In the fine weather people were thronging the pleasant gardens on the point. "Why, there's a beauty wants to be noticed!" Standish exclaimed. He had his telescope trained on one particular lady who was waving both arms enthusiastically. Distracted, Kydd turned back to the conn but something about that figure . . .
"If y' please?" he asked, and took a peek. It was Cecilia.
"Mr Prosser, dip th' ensign!" Standish looked at Kydd with alarm. "My sister," he said defensively. Obediently Teazer's colours lowered six feet and proudly returned.
He had no idea why she was there but her gaiety did not seem to indicate a family crisis. After Teazer had picked up her moorings, he penned a quick note to go ashore with the first boat, inviting her aboard after the flurry of official business, which always awaited a warship returning from a cruise.
"Boat ahoy!" blared the mate-of-the-watch, at the approaching pinnace—there was really no need, for it plainly bore only an assortment of passengers, but its coxswain Poulden bellowed the required "No, no!" to indicate that no naval officer was coming aboard.
Cecilia climbed daintily over the bulwarks, handed across by an attentive Kydd, who tried not to notice the look of admiration she received from Standish. His elaborate bow, however, was lost on her: she threw her arms determinedly round her brother and kissed him soundly, to the delight of the seamen on deck. "Dear Thomas! I'm so thrilled—you have no idea! Captain of your ship—"
"Why, yes, er, welcome on board HMS Teazer, Cecilia," Kydd said hastily. "An' this is . . . ?" He turned to the two other passengers stepping aboard.
"Oh, you must remember Jane! She invited me to stay, and how could I refuse?" The lady dimpled with pleasure at the introduction and shyly held out her hand as Cecilia continued, "In Jamaica, I helped at her wedding to William. And we all had dinner together that time . . . ?"
The thickset man grinned broadly. "I was a lowly ensign o' Foot." He chuckled, clearly impressed to know the captain of a King's ship and apparently not recalling that in Jamaica Kydd had been but the quartermaster's mate of a tiny cutter.
Cecilia took his arm with determination. "Do take us about your ship, Thomas," she said, with an impish smile.
Kydd cleared his throat importantly. "Mr Standish, let me know if ye have any troubles—I'll be takin' these people f'r a tour."
His visitors showed every delight at the sights to be had in a man-o'-war: towering masts with their incomprehensible tracery of rigging; the soaring, naked bowsprit so immensely long at close quarters; the deadly fascination of the line of guns at either side; the compass binnacle and spoked helm, now motionless.
Heads were bumped on the deckhead below but they were able to see for themselves the clean expanse of the mess-deck with its tables triced up and ditty bags against the side. The boatswain affably displayed his store and they witnessed at first hand the procedure for the issuing of victuals to the mess-cooks for preparation.
Finally they entered the great cabin of HMS Teazer, and admired the noble appointments accorded the ship's captain. Cecilia's eyes shone as she looked up at her brother. While her friends peered hesitantly into Kydd's sleeping cabin he whispered, "An' ye're invited t' the captain's table at eight bells tonight, sis."
It called for sherry all round before Kydd had regretfully to announce that, owing to pressure of work, he must conclude their tour and send them ashore. They returned on deck, blinking in the sunshine, but Cecilia hung back. "Thomas," she said in a small voice, "we haven't seen Nicholas."
"Aye, well, he doesn't like t' be disturbed, y' see," he said uncomfortably. Renzi's instructions had been clear.
She met his eyes levelly but said nothing.
"Ah, b' chance he might be at leisure t' see you," he said, and excused himself to his visitors and went below, hearing Cecilia's footsteps tapping behind him.
The tiny cabin had its curtain pulled across but Kydd cleared his throat and said brightly, "Nicholas—er, here's someone desirous o' speaking with ye."
There was movement and Renzi's head poked out. He paused when he saw Kydd's sister, then turned and looked accusingly at Kydd. Cecilia gave an encouraging smile and said sweetly, "So kind in you, sir, to receive us without notice. Do I find you in health?" Her eyes were already straying beyond the curtain, and Renzi, with a curious air of dignity yet defiance, answered, "I do thank you for your politeness but as you may see I cannot in all civility invite you to enter."
Kydd hastened to say, "Oh, er, you'll understand, Cec, we don't have an overplus o' room aboard, an' this is how Nicholas wants it."
Cecilia stooped to see inside, ignoring Renzi's pained expression. "Why, this is nothing but your monk's cell," she said, taking in its Spartan simplicity. "It's just the right place for you, I vow. And will we be seeing you tonight, Mr Renzi?"
"I—I'm desolated to find that on this occasion there is ship's business ashore that has the prior claim upon me, Miss Kydd."
"Oh? Aye, this c'n be so, Cecilia," Kydd said hastily. "Y' remember he acts in th' character of ship's clerk an' always knows his duty, I find."
"Miss Cecilia, sir." Tysoe held the door as she entered the great cabin, awed now by the effect of the candlelight's tawny gold on the naval splendour within.
"Good evening, Thomas—how kind of you to invite me."
Tysoe accepted her pelisse with the utmost courtesy, his approval of the quality of Kydd's visitor barely concealed.
"Oh, sis, I don't think ye've made y'r number with Tysoe here. He's been m' personal servant since before Canada an' gives the greatest satisfaction."
Tysoe exchanged a pleased inclination of the head for Cecilia's wary interest. "My brother is in good hands, then," she said, and allowed herself to be conducted to one of the two easy chairs, set to take full advantage of the view from the stern windows in the gathering dusk. Kydd sat companionably in the other.
"Our dinner'll be alongside presently, Cec. The cook's warned off ye're aboard. Can I help ye t' the wine afore we eat?"
"That's so kind, but I will decline for now, Thomas," she replied delicately. The incongruity of his younger sister deploying the arts of politeness for his sake touched a chord and he laughed, evoking in her a pleased smile.
"Just think," she said, with childish warmth, "it was only a few years ago . . ." Her face shone. Then she turned and said eagerly, "Tell me what it's like, Tom! The captain of a King's ship—how does it feel?"
Kydd affected not to notice the deep glow of the gold lace on his coat. "Why, it's so fine a thing, I find it hard t' remember when I was aught else—but I c'n tell ye now, ye must believe th' biggest thing in life was t' be removed fr'm the fo'c'sle to th' quarterdeck."
Cecilia remained silent as he continued. "Y' see, sis, when ye're only a foremast jack, y' peep aft an' see officers who're calm 'n' strict, looking down at ye, all the power an' discipline . . . an' when I heard I was t' join 'em I didn't know what I must expect. F'r me, the big surprise was t' find that in th' wardroom all th' rank an' ceremony is left on deck, not an order given except it's on the quarterdeck, never below.
"It means we're all equal, y' see. We share like brothers an' this means that in battles an' such we understand an' trust, one wi' the other. It's—it's . . ."
"But now you're captain!"
"That's what I'm tryin' to say. I've been plucked out o' their comp'ny now, Cec, an' not a one c'n speak t' Tom Kydd but he's addressin' his captain, an' we both know it."
Her eyes grew round. "Then this is why Nicholas is . . ."
"Aye—I own that I'm truly fortunate t' have his company aboard, even if it's a mort hard t' hoist in his meanings at times."