Allday cocked his head to listen to a bosun's call, very clear and shrill in the evening stillness. 'Won't be long now,' he said.
A very glanced around the cabin. A hutch indeed, but private when he needed to withdraw from the ship's general life and routine.
'How do you feel about it?'
Allday looked at him thoughtfully. Once he would have shown instant caution, if not mistrust.
'I've been with Sir Richard long enough to take things as they comes, but this time, I ain't so sure. Them devils ain't to be trusted an' never were. We should wait until the rest of the squadron is joined here.'
Avery thought of Halcyon's young captain. A good officer, as Tyacke had confirmed, but one twenty-eight-gun frigate against well-sited batteries and, no doubt, ships ready to repel any unwanted visitors, was hardly a bargaining point.
He said, 'At least your letter will be on its way.'
Allday stood up; he had heard somebody outside the door. Avery had not written or received any letters himself, but to mention it might be pushing things too far. It was a pity, he thought. Avery was better than most of his kind. He smiled. But he was still an officer.
'I'll be ready when they calls us, sir.'
Avery got to his feet as Kellett, the first lieutenant, stepped to one side while Allday departed.
'Come in!'
They both laughed as Kellett eased his way around the screen door; the cabin was a twin of his own.
'I won't detain you.' He sat on the same chest and glanced un curiously at the pen and paper. Avery thought he probably knew about the letters he wrote for the admiral's coxswain, but he would never remark upon it.
He knew Kellett no better than when he had joined the ship at Plymouth. Tall, about twenty-five, and obviously respected by the more seasoned hands and warrant officers; Tyacke had implied that he had carried the ship for most of the time during Frobisher's lengthy overhaul. He was loyal, too; he had never complained to Tyacke about how he had been left with most of the duties, as some would, if only to ingratiate themselves with the new lord and master.
Kellett said, 'I would that I were coming with you. Or that Frobisher were carrying the flag into Algerine waters.'
Avery waited. Kellett was not here to waste his time before they transferred to Halcyon. He wanted to talk.
Avery said, 'You've been in this ship for three years.'
Kellett looked at him, his mild eyes very steady. 'I was appointed as second lieutenant, but my immediate superior was transferred.' He shrugged. 'I thought, ah, my future is brighter already!' But there was no humour in his voice.
Avery prompted, The previous first lieutenant was promoted?'
'Transferred. To some miserable, rat-infested bomb-vessel. I did not like him much, but he deserved better for all that.'
Avery considered it. The first lieutenant was the Honourable Granville Kellett, and the son of an admiral. His future, war or no war, should be assured. Unless… 'What was the captain like? I understand that he was removed because of illness, although the surgeon claims he had no part in it.'
Kellett's smile was genuine. 'I'm surprised you got anything out of that one. He wouldn't tell you he was taking off your leg, until afterwards!' He nodded his thanks as Avery poured two glasses of cognac. 'Captain Oliphant was rarely aboard during our time in the dockyard. He was ill, but he was receiving treatment ashore.' He paused. 'But not in Haslar Hospital, as you might expect.' He swallowed some of the cognac. 'I discovered that for myself.'
'Was it sudden?'
'I thought so at first. Now, looking back, I can see that he suffered some kind of discomfort… pain. It affected his moods, his temper. We received the news about Frobisher's appointment as Sir Richard's flagship, and I thought he was delighted about it. He would have been the flag captain, and, as Lord Rhodes' cousin, his prospects seemed excellent.' He dropped his voice. 'But I can tell you now, I thank God that Captain Tyacke is in command. I have never seen such a change in a ship, the life he's put into her!'
Avery smiled. 'I was in awe of him when we first met. I am closer to him now. But he still frightens me more than I'd care to admit!'
Kellett put down his empty glass. That was welcome, sir.'
Avery got carefully to his feet. Strange to think of French officers sitting here as they had done, discussing the prospects of battle, promotion, or perhaps love.
Kellett seemed to come to a decision. 'Captain Oliphant was very fond of women. He would get into debt because of them, if it suited. My predecessor was 'transferred' because he refused to help him. I suspect I was retained merely because of my illustrious father.' He forced a smile. 'I would deny every word in court, of course!'
Avery said gravely, 'Of course.'
They both laughed, and Kellett shook his hand. 'Be careful on this mission. I would not wish to lose a friend, one so newly gained.' Then he was gone.
Avery thought about it. Rhodes had been the one who had arranged for Frobisher to become Sir Richard's flagship. It would have been the making of Oliphant, no matter what the future held. He heard a boat being warped alongside. It was time.
But. related or not, Rhodes would never have suggested Oliphant for flag captain if there had been even the faintest hint of scandal, especially as he valued his own prospective appointment to First Lord.
Captain Oliphant was very fond of women. Kellett's words seemed to linger in the humid air.
It was not their concern. James Tyacke's decision to join them had changed everything, and from what Kellett had said, not only for Sir Richard's little crew.
He thought he could hear Tyacke's voice through the after screen, even before he reached the great cabin. The Royal Marine sentry remained expressionless, his eyes fixed on some point at the opposite end of the ship as he rapped his musket on the deck and shouted, 'Flag lieutenant, sir]'
Bolitho looked up from his table and smiled at him.
'I know, George. It is almost time.' If he were glad of the interruption, he gave no sign of it.
He turned to Tyacke and said, 'You have my written orders, James. You are captain-in-charge until our return, unless despatches to the contrary direct you. The ship is in good hands. None better.' He held out his own hand, and Avery knew that although Allday, too, was present,
for Bolitho, the cabin was empty but for himself and his captain.
He said, Trust me. This is something that must be done. If I wait for a full show of force, it might be too late. You know that.'
Tyacke sounded very calm again, but he was not resigned. 'I worked too long with slavers. I know these scum, no matter what they call themselves. It matters to me that we finish our work here.' He hesitated. 'And go home.'
Ozzard had insisted on joining them aboard Halcyon, and when he had finished supervising the lowering of the admiral's bag into the boat, he snapped, 'He can't manage his own, can he?'
Allday was still thinking about Tyacke, his mention of home, something previously unknown.
He ventured cautiously, 'About Cap'n Tyacke, an' what you said, Tom. I thought
Ozzard peered up at him, in the first shadows of evening.
'Thought? Leave thinking to horses, they've got bigger heads!'
Allday watched him bustle away, and was troubled by it. Tyacke's talk of home remained uppermost in his mind. For all of us.
As sunset touched the ancient battlements like blood, Bolitho and his companions were pulled across to the frigate Halcyon. There was a promising breeze, and the capstan was already manned, the sails loosened in readiness to leave.
Within the hour, it was as if she had never been.
