'Perhaps.' She turned her head as if to watch her husband. 'I hope to see you when you come ashore. Here, after all, you are king?' She laughed lightly. 'In many ways I am sorry to leave the ship.'
Bolitho watched her thoughtfully. He remembered when he had arrived aboard after the running battle with the canoes. Spent, almost asleep on his feet as weariness replaced the will to fight, and memory pushed aside his immediate relief at his own survival. She had guided him to a chair, rapping out orders to her maid, to a startled Noddall, and even to Allday as she had taken charge. She had told someone to fetch the surgeon, but when Bolitho had said harsly, 'I'm not hurt! The ball hit my damned watch!', she had thrown back her head and laughed. The unexpected reaction had angered him, then as she had gripped his hand, quite unable to stop her laughter, he had found himself joining in. Perhaps that, more than anything else, had steadied him, had released all the anxiety he had been forced to conceal until that moment.
Some of it must have shown on his face as he remembered, for she said softly, 'Can I share them?'
'My thoughts?' He smiled awkwardly. 'I was thinking of something. My watch.'
He saw her lip begin to tremble again, and wondered why he had not noticed the fine shape of her chin and throat. Until now. When it was too late. He felt himself flushing. For what?
She nodded. 'It was cruel to laugh so. But you looked-so angry, when anyone but you would have been grateful.'
She turned her face away as Herrick called, 'Ready, sir!V
'Carry on, Mr. Herrick.'
'Aye, sir.' But his eyes were on the woman. Then he. hurried to the rail yelling, 'Man the lee braces! Hands wear ship!'
Undine swung easily into the wind, her anchor splashing down into water so blue it looked like satin.
Puigserver pointed at a small procession of boats which were already moving towards the ship and said, 'A time for ceremony, Capitan. Poor Rojart would have enjoyed this part.'
He was a different man now. Steely eyed, impatient to move again. To get his plans into order.
Behind him, Raymond was watching the oncoming boats with a look of apprehension rather than excitement on his face.
With the anchor down, and all sails neatly furled, Undine's decks were bustling with life as her company prepared to take on stores, visitors, or whatever they were ordered to do. Above all, to be ready to sail again within hours, should it be required.
Bolitho knew he would be needed for a dozen things at once. Even now he could see the purser hovering to catch his eye, and Mudge, waiting to suggest or ask something.
He said, 'Perhaps I will see you on land, Mrs. Raymond.' The others were listening, and he could feel their glances, their interest. 'It has not been an easy passage for you, and I would wish to thank you for your, er,' he faltered, seeing her lip quiver very slightly, 'forbearance.'
Equally gravely she replied, 'And may I thank you in turn, Captain, for your companionship.'
Bolitho made to bow to her, but she held up her hand and said, 'Until the next time, Captain.'
He took her hand and touched the back of it with his lips. He felt her fingers give his just the merest squeeze, and when he glanced at her face he knew it was no accident.
Then it was all over as he was caught up in the turmoil of receiving visitors from the governor and handing his despatches to the officer of the guardboat.
As a brightly-canopied launch pulled clear of Undine's black shadow he saw his passengers looking astern towards him, growing smaller with each sweep of the oars.
Herrick said cheerfully, 'I expect you'll be glad to have the cabin to yourself, sir. You've waited long enough.'
'Yes, Thomas. Indeed I will.'
'Now, sir, concerning extra hands…'
Herrick had seen the lie in Bolitho's grey eyes, and decided it was prudent to change the subject immediately.
It was late afternoon when Bolitho received a summons to report in person to the governor. He had begun to think that his part of the mission had been cancelled, or that in Madras his -status had shrunk so much he would merely stay at arm's length and do as he was bid whenever it might suit the proper authority.
Accompanied by Herrick and Midshipman Keen, he was carried ashore in Undine's gig, despite a haughty equerry's insistence that a local boat would be more fitting and comfortable.
An open carriage was waiting to convey them to the governor's residence, and for the whole of the short journey they barely exchanged a word. The bright colours, the surrounding press of chattering people, the whole strangeness of the town took their complete attention. Bolitho found the people very interesting indeed. How different their skins were, ranging from pale brown, no darker than young Keen's tan, to those who were as black as the warriors he had seen in Africa. Turbans and flowing robes, cattle and dejected goats, all milled across the winding streets, in and around the curtained shops
and bazaars in an unending panorama of noise and movement.
The governor's residence was more like a fort than a house,
with slits in the walls for weapons, and well guarded by Indian troops. The latter were most impressive. Turbaned and bearded, yet they wore the familiar red coat of British infantry set off with baggy blue pantaloons and high white gaiters.
Herrick gestured to the flag which drooped, barely moving, from a high staff and murmured, 'That, at least, is familiar.'
Once through the gates and into the cool shadows of the house it was another world again. The noise of the streets was sealed off as if by a great door, and all around was an air of watchful elegance. Fine rugs and heavy brass ornaments, barearmed servants who moved noiselessly like ghosts, and tiled passageways which led away in every direction as in a maze.
The equerry said smoothly, 'The governor will see you at once, Captain.' He eyed the others without enthusiasm. 'Alone.'
Bolitho looked at Herrick. 'Mr. Keen will remain here in case I need to pass a message to the ship. You can make good use of your time as you will.' He turned to hide his face from the equerry. 'Don't forget to keep an eye open for extra hands.'
Herrick grinned, relieved perhaps at being spared yet another set of questions and answers. The visitors to the ship had kept him on his feet since the anchor had been let go. The sight of an English frigate seemed to attract far more interest than the comings and goings of merchantmen. A link with home. Some word or hint of what these people had left behind in their search for empire.
He said, 'Good luck, sir. This is a far cry from Rochester!'
The equerry watched him leave and then glanced at Keen. To Bolitho he said, 'I'll send the young gentleman to the troops' quarters if you wish.'
Bolitho smiled. 'I am sure he will be happier here.'
Keen met the man's stare calmly and replied, 'Indeed I will, sir.' He could not resist adding, 'My father will be glad to learn of your hospitality when next I write.'
Bolitho turned away. 'His father owns quite a large portion of your trading agency here.'
The equerry said no more, but led the way down the grandest of the passages. He opened some double doors and an pounced with as much dignity as he still retained, 'Captain Richard Bolitho of His Britannic Majesty's Ship Undine.'
Bolitho already knew the governor's name, but little else about him. Sir Montagu Strang was almost hidden behind a great desk, the sides of which appeared to be made of ebony, with feet fashioned of massive silver claws. He was a frail, grey-haired man, with a pallid complexion which told its own story of some past fever. Hooded eyes, a thin, unsmiling. mouth, he was studying Bolitho's approach along a strip of blue carpet as a hunter might examine a possible victim.
'Welcome, Bolitho.' The thin mouth turned upwards a fraction, as if it hurt him to make the effort.