With the utmost dignity, he turned and left.
The bottle of Cape brandy was half gone, and Renzi stared bleakly out of the mullioned stern windows at the grand sight of the majestic mountain and the pretty town beneath it.
His eyes brimmed as he murmured brokenly, ‘Cecilia would have loved it here. Such a spirited creature! It must have been for her that Pliny wrote, “
He sobbed just once, then looked up. Seeing Kydd hadn’t understood the Latin, he said distantly, ‘“There’s always something new out of Africa.”
‘And now this great land denied me.’
He buried his face in his hands.
‘There’s some who would rejoice it,’ Kydd said.
‘How so?’ Renzi said, raising his head.
‘Those who’ve missed having their friend to share adventures and triumphs.’
Renzi gave a wan smile. ‘But I’m destitute – no future, no—’
Kydd bit his lip, then spoke in rising irritation. ‘Nicholas, I find I’m to talk to you as I must to a foremast jack who’s clewed up before me at the captain’s table for the seventh time and needs a steer in life. I speak plainly, for you are my closest friend. You’re a man of colossal intellect and logic, who’s also the bravest person I know. How then can I put this? With all your talents, m’ friend, there’s one thing you lack that’s sorely needed.’
‘Oh? And what’s that?’ Renzi said defensively.
‘Damn it – a firm hand on the tiller o’ life!’ Kydd exploded. ‘A pox on it! Now, mark well what I have to say, Nicholas, for believe that I mean it! As God is my witness, do I mean what I say!’
Renzi was ashen-faced at his outburst.
‘You shall have your position back in
At Renzi’s mute stupefaction, he continued more calmly: ‘We’re near to finishing our business at the Cape and must return to England soon. The condition is that the very
‘What?’ Renzi gasped. ‘I can’t – she—’
‘
‘But – but I haven’t the means,’ he said piteously.
‘Then find some! Take your courage in both hands and
‘I – I . . .’
Kydd sighed heavily. ‘Good God! Do I have to make my meaning plainer? You shall never set foot in
In great emotion, Renzi finally nodded agreement.
‘What do you swear? Say it!’
‘That when our ship touches English soil . . . I . . . I will beg Cecilia’s hand. I’ll ask her . . . to marry me.’
Kydd helped himself to a stiff brandy. ‘She may turn you down as not worth the wait, o’ course.’
At the look on Renzi’s face, he hurried on, ‘As to means – I know you’d forswear charity from me but, Nicholas, there must be a way, damnit!’
He began pacing the cabin, then stopped.
‘Have you considered, well, that your publisher friend might be on the right tack? Should you not give the public what they crave, then later indulge yourself in your noble work? If it’s a novel they want, give ’em one. I’m persuaded you’ve one or two adventures to draw on as will set hearts to beating, keep feminine eyes to the page and even rouse out a hill o’ coin from the booksellers.’
Renzi was taken aback. ‘A novel?’
‘Yes!’
There was a long pause before he responded. ‘Well, um, I suppose I can see that there’s been one or two, er, instances in my life that may be of interest to others.’
The idea seemed to take hold and he brightened visibly. ‘But, in course, Cecilia must not hear of it – I will write under a pseudonym and you will vow never to tell anyone.’
‘I so promise.’
Renzi poured another brandy each and pondered for a space. ‘Hmm, how does –
Kydd beamed – and the two friends roared with laughter and raised their glasses.
The triumph of Trafalgar may be seen in two ways: it lifted the fear of invasion for England on the one hand, and on the other it gave command of the seas to the Royal Navy, which they immediately put to good use. One by one Britannia relieved the French of their possessions and added to her own,
