Bolitho 04 - Sloop of War (36 page)

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

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

A footman opened some doors and announcedB "Captain Richard Bolitho of His Britannic Majesty'Y Ship Sparrow.T

How different from the reception, he thought. As hO walked into a fine, high-ceilinged room he waY 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 BlundelT watched his approach in silence, and then calleX gruffly, "You are an unexpected guest, Bolitho." HiY heavy features yielded slightly. "My niece told me ob your arrival." He thrust out his hand. "You are welcomO here.T

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Thank you.T

He saw several officers, mostly military, watchin^ 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.T She watched his face as he sipped the wine. "I aR glad I came. England is full of woe because of the war.T

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 BlundelT involved in controlling the city, there seemed little hopO of improvement?

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

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

He smiled awkwardly as she looked up at him?

"Really, Captain! You make a girl feel indecent thO way you stare so!" She laughed. "I suppose you sailorY are so long away from civilisation you cannot controT your ways!" She clutched his arm, her mouth quiverin^ with amusement. "Do not fret! There is no need to bO so serious about it. I really must teach you to accepU what is there, to enjoy what is yours by right.T

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

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

"It was not exactly like that ...T

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

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

He said, "Oh, I thought ..." To cover his confusion hO asked, "Is Lady Blundell not here, too?T

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

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

They followed the general and his niece into an eve[ greater room, and Bolitho found himself paired off witN a dark-haired little woman who was apparently the wifO of a staff officer. He was not present, and witN

something like gloom Bolitho thought he would bO saddled with her for the rest of the evening?

The dinner matched the room. Every course largerB more extravagantly prepared than the one before. HiY stomach had long become used to the sparse farO aboard ship and the varying efforts of many sea-cooks? No one else seemed to find difficulty, however, and hO could only marvel at the way the plates emptied withouU any apparent break in conversation?

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

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

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

He returned the fan and said, "Easy, ma'am, therO are quite a few courses yet.T

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I expect you have been many places, Captain. Ho/ I wish I could take a ship somewhere. Away from thiY place. And him.T

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

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

As she moved from the table he saw her stagger buU recover instantly. It would take more than wine to brea7 her, he thought anxiously?

The doors closed again and the men moved thei_ seats closer to the head of the table?

More brandy, and some black cheroots whicN Blundell said had come from some damned rascaT who tried to avoid his dues?

"I hear you are now on our local patrols, Bolitho.T Blundell's harsh voice reduced the other guests tQ attentive silence?

"Yes, Sir James.T

Bolitho eyed him evenly. Blundell was well informedB considering he had only received his orders thaU forenoon?

"Good. We need a few captains with the will tQ guard our lifelines, what!" Blundell's features werO crimson from the extent of his dinner. "These dam[ Yankees have had too much their own way, I say!T

There was a growl of approval, and someone calleX tipsily, "Thash th' bloody truth, shir!" He shrank unde_ Blundell's withering gaze?

Bolitho asked quickly, "Colonel Foley, sir. Is he still i[ America?T

"He has a battalion under Cornwallis." BlundelT seemed disinterested. "Best bloody place for himB too.T

Bolitho allowed the conversation to flow around hiR like a protective cloak. He heard little about the war? Horse breeding, and the cost of keeping house in Ne/ York. The affair of some unfortunate artillery captai[ who had been found in bed with a dragoon's wife. ThO growing difficulty of obtaining good brandy, even aU

smugglers' prices?

Bolitho thought of Christie's summing up. TwQ armies, he had said. How true it now seemed. ColoneT Foley, whether he was a likeable man or not, was onO of those fighting for his country's cause, and his life? Around this table sat a goodly proportion of the othe_ sort. Spoiled, cosseted and completely selfish, hO wished he could be rid of them?

Blundell heaved himself upright. "We will join thO ladies, God help us!T

When Bolitho glanced at the ornate French clock hO saw it was almost midnight. It seemed incredible thaU time could pass so swiftly. But despite the hour therO was no lessening in the pace. A small string orchestrZ struck up a lively dance, and laughing noisily the guestY pushed and jostled towards the sound of music?

Bolitho walked slowly through the connecting roomsB watching for Susannah Hardwicke and keeping a wara eye open for his earlier companion?

As he passed a book-lined study he saw BlundelT speaking with a group of men, most of whom werO prosperous-looking civilians. One, very tall and broad1

shouldered, stood partly in shadow, but the side of hiY face which was visible in the candlelight made BolithQ start with shock, then pity. It had been scoured awayB the skin burned almost to the bone from hairline tQ chin, so that it had the appearance of some grotesquO mask. He seemed to feel Bolitho's eyes on him, anX after a quick glance turned his back, hiding himself i[ shadow?

No wonder he had not joined the others at dinner. IU was easy to imagine the agony of that disfigurementB the torment which had left him so scarred?

"Ah, there you are!" She came out of another rooR and rested her hand on his arm. "Take me into thO garden.T

They walked in silence, and he felt her dresY swishing against his legs, the warmth of her body?

"You were absolutely splendid, Captain." ShO paused and looked at him, her eyes very bright. "ThaU poor woman. I thought for an instant you would fall tQ her.T

"Oh, you saw." Bolitho felt uneasy. "She has gone, iU seems.T

"Yes." She led him into the garden. "I sent her off.T She laughed, the sound carrying through the shrubY like an echo. "I cannot have her interfering with ma captain, now can l?T

"I hope you were easy with her?T

"Actually, she burst into tears. It was all rathe_ pathetic.T

She turned inside his arm, her full dress spreadin^ out behind her like pale gold?

"I must leave you now, Captain.T

"But ... but I thought we were going to talk?T

"Later." She studied him gravely. "I have plans fo_ your future, as I told you earlier, did I not?T

"I weigh anchor tomorrow." He felt wretched? Helpless?

"I know that, silly!" She reached up and touched hiY lips. "Do not frown. I cannot allow it. When you comO back I will introduce you to some friends of mine. Yof will not regret it." Her gloved fingers moved gently tQ his cheek. "And neither, I trust, shall I.T

A servant appeared through the gloom. "CarriagO ready, Missy.T

She nodded. To Bolitho she said, "After you have lefU I will try and clear these dreary people from the house.T She tilted her head and faced hint calmly. "You maa kiss my shoulder, if you wish.T

Her skin was surprisingly cool, and as soft as Z peach?

She twisted away from him and called, "Be goodB Captain, and take care of yourself. When you return ] will be here." Then she laughed and ran lightly up thO terrace into the house?

The coach was waiting for him as he walked dazedla through the shadowed garden and on to thO carriageway. His hat and cloak were on the seat, anX strapped to the boot was a large wooden box?

The footman's teeth shone in a white crescent? "Missy Susannah had the kitchen pack some food fo_ you, Sah." He chuckled. "Nothin' but the best, shO said.T

Bolitho climbed into the coach and sank against thO

cushions. He could still feel her skin against his mouthB smell the perfume from her hair. A girl who could drivO a man mad, even if he was not halfway there already?

At the end of the jetty he found a waterman noddin^ over his oars, and had to call several times to attracU his attention?

"Wot ship, sir?T

"Sparrow?

Just saying the name helped to steady his racin^ thoughts. Before he stepped down into the dory hO turned to look at the coach, but it had alreada disappeared. Like one more part of the dream?