for a few more crew members. She offered to cook and keep the ship. Her father was badly wounded in the war with the French and had been unable to work for years. Her brother had been supporting the family, but had been killed in a shipwreck. It fell to her to raise the money for her father to survive on. I took her on and, like Liza, she made a place for herself on the crew. She is one of my steadiest helmsmen."

Asher was quiet for several minutes, then asked, "With all this care you devote to them, what would you do if the crew were to become displeased enough for mutiny?"

The thought pained Miles deeply. He spent his time devoting himself to the fair and respectful management of the ship. Everything he did was with the crew in mind, both their safety and happiness. There were times he had sacrificed his own comfort for the sake of the crew, and he dared not even consider the financial sacrifices he had made for them over the years. Much of these actions were not unknown to the crew. To think they might become so unhappy with his command that they would consider mutiny against him filled him with terrible sorrow. 

He swallowed the lump in his throat and turned his gaze back to Asher. "I would hope they would be kind enough to kill me, and to do so while I slept so I would never know how deeply I had failed them."

Asher looked saddened by the answer. "I will endeavor to never allow such a mutiny to happen. I only wished to ask how things might stand here."

"If you cannot stop it, promise to kill me yourself then," Miles insisted. "I have already had my whaling mates, especially Clark, swear to the same when they were given their positions."

Asher shook his head. "It won't happen, but I will make that promise regardless."

Miles nodded. "Thank you."