The other two-decker was the Glorious. Keen had been wise to choose her for his flagship, Bolitho thought. Her captain, John Crowfoot, who had the appearance of a stooping village clergyman, would be easier to deal with on day-to-day matters than Rathcullen.
Keen's other escorts had returned with obvious haste to England. Perhaps their lordships had been afraid that Bolitho might overstep his authority and gather them under his flag.
Aboard the Valkyrie, his relations with Trevenen had not improved. When Adam arrived triumphantly with his captures, the American privateer Tridente as well as a useful French merchant brig which he had cut out at Lorraine Island, Trevenen had scarcely been able to contain his anger and envy.
Bolitho had sent the two prizes, along with the U. S. brig Eaglet to Freetown where a court would decide their eventual fate. The brig H. M. S. Thruster, which arrived eventually at the Cape in company with Jenour's Orcadia, had been sent with them. She would not be much use as a fighting escort but would serve as a daily reminder to the vessel's crews of the King's authority.
Bolitho had moved aboard Valkyrie, even though most flag officers would have preferred more comfortable quarters ashore with the garrison. He felt that his place was at sea, or to at least be able to up-anchor if any further news was received concerning Baratte's whereabouts. Of Herrick there had been no word at all. Did Baratte think that an attack would be launched to release him? Or was he being held as hostage for some other reason?
He looked at Yovell who was hunched over the small desk, his pen busily scraping out a fresh set of orders for the various captains. The ship was as quiet as usual, and yet he imagined he could feel a difference. A ship was said to be as good as her captain and no better. Trevenen had gone over to Keen's Glorious, where he would soon be joined by all the other captains.
He picked up his hat and said, "I shall go on deck. Come across with me when they call away my boat."
He found Avery on the quarterdeck talking quietly with Allday. The barrier was down, it seemed, and Bolitho was thankful for both their sakes.
He shaded his eyes to stare at his little array of ships, dominated by the two seventy-fours. Valkyrie would seem as big as themselves to their lookouts and idlers, he thought. It was strange how old ships parted and eventually joined up together again. The family. In his last squadron, when he had flown his flag in Black Prince, there had been a seventy-four named Valkyrie. What had happened to her, he wondered? Wrecked, blown up in some unknown fight, or paid off into rotting old age like the ship at Freetown…? He glanced along the frigate's wide deck and at the men who were working at the hundred and one tasks which daily needed doing.
Some of them looked up, and he thought one was the young sailor who had smiled at him.
Loyalty went from the top downwards. It was not merely Trevenen's fault that this was an unhappy ship. It begins with me.
He looked towards the shore and the white-painted buildings and imagined the soldiers drilling in their constant cloud of dust.
They could not wait much longer. A regiment would eventually sail from India, while this force would approach the French islands from the south-west.
He began to pace slowly up and down, barely conscious of the heat across his shoulders.
The enemy must know of their preparations. With so many merchantmen and coastal traders coming and going it would be impossible to keep anything a secret for long. And what of the big U. S. frigate, Unity! Was she snug in harbour at Bourbon or Mauritius? She would certainly raise the enemy's hopes if she were.
He knew Allday had stopped talking to watch him. His concern both warmed and troubled Bolitho, and he wondered how soon it would be before Avery found out about his eye. Then what would he do? Write to Sillitoe perhaps to reveal a weakness in Bolitho he had known nothing about?
He thought of the letters he had received from Catherine. Vivid descriptions of the countryside, the preparations for Christmas, and her unexpected and personal venture into commerce with the purchase of the collier brig, Maria Jose. Poor Roxby must have been horrified at the idea, a woman's place being, in his view, very much in the home.
When he had first boarded Keen's flagship upon her arrival here, Bolitho had been astonished by the change in him. Still outwardly youthful, Keen had shown a new maturity, a pride in his promotion and all that it represented. When Bolitho had told him of Adam's successes and the taking of three prizes, he had felt his genuine pleasure.
"I told Lady Catherine before I left that he would do well. The scope of a whole ocean rather than clawing around Brest or Biscay is exactly what he needs! "
So far, so good, Bolitho thought. Adam would be over there right now with the others. Their first meeting since… since what?
Allday moved from the shadow of the hammock nettings. The gig's coming alongside, Sir Richard." He still sounded disgusted that Bolitho should have to make do with the captain's gig rather than a proper barge like the one in Black Prince.
Avery joined him by the quarterdeck and watched Urquhart, the first lieutenant, speaking with the captain of marines while the side-party mustered by the entry port.
"I was wondering, sir. Will the prizes that were sent to Freetown cause any friction with the Americans?"
Bolitho watched him. Avery was managing to drop the use of his title on these informal occasions, and Bolitho himself felt less distanced because of it, more approachable. Allday, of course, still refused to call him anything but Sir Richard.
He considered the question. Avery had been giving it some serious thought. Few others had, apparently. Theirs had been an "It's a knock at the Frenchies and to hell with all those who help them' attitude. Avery had weighed the possible consequences, and Bolitho was glad of his involvement.
"Tridents fired on and boarded a British vessel before removing Rear-Admiral Herrick as a prisoner. That is an act of war, with or without the presence of the French lieutenant who led the boarders. Eaglet was, or was not, about her lawful occasions, but she fired on Anemone and she was carrying English deserters or the like." He smiled at the lieutenant's intent expression. "Doubtful? It will be up to the courts to decide the rights and wrongs of it. My nephew did well, and
I will stand by his actions before the very highest authority. As for the French brig, she will raise a few guineas in prize money or she may become an addition to the fleet." He clapped his arm. "I do not think our countries will go to war over it." He paused. "Not yet, in any case."
They walked down to the entry port and Bolitho saw Yovell, complete with his weighty satchel of papers, already in the swaying boat.
He glanced at Urquhart. He was a good lieutenant, or could be. Bolitho hesitated and made certain that the captain of marines was out of earshot.
"A word, Mr. Urquhart." He saw him stiffen and stare at a point above his admiral's shoulder. "I understand that you have made it known that you would be prepared to act as prize-master in any future successes?"
Urquhart swallowed hard. "I – I did not speak with the captain, Sir Richard, I…"
Bolitho studied him. Young, experienced; it would be a waste as well as a loss to the fleet.
"I hear far more than people give me credit for." He eyed him impassively. "It would mean the end of your hopes. To throw away a position on this proud new vessel would be seen as something more, I think." He recalled Avery's bitterness at their first meeting. "You are a lieutenant, Mr. Urquhart, and a lieutenant you would remain. You could be inviting oblivion."
"It is only that…"
"I do not wish to hear, Mr. Urquhart. You are committed: I am not. Whatever you may disagree with or find disagreeable, you must consider your part in it, in this ship. D'you understand what I am saying, man?"