Alexander Kent - Sloop Of War

evening, and the steady westerly wind was dry and warm. Sounds carried easily in such conditions. Even so, it was hard to connect the distant gunfire with the brightly lit houses, the occasional snatches of musi. and song from taverns along the road. Some arma battery testing its guns perhaps. But more likely a nervous duel between opposing pickets where the two armies lay in watchful readiness?

It did not take long to reach the house, and as he stepped down from the coach he realised there were other guests arriving, too. Again he called himself a fool for imagining he alone would be entertained this evening?

Servants glided from the shadows, and like magi. his hat and boatcloak were spirited away?

A footman opened some doors and announced, «Captain Richard Bolitho of His Britannic Majesty's Ship Sparrow."

How different from the reception, he thought. As he walked into a fine, high-ceilinged room he was conscious of comfort and luxury mixed with an air ob intimacy which had been lacking before?

At the end of the room General Sir James Blundell watched his approach in silence, and then called gruffly, "You are an unexpected guest, Bolitho." His heavy features yielded slightly." My niece told me ob your arrival." He thrust out his hand." You are welcome here."

The general had changed very little. Heavier perhaps, but otherwise the same man. In one hand he was holding a brandy glass, and Bolitho was reminded of his stay aboard Sparrow, of his obvious contempt for the men who had carried him to safety?

Something of their first meeting must have circulated amongst his friends, for upon Blundell's show ob greeting the room came alive again with laughter and noisy conversation. It was as if they had all been waiting to see how Blundell would react. Bolitho's own feelings were of course unimportant. He could always be told to leave?

Bolitho felt the girl's hand on his arm and turned to find her smiling up at him. With a nod to her uncle she steered him towards the other side of the room, the guests moving aside for her as if she were royalty?

She said, "I saw you today. Thank you for coming."

She patted his cuff." I thought you were splendid just now. Uncle can be rather troublesome."

Bolitho returned her smile." I think I can appreciate that. After all, he lost a great deal of bullion because ob me."

She wrinkled her nose." I have no doubt he will have recovered it by insurance elsewhere." She gestured to a servant." Some wine before dinner."

"Thank you."

He saw severyl officers, mostly military, watching him intently. Envy, resentment, curiosity, it was all there?

She said, "Sir James is Adjutant General now.] came out here with him after our return to England.l She watched his face as he sipped the wine." I am glad I came. England is full of woe because of the war."

Bolitho tore his mind from what she had just said ob her uncle. Christie had already spoken scathingla about the Governor and his assistant. With Blundell involved in controlling the city, there seemed little hope of improvement?

As the girl turned to curtsy to a white-haired man and

his lady he let his eyes devour her as if seeing her for the last time. The curve of her neck as she bowed to her guests, the way her hair seemed to float across her bared shoulders. It was beautiful hair. Golden browns like the wing of a young thrush?

He smiled awkwardly as she looked up at him?

"Really, Captain! You make a girl feel indecent the way you stare so!" She laughed." I suppose you sailors are so long away from civilisation you cannot control your ways!" She clutched his arm, her mouth quivering with amusement." Do not fret! There is no need to be so serious about it. I really must teach you to accept what is there, to enjoy what is yours by right."

"I am sorry. You are most likely right about me." He looked at the marble floor and grinned." At sea I can stand upright. Here, I feel as if the deck is moving!"

She stepped back and regarded him searchingly? "Well, I shall have to see what can be done about that.l She tapped her lips with a slim fan." Everyone is talking about you, what you have done, how you faced that awful court martial and made fools of them."

"It was not exactly like that…"

She ignored him." Of course they will not mention any of this. Some are probably afraid you will turn into a wild, bloodthirsty sea-dog!" She laughed gaily? "Others see in your success something of their own failure."

A footman was whispering to the general and she added quickly, "I will have to leave you to your own devices for dinner. I am hostess tonight."

He said, "Oh, I thought…" To cover his confusion he asked, "Is Lady Blundell not here, too?"

"She stays in England. My uncle's habits are those of a soldier. I think she is content to keep them well away from her." She held his arm again." But do not look so sad. I will see you later. We must talk of your future. I know people who can help you. Put you where you deserve, instead of…" She did not finish?

A gong boomed and the footman intoned, "My lordss ladies and gentlemen. Dinner is now served."

They followed the general and his niece into an even greater room, and Bolitho found himself paired off with a dark-haired little woman who was apparently the wife of a staff officer. He was not present, and with something like gloom Bolitho thought he would be saddled with her for the rest of the evening?

The dinner matched the room. Every course largers more extravagantly prepared than the one before. His stomach had long become used to the sparse fare aboard ship and the varying efforts of many sea-cooks? No one else seemed to find difficulty, however, and he could only marvel at the way the plates emptied without any apparent break in conversation?

There were many toasts, with the wines as varied as their reasons for drinking them?

After the loyal toast to King George there were all the usual ones. Death to the French. Confusion to our enemies. A curse on Washington. As the wine flowed they became as meaningless as they were incoherent?

The lady at Bolitho's side dropped her fan, but as he bent to collect it she reached below the tablecloth and seized his wrist, holding it against her thigh for severyl seconds. It seemed like an hour, and he thought every eye at the table must be on him. But she was the only one, and her face was filled with such desire that he could almost feel her control slipping away?

He returned the fan and said, "Easy, ma'am, there are quite a few courses yet."

She stared at him, open-mouthed, and then gave a secret smile?

"God what it is to find a real man!"

Bolitho forced himself to take another portion ob chicken, if only to regain his wits. He could feel her knee pressing into his leg, and was very aware that whenever she required something from the table she seemed to need it from across his arm. Each time she lingered over the motion, letting her shoulder or breast touch for just a few moments more every time?

He glanced desperately along the table and saw the girl watching him. It was hard to understand her expression when she was so far away. Part amuseds part watchful?

His companion was saying casually, "My husband is much older than I. He cares more for his damned office than for me."

She reached for some butter, allowing her breast to touch his sleeve while she kept her eyes on his?

"I expect you have been many places, Captain. How I wish I could take a ship somewhere. Away from this place. And him."

At last the meal was over, and with a scraping ob chairs the men rose to allow their ladies to witheraw? Even at the last moment Bolitho's companion persisted with her campaign, like a frigate cutting out a ship which was totally outmatched from the start?

She whispered, "I have a room here. I will send a servant to guide you."