Invasion Read Free Page A

takin’ passage with us, for the sake of his studies. He’s obliging enough to act as our ship’s clerk while aboard.”
    Hallum was mature with a hint of grey about him and an air of deliberation. “From Diomede, I believe?” Kydd prodded. It would have been something of a shock for him to be told with just hours’ notice to move from the tranquil backwater of the old flagship to a prime fighting vessel like Teazer .
    â€œI am, sir. I’ll have my baggage aboard tomorrow and then be ready for duty.”
    â€œHave ye had experience in a sloop?”
    â€œAs a midshipman before the war, yes, sir.”
    â€œAn’ where was that?”
    â€œIn Leith,” he said uncomfortably. “Scotland.”
    â€œAny interesting service?” Kydd asked encouragingly.
    The man appeared to be considering what to say. “A frigate, Pegasus, for two years in the North Sea in ’ninety-eight.” He looked at Kydd as though seeking approval for his disclosure.
    â€œNorth Sea Squadron?”
    â€œEr, no, sir. Timber convoys from the Baltic, mostly.”
    Kydd nodded pleasantly, privately reflecting that if this was the extent of his “interesting service” then his time in Teazer was no doubt set to prove an eye-opening experience.
    Several steaming dishes arrived. “Do tell, Mr. Hallum—from what part of the kingdom do you hail?” Renzi asked politely.
    By the first remove it was discovered that Hallum’s family was noted in Suffolk for its sea connections and that he himself had made several trading voyages to Norway as a youngster. Over the port Kydd had a measure of his lieutenant: solidly reliable but with little ambition and less imagination. “Then let’s raise a glass to Teazer an’ her company,” he said warmly. “I’ve a fancy we’re in for exciting times. The admiral says as how he wants to put us to the test right quickly.”

C HAPTER 2
    K YDD SIGHED DEEPLY as he took in the understated splendour of his great cabin—its dark polished bulkhead across at the forward end and the brightness of whitened sides and deck-head, which seemed to increase the apparent area to a gratifying size. With a black-and-white chequered floor covering and a deeply polished table in the centre, it was almost intimidating, and Tysoe moved about with a lordly air in his silent ministrations.
    On deck the whole sweep of the interior of the bulwarks was now a rousing scarlet with black and gold finishings about the scroll-work. The yards were a deep black against the varnished masts and Kydd had willingly parted with the necessary funds to ensure that the band of yellow between the gunports was shown at its best by a liberal mixing of white pigment in the paint. The carronade tompions had been picked out in crimson and green, and from the sweet intricacies of the miniature stern gallery aft to the dainty white figurehead forward, with flecks of blue and gold, Teazer had never looked so bewitching.
    Kydd was keen to see his ship, now in all respects ready for action, back where she belonged—at sea. In the weeks since he had been restored to his post Carthew had not reappeared and therefore preparations for a court-martial could not begin. Prosser had been allowed to resign his commission and leave, in return for making full deposition of his evidence.
    It was, however, not in the interests of the service to keep a fine ship at idleness and Teazer ’s orders duly came. They were short and to the point: a cruise eastwards from Alderney along the north coast of the Contentin peninsula, past the port of Cherbourg and as far as its natural conclusion at Pointe de Barfleur.
    All the east–west coastal traffic from northern France must proceed that way and a Royal Navy presence athwart its passage would effectively bring it to a halt. Kydd would be sharing the task with lesser fry—a gun-brig and a cutter.
    It was gratifying to