He essayed a bow-but this was no drawing-room introduction; the hard lines in the captain’s features indicated he was not one to waste time on vanities.
“Sir, I have a letter from the earl.”
Dillon handed it across. There was no change in the flinty expression as it was read. He knew what was in it: with pronouncements of complete trust, there was a mild suggestion that in his character were the attributes to be expected of a confidential secretary sufficient to render him a suitable candidate for the post.
He found it hard to take his eyes from the man who had been knighted not for courtly toadying but for a battle won with blood and courage. This was a man of a kind he had never in his life met before and it was intimidating.
Kydd put the letter down and looked at him. “You know his lordship was the previous occupant of this post?”
“He did tell me something of it, yes, sir.”
“What makes you think that you can fill his shoes, hey?”
“Sir, only the undoubted fact that he himself did so put me forward for the position.”
Kydd’s expression eased fractionally at the reply.
“You were confidential secretary at Eskdale, then?”
“Under-secretary, Sir Thomas.”
“Did Renzi … that is, did Lord Farndon inform you that service at sea is quite another thing? No soft shore-side ways, damned uncomfortable at times and always a job of work to do to annoy the enemy. No passengers in a king’s ship, Mr Dillon.”
“His lordship was also at pains to point out to me that the deck of a man-o’-war is a sovereign perspective from which to learn of the world, Sir Thomas.”
“That’s as may be,” Kydd snapped. “Now, a confidential secretary to the captain of a warship has to learn many novel things-it takes time. What assurance do I have that you’ll stay the course?”
Dillon paused. “May I then tell you something of myself?”
“Go on, but make it brief.”
“My father is a lawyer of some eminence in the Inns of Court and desired me to go up to Oxford to pursue law, which was not altogether in my reckoning. After my bachelor degree we agreed that I needed time to consider the matter while experiencing something of the world. My post at Eskdale seemed to answer, touching as it does on matters both confidential and complex in law, satisfying my father and at the same time allowing me to pursue my first interest, which is modern languages.”
“I cannot see how-”
“Sir, bear with me. For its convenience to myself I agreed to serve for a period of some years, which the present Lord Farndon was kind enough to remit, providing my service and loyalty remained with his old ship. Sir, if you’ll take me, I will stay.”
“Hmm. So you have a good round hand at the pen, can hoist in the meaning of a paragraph of legal cant, express yourself clearly?”
The glare was unsettling but Dillon came back strongly. “That you may rely upon, Sir Thomas.”
Kydd hesitated, then leaned back, regarding him for a space. “This is a hard thing for me, Dillon. The post of confidential secretary to the commander of a man-o’-war, especially one of the significance of L’Aurore, is considerable. It’s to be made privy to confidences affecting the lives of those aboard my vessel and possibly those of national importance. I must be sure you’re the man for it.”
Dillon waited politely as Kydd considered.
“Very well. I’ve a mind to take you on. Temporary acting rate as it were, subject to stout performance at the pen and so forth.”
“Thank you, Sir Thomas. I’ll endeavour to give full satisfaction.”
“Good.” He suddenly gave a quizzical smile. “And I’ve another duty as will see you well occupied while you shape up in your role.
“As you’re acting secretary only, as it were, there’s a post aboard you’re eminently suited to fill. That of schoolmaster to the young gentlemen. They’ll muster daily to receive your lessons in figuring, history and French, that sort of thing. I’ll not have ’em leading a heathen existence while there’s a learned cove aboard to teach ’em otherwise.”
“Very well, Sir Thomas.”
“So-you’re on my staff as of this moment, subject to review. You’re on the ship’s muster roll as schoolmaster and you’ll mess in the gun-room with the officers. Your duties will be explained to you later.”
The hard expression returned. “Mr Dillon, you’ve a lot to take in, and a short time to do it. Settle into your cabin now. Tomorrow morning Mr Calloway will stand by as you learn your larboard from your starboard. In the afternoon we’ll have the ship’s clerk, Mr Goffin, explain how we conduct our affairs.”
Almost absent-mindedly, he added, “And on the first night at sea we generally have dinner together, a get-to-know-you sort of thing.”
Then he looked up grimly. “You’ll stand with the warrant officers, share a servant with the purser. Should you fail to satisfy you’ll be landed at Gibraltar for shipping back. Clear?”
Dillon swallowed nervously. There were those at Eskdale who would take great satisfaction in an inglorious return.
“Yes, Sir Thomas.”
He summoned Tysoe. “Kindly conduct this gentleman below and inform Mr Curzon that I’m now possessed of a new confidential secretary and the ship has a schoolmaster.”
At his curt dismissal Dillon left awkwardly, following the valet down a hatchway to a bewildering world of polished doors and a long table; this was apparently the gun-room where he would sleep and mess. His luggage was piled outside his cabin, which was impossibly small.
The convoy sailed on uneventfully westward, and as the last dog-watch mustered and darkness fell, canvas was shortened to topsails, and leading lights began twinkling in every ship’s rigging. Weazel surged alongside to hail a goodnight.
Kydd entered his great cabin when all had assembled at the table. His officers scrambled to their feet.
“It’s right good to see you, Sir Thomas!” Bowden said, with unaffected pleasure. “On this our first night of the commission.”
“Hear him,” others echoed.
Kydd took his place at the head, looking down with unfeigned pleasure at the familiar faces-and those of Brice to his left, and at the junior end, Dillon, sitting apprehensively with the boatswain and gunner.
“Mr Curzon is not … ?”
“He wishes to express his disappointment at not being able to attend but feels it his duty to remain on deck at this time.”
It left Bowden and Brice free to take pleasure in their evening.
Tysoe moved forward unobtrusively to fill Kydd’s wine glass, the servants behind each chair taking their cue.
“Then let us rejoice in our good fortune,” Kydd said loudly. “A well-found ship, good company and the Dons to provide for our entertainment later!”
Glasses were raised amid happy shouts of approval.
“And here’s to our new shipmates,” he added. “Mr Brice! To your good health and fortune in L’Aurore!”
The man’s tense expression barely eased as he raised his own glass in answer and sipped sparingly, his eyes watchful.
“Do relate something of your sea service,” Kydd prompted. This was a chance to unbend, to regale his new messmates with well-polished yarns and emerge as an individual.
“As I told you, sir. Out of Leith in Raven, brig-sloop. North Sea, the Baltic.”
“Come, come, sir. You’re much too modest. We here know a trifle of what it is to be in the North Sea in dirty weather. And your Baltic convoy-I’ve heard numbers of above two hundred mentioned. How is this possible with so few escorts?”
“You may believe we did our duty, sir.”
“You’ve smelt powder on occasion, surely.”
“Some action, sir, yes.” He took another sip of his wine.
“Good God! You’re with friends now, Mr Brice. Can you not speak of your service to us?”
“Three French corvettes on Dogger Bank and we with a forty-sail convoy. We saw them off over three days.”
The man’s wariness was unsettling.
“’Pon my soul, but you’re a tight fellow with your words,” Kydd said, in mock exasperation. “Yet we’ll have it out of you before long.”