The Admiral's Daughter

'That will be unfurnished, I believe. Shall we say about twenty-three if semi-furnished, which I earnestly recommend?'

'Ah, just so, I'd think,' Kydd replied hastily, and sought to bring himself to a proper state of seriousness. 'Nicholas. I have a proposition I'd like ye to consider.' Choosing his words carefully, he went on, 'In the matter of y'r own situation—I know how scant y'r means are as a captain's clerk wi' no other. As a man o' learnin', you'll need a place to rest your books an' things. I'm of-ferin' such a place for you here—but I have m' price.'

'I'm flattered to receive your offer,' Renzi said equally carefully, 'but as you may see, I'm fully provided for aboard the fine ship Teazer.'

'Ah, but here you would have an address you can give to people that will stop 'em thinkin' ye're a singular cove as lives all his life in a ship . . .'

Renzi paused.

'. . . and y'r grateful assistance at times of m' social duty such as dinners will be well remarked.'

'I see.' He stroked his chin. 'You mentioned a price, as I remember.'

'I did. One shillin' a month—and I shall see m' name, Thomas Kydd, printed for all the world to see, in y'r first book.'

Renzi looked away. When he had regained his composure he turned with a smile and said lightly, 'Then it seems that, not content with topping it the captain over me, you shall be my landlord as well.' He held out his hand. 'And here's my word on it.'

It was amazing, the amount of work that was apparently needed before they could claim their domicile. Drapery of fashionable colour replaced darker hangings at the windows, tastefully painted and varnished sailcloth lay over plain-edged floorboards in all but the drawing room, where an only slightly worn green-patterned carpet complemented the restful sage of the walls.

When it came to his bedroom, Kydd refused strenuously to contemplate the larger room, contending that he felt uneasy in any but ship-sized quarters and, besides, Renzi would need all the space he could find for book stowage. Thus it was that his friend could have an imposing writing-desk fit for the finest scholar at the window, leaving the rest for a modest bed and a satisfying expanse of empty shelving.

For himself, he indulged in a mahogany four-poster bed of the latest design, somewhat incongruous with the Spartan furniture already in the room.

When Cecilia arrived to inspect progress, her scrupulously polite suggestions were only sometimes parried by Renzi, albeit with an even greater civility, until decoration and additional furniture had been settled to mutual satisfaction.

While Teazer lay under repair for her slight wounding by the privateer, Chez Kydd neared completion. In the dining room, wall-mounted mirror sconces were fitted to cast a more cheerful light on proceedings, and a modest amount of silver Sheffield plate found its way into the sideboard.

In the drawing room, the marble mantelpiece was decorously ornamented and all proper brass implements mustered and found correct, a silk fire-screen completing the furnishings.

A turning-point came when it became necessary to engage domestic staff. The indispensable Jane allowed that word had been put out that a position might be open in the house of a bachelor naval captain, which was probably why a diminutive but bright-eyed sea-widow named Mrs Bargus arrived that day to apply for the position of housekeeper.

Kydd, unsure of the niceties, sent for Tysoe. Imperturbable as always, his man took charge and Mrs Bargus was installed to maintain the residence against Mr Kydd's return from sea. In the way of things she would oversee a maid-of-all-work, who would share her quarters and, it seemed, undertake to produce a cook and scullerymaid of her acquaintance on a daily basis while Teazer was in port.

With Tysoe as butler and head of staff, Mr Kydd was no longer to be troubled with domestic concerns and number eighteen took on new life. A shy Becky, the new maid, curtsied to Kydd, and mysterious clatters from the lower regions was a sure sign that the cook was taking a measure of her domain.

At last the day came when Tysoe was persuaded to pronounce the house habitable and Kydd rubbed his hands with glee. 'Nicholas! Tonight we shall dine—and who do y' think we should invite?'

Renzi hid a smile at Kydd's boyish excitement. 'Do you not think it a vexing imposition on our new cook that she must prepare dishes for the multitudes? It were better that we dine in solitary splendour and see what she conjures.'

In the event, the Cornish sole overtopped with fried oysters was entirely tolerable, and by the roast pigeon Kydd was passing content with his portion in life.

With Tysoe hovering solicitously with the wine and a timid Becky anxiously removing dishes under the august eye of the head of the household, a watershed had been reached in Kydd's life.

'Shall we withdraw, do you think?' he said lazily to Renzi.

'Shall we indeed! A brandy would be a capital thing to me at this time,' Renzi answered, with equal contentment, after a pause to dispose of the last of the custard pudding. 'In no way an aspersion on our inestimable cook aboard Teazer but I rather fancy that at the hands of this one we should no longer fear to invite whom we will.'

'It was a splendid party, was it not?' Renzi chuckled, throwing his newspaper on the floor and helping himself to the breakfast kippers. 'Bazely quite kept the ladies in a roar with his drollery. I suspect he's not to be deprived of sociable occasions.'

Kydd's daily visits to Teazer as she lay under repair were not onerous and the success of the party the previous night combined with the warmth of a long friendship to produce a glow of satisfaction. 'Aye, that it was, Nicholas,' he mused, with a sigh, remembering these very drawing-room walls resounding to laughter, the soft candlelight on flushed cheeks. 'Do y' think we should make th' next by way of a fancy dress?' If six made a rousing evening they could probably stretch to eight and have a glorious rout. 'An' Miss Robbins tells me there's quantities o' ladies would favour us with a musical evenin', if begged.'

Renzi pursed his lips. 'This is an agreeable prospect, my friend, and I'm desolated to intrude—but have you given thought to the unfeeling demands of Mammon?'