“I can imagine.” She brushed some of the hair from her forehead. It was the colour of polished chestnut. She added, “You’re the first lieutenant.”
“How did you know that?” He did not really care, and was glad of the chance to make up for the first opening.
“I know everything.” Her mouth lifted slightly. It was moist, and he could see tiny droplets of perspiration below her hairline.
“Well, come below and have a drink or something.”
She tilted the glasses down her nose, just long enough for him to see her eyes. They were dark brown.
She grimaced. “I’ll take the drink, if there’s a choice.”
In the wardroom Sheridan was relieved to see that Napier had arranged some clean glasses on a tray, and some small, neatly cut sandwiches were close by.
“Gin and?”
He watched her as she moved slowly around the wardroom. She had a perfect figure, and he liked the way she reached out to touch things. Like a child.
“Anything.” She turned and removed the glasses. “So long as it’s cool.” -
When he had finished preparing the drinks he saw that she was sitting in one of the battered chairs, her legs crossed, her eyes watching him thoughtfully.
“Now, er, Mrs. Kemp. What can I do for you? The captain’s away, I’m afraid, so …”
“Yes. I met him. In London.” Again that slow smile. “I’ll bet he’s having a fine old time right now.” Sheridan forced aa grin. “He’s earned it.” She raised the glass. “Cheers.”
Even that touched Sheridan’s guard. It was what Drummond always said. Without thought. Like part of an old joke which Sheridan did not share.
“I can see that you’re sincere.” She touched her upper lip with her tongue. “What did you put with this gin? More gin?”
She waved him away. “It’s all right. I’ll live.”
“Are you living around here?”
“In an hotel. I only arrived last night. Off again shortly. ” She leaned back on the worn leather. “Now, about you. I understand that you were mixed up in that convoy when the battleship Conqueror was sunk?”
Sheridan stared at her. If she had told him she had just been assaulted by the port admiral he could not have been more surprised.
She said, “Your old captain was the escort commander, right?”
He replied tightly, “It’s well known.”
“I know it is. He killed himself after the enquiry.”
“Look. ” Sheridan found he was on his feet. “I don’t know if this sort of thing is allowed or not. All I know is I’m sick of people dragging that man’s name through the mud. They weren’t there, he was. He’d seen and done more than their sort will ever know-“
She said, “Easy! Don’t get so touchy!”
“It’s just that I’m fed up-
“You told me.” She was very calm. “Sit down. Please.” She put her glass on the deck. “The point is, you were there, too. You must have thought the orders all wrong, misguided?” She leaned forward, her eyes unwavering. “Tell me. It will go no further. It wouldn’t be allowed anyway. ” Her mouth tightened and she added bitterly, “But I’ve pulled strings to see you and I’d like an answer.”
Sheridan grew calmer. The tone of her voice, that brief moment when he had seen her despair, had changed things. She had come from London to see him.
He said quietly, “Well, let’s make a bargain. You tell me why.”
“My brother was aboard the Conqueror, he was a quarters officer, whatever that means.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
She picked up the glass. “That’s what everyone says. Ididn’t know. Why should you, for God’s sake?”
Sheridan smiled. “You’re right, of course. People always do say that ” He looked away. “I once saw a man burn to death.
Couldn’t get near him because of the blazing fuel. I told an officer at the base about it afterwards. He said, ‘If he had to die, it was a fine way to go.’ ” He looked at her again and saw a new brightness in her eyes. “Can you imagine that?”
She nodded. “Now I can. ” She stood up and moved restlessly to the open scuttle. “My brother used to tell me about your Captain Beaumont. He was a commander then. On the admiral’s staff.”
Sheridan said quietly, “Conqueror was the flagship.”
“Yes.” She sounded distant. “Well, he’s changed. He’s altogether different. I can’t understand it.“In what way?”
She shrugged. “Tim, my brother, used to tell me what a bastard he was. Sarcastic. Always riding everyone, and never in the wrong himself. I grew to loathe him, just listening about him. ” She turned swiftly, her eyes in shadow. “Does that make sense to you?”
He shook his head. “Perhaps your brother was wrong. It can happen”
“I don’t think so. He wasn’t like that.” “When did you meet Beaumont?”
“Shortly after the disaster. He came to the Admiralty for a private press conference.” She shuddered. “It was like seeing someone else. He was nothing like Tim’s Beaumont. Charming. Tragic, if you can understand, and full of humanity. But as I’ve got to know him, I’m beginning to think it’s all sham. That Beaumont is empty inside. It’s why I wanted to hear your part of it. The mechanics of naval warfare are beyond me.”
“Did you ask my skipper about him? He was with Beaumont before the war.”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t think of checking back. What does he say about him?”
Sheridan smiled. “You’ve met Drummond. Do you think he’s the sort who gossips?”
She grimaced. “I didn’t really get a good look at him. I was angry at the time.”
“He’s a career officer. A very competent Scot. I’ve watched him at work. I’ve not seen ship-handling like his before. ” “What about him? The man?”
He looked down. “I’m not certain I know him. Does that sound disloyal?”
“It sounds honest.”
He smiled at her. “How about having a meal with me tonight?”
“All right. If you like. Can you get away?”
He nodded. “The skipper will not be back today.”
“No.” She picked up her sunglasses. “He’s returning tomorrow afternoon. ” She looked at him impassively. “I told you. I know everything. Almost.”
He followed her from the wardroom to the ladder, and could feel her warmth as she brushed against his arm. He wanted to reach out and hold her, here and now. But she was not that sort of girl. Apart from being married, she obviously knew how to deal with casual encounters.
The messman pattered into the empty wardroom and studied the uneaten sandwiches with disdain.
“Bloody officers!”
Sheridan watched the motor boat curving away towards the shore and shaded his eyes to look for the girl in the cockpit. But she was looking away and did not turn to wave back at the ship.
Tyson said stiffly, “A pretty woman, I thought, Number One.”
Sheridan was miles away. A proper meal in some local hotel. Get behind her guard, as she had his. He could not really help her about Beaumont, for there did not seem any more to say on the subject. But if that was all it needed.
He asked, “What did you say?” But Tyson had gone.
Vice-Admiral Brooks dabbed his mouth and reached across the table for his cigarettes. An elderly waiter waited just by his shoulder, matches ready, his face lined with concentration.
He asked, “Enjoy your dinner, sir?”
Brooks nodded curtly. “Fair.” He drew in on the smoke and said to the others, “But still…”
Drummond sipped the wine and watched the crowded tables all around him. Every sort of uniform, and the buzz of conversation and clatter of cutlery was more than a match for some violin music which was filtering from somewhere in the hotel.