women will endure it for three days.”
Adam glanced at Galbraith. “Women? I was not told-” He saw the quick, answering nod; Galbraith had dealt with it.
Bazeley was already thinking of something else. “I promised to pay a private visit to the lieutenant-governor, Captain. If you can provide a boat for me?”
Adam said, “Mr Galbraith, call away the gig again,” and lowered his voice as Bazeley moved away to speak with one of his own men. “What the hell is going on?”
“I took the women aft, sir, as you would have wished. And I’ve already told Mr Partridge to make sure all working parties are decently dressed, and to mark their language.”
Adam stared aft. “How many?”
Galbraith turned as Bazeley called out something, and said, “Only two, sir.” He hesitated. “I will happily vacate my cabin, sir.”
“No. The chartroom will suffice. I doubt I shall get much sleep, fast passage or not.”
He saw Bazeley waiting for him, feet tapping restlessly. He seemed full of energy, as if he could barely contain it. He appeared to be in his late forties, although possibly older; it was difficult to tell. Even his style of dress was unusual, more like a uniform than the clothing of a successful man of business. Or trade, as Rear-Admiral Marlow would no doubt describe it.
He recalled the discreet wording of his orders. To offer every facility. Bethune would know what to do; he was used to it.
He said, “Perhaps you would care to sup with me and my officers, Sir Lewis. Once we are clear of the approaches.”
It would be a far cry from the Indiaman’s table, he thought, and expected Bazeley to make his excuses. But he said immediately, “A pleasure. Look forward to it.” He saw the gig being warped alongside and beckoned to one of his party. He paused in the entry port. “I shall not miss the ship, Captain.”
Adam touched his hat, and said to Galbraith, “Is everyone accounted for?”
“The purser’s due back on board shortly, sir. The surgeon is at the garrison-there are still two of our people there.”
Adam saw Napier hovering by the quarterdeck ladder. “Call me when you’re ready.” And grimaced as another pain lanced through him. “I’ll not be much of a host tonight!”
He made his way aft, where seamen were stowing away chests and some cases of wine which obviously belonged to Bazeley’s group. Something else for Partridge to keep his eye on.
The marine sentry straightened his back as Adam passed, then leaned towards the slatted screen with sudden interest.
Adam thrust open the door, and stared at the litter of bags and boxes which appeared to cover the deck of the main cabin. A woman was sitting on one of the boxes, frowning with apparent pain while another, younger woman was kneeling at her feet,
trying to drag off one of her shoes.
Adam said, “I-I am sorry, I did not realise…”
The younger woman twisted round and looked up at him.
Woman; she was no more than a girl, with long hair, and a wide-brimmed straw hat which was hanging down over her back. In her efforts to drag off the offending shoe some of the hair had fallen across her eyes, and one shoulder was bare and luminous in the reflected sunlight.
Adam saw all this, and that her eyes were blue, and also that she was angry. He made another attempt. “We were not forewarned of your arrival, otherwise you would have been offered more assistance.” He gestured wordlessly at the disordered cabin. “Your father said nothing to me about all this!”
She seemed to relax slightly, and sat on the deck looking up at him.
“Sir Lewis is my husband, Lieutenant. That you should have been told.”
Adam could feel the other woman watching him, and, he thought, enjoying his discomfort.
“I am Captain Adam Bolitho, ma’am.”
She stood lightly and pushed the hair from her forehead, all in one movement.
“There now, Captain. We all make mistakes, it would seem!” She looked around the cabin. “Yours, I believe.” It seemed to amuse her. “We are honoured.”
The other woman had managed to remove her shoe, and was staring glumly at her swollen foot. Lady Bazeley said gravely, “This is Hilda. She takes care of everything.”
She laughed, and the other woman’s face responded as if she had never learned to resist the sound.
The girl moved just as swiftly to the stern windows and looked at the panorama of masts and colourful lateen sails, then she faced him again, her body outlined against the blue water. “And this is a man-of-war.” She sat on the bench seat, the hair falling across her bare shoulder. “And you are her captain.”
Adam wondered at his own silence, his inability to answer, to be himself. She was laughing at him, teasing him, and probably very aware of the effect it had on him and anyone else she cared to confront.
She pointed at the adjoining sleeping cabin. “I see you are not married, Captain.”
He said coolly, “You have a keen eye, ma’am.”
“And that surprises you? Perhaps you take a dim view of a woman’s place in the scheme of things!” She laughed again, and did not wait for a reply. “You have been in a battle, I understand, and you have been injured?”
“Many were less fortunate.”
She nodded slowly. “I am sorry for it. I have not experienced war at close quarters, but I have seen what it has done to people. Those close to me.” She tossed her head, the mood passing as quickly. “Now you really must excuse me, Captain. I must prepare myself.” She walked past him, and he could feel the impact of her presence as if they had touched. She was lovely, and she would know it, and that alone must act as a warning, before he made a complete fool of himself. Bazeley was not the sort of man who would forgive even a casual offence.
“If you will excuse me also, m’ lady, I must prepare the ship for leaving harbour.”
She regarded him steadily, her eyes much darker in this confined space. Violet.
He glanced at the sleeping cabin, where his cot had already been folded away. Where he had dreamed, and remembered. He turned away from it. Where Lovatt had coughed out his life…
“My servant will assist you. He is a good lad. If you require anything else, my officers will do their best to make your stay aboard as comfortable as possible.”
“In the Cumberland, the captain said I was to ask him. Are the King’s ships so different?”
She was playing with him again. Was she so young that she did not understand what she could do, was doing? Or did she not care?
He answered, “Ask me, m’ lady, and I shall try to oblige you.”
She watched him, one hand resting on the empty sword rack, her eyes thoughtful.
“A duty, then?”
He smiled and heard the sentry move away from the door. To offer every facility.
“I hope it may also be a pleasure, m’ lady.”
He turned to the door and the pain hit him again like a bullet.
A reminder; if so, it was just in time. He walked quickly to the companion ladder, his mind clearing as the pain retreated.
Galbraith was waiting for him, with one of his lists already in his hands.
He said, “I’ve spread Sir Lewis’s people as evenly as possible amongst the warrant officers. Two will be in the wardroom.”
Rank and status. Always separated, no matter how small the ship. He heard her voice again, mocking him. Are the King’s ships so different?
Galbraith said, “Lady Bazeley is a very striking woman, sir. I shall endeavour to make certain that she is not offended by some careless word or deed.”
He was so serious that Adam wanted to laugh, and did, at the sheer absurdity of it.
“And that includes the captain, I take it?”
Acting-Lieutenant Bellairs heard him laugh, and saw the surprise and bewilderment on Galbraith’s face.
He thought of the lovely woman in the cabin; she had smiled at him.
