Free The Perils of Command by David Donachie

crime.
    Hotham knew all about his wife and it would be no mystery to him why this proposition was being advanced; the question was how he would respond to what was nothing less than a veiled threat. The mystery for the admiral would be how far Ralph Barclay was willing to go in seeking to find her.
    ‘I suggest you return to HMS Semele , Captain Barclay, while I ponder on this.’
    The tone of warmth had gone; if he was furious – and he might be – Hotham masked it well, his dignity being important to him and his courtier experience coming to his aid.
    ‘As you wish, sir. About my need for stores?’
    ‘That, too, must be considered, of course. Now I wish you good day.’
    Hotham did not stand, which would have been a common act of civility. Ralph Barclay tried to read his features but there was nothing there to see; indeed, before he turned to depart Hotham had lowered his head to the papers on his desk in what was a clear dismissal. It would be necessary to have a word with Toomey on the way back to the entry port.
    ‘I fear, Toomey, I have created a doubt in Sir William’s mind regarding my loyalty to his flag.’
    ‘Indeed?’ replied the perplexed Irishman.
    ‘I wish you to convey to him that which our respective ranks do not otherwise permit: I refer of course to the voyage of HMS Flirt and the reasons it was found to be necessary.’
    Toomey looked as though he was in fear of losing his watch, so anxious was his expression, for he was as much in the steep tub when it came to John Pearce as anyone.
    ‘I wish to stress that my need is great in my personal affairs and the only man able to grant me succour in my situation is just beyond yonder bulkhead. You will know I cannot make a direct request, but I have done so obliquely.’
    ‘For what, Captain Barclay?’
    ‘The right to cruise and perhaps bring back to the fleet a prize or two, given I have been lucky in the past.’
    ‘You asked for this?’
    ‘Hinted, Toomey, no more, while adding that despatches for Naples could be carried by Semele , but if you could see your way to easing my concerns, well …’
    Toomey was even quicker than Hotham to see the point of that and just as quick to avoid commitment. ‘All I can do, Captain Barclay, is give an honest opinion if asked. My position precludes anything else.’
    ‘I see you as wise counsellor to Sir William. I seek that you act in that capacity.’
    In other words, Ralph Barclay thought as he walked away, Devenow falling in close behind him, tell the sod which side his bread is buttered on. Tell him he needs to care for me in order that he will care for himself.
    As he was rowed back to his ship he needed to breathe deeply; sailing close to the wind was one thing, a threat – however oblique – to a senior flag officer quite another. If Hotham declined, then he had forfeited his good opinion: if he acceded to the request there had still been made a serious breach in what had been a favourable relationship.

CHAPTER SIX
    ‘I suspect you are now aware that your life has become more complicated? A child does that even to the wedded, I am told.’
    Pacing on the terrace that overlooked the Bay of Naples, John Pearce had been ruminating on that very thought and he was far from welcoming to Lady Hamilton and her reference to his new-found dilemma. That was until he recalled Emily saying that her condition had been kept a secret.
    ‘You know?’
    ‘My mother is very experienced in such matters. As she manages the household and is often in places where not to overhear a woman regularly evacuating her innards of a morning is impossible.’
    Pearce had met the lady in question, a woman with a rather formidable visage held in much fear by the rest of the palazzo servants. How she could eavesdrop without being detected he could not fathom, for she patrolled the corridors with a huge and rattling bunch of keys at her waist that sent a warning ahead of her approach.
    Called Mrs Cadogan, though there was no sign