blade. But his two fares this evening were like none he had ever carried, and for some strange reason he knew he would always remember them. He thought of the way she had teased him with her shawl and gave a rueful grin. It had been well worth it.
He called after them, 'Any time, Sir Richard! Just ask for Bobby-they all knows me on the LondonRiver.'
The carriage which had been put at their disposal was standing in line with many others, the coachmen nodding while they waited for their masters who were still over at Vauxhall.
Bolitho saw Ozzard's gilt buttons glinting in the carriage lamps. It was like a silent warning, and he felt Catherine's grip tighten on his wrist.
'Is something wrong, Ozzard? There was no need for you to wait with the carriage.'
Ozzard said, 'There was a messenger from the Admiralty, Sir Richard. I told him I didn't know where you were.' His tone suggested he would not have told him anyway. 'He left word for you to present yourself to Lord Godschale at your earliest convenience tomorrow.'
Somewhere in another world a church clock began to chime.
Catherine said in a small voice, 'Today.'
As they reached the house in Arlington Street, Bolitho said, 'It cannot be so urgent. I have no flagship yet, and in any case-'
She turned on the stairway and tossed her shawl impetuously over the curving banister rail.
'And in any case, my gallant admiral, there is still the night! ' He found her waiting for him beside one of the windows from which, in daylight, you could see the park. She looked at him, her face almost impassive as she said, 'Take me, use me any way you will, but always love me.'
Down in the deserted kitchen Allday sat at the scrubbed table and carefully filled a new clay pipe. It had cost him a fortune in London but he doubted if it would last any longer.
He had heard the carriage return and had seen Ozzard going quietly to his bed. Something was troubling him sorely; pulling him apart. He would try and find out what it was.
He lit the pipe and watched the smoke rising in the still air. Then he pulled a tankard of rum towards him and tried not to think of them upstairs.
All the same, he thought, it would make everything just perfect. To feel her defences giving way.
Allday snatched the tankard and took a great swallow.
Aloud he said thickly, 'Just watch out for squalls, that's all I asks of 'em! '
But as he thought of them up there together, he knew that nothing would make any difference.
But as he thought of them up there together, he knew that nothing would make any difference.
11. The Mission
BOLITHO pushed open the tall doors of the drawing room and stood for a few moments in silence.
Catherine was by one of the windows, looking down at the street, waiting as he was for the inevitable departure.
Then he crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders, and touched her hair with his mouth. 'It is nearly time.'
She nodded and seemed to lean back against him. 'I will not let you down, Richard. We have been free to love these past weeks, free from everything. For that I can only be grateful.' She twisted round in his arms and searched his face despairingly. 'But perhaps I am greedy, and want so much more.'
Bolitho heard someone bumping his chest down the stairs and stared past her at the empty street. The shadows were lengthening already, each evening drawing in-an early autumn then.
He said, 'At least there is no danger. I am to go on a mission-' He hesitated, hating the secrecy. 'Should anything go amiss, I have taken care of-'
She pressed her hand over his lips. 'Say no more. I do understand. If secrecy is necessary, then I'll not plead to share it. But come back to me.'
Bolitho embraced her. Just a few days since his summons to the Admiralty Maybe the secrecy was necessary; or was it merely another ruse to keep him out of the country? The latter was hard to believe. It all took organisation and trust. He was to go to Dover, not Portsmouth or Chatham as might be expected, and from there take passage to Copenhagen. He would be met at Dover and the rest of his mission explained.
As if to dispel his own doubts he said, 'It will not take long. Perhaps two weeks, certainly no longer. And then-'
She looked at him and asked, 'What would you have me do?'
'Oliver Browne has said that this house is ours for as long as we require it. His lordship is visiting his family estate in Jamaica.' He smiled. 'It is hard not to think of him still as my flag lieutenant! '
'What of Lieutenant Jenour?' She too smiled, remembering. 'A fellow conspirator and a good friend.'
'He will already be at Dover waiting for me.'
'Then he is luckier than I! '
He felt her tense as iron-shod wheels rolled along the street and halted outside the house.
Bolitho spoke hurriedly. 'Ozzard will tend to your needs, Kate, and Yovell will apprise you of everything you wish to know. I am leaving you in their care. I would offer Allday's services but-'
She smiled. 'No. He would never allow it, and besides I need your 'oak' to protect you! '
The doors opened a few inches and one of the servants said, 'The carriage is here, Sir Richard. Your chest is inside.' The doors closed silently. It was as if the house, even the street was holding its breath for these last, fleeting moments.
'Come.' Bolitho put his arm around her shoulders and together they descended to the hallway. 'I have so much to say, and it will all come flooding out once we are parted.'
She looked back up the staircase, thinking perhaps of the night she had been carried here in her filthy clothing, her feet bare from her experiences in the Waites prison. Recalling their love and moments of tender passion. Now she would be looking at her other man, the King's officer; the service which would always be a rival if given the chance.
The front doors were wide open and there was a chill in the evening air. She clutched his arm and said, 'I cause such trouble for you, when I would do anything but harm you. I have even come between you and your friends, and all because of our love! '
Bolitho held her. Somehow he had known that she had guessed or understood what had happened with Herrick that day at the Admiralty.
He replied, 'Nothing separates us.' He looked into the street, the house lights already reflecting on the side of the carriage. 'Except what I must do.' He had noticed that the carriage was unmarked by any crest or recognition. A secret indeed.
One of the horses stamped its feet, and the coachman murmured something to soothe its impatience. Behind the rear wheels Bolitho could see Allday's thick shadow waiting, as he had so many times.
Bolitho said, 'I wrote to Val Keen. It is all I can do. If you are staying here until I return it is possible he might come to see you.'
'It still troubles you?'
'Yes.' He smiled distantly. 'A war raging all about us while we stumble in personal crossfire. I suspect that has always been my real weakness.'
She shook her head. 'Strength. I hear people talking of you as a man of war, and yet with you I have never before known such peace.'
He wrapped his boat-cloak around her shoulders as they walked down the steps together, then she stooped to pick up a dead leaf which had blown against her shoe.
When she faced him again her eyes were dark and shining. 'Remember when I sent you the ivy leaf from our house?'
'I still have it.'
'And now here is a messenger of another coming winter. Please God we may not be parted for too long.' She was speaking quickly as if fearful he would interrupt. 'I know I promised-I vowed to you I should be brave, but I
