The Admiral's Daughter

'Y' mean, Nicholas, where's the pewter as will pay for it?'

'Have you by chance perused your books lately?'

'Books?'

'Of account. Household books of account as may readily be seen in both the greatest and meanest houses in the land.'

Kydd bristled, but Renzi continued remorselessly, 'As will detail to the prudent the ebb and flow of income and expenditures so as to give comfort that any projected enterprise will be within—'

'When I have th' time, Nicholas,' Kydd said curtly.

'As I suspected,' Renzi said, 'your lofty duties spare you no time for this necessary chore, and therefore I will make you a return proposition. Should you see fit to reduce my monthly lodgings to sixpence, I should be happy to assume the character of bookkeeper for you—for us both, as it were.'

'No!' blurted Kydd, appalled.

'Pray, may I know why not, as I already perform the function in part for your fine vessel?'

'But—but you're a learned gentleman fit f'r more than—'

'It were folly to despise the importance of keeping one's accounts, my friend, even for a scholard.'

Kydd smiled reluctantly. 'You're in the right of it, o' course. Very well, Nicholas,' he said humbly, 'Thank you, an' I honour ye for it.'

The door squeaked as Becky entered, bobbing to each. 'Draw the curtains, sir?' she asked timidly.

'Please do,' Kydd replied, with an absentminded nod, and turned to his friend. 'Nicholas, I've been wonderin': would y' tell me how your work is progressin' now?'

'Certainly,' Renzi said, with a pleased smile, steepling his fingers. 'As you know, my study is ethnographical in nature. At its heart I will be trying to extract universals from the differing response around the world to the same challenges, be they grand or petty.

'To this end I will be on quite another tack from your usual philosopher, for I shall look only to the assembling of observations at the first hand to support my truths, my own and others, not the cloistered ratiocinatings of the ivory tower! And for this I have started down two trails: the first, that I must gain a thorough acquaintance of what passes for knowledge in the subject at present, and the second concerns the amassing of my facts. This is a difficult and complex task, which I've yet to structure satisfactorily, but it is clear that in essence it will require two storehouses— one, truths, which are so because I or another have seen them to be so, and two, suppositions, which are said to be so and which, therefore, I cannot accept until verified.'

He smiled diffidently. 'Your kind service in allowing me a berth in your ship does, of course, mean that many observations will be possible that are unavailable to the landbound, and your other kindness in affording me a place ashore to lay my head is of increasing value to me for as I acquire correspondents they will need an address. Dear fellow, your name will most certainly be inscribed in the preface as principal benefactor, you may be assured.'

Kydd sat back. This was a far greater project than he had understood; no wonder Renzi had been closeted for hours each day with little to show for it so far. 'If there's anything . . .' he began hesitantly.

'Thank you, no. But on quite another subject, did I not spy a certain invitation arrive this morning?'

Kydd reddened. 'Er, yes, y' did, Nicholas.' How to include his ship's captain's clerk in anything with a naval connection was still not settled in his mind. 'From Admiral Lockwood's lady, a picnic t' be held next week over in Lord Edgcumbe's estate,' he added, as off-handedly as he could, and handed it over.

'It will be a social event of some significance,' Renzi admitted, after studying the card. 'All the notables will be there and yourself—but I fear that this, of course, will be by ulterior design.'

Kydd paused. 'Er, design?' he said suspiciously.

'Why, yes! You are fresh blood, a personable young man of good nature who is at present unattached and shows no immediate prospect of being otherwise. Therefore a prime choice to make up numbers as the hostess has a requirement.'

'Oh, I see.'

'Do bear the disappointment with fortitude—it would seem that your prospects for many further invitations will be bright, should you acquit yourself amiably enough on this occasion.'

'Ah, the invitation says, 'and friend.' Um, Nicholas, would you—'

'It seems to me that here is your opportunity to impress your sister with your social standing. She would be delighted to venture abroad on a picnic, I shouldn't wonder.' Cecilia serenely on his arm, Kydd joined the group assembling at the Mutton Cove jetty in some trepidation, conscious of being under eye and, in his new pantaloons and boots, feeling more than a little conspicuous.

There, in the centre, was the admiral's wife, the formidable Lady Lockwood, and Kydd set course resolutely to approach. 'Madam, might I be allowed t' present m' sister, Cecilia,' he managed, remembering to remove his beaver hat in an elegant sweep as he bowed.

It appeared to satisfy: conversations stilled as the newcomers were noticed, but the admiral gave an encouraging smile and Lady Lockwood replied imperiously to Cecilia, 'So glad you could be here, my dear. I'm sure you will enjoy yourself.' Her eye rested briefly on Kydd before she moved on to the next arrival.

Kydd glanced about furtively; there was not a soul he recognised but Cecilia steered him subtly to an apprehensive-looking middle-aged woman on the arm of a florid gentleman in blue whom she had met recently at a rout. 'Do forgive the impertinence, but I cannot help remarking that adorable bonnet,' Cecilia said gaily, 'The ribbons do so suit your complexion.'

The woman started in pleased surprise, and after Kydd was introduced to her husband the two ladies were soon deep in converse. The short trip across the water to Cremyll in the admiral's barge passed in a blur of impressions. They stepped out to a picture of rural charm: rolling parkland kept in immaculate order, acres of greensward interspersed with pretty groves of English trees and a double avenue of spreading elms that stretched