Herrick asked thickly, ‘May I ask the reason, sir?’
Beauchamp faced them again, his mouth set in a thin smile. ‘Commodore Bolitho will be hoisting his broad pendant in Euryalus as soon as he returns to Portsmouth.’ He looked hard at Herrick’s amazed face. ‘I knew he would ask for you as his flag captain, so I thought we would try and waste less time than is customary under this roof!’
He stepped forward, his hand outstretched. Seeing Bolitho’s arm strapped inside his coat he offered the other hand, saying sharply, ‘Our bodies too often become charts of our misfortunes, eh?’ He smiled. ‘I am giving you a squadron, Bolitho. Just a small one, but enough for you to put your ideas to best advantage.’ His grip was firm. ‘Good luck to you. I hope I’ve not made a mistake.’
Bolitho looked away. ‘Thank you, sir.’ The room seemed to be spinning. ‘And for giving me Captain Herrick.’
The admiral was back at his desk. ‘Oh, nonsense.’ But as they left the room together he was smiling with quiet enjoyment.
Out on the highway, amidst the hurrying figures and blowing leaves, Bolitho said, ‘I think maybe I am dreaming, Thomas.’
Herrick was grinning hugely, ‘I can’t wait to see your nephew’s face when I tell him!’ He shook his head. ‘A broad pendant. God damn them, I thought they would never give you your proper reward!’
Bolitho smiled, his emotions pulling in two directions. Broughton had warned him what it would be like if he ever attained flag rank. A superior being, unreachable and beyond personal touch. It was a challenge, something he had always wanted. And yet, when the watch turned out on deck to shorten sail or to up anchor, how would it feel? Another in command of the same ship, while he remained an onlooker.
He said, ‘You had best return to the inn, Thomas. If you catch the Portsmouth Flyer you can be aboard Euryalus tomorrow night.’
Herrick watched him, his face suddenly grave. ‘I’ll tell Allday to prepare things for you, sir.’
‘Yes.’ He touched his arm, ‘We have come a long way, Thomas. And I would not have wished for a better companion, or friend.’
He watched Herrick’s sturdy figure until he had vanished into a side street and then turned to stare at the busy scene around him.
He made to cross the road but paused to allow a fine pair of greys drawing an emerald green carriage to pass. But the coachman was reining them back and had his brightly polished boot hard on the brake.
Bolitho waited, still dazed by all that had happened and the speed of life in this great city.
The carriage window opened and a voice said, ‘I heard you were at the Admiralty, Captain.’
He looked at the elegant woman who was smiling down at him like a conspirator. It was Catherine Pareja.
He stammered, ‘Kate!’ He could find no other words.
She rapped on the roof. ‘Robert! Help the captain in.’ And as Bolitho sank on to the seat beside her she added, ‘We will dine together.’ Her mouth lifted in that familiar smile. ‘And then …’ Her laugh was lost in the rumble of wheels as the carriage moved rapidly into the throng of vehicles and horses.
From his lofty window Admiral Beauchamp watched them go and nodded thoughtfully. He had made a good choice, he decided. Definitely a man to be reckoned with.
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Epub ISBN: 9781407009773
Version 1.0
www.randomhouse.co.uk
First published by Arrow Books in 1982
This edition published by Arrow Books in 2006
7 9 10 8 6
Copyright © Alexander Kent 1971
Alexander Kent has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental
First published in the United Kingdom in 1971 by Hutchinson
Arrow Books
The Random House Group Limited
20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 2SA
www.randomhouse.co.uk
Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm
The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780099497646
The Flag Captain Page 39