‘Are you ill, Sir William?’ Beckford, peering at him anxiously.
‘Good heaven, why does everyone assume that I am unwell?’
‘Erm you say that Milson is here at Palazzo Sessa, Sir William?’ Rennie.
‘Yes, yes, as I said he came here last night, at half past midnight. He roused my servants from their beds. His persistent knocking woke me, and poor Emma, that was so tired after her journey.’
‘Have you spoke to him ?’
‘To Milson? Very brief, last night, very brief. I have not seen him this morning.’ Sir William broke off, and dabbed at his lips with a kerchief. ‘Hm .I am in course willing to assist in any and all ways that I am able, gentlemen but I cannot help thinking the most satisfactory conclusion will be to get Mr. Milson away from the residence and into your ship just as soon as may be possible. Don’t you think so in view of his importance to the nation?’ He looked at Rennie, then at James, and back to Rennie. ‘Hm?’
‘Indeed, sir just so.’
At that moment James became aware that an extraordinarily beautiful dark
haired woman had joined them, dressed in a flattering array of silks. He recognized her from her portrait in the mirrored room. Emma, Lady Hamilton, Sir William’s second wife.
Her husband did not at first see her, and he went on:
‘Mr. Symonds of whom we have heard nothing more, alas said to me that the five thousand guineas you and I had agreed upon, gentlemen would not be required after all. However, I am happy to say that I ignored his instruction. I did raise the money. And it is here at the residence.’
‘Five thousand guineas?’ Lady Hamilton, in an amused tone. ‘Here at Sessa?’
‘My dear, I did not see you there.’ Sir William, turning in apology.
He made the introductions, presenting James as ‘Captain Sir James Hayter, RN’.
James instinctively employed the Continental brushing of the hand with the lips, and saw that this had the intended effect. Lady Hamilton was pleased and flattered by the gesture, and looked directly into his eye with a hint of flirtat-iousness.
‘Sir James. I hope that you are enjoying Naples.’
‘I am, indeed, Lady Hamilton.’ Returning her direct look, with the hint of a smile.
‘But you are not in uniform. Is that usual in naval officers ashore?’
‘I am not in fact presently commissioned, madam. I am here at Captain Rennie’s request, as a supernumerary in his ship.’
‘What is a supernumerary? Is it like an aide-de-camp?’
‘Nay, it simply means passenger , in a naval ship.’
‘Are you here on holiday, Sir James?’ Again the slightly flirtatious glance.
‘Nay, madam.’ Politely.
‘Then .what?’
‘Sir James and Captain Rennie have official naval business here at Naples, my dear.’ Sir William.
‘Hence all the commotion last night and the five thousand guineas ?’
‘Exact, exact. Now then, my dear, if you are to return to Caserta today, you will
no doubt need to make arrangements ’
‘Caserta? Oh, no, I shall not go there again so soon. I will like to stay here, I think.’
‘Ah. Ah. That is welcome news.’ He smiled at her, then: ‘You must excuse us, my dear. We have much to discuss, these gentlemen and I.’ And he ushered them away into a small room with a kneehole desk and chairs Beckford’s office.
As they went James glanced back at Lady Hamilton, and saw her return his look, again with that hint of a smile.
In the office Sir William settled them in chairs, and rang a bell on the desk. The elderly maidservant appeared, and Sir William:
‘Something to drink, gentlemen? A glass of wine? Or coffee?’
‘I should like coffee, Rosa, please.’ Beckford. ‘I suffer from the headache, today.’
Rennie and James declined, Rennie with a shake of the head. When the maid-servant had gone, Rennie asked at once:
‘Did Milson bring his papers with him, Sir William? His plans and notations?’
‘I cannot say, Captain Rennie. I have not seem him this morning, and spoke to him only very brief last night, when he arrived in great agitation. However, if as we hope he has brought his invention with him I say again if then we must accommodate him in payment at once, and you will take him away.’
‘Erm will it not be sensible then, sir, to rouse him from his bed, and bring him down here to talk to us? Immediate?’ James, politely but firmly. ‘So that we may discover exactly what he does offer?’
‘I have asked my servants to wake him, and they have tried to do so but he has not as yet appeared.’
‘Tried to wake him ?’ James peered at Sir William. ‘D’y’mean that they went into his bedroom?’
‘I expect they knocked at his door.’ Sir William. ‘Good heaven, you do not think ?’
James stood up. ‘I think we must make certain that Milson is there in his room, by God!’
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
James, Rennie and Beckford dashed upstairs to the bedchambers with one of the servants, and ran to the door at the end of the passage, to which the servant pointed.
James knocked on the door, and when there was no response called:
‘Mr. Milson ?’
No response. He knocked and called again. When there was again no response he tried the handle of the door, and found it locked.
‘Can you open it?’ To the servant. The servant did not understand him, and James:
‘Chiare della porta? ‘
‘Ah, si, signore.’ And he explained that when he took Milson to the room last night, carrying his valise, Milson had taken the key and locked his door from the inside.
Again James knocked, louder this time. And at last a voice answered:
‘Who is there ?’
Now Beckford moved to the door and called:
‘I am James Beckford, Mr. Milson. We have communicated until now through our mutual friend Carlo.’
‘Is Carlo with you?’
‘No. I am here with two naval officers that will take you to England in their ship.’
‘Have they brought the gold with them?’
When Beckford glanced at him, James nodded, and pointed downward.
‘The gold is here, Mr. Milson.’ Beckford. ‘These gentlemen would like to talk to you. Will you come downstairs?’
‘I must wash and dress. I will come down presently.’
Rennie thought it was now time he took charge.
‘Mr. Milson, I am Captain William Rennie RN, commanding HM frigate Expedient. Have you brought everything with you to the residence? All of the plans and drawings for your invention?’
Silence.
Then, after an interval, the sound of water being poured, and:
‘I will come down directly.’
‘Very well we will wait downstairs.’
Rennie took James by the elbow as they moved away from the door, and in a low, urgent tone: ‘James, I cannot go to the ship myself. Now that he is here, I must stay with Milson at all cost. Therefore I will like you to return at once to Expedient, and bring back with you to the residence a dozen armed Marines under Captain Dysart. Had I known Milson was here I should have brought them with us when we returned this morning. He must have an armed guard, until we can get him safe.’
‘I agree we must protect him but with armed Marines? In any case I am not in uniform, and I hold no office in your ship. I have no authority to do what you ask.’
‘Damnation, you have my authority.’
‘The Kingdom is our friend and ally. Even if you wish it--’
‘Are you suggesting I have no such authority myself, James?’ Over him.
A sigh. ‘It ain’t my place to tell you what you may or may not do, William. I repeat, I hold no warrant of commission.’
‘Pish pish, do not quibble and prevaricate.’ Impatiently. ‘Speak plain.’
‘Very well, then. I think it highly unlikely that any sea
officer has the authority to order armed troops ashore in a friendly nation. Unless ’
‘Yes, unless?’
‘Unless he had been invited to do or in least given permission.’
‘Then I will get permission, by Christ.’ Pushing past James and heading for the stairs.
‘From whom?’
‘From Sir William. To guard and protect the Palazzo Sessa that is the sovereign territory of England, here in Naples.’
James returned to Expedient in Rennie’s gig, and gave Captain Dysart the order written out by Rennie at James’ insistence for the contingent of Marines. Rennie had given his word he would seek Sir William’s approval, but James remained dubious about marching a dozen armed men through the town and up to the residence.
Captain Dysart was equally dubious. Although he had not yet been ashore and was eager to go, he had not expected to do so in an armed party.
‘I don’t know why the captain did not take my sergeant and a few men with him when he went ashore earlier, Sir James.’
‘Yes, well, never mind that now. We must return to the residence at once. It is a matter of urgency.’
‘As he says in his note.’ Capt Dysart tucked the note in the sleeve of his coat.
‘Very good. Will you give the order for the boat?’
James was about to say that he could not, since he was not commissioned in the ship but thought that would be foolish given the circumstances, and conveyed the order to the boatswain Mr. Catermole.
The Marines were assembled, a boat was swung out, lowered and manned, and Captain Dysart, his sergeant and men descended the ladder, followed by James.
The party went ashore at the mole, and on to Palazzo Sessa, without incident. They attracted a few stares and an occasional shouted comment, but there was no hostility. At the residence Lady Hamilton, drawn by the sound of marching feet and the sergeant’s bellowed commands as the party approached, came out to watch them arrive, her mother at her side.
James came up the steps with Captain Dysart, removed his hat and introduced him, and hurried inside to inquire of Rennie how he wished the Marines de-ployed.
Rennie was with Sir William in the mirrored room. Evidently Milson had not yet joined them, since he was not there. Neither was Beckford. Sir William had heard the Marines arrive, and now, as James joined them, Sir William:
‘I will not chide you, Captain Rennie. Nor you, Sir James. You have done what you thought best. Hm. But strictly speaking, you know, I should have asked the King if he would permit it. It is a matter of protocol.’
‘The King is in the country, ain’t he, Sir William?’ Rennie.
‘Indeed, he as at Caserta with the Queen.’
‘Then word could not be got to him immediate, hey?’
‘Nay, it could not, you are quite right. Hm. What I hope and trust, d’y’see, my dear Captain Rennie, is that you will take Mr. Milson away to your ship without delay,
and remove your redcoats with him. Hm? That is your intention, I trust?’
‘As soon as Milson has made his appearance, and we have took possession of all his papers together in a packet we will affect our departure. Indeed. Indeed.’
‘Yes. Hm. Exact.’ Sir William nodded. ‘I trust ye have not forgot the other questions have ye?’
‘What?’
‘The five thousand guineas ?’
‘Good heaven, in course not, Sir William. We are most grateful indeed that you was able to raise the money. Milson will be paid with the promise that the remainder will be paid to him in London.’
‘And the other question?’
Rennie peered at him. ‘Erm ?’
‘Sir William means what has become of Mr. Symonds, I think.’ James.
‘Yes, well well .’ A grim little sniff, and he glanced from one to the other. ‘ I did not want to say anything until I was certain but I fear Symonds will not be coming with us.’
‘Why? What has happened?’ Sir William.
‘Mr. Beckford had word, just as we came downstairs, that an Englishman has been found dead in another part of the town. Mr. Beckford is endeavouring to determine the exact circumstances, but from the description it is almost certainly Symonds.’
‘Good God.’ James stared at him. ‘How did he die ?’
‘His throat was cut.’
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR
Thomas Wing was angry. Expedient had lain at anchor in the bay for days on end, and he had not been able to go ashore. Captain Rennie and James Hayter had gone ashore, over and again. When Dr. Wing had requested permission to visit the city hospital, with a view to transferring some of his wounded patients there, where they would be more comfortable, Rennie had refused, saying that the ship must be ready to weigh and make sail at a moment’s notice.
‘That would mean leaving behind some of my people, that could not be got back aboard in time. I cannot leave wounded British seamen in a foreign port.’
The boatswain Mr. Catermole and the carpenter Mr. Mace were angry. Repair had continued as the ship lay at anchor, and both men had expressed to Rennie their urgent need to go ashore and discover whether or no certain vital materials were available in the port, to aid them in their work. Rennie had refused.
No member of the ship’s company had set foot ashore excepting Rennie, James, their boat’s crew, and a dozen Marines under Captain Dysart. And only Rennie and James had had any freedom of movement.
In truth all of the ship’s company were angry. Because all of them, one way or another, had wished to avail themselves of the pleasures of the city of Naples.
And all of them had been denied those pleasures. Except the captain and his friend.
When Rennie and James returned in the boat with the Marines and Captain Dysart, and another gentleman half hidden under his hat and cloak, and Rennie then announced to the ship’s company that Expedient would sail on the evening tide, he spoke to an unhappy ship. He sensed this, and knew what it would mean. Sullen resentment, all the way home.
‘I cannot help it,’ he said to James in the great cabin. ‘We must leave Naples and head into the open sea, as soon as we can. I am in no doubt the villains that killed Beckford’s friend, and killed Symonds, will pursue Milson relentless, until we have escaped them. They may well attempt to cut us out in boats, in the bay. Or send a ship in pursuit.’
‘They could not attempt to take us in boats in daylight. We would see them approaching. Half a dozen swivels, loaded with canister, would smash their boats and kill every man on board. Nay, they would not dare.’
‘I am not quite so certain. Caution must be my watchword, James. Caution, and vigilance. I intend to fulfill my commission, this time. I intend to deliver Milson and his invention both.’
‘And pay the additional sum to Milson, in England, in course. Over what we have
already paid him, at Palazzo Sessa.’
‘I have pledged to do so. The full fifteen thousand. We have both pledged it, James.’
‘Aye, and given our word to Sir William that he will be recompensed his own five thousand guineas. Though God knows how we will do it.’
‘That is a matter for the Fund, James, and their Lordships. It is for them to honour their obligations that we have undertook in good faith, in the King’s name.’
‘Yes, I expect that is the only sensible way to look at it.’
‘Just so.’
Neither had mentioned the death of Havelock Symonds since they came back aboard. His death had cast a further shadow over the commission. Both men knew that in all probability they would be blamed for his loss; both preferred to thrust it away from their thoughts until they reached England. Rennie rose from the table and stood at the stern gallery window, looking out.
James remained seated, and reflected on their departure from Palazzo Sessa. Had Lady Hamilton looked slightly crestfallen when they announced their immediate departure? Had he imagined it? As he kissed her hand in farewell, and looked into those wonderful eyes, had he not seen there a glimmer of re
gret?
‘Nay, nonsense ’ To himself, but Rennie heard all the same.
‘What is ?’ Turning from the window.
‘Mm?’
‘What is nonsense, James?’
‘Oh. Erm nothing, nothing at all.’
‘Ah. Hm. I thought it may perhaps have been an expression of regret.’ A half smile, and he returned to the table, and peered down at the chart weighted at the corners with leads.
‘Well, I do have a certain regret .that we were not able to see more of the city, the Naples I recall from my youth. Nor go up into the hills.’
‘Then not for any one thing in particular .? Nor anyone .?’
‘The death of Symonds, d’y’mean?’ Reluctantly.
‘That is a matter of deep regret, certainly.’ A sniff, then: ‘And ye know very well that ain’t what I meant.’
‘What, then ?’
‘Oh, well, if ye will not even acknowledge it .’
‘Acknowledge what, good heaven?’
‘A certain lady ? Nay, nay, you are a married man as am I and I will not like to impugn your constancy ’ Studying the chart with assiduous attention.
‘And yet you do so!’
‘James, my dear fellow I have said nothing.’ Rennie, looking up from the chart.
‘Well well, I may have made a passing remark, in jest ’
‘In jest!’
‘You are quite right. I should not have done so. I should not.’ And he returned to close perusal of the chart, lifted his divider and adjusted the screw, and made a measurement. And pursed his lips to suppress a smile.
At two bells of the second dog watch, now under sailing regulation once again, Expedient loosed her topsails, found the breeze her dripping cables laid down in the tiers, her bowers fished and headed out of the darkening Bay of Naples into the open sea.
‘Set me a course for Gibraltar, and home, Mr. Latimer,’ said Rennie to the officer of the deck, who had insisted on returning to duty, even though his left arm had been removed above the elbow and was yet heavily bandaged. ‘East by south east, and a point south.’
‘East-sou-east, and a point south! Aye-aye sir!’
Rennie raised his long glass in the fading light and looked astern.
The Following Wind Page 28
