Inferno

Chapter 104

Nyholm

Kydd sat in his office, depressed and moody. As well as the cloying fetor of smouldering debris desolation and bleakness lay over the city, impossible to ignore. The sooner they were quit of the place the better.

He turned to his lists. There was no option but to fall in with Popham’s demands. He was the designated naval representative under the Articles.

Was the man still a friend? He rather doubted it.

There was a knock at the door.

‘Come in,’ he called heavily.

Dillon entered with a lopsided grin. ‘Um, I’ve two persons desiring passage to England, should you be kind enough.’

‘No, by God!’ Kydd blazed. ‘Not even if they’re the King and Queen of Lilliput! Tell ’em to go to the army transports or other – Tyger’s not a convenience for fallen travellers.’

‘Sir, if you’d be good enough to tell them yourself.’ He stood aside.

‘What – who the devil …?’ Kydd spluttered, as two apparitions came in, stopping before his desk. Ragged, caked in pale dust and with eyes bright but red-rimmed, they waited respectfully.

‘Nicholas? Cecilia?’ Kydd gasped, unable to believe what he was seeing.

‘The same,’ croaked Renzi. ‘Lately delivered from durance vile.’

‘And … and Cecilia?’

‘Your sister, Thomas,’ she managed quietly.

It was too much and she threw herself on him, sobbing with a deep, wrenching relief.

It took some time for order and naval discipline to be restored before Kydd could indicate that, as of that moment, HMS Tyger should be entirely at their service, the great cabin of her captain their especial residence.

‘You’re too kind, dear fellow, but we do not wish to inconvenience. For now we’d be satisfied with our present quarters until you’re ready to sail and-’

‘Nonsense! I won’t have it – Cecilia might feel need to make use of my copper hip-bath and you could-’

‘Thank you, brother, your kindness is much appreciated. I believe, however, that we must be content with our present situation while you’re engaged with your current duties. Please don’t concern yourself on our account – the Amalienborg Palace is renowned for its civilities.’

‘But perhaps dinner tonight? At which all shall be revealed, I promise.’

He grinned. ‘Of course, Nicholas, you may count upon it.’

They left and Kydd sat down, bemused and curious by turns as to why his closest friend and his sister should be in the very place in the world he wouldn’t wish any to be.

‘Sir?’

He looked up. The duty master’s mate had poked his head around the door. ‘I’ve a kindness to ask of you, sir.’

‘What is it?’

‘Sir, I’ve a care for my younger brother, who went ashore with the 52nd and … and I’d be beholden to you should you allow me to step ashore and see if he … is in health, as it were.’

‘Mr Maynard, go as of this minute!’