“Well, now, and we’re honoured indeed, Sir T,” murmured Hozier, eyeing Kydd’s sash and star. Kydd had hesitated about wearing them but he’d been led to understand that if he did not it would be assumed he did not value the honour.
“I was lucky enough to be in the right place,” he replied genially. “As could happen anywhere.”
“Not here, old trout,” Hozier answered, with a small smile. “Hard blows and a lee shore is all we can rely on.” He had a noble forehead and a languid, patrician drawl.
“And another month, another convoy.”
“Quite. You’ll send me a lieutenant and brace of middies to bear a hand?”
“Lieutenant you shall have, reefers I’ve none.”
“To spare?”
“In any wight. I’m appointed into Tyger at short notice and the mids fled with the last captain.”
“Oh, yes. I recollect there was some to-do that-”
“Which is over now. I’ll send my sailing master, if I may, for chart corrections and similar. Can I take it there’ll be no difficulties on passage?”
“I’d say not. The Danes are very strict on their neutrality and run the Sound transit like a business-which I suppose it is to them. Once inside the Baltic there’s nothing to fear, no Frenchy fleet or even cruisers, what with the Russians our ally and with ships-of-the-line to spare. We just let the convoy disperse about their business.
“As usual, Boney is rampaging away on some land campaign or other-the Prussians are taking a hammering, which means the southern Baltic shore is a scene of slaughter, but it’s nothing to do with us. We keep our offing well out of it.”
“So a straightforward trip, nothing to-”
From above, a terrifying bellow interrupted them.
Hozier winced. “My premier, a man of … plain manners. I’ve endeavoured to encourage a more gentlemanly address but I fear it’s a lost cause with Mr Bray.”
Kydd gave a sympathetic nod and went on to conclude the meeting: “I’m in reasonable fettle. Victualling and stores shouldn’t take long. Have you a date of sailing?”
“Five days, subject to numbers made up to my list. Shall we meet again, perhaps for dinner? I’ve a tolerably inventive cook who knows his souffles and I can promise you a capital evening …”
Piped over the side and in his gig, Kydd felt a glow of pleasure. In the past he would have felt intimidated by the man’s effortless high-born gentility but now, with his honours and distinction, he need never fear it again.
But then came a rush of bleakness. Was he facing his last days at sea? From what he’d heard there’d be virtually no chance of a spectacular and distinguished action in this voyage.
Hollis was waiting for him, stiff and tense. “You left no instructions regarding liberty, Sir Thomas, and I had to-”
“Harbour routine. At noon, starbowlines to liberty ashore,” Kydd snapped, irritated that the first lieutenant had not thought to ask before if he had concerns. “Back aboard for the forenoon tomorrow.” He’d have pay-tickets made up and send for the clerk of the cheque. Then the seamen would have something in hand to raise a wind ashore.
He was not long back in his cabin when the boatswain reported.
“What is it, Mr Dawes?” If there were defects that prevented their sailing he’d need to know at once.
“Well, it’s like this here,” the man mumbled. “I’ve got t’ think how I stands.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“It’s m’ bones, like. Never had it so bad, at me all night they is, a real trial.”
“Are you saying you’re suffering a griping in the bones? What does the doctor say?”
“He weren’t a help. See, it’s not as I can show ’im and-”
“You’re ill and worried that it’s affecting your duties,” Kydd said smoothly, grasping what was going on, “so you’re informing me now. Right and proper it is for you to do so, Mr Dawes. Well, we must get you ashore to recover. Don’t concern yourself about the ship, we’ll find another to relieve you. I’ll make arrangements with shoreside immediately.”
It worked well for both parties. The boatswain would remain “ill” ashore until Tyger had sailed with a replacement, then emerge and take a more comfortable berth.
Kydd turned to other things. “Tysoe, I’ve something I’d like you to do for me …” His stored sea furniture from L’Aurore would transform the great cabin from a bare monk’s cell into something like gentle living.
His spirits rose, and he passed the word for his first lieutenant. “Mr Hollis, I’ve a notion to priddy the ship before we put out. Kindly detail three good hands and I’ll have the figurehead put to rights, gold leaf and the rest.”
“Sir.” There was still an underlying resentment in his tone-Kydd’s necessary intervention in his first lieutenant’s professional judgements had demeaned him in the eyes of the ship’s company.
Kydd sent Bowden to assist Hozier; he had need of Brice’s good sea sense in setting up the rigging while a new boatswain was found and it would get Bowden out of the ship for a while.
After the first day he knew he’d been right to award liberty, for there were few stragglers. His bracing talk to the hands, repeating in earthier terms what he’d said to the gun-room, must have had some effect, and the prospect of losing all prize-money owed by deserting would have been an even greater deterrent.
Hozier’s invitation to dinner duly came for Kydd, along with a note that four other captains would be joining them.
It was a pleasant evening, but the drumming of rain on the deck above told of a wet and chilly night for those on watch. Kydd knew two of the guests vaguely and Hozier had a ready fund of well-practised yarns. A marine violinist played soft airs just out of sight.
The cigars had come out and the talk was languorous when there was a sudden knock at the cabin door and a dark figure in streaming oilskins thrust in.
“Sir. Silent hours, master-at-arms says lights out an’ the ladies are quiet ’tween decks,” was the growled report.
“Not now, Mr Bray, we’re at dinner-I’ve company, can’t you see?” Hozier glanced about apologetically at his guests.
“Two in bilboes, carpenter gives less’n a foot in the bilge and the red cutter still in the water.”
“Yes, Mr Bray, thank you, thank you. You can leave us now. Good night.”
Deep-set eyes flicked over the gathering. Then their owner left abruptly.
“Not as you’d say a paragon of politesse and I do apologise for him.” Hozier sighed. “Shall we broach the cognac at all? I can vouch for it, as having come from a Frenchman who thought he was delivering it to Napoleon himself.”
Kydd dutifully tasted the delicate fire and joined in the appreciative murmurs-and was transfixed by a sudden thought. It grew and took hold and he delayed his departure until he was last to leave.
“A splendid time, David,” he said warmly. “As gave me pause …”
“Oh? I do endeavour to please, old fellow.”
“Just a thought-you’ve heard Tyger’s seen a mort of pother, not to say a mutiny. My first was in the thick of it, poor fellow. A sensitive chap, comes from a good family, politeness itself and a first-class education. How he must have suffered for want of society, my other officers being of the more … ordinary sort.”
It brought a small frown, so he hurried on: “What’s more to be desired in a ship so recently in a moil is a plain-speaking, no quarter, hard horse as will brook no insolence. Rather like, shall we say, your Mr Bray?”
After a pause, Hozier smiled. “Ah, I think I can see what you mean.”
“And I was thinking that-”
“They must both agree.”
“Of course!”
“Mr Hollis,” Kydd said, as early in the day as he decently could.
The officer braced himself.
“I’ve had an approach from the senior officer escorts-that is, Captain the Honourable David Hozier, father a species of viscount, you know. For some odd reason he’s heard you’re with me in Tyger and has a desire to exchange you into Lively. Of course I had to say that I have the highest regard for your service to this ship and can’t possibly …”