The Iberian Flame

Chapter 48

Kydd brought Tyger into the anchorage north of the Tagus estuary between Inferno and Mortal where Rowley’s squadron had their mooring. There were the usual minor vessels, no other frigates, but Conqueror bore her rear admiral’s pennant – Rowley was aboard and Kydd was soon standing before him to report.

‘What the devil are you doing, Kydd? To cut short your cruise – what is your explanation, sir?’

Why was Rowley so transparently annoyed?

‘Oporto has risen and now lies free of the French.’

‘So?’

‘I rather thought it would interest you to know one part of this kingdom is standing proud for its liberty. A chance for intervention?’

‘It’s not yours to top it the high strategist, Kydd,’ Rowley said cuttingly. ‘Leave all that kind of thing to me.’

Kydd held his temper. ‘You have my intelligence, sir. I’ll return to station and-’

A hurried knock at the door and the flag-lieutenant was leaning into the cabin with an anxious expression. ‘Sir, it’s-’

Wellesley thrust in. ‘This is your frigate captain?’ he rapped, eyeing Kydd.

‘It is a frigate captain, this is true. But a very junior one. I counsel we wait a little longer for-’

‘I know you, sir,’ Wellesley said crisply. ‘The Copenhagen business, was it not?’

‘Aye, Sir Arthur,’ Kydd replied. He had recognised the tall figure immediately.

Ignoring Rowley, the general asked, ‘You’ve had any experience in conjunct operations, Captain?’

‘I have, sir. Minorca in the last war, with Abercrombie at the Nile, the Cape in the year six and Buenos Aires to follow-’

‘Splendid!’ Wellesley said. ‘And you’ve been on this coast some little time since?’

‘With respect, General,’ Rowley said huffily, ‘Captain Kydd is under my command and your questions should properly be directed to me.’

Kydd glanced at Rowley, then answered Wellesley, ‘I believe I know this seaboard as well as any.’

‘Then I trust you’ll give as good advisement as I shall find from any in this vicinity. Now, sir, I have at sea this hour a fleet of force intended for the Spanish insurgency, which I find is not practicable in the particulars. My orders allow a diversion for the same purpose in Portugal, the final object being Lisbon.

‘My question to you is, have you knowledge of any point on this territory that will furnish a suitable landing place for my army, bearing in mind that Lisbon be accessible by road yet the landing be not harassed by the enemy?’

‘I do, sir.’

Kydd’s instant answer goaded Rowley into snapping, ‘Have a care, Kydd. How can you know this, for God’s sake?’

‘I took the precaution of looking out such a place after the Oporto affair was settled, thinking it to be a likely need.’

‘Ha! A fine officer-like act, sir,’ Wellesley exclaimed.

Rowley, taken aback, was not to be beaten. ‘This is an operation of the utmost importance,’ he growled. ‘How can you know that your activities in discovering it did not attract attention and by now the French have drawn up defensive works against us?’

‘There is a fort in full command of the beach and river both, out of which the French have been ejected. I took the liberty of making garrison in it with all the Royal Marines at my disposal. They stand in need of relief and reinforcement, I believe.’

‘How dare you act in this way without orders?’ Rowley spluttered. ‘Your want of respect and-’

‘Well done, Captain,’ Wellesley said, with a frosty glare at the red-faced admiral. ‘In virtue of the orders I bear, I require that you and your frigate be placed at my immediate disposal to make rendezvous with my fleet in preparation for a landing.’

‘Sir.’

‘In the meanwhile those marines will be reinforced, then, Admiral?’

‘Sir, I must protest! I haven’t troops of any kind to undertake such a service.’

‘Then could I make suggestion that you strip your fat battleships of such marines as they have and send them?’ Wellesley said, with a heavy patience.

He and Kydd left companionably together.