Beneath the aurora

'They were seamen, sir, and therefore we were notified. We usually inform the Regulating Captains ...'

'And they try and pick them up for service in our own fleet, eh?'

'I believe so, sir. They are more productive serving His Majesty at sea, rather than being detained at His Majesty's pleasure ashore!'

'A vicious habit, Templeton, which don't make the life of a sea-officer at all comfortable, and a pretty extremity to be driven to.' Drinkwater pulled himself up short. Templeton was not to blame for such matters, though it would do him good to see something of life's realities. 'Besides,' he added, 'they were not idle when they escaped, they were building dry-stone walls.'

'Yes, sir,' Templeton said resignedly, leaning forward and drawing a last letter to Drinkwater's attention. 'There is a post scriptum to the affair.'

Drinkwater took the letter and read it. 'So they melted into the countryside. Does the fact seem the least remarkable to you, Templeton? Wouldn't you have done the same?'

'It is customary to have a few reports of sightings.'

Drinkwater dropped the letter. 'Pass these to Mr Barrow's people. We have other work to do. Do you draft orders, in the usual form, to the officer commanding HMS Andromeda ...'

'He is not on board, sir, having been lately called to Parliament.. .'

'Then that is his damned bad luck, who is he?'

'Captain Pardoe. He is the Member for Eyesham.'

'Well, so much the better for Eyesham. An order for his replacement, my commission ... where is Kestrel?'

'Kestrel, sir? Er, she is a cutter…'

'I know what she is, I want to know where she is.'

'Laid up, I think,' said Templeton frowning, 'at Chatham, I believe.'

'Find out. Let me know. Now I shall write to my wife. We have less than a week before we leave London, Templeton.'

'We, sir?'

'Yes. You are appointed my secretary.'

Templeton stared blankly at Drinkwater and opened his mouth to protest. It had gone dry and he found it difficult to speak, managing only a little gasp before Drinkwater's glare dissuaded him from the matter and he fled. To lose all hope of elevation and suffer the ignominy of virtual demotion was enough for one day, but to be a pressed man as well was more than flesh and blood could stand. Templeton reeled out into the corridor dashing the tears from his eyes.

He left behind a chuckling Drinkwater who drew a clean sheet of paper towards him, picked up his pen and flipped open the inkwell.

My Darling Wife ... he began to write and, for a few moments, all thoughts of the war left him. As he finished the letter he looked up. It was almost dark and the unlit room allowed his eyes to focus on the deep blue of the cloudless evening sky. The first stars twinkled dimly, increasing in brilliance as he watched, marvelling.

He would soon see again not merely those four circumscribed rectangles, but the entire, majestic firmament.

It was almost a cruelty to bring Elizabeth to London for a mere three days, but two in the society of Bardolini, who insisted on continually badgering his host for news, was a trial to Drinkwater for whom the wait, with little to do beyond a brief daily attendance at the Admiralty, was tedious enough.

Difficulties began to crowd him within an hour of his wife's arrival. Bardolini insisted upon paying her elaborate court, depriving her husband of even the chilliest formality of a greeting, but then a more serious arrival in the shape of the young Captain Pardoe threatened to upset Drinkwater's humour still further.

'I understand, sir, that it is largely upon your intervention that I have been deprived of my command,' Pardoe had expostulated on the doorstep.

'Whereas I understand the demands of party expect you in Westminster, sir, where, happily, you are,' Drinkwater replied coolly.

'Damn it, sir, by what right do you ...?'

'You are making a fool of yourself, Captain Pardoe, pray come inside ...' Pardoe was admitted and confronted with the uniformed splendour of Colonel Bardolini. Introductions were effected to both the Neapolitan and Elizabeth, hushing Pardoe. At an opportune moment, Drinkwater was able to draw him aside and whisper, 'Colonel Bardolini is an important diplomatic envoy. Your ship is wanted for a mission of some delicacy, such that an officer of my seniority must assume command. It was thought better all round by the ministry that you should take your seat, I believe you are warm in the government's cause, and I should take command.'

Drinkwater's dark dissimulation appeared to have a swiftly mollifying effect. 'I see,' said Pardoe. 'Of course, if that is the case, I am naturally happy to oblige.'

'We knew you would be, Pardoe,' Drinkwater smiled, hoping Pardoe connected all the insinuations and believed Andromeda to be bound for the Mediterranean.

'D'you care for some tea, Captain?' asked Elizabeth soothingly, and the awkward incident passed, dissolving into the inconsequential small-talk of the moment. Elizabeth delighted in talking to a man who seemed to be at the heart of affairs and Drinkwater unobtrusively observed the pleasure she took in the company of Pardoe and Bardolini.

When, at last, they were alone together in their bedroom and Elizabeth had unburdened herself of news of the farms and the well-being of family and tenantry, he asked, 'Have you seen James Quilhampton recently?'

'Yes. He was dandling his son on his knee,' Elizabeth said pointedly.

'But was anxious for employment?'

'He did not say.'

'Bess, I ...'

'You said you would not be going to sea again, not that it matters much since I think I would rather you were as sea than languishing in this gloomy place.'

'I thought you liked this house?'

'When it was Lord Dungarth's, I did; as your London establishment, I don't care for it at all.

'Johnnie died in this room, didn't he?' His wife's familiar reference to the dead Dungarth discomfited Drinkwater. She had been as fond of him as he of her, and the difference between the sexes had led to an easing of the formalities that bound her husband. He changed the subject.

'I have to go, Bess ...'

'I know, affairs of state,' she sighed, then resumed, 'though I wonder what important matters demand the presence of so obscure an officer as my husband.'

'Perhaps I am not so obscure,' he said, in a poor attempt to jest, or to boast.

'Try persuading me otherwise, Nathaniel.'

'There is Colonel Bardolini.'

'He is pathetic and rather frightened.'

'Frightened? Why do you say that?' Drinkwater asked with sudden interest.

Elizabeth shrugged. 'I don't know; he just gives that impression.'

'Well, he's safe enough here and, for the few days we have, you can look after him.'

'Thank you, kind sir,' she said. 'But you have changed the subject. I want to know more of this proposed voyage. I suppose you wish me to carry orders to James when I return in the same way that I carried your sea-kit up to London.'

'You rumble me damned easily, Elizabeth.'

'You shouldn't be so transparent. I suppose you cannot or will not confide in me.'

'It is not...'

'A woman's business, I know.'

'I was about to say, it is not easy to explain.'

'Try.'

And when he had finished Elizabeth said, 'I hate you going, my darling, but knowing why makes it bearable. I know I shall never have you to myself until this war is over and anything that brings peace nearer is to be welcomed. I can only pray that God will spare you.'

He bent and kissed her, but she yielded only a little, pushing him gently away. 'Must you take James? Catriona has waited so long for him and you summoned him before, then left her to bear the child alone.'