This was no stripling learning his trade in a small vessel. Standish was going to be a distinct asset—if his other qualities were as creditable. "Well, I hope Teazer c'n afford ye some entertainment in the future."
"Thank you, sir. May I ask it—do we have our orders yet?"
"None yet, but Admiral Lockwood assures me we'll have 'em presently. Do help y'self to more wiggs."
"If I might be allowed to make my excuses, sir, I feel I should make an early acquaintance with our watch and station bill." Kydd noted the "our" with satisfaction. "If there is fault to be found I'm anxious it shall not be mine," Standish added. He rose to leave, then hesitated. "Did I hear aright, sir, that your friend, our learned gentleman—"
"Mr Renzi?"
"—is he not also in the nature of a—a clerk?"
Kydd allowed his expression to grow stern. "In HMS Teazer he is captain's clerk, Mr Standish. He is b' way of being a retired sea officer and brings a deal of experience t' the post. You will find him of much value when he assists ye, as he will."
"Aye aye, sir," said Standish uncertainly.
It was while the powder boy was alongside, and the ship in a state of suspended terror at the sight of the deadly barrels swaying through the air, that Teazer's two midshipmen arrived. Awed by the tension they sensed in the manoeuvres around them, they stood bareheaded and nervous before a distracted Kydd.
"Andrews, sir," squeaked the younger. His wispy appearance was not going to impress the seamen, Kydd reflected.
"Boyd, sir," the other said stolidly.
"Ye're welcome aboard, gentlemen, but f'r now, clew up wi' Mr Prosser. That's him by th' forebitts. Say ye're to take station on him an' I'll attend to y' both later." Prosser was Teazer's only master's mate.
The lads trotted off and Kydd turned back to events. Purchet was in charge: his style was to give few orders and those quietly, forcing the party of men to a strained quiet in case they were missed, the boatswain's mate standing by meaningfully.
The morning wore on, and with the last of the powder aboard and securely in the magazine, the atmosphere eased. "Carry on, if y' please, Mr Prosser," Kydd said, and turned to go below.
At the bottom of the steps he nearly bumped into Standish. "Ah, sir, do you have a few moments?" He was carrying a sheaf of papers, and in the subdued light of belowdecks Kydd saw Renzi standing politely a few paces back.
He hesitated, caught between courtesy to his friend and a captain acknowledging a mere clerk in front of an officer, and compromised with a civil nod. The two officers went together to Kydd's cabin, leaving Renzi alone.
Standish spread out his papers: it was the watch and station bill and he had, no doubt with discreet hinting from Renzi, made sizeable inroads into the task. "Two watches, I think you requested, sir," he said, with businesslike vigour, smoothing out a larger paper made of two sheets pasted together. "With a complement of eighty-two men in a brig this size I see no difficulty here, sir. I will stand watch opposite Mr Prosser and we will apportion the men to divisions in like wise."
It was a good plan: both would see the same men every watch they would lead in detached service or for which they would take domestic responsibility.
Standish added, "As to petty officers o' the tops and similar, as you have been to sea once with them I respectfully seek your opinion." He handed over his list of stations for each seaman in the various manoeuvres that Teazer must perform; mooring ship, taking in sail, heaving up the anchors.
This showed a reassuring technical confidence. Discussion continued; mess numbers had been assigned and Standish had a useful suggestion about hammock markings and location.
It was always a tricky thing to find a man at night in the press of off-watch humanity below, and men did not take kindly to being clumsily awakened as the carpenter's crew or others were found and roused out.
"We stand eighteen short o' complement," Kydd said—it was a nagging worry as they had to be fully prepared for war. "I'm trusting t' snag some local men," he added doubtfully. It was unlikely but not impossible: there must be a fair number of sailors thrown ashore from the crowds of coastal shipping he had seen lie idle on the mud in Plymouth. They might be glad of the security of a King's ship known to be on service only in home waters.
Standish left as the purser came for more signatures. Suddenly, from the deck above there was a bull roar. "That pickerooning rascal in the foretop, ahoy! If you think to take your ease, sir, we can accommodate you—Mr Purchet?" It seemed Teazer's new first lieutenant was losing no time in making his presence felt.
Teazer's orders arrived; and Kydd sought the solitude of his cabin to open them. There were no surprises: the whole coastline between Portland Bill and the Isles of Scilly would be his responsibility ". . . to cruise for the protection of trade of His Majesty's Subjects, particularly of the coasters passing that way, from any attempts of the Enemy's Cruisers, using your best endeavours to take and destroy all ships and vessels belonging to France which you may discover or be informed of . . ."
He was to call regularly at Falmouth, Fowey and other ports to acquire "Intelligence, Orders or Letters," and further it seemed he should neglect no opportunity to procure men for His Majesty's Fleet who should then be borne on the Supernumerary List for victuals until conveyed to the nearest regulating captain.
There was, however, no mention of Customs and Excise but if any trade or convoy in the Downs bound to the westward should eventuate he was to "see them safely as far as their way may be with yours."
All in all, it was eminently suited to Teazer's qualities and vital to the country's survival. And it left full scope for a bold action against any enemy daring to cross her bows.
Kydd grunted in satisfaction, gathered up the papers and reviewed what had to be done now in the way of charts, victualling, manning. A small folded paper that he had over-looked slipped out. It was watermarked and of high quality and he opened it carefully. "Admiral Sir Reginald and Lady Lockwood request the pleasure of the company of Commander Thomas Kydd at a June Ball . . . at the Long Room, Stonehouse . . ."
Kydd caught his breath. There was no escape, he must go, and if Standish were invited separately he must make sure he accepted as well. It would be his first formal occasion in home waters as captain of a ship and because of his long overseas service it was, as well, his first entry into proper English society on his own terms— the Guildford assemblies paled into insignificance beside this.
This was something for Renzi. He knew all the finer points, the way through the social quicksands and the subtleties of conversational byplay, the rules for bowing and scraping. Kydd's grasp of the fundamentals of politeness was adequate for the usual run of social events but if at this level he were to bring disgrace on Teazer with an unfortunate gaucherie . . .
Kydd stood up and was on the very point of passing the word for Mr Renzi when he stopped. How in the name of friendship could he summon Renzi to appear before him simply when it suited? It would risk alienating him and fundamentally affect their delicate arrangement; it was important for the future that Kydd find a way to achieve the same object in a manner that did not offend sensibilities.
Of course! In Renzi's very words—the rules of politeness, the value of invitation: "Tysoe, do inform Mr Renzi that I request th' pleasure of his company when he is at liberty to do so . . ." As it was done in the best circles.
"M' friend, I'd take it kindly if ye'd give me a course t' steer in this matter." Kydd handed over the invitation.
Annoyingly, Renzi did not display any particular admiration or surprise. He merely looked up and asked calmly, "An invitation to a ball—is there an exceptional service you therefore wish of me?"