The Hawk (18 page)

'Oh. Ah. Hm.' Disconcerted. 'Forgive me, my dear, I – I
had not took account of that. In course it would not answer,
when you are a married woman, and – and I am not.'

Catherine giggled to herself all the way up the stairs as she
thought of this reply.

Later, after she had written a letter to her mother-in-law,
and sent it to the post, she reflected that perhaps she had been
unkind to Captain Rennie. Under the circumstances there
could surely be no impropriety in her dining with an old
friend – an entirely respectable, widowed sea officer in
middle life – could there? She thought not, and attempted to
make amends. However, Captain Rennie was not in the
hotel, and Catherine was obliged to dine alone – her earlier
sense of well-being quite dissolved.

Mr Soames, in a clean shirt and his shoes newly polished, a
sprinkling of cologne on a fresh lace kerchief, had been
summoned. Yesterday, from under his nose at the marine
barracks,
Hawk
's people had been removed to an address
unknown to him, and now he had been summoned – to the
Port Admiral's office. He went.

'Ah, there you are, Soames.' Admiral Hapgood made an
impatient, beckoning gesture, and Mr Soames noted with
displeasure and a twinge of vexed dismay that he was no
longer 'Mister'. He came into the room and saw a figure
seated beyond the admiral's desk, silhouetted against the
light from the window. Mr Soames peered at the figure, and
heard a deep, vibrant familiar voice:

'Soames, good morning to you.' The silver-topped ebony
cane, the silver-buckled shoes.

'Sir Robert.' Mr Soames came forward and was about to
extend his hand, but Sir Robert Greer did not rise from his
chair, nor extend his own hand, and Mr Soames instead
adjusted the kerchief in his sleeve.

'Since we met last at Kingshill, there have been –
developments.'

'D'you mean – ' Soames saw Sir Robert's warning glare,
and did not ask his question.

'Developments, and here we are.'

'Indeed, Sir Robert.'

'Sir Robert has matters he wishes to discuss with you,
Soames,' said Admiral Hapgood now, anxious to assert his
authority on his own ground. 'Matters which I think you
wished to discuss with me, on an earlier occasion, but felt
constrained by etiquette, and so forth – '

'Yes, thank you, Admiral.' Sir Robert now stood up,
and moved to the window, and stood there leaning on his
cane.

'Naturally I would wish to aid you, gentlemen, in any way
I can,' continued the admiral. 'However, I cannot do so, you
know, without I am told what is afoot.'

'Afoot?' The single word delivered with such dry rejecting
disdain that the admiral was shocked.

'Hm. Perhaps you will like a glass of sherry, Sir Robert?'
Very stiff. 'Before we begin?'

'No, thank you.'

'Brandy, perhaps? Pell!'

'Nothing, thank you.' And as Mr Soames began to say that
he would indeed like sherry, Sir Robert, over him: 'And
nothing for Mr Soames, neither.'

The admiral's man had appeared, and the admiral made a
show of: 'Ah, Pell. Bring sherry, a decanter of sherry.'

'Nay, Admiral, we do not want sherry,' said Sir Robert.
'We will like to be left alone.'

'Hm. I myself wish to drink a glass of sherry,' began the
admiral, and was again cut off.

'Y'may take refreshment in another room, Admiral, if
y'please,' said Sir Robert. 'I have business in this one.'

'You – you wish to turn me out of my own office?' Admiral
Hapgood was further shocked, then he saw his man hovering
and waved him away irritably.

'You do not wish for sherry, sir?'

'No no, go
away
.' And when the man had gone, Admiral
Hapgood drew a breath through his nose. 'Really, you know,
Sir Robert, I do not care to be thrust precipitate out of my
own door, when there – '

'Yes yes, in course, I do beg your pardon, Admiral. Will
you do me the kindness of allowing me the privacy of your
room? Thank you.' A dismissive nod.

Admiral Hapgood made a last attempt to assert his
authority. 'Sir Robert, surely you have adequate rooms at
Kingshill where you may conduct private business, if that
is – '

'This is official business, sir.' Over him, cold and hard,
without raising his voice.

'But, good heaven, if it is official business, then I myself
must be – '

'You are not party to it.' Curtly.

'Not party to official Admiralty business! What the devil
d'y'mean, sir? Hey?'

'Admiral Hapgood. Spain threatens our interests in the
Americas. France is governed by a demonic rabble. His
Majesty's government, and its instrument the Admiralty,
must look to the nation's interests, and take certain measures
of precaution. You will not wish, I think, to commit the folly
of interruption to such business – will you?'

Admiral Hapgood closed his eyes in a display of contained
ire, drew himself up, and: 'I do not perfectly understand why
you should require my room to conduct such business, Sir
Robert.' Opening his eyes. 'If I may iterate, ye've more than
adequate premises not five mile distant. Would not the
nation's interests be best – '

'A person is to come to me here at this place. I did not wish
him to come to Kingshill, where his arrival would probably
have been remarked. Far better that he should come here,
unobtrusive, in the general hubbub of a busy port.
Now
d'you
apprehend me, sir?'

'As you wish, Sir Robert.' Defeated, Admiral Hapgood
retired, black brows thunderous as he went out of his own
door and closed it with a barely governed violence. A
moment, then a muffled bellow on the stair: 'Pell! Pell, damn
you! Where are you when I want you?'

If Sir Robert heard this outburst he gave no indication, but
turned again to the window, and:

'You are to return to London, Soames.'

'To London, Sir Robert? Do not you need me here?'

'It ain't what I want, Soames, nor you, neither. I have had
a communication, placing in my hands particular facts. I must
act upon these facts. You must put the matter of the
Hawk
and her people from your mind entire.'

Mr Soames stared at him. 'Sir Robert, I do not think I am
able to do so. If you will recall, it was I that drew the
Hawk
to your attention. Surely I am the person most fitted,
therefore – '

'Y'will return to London by the noon coach.' Sir Robert
moved to the admiral's desk. 'Please to take this sealed packet
with you, and give it into the hand of Sir Philip Stephens, at
the Admiralty.'

'The First Secretary. May I know – '

'Y'may not.' Giving him the sealed packet. 'Into his hand,
you mark me?'

'Very well, Sir Robert.' Taking the packet.

Sir Robert consulted his silver pocket watch. 'Ye'd better
be away to the Marine Hotel at once, Soames. The coach
departs in two-and-twenty minutes.'

'Oh, but I have not packed my things, at the barracks – '

'Your baggage will be sent on to you.'

Miserably: 'Sent on? Oh, very well.' He put the sealed
packet safe inside his coat, and sighed.

'Forget all about the
Hawk
, Soames, and your little
excursion to Portsmouth. Your servant, sir.' The briefest
bow, and Sir Robert sat down at the desk and opened his
pocket snuffbox.

'Your servant, Sir Robert.' Mr Soames bowed in turn, and
quitted the room.

Presently there came into the room unannounced a figure
in a large dark boat cloak with a dark hat pulled low over his
face. The hat and cloak – when the door was safe shut – were
thrown off, revealing a stocky man in his thirties wearing a
plain blue frock coat, and cream waistcoat and breeches. His
face was pleasant without being handsome, his hair cut close
to his head.

'Your Royal – '

'Nay, nay, Sir Robert.' Waving a hand. 'As we agreed, as
we agreed, hey?'

'Very good, sir. Mr Hope.' A bow.

'Indeed, Hope is who I am, and what I represent. I see you
wear the ring.'

Sir Robert touched the ring, pale fingers straying over the
red stone. 'I do wear it, sir. Am honoured to.'

Mr Hope nodded and wandered to the window, taking a
pinch of snuff.

'I do not think it advisable for you to stand at the window,
sir . . .' Sir Robert, an anxious frown.

'Eh?' In mild surprise.

'In full view, there is always the risk that you – '

'Ah. Ah. Quite right, Sir Robert, quite right.' Stepping
away from the window. 'Lord Howe is to take overall
command.' Nodding in the direction of the sea. 'Old Holly
will not like it, but he ain't the arbiter of what shall be, or not.
Eh?'

'No indeed, sir.'

'Hey, now, listen . . .' Mr Hope's manner grew confidential.
'What is the difference between a cockerel, and a
cock?'

'I – have no notion . . .'

'One stands up and crows, and t'other stands up and
snows
hhhhh!'

'Indeed . . . a capital joke, sir.'

'Hhhhh-
snows
-hhhhh!'

'If I may draw your attention to the question of the
moment, sir? The business particular to us here, this
morning . . . ?'

Everything of Sir Robert's demeanour now would have
astonished his earlier interlocutors, Admiral Hapgood and
Mr Soames, or indeed most of his acquaintance. He was if not
quite obsequious then certainly deferential, very correct, very
polite; his care of expression was nearly humble. His guest,
sobering:

'Yes, yes, business. We must get down to it, by all means.'

A pause, raised eyebrows. 'Have ye by chance a glass of
madeira and a biscuit to hand, I wonder? I did not eat
breakfast.'

'In course, sir.' Sir Robert went to the door, opened it and
called: 'You there – Pell!'

The man came cautiously up the stair, and peered at Sir
Robert. 'You wish for – '

'Madeira and biscuits. Knock, and I will take the tray.' He
shut the door.

When the tray had been brought, wine was poured, and Mr
Hope drank it off in one draught, munched biscuits, and
refilled his glass.

'Now then . . .' munching '. . . the
Hawk
.'

Several days passed, and the fleet remained in readiness at
Spithead, Portsmouth continued crowded to overflowing,
and James was permitted by Dr Stroud and Dr Wing to leave
the Haslar Hospital, and return to the Mary Rose Inn. On the
same morning of his release a letter came to Catherine at the
inn, by hand from Mrs Fenway.

My dear Mrs Hayter,

How very sorry I was – when I read your letter upon
my return from Haslemere – not to have been at home
when you called, a week since, and were in need of
assistance. Lady Hayter is my very great friend, and I
will like to make amends for my absence.

Will you and dear James come to me at once at
Tattham Grange, and stay with me here as long as you
please? I do hope that yr husband is greatly improved in
his health, but even if he is not, everything that could be
wished for is at your disposal here – fresh air, a wide
garden, plentiful food – to restore him to his usual self.
You will be most welcome indeed.

May I expect you today, without fail?

Gwendolyn Fenway

'And you are resolved on this course?'

'I am, sir.'

'I cannot dissuade you, in light of the very great difficulties
you face?'

'You cannot.'

'Not least of them that you will be obliged to find new
guns, and pay for them, above the repair?'

'You cannot.'

'Very well.'

'I shall proceed alone. There is no need of anyone else. I
am quite alone in this endeavour, and alone I mean to bring
it to conclusion.'

'Well well, I will say nothing more, except – '

'Nay, do not say it, if you please. My mind is made up.'

'I was only going to say – '

'Sir, I beg you, do
not
.'

' – going to say – '

'No!
No
!'

' – that I am still your man.'

'Eh?'

'I am still your man.'

'You would risk everything – your whole career – to stand
with me in this?'

'I gave you my word, James.'

This exchange took place in the garden at Tattham
Grange, beneath a spreading tree, the sunlit lawn and flowering
shrubs a scent-drifting backdrop. James and Rennie sat in
the shade, James with a rug over his knees – in spite of the
balmy warmth of the air – and Rennie with his face turned
into a patch of sun. James was yet a little pale from his sojourn
at the Haslar, and a little thin. A bumble-bee wove between
them, and swerved away on its meandering flight. A long
moment, then James, quietly:

'You know that I would never hold you to such a promise,
when everything has altered since it was made.'

'I do not alter, my dear friend.'

James saw the garden as a blur for a moment, and felt his
throat constrict. He brought his kerchief from his pocket,
and blew his nose. Then, clearing his throat: 'The air is cool,
do not you find. I have a slight chill.'

'It is cool, a little.' Knowing it was not.

The sound of bees, and the chee-chee of a coaltit on the
soft air. And now a voice, an enquiring voice, careful of
breaking into a private conversation:

'Gentlemen, I hope I do not disturb you?'

Mrs Fenway approached, under a wide hat. She was a
handsome woman in middle life, full-figured but not plump,
with nothing artificial in her manner or appearance. When he
had first come to the house to see James, Captain Rennie had
liked her instantly, and now as he saw her, smiling at them as
she walked towards the shaded spot where they sat, he found
himself aware of her – charms. He rose and bowed. James
made to rise, but Mrs Fenway:

'Do not get up, my dear James. I have brought you a letter,
just come. Bertha has gone into the village, so I have brought
it myself.' She held it out to him.

'That is very kind, Mrs Fenway.' James took the letter from
her hand, recognizing the seal.