He grasped Adam's hands and knew that he already had the news.
'How is it, Uncle?' He did not try to hide his anxiety.
'Well enough.' He shied away from it. 'You are failing in your duty, sir, who is our visitor?'
Adam said, 'Mr Pullen.' He sounded uncomfortable. 'From the Admiralty.'
The man had a bony handshake. 'On passage for Malta, Sir Richard.' He sounded as if he was smiling. 'Eventually.'
'Well, be seated. Allday, fetch Ozzard.' He knew Adam was staring at him, measuring his hurt as Keen had done.
'And what brings you here, Mr, er, Pullen?'
The man arranged himself in a chair. He was all in black. Like a carrion crow, Bolitho thought. He turned to keep the light behind him, knowing they would see the bandage and nothing more.
'I have certain affairs to manage in Malta, Sir Richard. Admiral Sir Hayward Sheaffe has given me instructions.' Bolitho forced a smile. 'Secret, eh?'
'Certainly, Sir Richard.' As Ozzard hurried to him with a tray he said, 'Some watered wine will suffice, thank you.'
Adam said, 'I wish to speak with you, Uncle.'
Bolitho sensed something in his tone. 'Will it not keep?'
The man called Pullen took an envelope from his coat and laid it on the table. Bolitho stared at it, feeling trapped, stripped of his pretence. 'May I ask the same of you, Mr Pullen?'
The man shrugged. 'I would imagine that you have many things on your hands, Sir Richard. You have been in battle, although to glance around you you would scarce believe it.'
Bolitho controlled a sudden irritation. 'We destroyed a French seventy-four.' That was all he said.
'Excellent. Sir Hayward will be pleased.' He regarded the glass of watered wine. 'I'd not trouble you, Sir Richard, it is after all a nuisance but a necessity none the less. I am required to serve notice on your flag-captain to attend a court of inquiry in Malta with all despatch.'
No wonder Adam had tried to warn him. Bolitho said calmly, 'To what purpose?'
Pullen seemed satisfied. 'Two bothersome reasons, I understand, Sir Richard. He behaved somewhat foolishly by ignoring a government warrant and then removing a woman,' his voice lingered on the word as if it were obscene, 'from custody. I feel he can explain his reasons no matter how misguided, but I must point out-'
'Who had made this accusation?'
Pullen sighed. 'It was a written report, Sir Richard. As I said, it should not concern or trouble you. A nuisance, nothing more.'
Bolitho said quietly, 'You are impertinent, sir. That woman was being abused, flogged! Captain Keen was doing his duty!'
'That is in the past, Sir Richard.'
Bolitho stared at him and replied, 'This is a battleground, Mr Pullen, not a safe and secure office. Here, I command. I could have you seized up and flogged to within an inch of your life and none would question my order.' He heard the man's quick intake of breath. 'It would be months before anyone acted on it, and I would like to know if you might call that a nuisance!'
Pullen swallowed hard. 'I meant no offence, Sir Richard.'
'Well, it was taken! Do you imagine that I'll stand by and permit a gallant officer to have his name smeared by this-this absurdity?'
Pullen leaned forward, his confidence returning. 'Then it is not true, any of it?'
'I do not have to answer that.'
Pullen stood up and placed his glass, still full, on the table.
'Not to me, sir. But you will see in your orders that you are also required to attend with your captain.'
Bolitho stared at him. 'Leave this station? Do you know what you are saying? Have you no conception of what the enemy intends to do?'
Pullen said, 'It is out of my hands, Sir Richard.' He gave a brief bow. 'If I may, I would like to withdraw while you decide.'
For a long moment Bolitho stood stock still beneath the skylight. It was like a bad dream. Like his failing sight. It must soon clear away.
Adam said bitterly, 'He explained nothing, Uncle. You did not tell me about this woman.' He hesitated. 'We must see that there is no gossip.'
Bolitho took his arm. 'She is aboard this ship, Adam.' He turned him slowly to face him. 'If that wretch made it sound coarse and indecent, he has done more harm than I imagined. She is a fine, brave girl, wrongly charged, falsely transported, and we shall prove it.'
The door opened and Keen walked slowly aft, his hat dangling from one hand.
Keen said, 'But in the meantime she will be sent in irons to another transport.' He looked at Adam. 'You see, I love her. I love her more than life itself.'
Adam glanced from one to the other, instantly aware of the strength of Keen's sincerity, of his uncle's compassion.
Adam said, 'Pullen plays cards.'
They both stared at him, at his dark features which had become so grim.
'I could accuse him of cheating and call him out-'
Bolitho crossed to his side and grasped his shoulders.
'Enough of that. We are in enough trouble. Keep your steel covered.' He squeezed his shoulders. 'Bless you.'
Adam said wretchedly, 'I have a letter from Lady Belinda.' He held it out. 'I think I know why you did not read Pullen's brief, Uncle.' He sounded shocked, stunned by the realization.
Bolitho asked, 'Do you have to leave immediately?'
'Aye.' Adam looked down and his unruly hair fell across his forehead. 'I heard about John Hallowes, Uncle. He was my friend.'
'I know.' They walked together to the screen. 'I shall have to quit the squadron when I am most needed, Adam, over this tragic affair. I will place Inch in command until we return.' He looked at Keen. 'Have no fear. I shall not desert that girl.'
Adam followed Keen to the quarterdeck and saw Pullen waiting by the entry port. Who was behind these accusations, he wondered? The fact that they were true seemed less important.
He touched his hat to the side party and then looked at Keen.
He said, 'You have my loyalty, sir.' He touched his sword. 'This too when and if you need it.' Then he followed Pullen into the boat.
Keen waited only until the gig was under oars and then crossed to his first lieutenant.
'We shall make sail as soon as a letter has been sent over to Firefly from the admiral.'
It was obvious that Pullen had wanted to remain on board as an observer until they reached Malta where he would change his role to that of jailer. Now he would be there waiting for them, his determination sharpened by Bolitho's hostility.
'I'm sorry about all this, sir.' Paget flinched under Keen's stare but stood his ground. 'We all are. It's not fair.'
Keen dropped his eyes. 'Thank you. I once believed it was enough to fight a war. Apparently there are those who think we are better used fighting each other.'
A boat carried a hastily penned letter across to the brig and by the time dusk had closed in, Firefly had already dipped below the horizon.
Keen walked the quarterdeck and watched the red sunset. Firefly had brought only bad news after all.
11. A TIME FOR CARING
IT WAS early morning when Bolitho made his way to the quarterdeck. Two days since Firefly had found them
