Free Command a King's Ship by Alexander Kent

with her. He knows the Sunda Isles and Borneo as well as any European can.”
    Bolitho breathed out slowly. It was a good plan as far as it went. A British squadron would invite an open battle sooner or later, but two frigates, one from each nation, would be more than a match for the heavily-armed Argus both verbally and in artillery.
    Puigserver walked slowly to the broad window and stared down at the anchored ships.
    â€œA long voyage, gentlemen, but I hope a rewarding one for us all.” He turned towards Bolitho, his square face in shadow.
    â€œAre you ready to sail again?”
    â€œAye, Señor. My people are preparing to take in more water and fresh fruit, if that is possible.”
    â€œIt is being attended to, Capitan. ” He showed his teeth. “I am sorry I cannot entertain you now, but in any case, this island is a dismal place. If you come to Bilbao.” He kissed his fingertips. “ Then I will show you how to live, eh?” He laughed at Raymond’s grim features. “And I suspect we will all know ourselves much better after this voyage is done!”
    The Spanish aides bowed politely as Puigserver walked to the door, and he called, “We will meet before we sail.” He turned away. “But tomorrow we raise our anchors, come what may.”
    Raymond walked round the table as the babble of conversation broke out again. He whispered fiercely, “That damned fellow! One more day with him and I would have told him a thing or two!”
    Bolitho asked, “In which vessel will you be sailing? Mine’s a fine ship, but smaller by far than the Spaniard.”
    Raymond twisted round to watch the Spanish captain who was discussing something with his companions in a low voice.
    â€œSail in the Nervion? If your ship were a damned collier brig I’d take her in preference!”
    Davy whispered, “I think they expect us to leave, sir.”
    Raymond scowled. “I will come to your ship and arrange things there. Where no ears listen even to one’s breathing!”
    Bolitho saw his escort waiting outside the door and smiled to himself. Raymond seemed to have a very vital role in things. Tact, however, was beyond him.
    They returned to the jetty with hardly a word, but Bolitho was very conscious of the tension within the man Raymond. On a knife edge. Tortured by something. His work was over-reaching him perhaps.
    As the scarlet-coated oarsmen propelled the Governor’s barge towards Undine Bolitho felt a sense of relief. A ship he could un- derstand. Raymond’s life was as alien as the moon.
    Raymond clambered up from the barge and stared vaguely at the assembled side-party, at the comings and goings of Undine ’s seamen as they worked the tackles on the opposite side. Casks and nets of fruit, and straw hats to protect the unwary from sunburn.
    Bolitho nodded to Herrick. “All well?” He touched Raymond’s arm. “Mr. Raymond will be a passenger with us.” He turned sharply as he heard a shrill of laughter from the cabin hatch. “Who let that woman on board? In God’s name, Mr. Herrick, this is not the Nore or Portsmouth Point!”
    Then he saw the girl. Small and dark, in a bright red dress, she was talking to Allday, who was obviously enjoying himself.
    Raymond said heavily, “I had hoped to explain earlier, Captain. That girl is a maid-servant. My wife’s maid.” He looked as if he was going to be sick.
    Herrick tried to dispel Bolitho’s sudden anger. “She came out with her lady just an hour back, sir. She had authority.” He looked worried. “I had little choice in the matter.”
    â€œI see.”
    Bolitho strode aft. All those thousands of miles in a small crowded ship-of-war. Raymond was bad enough, but his wife and a maid were too much. He saw some seamen nudging each other. They had probably been waiting just to see his reactions.
    Very calmly he said, “Perhaps you would, er,