There were two captains sitting in the outer waiting-room, each avoiding the other's eyes and trying to remain as separate as possible. Bolitho knew they were here to see some senior officer or Admiralty official; he had shared their apprehension and discomfort on more occasions than he could remember. Advancement or a reprimand? A new command, or the first step to oblivion? It was all in a day's work at the Admiralty.
Both captains sprang to their feet as Bolitho walked through the long room. He nodded to them, accepting their recognition and curiosity. Wondering why he was here and what it might indirectly imply for them. More likely they were curious about the man and not the viceadmiral; his reputation, if it were true or false.
Bolitho was more concerned with Godschale's announcement about his flag captain. He could still scarcely believe it. He had known how worried Keen had been about the age difference between himself and the lovely Zenoria. The girl he had rescued from a transport on her way to Botany Bay Keen was forty-one years old, and she would be nearly twenty-two. But their love for one another had bloomed so suddenly out of suffering and been visible to everyone who knew them. He must discover what had happened. If Keen had signified his readiness to be his flag captain merely out of friendship or loyalty, Bolitho would have to dissuade him.
He had almost reached the tall double doors at the far end when they swung open, and he saw Thomas Herrick standing stock-still and staring at him as if he had just fallen from the sky.
Herrick was stocky and slightly stooped, as if the weight of his rearadmiral's responsibilities had made themselves felt. His brown hair was more heavily touched with grey, but he had not changed since he had sailed to support Hyperion in that last terrible battle.
His palm was as hard as at their first meeting, when he had been one of Bolitho's lieutenants in Phalarope; and the blue eyes were clear and as vulnerable as that very day.
'What are you…' They both began at once.
Then Bolitho said warmly, 'It is so good to see you, Thomas! '
Herrick glanced warily at the two captains as if to ensure they were well out of earshot. 'You too, Sir Richard.' He smiled awkwardly. 'Richard.'
'That is better.' Bolitho watched his old friend's uncertainty So it was still as before. Because of Catherine. He had refused to come to terms with it, could not bring himself to understand how it had happened between them. Bolitho said, 'I have been given Black Prince I shall hoist my flag as soon as she is fitted-out, whenever that might be. You know the dockyards and their strange customs! '
Herrick was not to be drawn. He studied Bolitho's face and asked quietly, 'Your eye-how is it?' He shook his head and Bolitho saw something of the man he had always known and trusted. 'No, I have told no one. But I still think-'
Bolitho said, 'What are you doing?'
Herrick's chin was sunk in his neckcloth, something which had become a habit when he was grappling with a problem.
'I still have Benbow.' He forced a smile. 'New flag lieutenant though. Got rid of that fellow with the Frenchie name, De Broux… too soft for my taste! '
Bolitho felt strangely sad. Just a few years since Benbow had flown his flag and Herrick had been the captain. Ships, if they could think, must wonder sometimes about the men and the fates which controlled them.
Herrick pulled out his watch. 'I must present myself to Lord Godschale.' He spoke the name with dislike. Bolitho could well imagine how Herrick felt about the admiral.
As an afterthought Herrick said, 'I am to command a squadron in the North Sea patrols.' He gave a genuine smile. 'Adam's new command Anemone is my only frigate! Some things never change, but I am well pleased to have him with me.'
Somewhere a clock chimed and Herrick said quickly, 'You know me-I hate not to be punctual.'
Bolitho watched his struggle, but when it burst out it was not what he had been expecting.
'Your new flagship. She is completing at Chatham?' He hurried on as if the thing which troubled him could not be contained. 'When you visit the ship, and I have been your subordinate too many times in the past not to know your habits, would you find time to call upon my Dulcie?'
Bolitho asked gently, 'What is it, Thomas?'
'I am not sure and that is the God's truth. But she has been so tired of late. She works too hard with her charities and the like, and will not rest when I am away at sea. I keep telling her, but you know how they are. I suppose she's lonely If we had been blessed with children, even the one like you and Lady Belinda-' He broke off confused by his own revelation. 'It is the way of the world, I suppose.'
Bolitho touched his sleeve. 'I shall call on her. Catherine keeps trying to drag me to a surgeon, so we may discover someone who might help Dulcie.'
Herrick's blue eyes seemed to harden. 'I am sorry. I was not thinking. Perhaps I was too fouled by my own worries and forgot for a moment.' He looked along the room. 'Maybe it would be better if you did not pay Dulcie a visit.'
Bolitho stared at him. 'Is this barrier still between us, Thomas?'
Herrick regarded him wretchedly. 'It is not of my making.' He was going. 'I wish you well, Richard. Nothing can take my admiration away. Not ever.'
'Admiration?' Bolitho looked after him and then called, 'Is that all it has become, Thomas? God damn it, man, are we so ordinary? '
The two captains were on their feet as Herrick strode past them, their eyes darting between the flagofficers as if they could scarcely believe what they were witnessing.
Then Bolitho found himself outside the Admiralty's imposing facade, shivering in spite of the sunshine and strolling people.
'Be off with you, you wretch! '
Bolitho glanced up, still breathing hard, and saw a young man, accompanied by two girls, shaking his fist at a crouching figure by the roadside. The contrast was so vivid it made his head swim… the elegantly dressed young blade with his giggling friends, and the stooping figure in a tattered red coat who was holding out a tin cup.
'Belay that! ' Bolitho saw them turn with surprise while several passers-by paused to see what would happen. Ignoring them all, Bolitho strode to the man in the shabby red coat.
The beggar said brokenly, 'I wasn't doin' no 'arm, sir! '
Someone shouted, 'Shouldn't be allowed to hang about here! '
Bolitho asked quietly, 'What was your regiment?'
The man peered up at him as if he had misheard. He had only one arm, and his body was badly twisted. He looked ancient, but Bolitho guessed he was younger than himself.
'Thirty-First Foot, sir.' He stared defiantly at the onlookers. 'The old Huntingdonshire Regiment. We was doin' service as marines.' His sudden pride seemed to fade as he added, 'I was with Lord Howe when I got this lot.'
Bolitho turned on his heel and looked at the young man for several seconds.
'I will not ask the same of you, sir, for I can see plainly enough what you are! '
The youth had gone pale. 'You have no right-'
'Oh, but I do. There is at this very moment a lieutenant of the Tower Hill press gang approaching. A word, just one word from me, and you will learn for yourself what it is like to fight for your King and country! '
He was angry with himself for using such a cheap lie. No press gang ever ventured into an area of quality and wealth. But the young man vanished, leaving even his companions to stare after him with surprise and humiliation at being abandoned.
Bolitho thrust a handful of coins into the cup. 'God be with you. Never think that what you did was in vain.' He saw the man staring at the golden guineas with astonishment, and knew what he was saying was really for his own benefit. 'Your courage, like your memories, must sustain you.'
He swung away, his eyes smarting, and then saw the carriage pulling towards him. She pushed open the door before the coachman could jump down and said, 'I saw what you did.' She touched his mouth with her fingers. 'You looked so troubled… did something happen in there to harm you?'
He patted her arm as the carriage clattered back into the aimless traffic. 'It harms us all, it would appear. I thought I understood people. Now I am not so sure.' He looked at her and smiled. 'I am only certain of you! '
Catherine slid her arm through his and looked out of the carriage window. She had seen Herrick stride up the Admiralty steps. The rest, and Bolitho's angry confrontation with the young dandy, needed no explanation.
