Command a King`s Ship

Then he heard a familiar voice, and when he turned observed Mrs. Raymond talking with someone he had not so far met.

She saw him immediately and called, 'Come and join us!' Her smile faded slightly as she noticed her husband. 'We have been talking about local customs.'

Raymond said abruptly, 'Rear Admiral Conway, the new governor of Teluk Pendang.'

Conway had been standing with his back to Bolitho. He was dressed in a dull bottle-green coat, his shoulders sloping badly so that he seemed to be leaning forward. He turned to face Bolitho, his eyes moving rapidly, noting all that they saw.

Bolitho said, 'It is good to see you again, sir.'

He did not know how to continue. If he had met Conway in Plymouth or anywhere else he would have walked past him. Could anyone change so much in twelve years? He looked thin and very intense, with two deep lines running from his hooked nose to his jaw, so that the mouth appeared to be suspended between them. Only the eyes were familiar. Cool, calculating.

Conway held out his hand. 'Richard Bolitho, eh.' The handshake, like his tone, was dry. 'And a post-captain, no less. Well, well.'

Bolitho tried to relax. It was like seeing someone looking through a mask. A rear admiral, but seniority apart, he was only one rank higher than himself. And no title, no proud knighthood to mark his climb to success.

He said quietly, 'I have been very fortunate, sir.'

Mrs. Raymond touched Conway's sleeve with her fan. 'He is too modest by far. I have had good opportunity to watch the captain at his duties, and listen to his past exploits.'

Conway's glance darted between them. 'Did he relate them well, ma'am?'

'I heard them from others.' Her eyes regarded him coldly. 'To drag self-praise from the captain is to try and open an oyster with a feather!'

Conway picked a thread from his waistcoat. 'I am relieved to hear it.'

Raymond said, 'It seems I am to accompany you to the new station, sir.' He did not hide his haste to distract Conway's attention from his wife's sudden anger.

'That is so.' Conway looked at Bolitho. 'The captain will tell you I am not one to tolerate mistakes. I require everyone connected with the hand-over of governorship within reach.' He glanced at the chattering people around him. 'Not here, living in spoiled unreality.'

Behind his shoulder Mrs. Raymond looked at Bolitho and pouted.

Conway said, 'I must go and speak to the military.' He bobbed his head. 'If you will excuse me, ma'am.'

Raymond waited just a few seconds, then exploded. 'Do you have to make a scene, Viola? In God's name, Conway could be important to me. To us!'

She looked at Bolitho. 'He is a pompous…' she sought for a word, '… bore!' To her husband she added, 'And it makes me sick the way you grovel to his kind. You always seem to throw yourself after the failures.'

Raymond stared at her. 'He is the new governor! What are you suggesting?'

She flashed a smile to someone across the room. 'You do not know anything. He is a failure. You have only to look at him!'

Strangely enough, Raymond appeared relieved. 'Is that all? I thought you had heard something.' He stared after Conway. 'I had better go to him. Sir Montagu Strang has instructed me to give all my experience to aid him.'

She held her fan across her lips and whispered, 'That should take very little time.' She slipped one hand through Bolitho's arm. 'And now, Captain, you can escort me, if you will.'

Bolitho was still thinking of that rapid exchange between them. Most of all of Conway, and what he had become.

She squeezed his arm. 'I am waiting.'

'An honour.' He smiled at her impatience. 'And thank you for your defence just now.' He shook his head. 'Although I cannot imagine what has happened to Conway.'

Her fingers dug into his arm. 'One day, some stupid officer will say that about you.' She tossed her head. 'Anyway, it was true. The pompous old bore!'

Bolitho saw the heavy-jowled major watching him and then turning to murmur to a fellow soldier.

'There will be talk, ma'am, if we walk about like this.' 'Good.' She looked at him calmly. 'Do you care?' 'Well, no.'

She nodded. 'And my name is Viola. Please use it in future.'

True to his word, Sir Montagu Strang lost no time in putting his long-standing plan into operation. Two days after Undine's arrival at Madras the Bedford, a heavy transport wearing the flag of the East India Company, dropped anchor nearby and began to take in stores and equipment for the new station.

After his first visit to the governor's residence, Bolitho had had no time for relaxation. So little was known of Teluk Pendang, except by those who had been engaged with local trade there, that it was some while before he was satisfied with his calculations. Mudge, who knew the waters well, gave his cautious approval, and when Bolitho had paid a visit to the Bedford's captain, he had been quick to praise not merely his work, but also his readiness to consult an officer of the Company.

'Not like a King's officer!' He had been greatly amused. 'Most of 'em would rather drive aground than enquire from the likes of us!' Bolitho wondered what his attitude might have been had he known about the twenty extra seamen he had poached from the all-powerful E.I.C.

Before he had left the transport he had caught his first sight of the troops who were being sent to replace the Spanish garrison. They looked as if they intended to make their new station a permanent home, for they were accompanied by as many wives and children, varied livestock, and a great mass of pots and pans, which made him wonder where they could all be stowed. Bedford's captain was unimpressed, so he guessed it was the normal way of doing things out here.

He was in his cabin writing his readiness report when Herrick arrived to announce that a launch was approaching. Its only passenger was Rear Admiral Beves Conway.

Bolitho hurried on deck, half wondering why Conway had stayed away from him since Undine's arrival, and partly concerned at the lack of notice.

To his surprise he saw that Conway was still dressed in his green coat, devoid of decorations or sword. He was not even wearing his hat as he stepped through the entry port and bowed curtly to Bellairs' guard of honour and to the quarterdeck at large.

'Taut ship, Bolitho.'

The eyes flitted this way and that, and Bolitho tried to dispel his sudden resentment at Conway's attitude. Perhaps he had always been like this, even in the Gorgon when Bolitho had watched his regular appearances on the quarterdeck or poop with something like awe.

'Dismiss the side party. This is an informal visit.'

Conway walked to a six-pounder and ran his hand across the breech. Then he looked aloft where some hands were blacking down the rigging, making it shine like ebony.

He nodded. 'She looks well enough.'

He turned his attention to the Bedford, at the booms which swayed back and forth above the boats and lighters moored around her.

Bolitho was able to watch him less cautiously, and saw the thinness of his hair, which was completely grey.

Without turning, Conway asked, 'What is your estimated time of arrival at our destination?'

'Given fair winds, sir, and in accordance with all I have discovered, I hope to make a landfall in eighteen days. Three weeks at the most. I have already been told that I am to sail ahead of the transport.'

'My idea.' Conway turned and looked at him searchingly. 'No sense in dragging our feet with that damned hulk.'

'Then you will be coming in Undine, sir?'

'Disappointed?' Conway shrugged. 'Of course I shall. I have made arrangements for my baggage to be sent out this afternoon.'

Bolitho's picture of his cabin faded. He had thought of it often since arriving at Madras. Somewhere he could examine his mistakes and assemble his advantages. Puigserver was one thing. Conway another entirely. It would be like being Conway's junior officer again.

He said, 'I will inform my first lieutenant at once, sir.' 'Herrick?' He sounded indifferent. 'No need.' Bolitho stared at him. That was not like Conway.