There was a tap at the door and Calvert entered nervously, holding some papers before him as if for protection.
Bolitho smiled. “Be seated. I will sign them, and you may distribute them to the squadron before dusk.”
Calvert did not hide his relief as Bolitho sat at the desk and reached for a pen. Bolitho’s action saved him from having to face Broughton when he came offshore. His eyes fell on Bolitho’s sword lying on the bench seat where he had put it when he returned from seeing the Hekla.
In spite of all his caution he said, “Oh I say, sir, may I look at it?”
Bolitho stared at him. It was unlike Calvert to say much, other than mutter excuses for his mistakes. His eyes were positively shining with sudden interest.
“Certainly, Mr Calvert.” He sat back to watch as the lieutenant drew the old blade from the scabbard and held it in line with his chin. “Are you a swordsman like Sir Lucius?”
Calvert did not reply directly. He ran his fingers around the old and tarnished hilt and then said, “A beautiful balance, sir. Beautiful.” He looked at Bolitho guardedly. “I have an eye for it, sir.”
“Then see that you restrain your eye, Mr Calvert. It can cause you much trouble.”
Calvert replaced the blade and became his old self again. “Thank you, sir. For allowing me to hold it.”
Bolitho pushed the papers towards him and added slowly, “And try to be more definite in your affairs. Many officers would give their arms for your appointment, so make good use of it.”
Calvert withdrew, stammering and smiling.
Bolitho sighed and stood up as Allday entered the cabin, his eyes immediately falling on the sword, which he replaced on its rack against the bulkhead.
He said, “Mr Calvert was here then, Captain?”
Bolitho smiled at Allday’s curiosity. “He was. He seemed very interested in the sword.”
Allday eyed it thoughtfully. “And so he might. Yesterday I saw him showing off to some of the midshipmen. They lit a candle, and Drury, the youngest of ’em, held it in the air for Mr Calvert to strike at.”
Bolitho swung round. “That was a damned stupid thing to do.”
Allday shrugged. “Need have no worry, Captain. The flag-lieutenant’s blade parted the wick and flame without even touching the candle.” He cleared his throat noisily. “You’ll have to watch that one, Captain.”
Bolitho looked at him. “As you say, Allday. I will.”
Jed Partridge, the master, tugged at his battered hat as Bolitho strode from beneath the poop and reported, “Steady, sir. Sou’ east by east.”
“Very well.”
Bolitho nodded to the officer of the watch and then crossed to the weather side of the quarterdeck, filling his lungs with the cool evening air.
The squadron had weighed in the remorseless heat of a noon sun, but with an encouraging north-westerly breeze had soon formed into a tight column, each ship taking her prescribed station and keeping their interchange of signals to a minimum.
Many telescopes must have followed them from the Spanish coast, and there would be plenty of speculation as to their destination. It was unlikely that the enemy would give much weight to so small a force, but there was no sense in taking chances. Once clear of the land each captain would know that almost any ship he might meet would be an enemy. Even neutrals, and there were precious few of those, must be treated with suspicion and as possible informers of the squadron’s course and whereabouts.
But now it was evening, and in the Mediterranean it was a
time which Bolitho always found full of fresh fascination. While the four ships-of-the-line rolled and plunged easily in a deep swell, with a steady and unwavering wind sweeping down across the larboard quarter, he could see the shadows lengthening on the gangways, the sea beyond the bows already vague in deeper purple. Yet astern the sky was salmon pink, the dying sunlight trailing down from the horizon and making the Valorous’s topsails shine like giant sea shells.
If this wind and sea held, it would be possible for all of them to keep good station during the night, which should please Broughton, he thought.
Keverne crossed the deck and said, “The visibility will not endure much longer, sir.”
Bolitho glanced towards the master’s rotund shape by the helmsmen. “We will alter course two points directly, Mr Partridge.” He sought out Midshipman Tothill by the lee shrouds and added, “You will bend on the signal for the squadron. Tack in succession. Steer east by south.”
He did not have to bother further with the midshipman. Tothill and his signal party had already proved themselves more than capable. He would make a good officer, Bolitho thought vaguely.
He said to Keverne, “Each ship will show a stern light, in case we get scattered. It may help the Coquette if she comes searching for us.”
The frigate in question was sweeping some fifteen miles astern of the column, a wise precaution to ensure they were not already being shadowed by some curious enemy patrol.
The little sloop Restless was only just visible to windward of the Zeus, and Bolitho imagined that her young and newly appointed commander would be considering the sudden importance of his role. The sloop was the only vessel present and fast enough should a suspicious sail need investigating.
It was always the same. Never enough frigates, and now that
the Auriga was denied them they must be even more sparing in long-range operations.
Tothill called, “Signal bent on, sir.”
“Good.” Bolitho nodded to Keverne. “Carry on. I must inform the admiral.”
He found Broughton and Draffen sitting at opposite ends of the long table in the admiral’s dining cabin, and sensed the complete silence stretching between then.
“Well?” Broughton leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping slowly against an untouched glass of claret.
“Ready to alter course, Sir Lucius.” He saw Draffen watching him, his eyes gleaming in the light from the overhead lanterns and the pink glow through the windows.
“Very good.” Broughton tugged out his watch. “No sign of pursuit?”
“None, sir.”
Broughton grunted. “Carry on then, if you please. I may come up later.”
Draffen rose to his feet and steadied himself against the table as Euryalus tilted her massive bilge into another lazy trough.
“I would like to join you if I may, Captain.” He nodded equably to Broughton. “Never get weary of watching ships under command, y’know.”
Broughton snapped, “Er, just a moment!” But when Bolitho turned back from the door he shook his head. “Nothing. Attend to your duties.”
On the quarterdeck Draffen remarked calmly, “Sharing the admiral’s quarters is not the easiest way of travelling.”
Bolitho smiled. “You can have my own quarters with pleasure, sir. I spend more time in my chartroom than I do in a cot.”
The other man shook his head, his eyes already seeking out the various parties of seamen mustered at their stations in readiness for the next order from aft.
“Sir Lucius and I come from different poles, Bolitho. But it would be well to forget social differences for the present at least.”
Bolitho forgot Draffen and the tensions in the great cabin and turned towards Keverne.
“Make the signal.” And as the flags darted up the halliards and broke impatiently to the wind he added sharply, “Be ready, Mr Partridge.”
“Zeus has acknowledged, sir!”
The leading ship was in fact already swinging importantly on her new course, her topsails and driver flapping for a few more moments until brought under control. Tanais followed, one curved side glowing in the dying sunlight as she laboured too readily in response to canvas and rudder.
Keverne raised his speaking trumpet, his lithe figure poised against the rail as if to test the agility of the great ship beneath him.