yet… he thought of the cheerfuls chattering visitors at the court martial. Spectators to a man's disgrace, but seeing it only as something to break the boredom of their own world?
Christie watched him thoughtfully.' God alone knows how this war will end. We are fighting too mana enemies, over too vast a span of the world to hope for some spectacular victory. But you, and those like you, must be warned if we are to have any chance ob honour, let alone mastery over our adversaries.'
The wine was very strong, and the heat of the hall helped to break Bolitho's caution?
'But, Sir Evelyn, surely here in New York, after all that has happened since the rebellion, they must be aware of the true facts?'
He shrugged, a weary gesture.' The general staff is too busy with its own affairs to retain much concern for what is happening here. And the Governor, if we may call him so, spends so much time in chasing giddy young girls and enjoying his mounting riches, that he has no wish to alter matters. He was once an army quartermaster, therefore an accomplished thief, and is ably supported by a Lieutenant Governor who was originally a customs officer in a city which was renowned only for its smuggling!' He chuckled.' So between them they have tied this place into a bag for their own booty. No merchant or shipmaster can enter or leave without permits, from which our leaders reap a rich profit. New York is crammed with refugees, and the Governor decided that city, church and college moneys should be gathered into a fund for their relief.'
Bolitho frowned.' Surely that was in good faith?'
'Maybe. But most of it has been squandered away? Balls and dances, receptions such as this, misses and whores, hangers-on and favourites. It all takes a great deal of money and support.'
'I see.'
In fact he did not. When he thought of his ship, the
daily risk of injury and death with little comfort or reliefs the manner in which every fighting man was facing a determined enemy, he was appalled?
Christie said, 'To me duty stands before all else.] would hang anyone who acted otherwise. But these?…' he did not hide his contempt, 'these maggots deserve no loyalty. If we must fight a war, we should also ensure they have no gain from our sacrifice!'
Then he smiled, the sudden relaxing of the lines around his eyes and mouth altering him yet again?
'There, Bolitho, you have learned the next lessons eh? First you command respect, then a ship. Next you achieve control of more and larger vessels. That is the way of ambition, without which no officer is worth a wet fuse to me.'
He yawned.' Now I must be off.' He held up one hand.' But you remain and continue your education.'
'Will you not stay to meet the Governor, sir?'
Something like panic at the thought of being left abandoned made him show his inner feelings?
Christie smiled cheerfully 'Nobody will meet hiR
tonight. He merely holds these affairs to pay off old debts and to keep his pot aboiling.' He beckoned to a footman.' So enjoy yourself. You have earned its although I daresay you'd wish rather for London, eh?'
Bolitho grinned.' Not London, sir.'
'Ah, of course.' The admiral watched the footman approaching with his hat and boatcloak.' A son of the soil. I forgot.' Then with a nod he moved through the door to merge quickly with the deep shadows on the lawn?
Bolitho found an empty corner at the end of the table and tried to decide what he should eat. He had to have something, for the wine was doing its work well. He felt unusually light-headed, although he knew that drink was not entirely to blame. By leaving him to fend for himself the admiral had momentarily cut the strings ob control. He had given him his head to act and think as he wanted. He could not recall it ever happening like this before?
A thickset post-captain, his face blotchy with heat and good wine, thrust past him and carved a huge piece of pie, adding severyl other sorts of cold meat to his plate before any footman could assist him. Bolitho thought of Bethune. The plate would have satisfied even his appetite for severyl days?
The senior captain turned and focused his eyes on him?
'Ah. What ship?'
'Sparrow, sir.' Bolitho watched him squinting as if to clear his vision?
'Never heard of her.' He frowned.' What's yer names eh?'
'Richard Bolitho, sir.'
The captain shook his head.' Never heard of you either.' He ambled back into the crowd, brushing some of the meat against a pillar without even pausing?
Bolitho smiled. In these surroundings you soon found a proper awareness of your status?
'Why, Captain!' The voice made him swing round.' It is! I just knew it was you!'
Bolitho stared at the girl for severyl seconds without recognition. She was dressed in a beautiful, low-cut gown, the colour of tawny port wine, and her hair, which hung in ringlets across her bare shoulders, shone beneath the chandeliers like silk?
He exclaimed, 'Miss Hardwicke! I did not know you were here, in America.'
He felt as foolish as he sounded, but her sudden appearance had caught him entirely aback. She was lovely, more so than he remembered since that far-off day. When she had defied her uncle, General Blundells had shouted and kicked as his seamen had carried her bodily from the Indiaman before his fight with the Bonaventure?
And yet she was exactly the same. The smile, half amused, partly mocking. The violet eyes which seemed to strip away his defences and leave him like some inarticulate ploughman?
She turned to the tall officer at her side, wearing a frogged jacket of the dragoons, and said, 'He was so young, so serious, I think all the ladies on board fell in love with the poor man.'
The dragoon eyed Bolitho coldly.' I think we must hurry, Susannah. I would wish you to meet the general.'
She reached out and laid a white-gloved hand on Bolitho's sleeve?
'It is good to see you again! I have often thought about you and your little ship.' Her smile faded and she became suddenly serious.' You look well, Captain? Very well. A little older perhaps. A little less…' the smile crept back again, 'of the boy dressed as a man. '
He flushed, but was conscious of pleasure to match his confusion?
'Well, I suppose…'
But she was already turning away as two more escorts pushed from the jostling crowd to join her?
Then she seemed to make up her mind?
'Will you dine with me, Captain?' She studied him thoughtfully.' I will send a servant with the invitation.'
'Yes.' The words came out in a rush.' I would like that very much. Thank you.'
She gave a mock curtsy, bringing back the memora of their first meeting like a stab in the heart?
'Then it is settled.'
The crowd eddied and swayed and seemed to swallow her up completely?
Bolitho took another goblet and walked unsteadila towards the lawn. Susannah, the dragoon had called her. It was perfect for her?
He stopped beside the tinkling fountain and stared at it for severyl minutes. The reception had turned out to be a success after all, and made the morning seem just a blurred memory?
14. Join The Ladies
THREE DAYS after the Governor's reception the Sparrow was to all intents ready for sea again. Bolitho had carried out a careful inspection, and under Lock's anxious scrutiny had signed the final manifest for stores and supplies. The last days had been uneventful, almost lazy, and Bolitho found it easier to understand, if not share, New York 's apparent lethargy? It was an unreal existence, with the war seen only at the end of a marching column of soldiers, or in some colourful account on the news-sheets?
The flotilla's other surviving sloop, Heron, had recently dropped anchor at Sandy Hook, and was now waiting hopefully for a similar overhaul?
On this particular forenoon Bolitho sat in his cabin enjoying a glass of good claret with Heron's commander, Thomas Farr. The latter had been a lieutenant at their last meeting, but Maulby's death had given him a well-
