Inferno (19 page)

To Kydd's puzzlement, he saw that Keats had reddened.

‘This distinguished officer is given the singular duty of sealing off the island of Sjælland while our little enterprise is under way to prevent undesirable interference from the outside – the French and similar. I need hardly say how inconvenient it would be should our land forces be set upon from behind.'

There was more: signal codes, squadron liaison, watering, stores, order of battle. All dealt with ably and decisively.

Gambier nodded. ‘Thank you, Captain Popham. Do please return to your work. We won't detain you further.'

With another genial smile, Popham picked up his lists and left.

In seconds the cabin was in bedlam with one voice raised above the rest. ‘Sir, this is insupportable!' Keats exploded, slamming his hand on the table and glaring at Gambier, who winced. ‘We are to be made inferiors to – to such? It's not to be borne, sir!'

So Keats was one of Popham's inveterate enemies. It explained his coolness to Kydd, who'd been quoted in print in his defence.

Hood came in with unsettling intensity: ‘He has a point, sir. There are at least three distinguished captains about this table with many years' more seniority who have been over-borne by his elevation.'

‘And I'm reminded that this officer has never commanded a ship in action,' Stopford, an elderly battleship captain, spluttered. ‘Added to which I'm exercised as to how an officer lately condemned by a court-martial is suffered to rise to prominence so. Sir, I do protest – if he persists in command, you shall have this in writing.'

‘And mine,' echoed several others.

Gambier's expression tightened. ‘I will not tolerate any further discussion in this vein. The appointment of Sir Home Popham follows my application to their lordships for the most suitable officer experienced in combined operations. The name of this officer was put forward with other recommendations – the Duke of York was mentioned in this regard.'

Kydd smiled cynically. So that was how it had been done:
Popham had gone over the heads of the Admiralty to curry favour with the head of the army directly. Ironically, he
was
the leading contender for the post, with more experience and practical understanding of the difficulties of amphibious warfare than any other present.

‘Therefore I'll make it abundantly clear. The orders of Captain Popham are to have the same force as if issued by myself. If any of you cannot accept this, you shall be removed and another put in your place.'

As a threat it had no meaning: these senior captains knew their duty and would conform. The protests in writing would no doubt come but would not affect the present situation, leaving only rancour and animosity to bedevil the expedition.

Gambier pointedly pulled out his fob watch and frowned. ‘We shall pass on to other matters. The army of twenty-four thousand is currently embarked in readiness to land, should the Danes prove obdurate. They are commanded by General Lord Cathcart, who I'd hoped would be in a position to apprise you of their role. He is indisposed at present and begs to allow his second in command to perform that duty.'

He nodded to the flag lieutenant, who left quickly.

‘This will be Major General Sir Arthur Wellesley, a soldier of distinction, who I'll allow is well connected with the government. Hard service in the Netherlands and remarkable successes in India, he's much talked of by Horse Guards.'

A tall, lean figure in a red tunic, with restrained frogging, and white pantaloons tucked into hessian boots, appeared at the door.

‘Sir Arthur, you're welcome indeed. Do take your seat.'

As he passed by, Kydd was struck by his air of patrician disdain and the intensity of his bearing. He would not be a man to cross.

He found his chair but remained standing, austere and reserved. ‘General Cathcart desires I should lay before you his dispositions, should the Danes not acquiesce to our demands.'

Without referring to notes, he rapped, ‘Three divisions will be landed, the first under Lieutenant General Sir George Ludlow, with a brigade of the Coldstream Guards and one of the 79th to the left of the siege lines, the second under Lieutenant General Sir David Baird, with three brigades, to the right.'

That had Kydd's special notice. Baird had been governor of Cape Colony after leading the army of conquest against the Dutch and was eminently qualified for the kind of service to be expected here. But he'd been removed from his post and never again employed at that level, following his support for the seizing of Buenos Aires – talked into it by Popham …

‘The third division will be led by myself, with elements of the 95th and others, and will be responsible for outer defence. Cavalry in the amount of three squadrons of dragoons will be under Major General Linsing, and four brigades of the King's German Legion will be available to us for general deployment.'

He paused, as though choosing his words. ‘To establish to the Danes our resolve in the matter, we are landing artillery and engineers in numbers conformable to an investment of significance. Major General Bloomfield will field eighty-four guns and a further hundred and one siege pieces, including mortars and similar. These will be deployed in open array should negotiations prove unfruitful.'

Cold, professional and precise. If the Danish command chose to defy the British it would be a desperate affair for them, Kydd reflected, with a shiver.

‘Thank you, General. I rather think it will not come to that, but you never know.'

Wellesley took his leave, and Gambier let the rumble of comment die. ‘So there you have it, gentlemen. You may believe I'd rather the sight of our grand fleet will be sufficient to persuade, but if not, these are the steps we will take. You should be comforted to know that my own authority to proceed in any action is suspended indefinitely, until I receive positive advice from an emissary of the King that a settlement is impossible.'

The trigger that would send this great armada into an unknown conclusion with the Danes.

‘We sail tomorrow morn, by which time you will have your orders. It leaves me only with the prayer that our Lord in Heaven will see fit to order our future to the greater good of our cause.'

R
enzi looked up from his desk. ‘Yes?'

The footman stepped into the library, bearing a silver tray. The card that lay upon it was plain and discreet: a Colonel Devenant, the address, Whitehall, London.

Commoners simply did not call on the aristocracy when it suited them – but the address gave Renzi pause. It was not outside the bounds of possibility that … ‘I will see him.'

Dressed quietly in town clothes, the jolly-looking man came up from his bow with a flourish. ‘Lord Farndon, I do apologise for my intrusion, which Mr Congalton assured me you would forgive.'

Renzi knew Congalton was a highly placed official at the Foreign Office, dealing with clandestine affairs. Controlling his mounting feeling, he enquired evenly, ‘You've travelled far? Perhaps some refreshment.'

‘Thank you, my lord. A dish of tea would answer admirably.'

The footman left quietly.

‘You've come for a reason.'

‘I have, my lord, and one that presses. Are we at liberty to talk privily?'

‘This is my library. We will not be disturbed. Please sit.'

‘Your lordship will have heard of the affair at Tilsit.'

‘Indeed.'

‘There have since been developments of a grave nature that have caused the government to contemplate action of a … most serious character that they would wish it were in their power to forgo.'

‘Go on, sir.'

‘My lord, Mr Congalton desires me to enquire most sincerely after your constitution.'

It
was
a call – they wanted him.

With Cecilia's loving ministrations, Renzi had recovered from the harrowing experiences of his mission in Turkey to dislodge the French and he assured Devenant that he was in perfect health.

‘Then I'm to say that there has arisen a service that you are peculiarly fitted to perform. Of a most weighty description and one that would be of the highest value to the Crown.'

‘Pray, when shall this be?'

‘It is of the most urgent nature. I'm not to quit your presence this day until I have an understanding – in the one or the other tenor.'

Renzi gave a half-smile: if he refused they would have time to find another.

But then the events in Constantinople returned in a rush – the loneliness, dread and fearful decisions that had ended in blood and turmoil. Could he face it again?

Congalton would not have asked it of him unless he thought he could do it, and would not have made an approach unless it was for a particularly compelling reason.

There was really only one answer.

‘Very well. May I know the essence of the affair?'

‘Your understanding, my lord, is greatly appreciated,' Devenant replied, with evident relief in his voice. ‘The details will be laid before you by Mr Congalton himself.'

‘So, a visit to London?'

‘The matter is of the first importance, my lord. At the risk of importunity it were not too soon … this hour?'

‘If such is the urgency.'

‘My lord, you should not think to return for a little time. You may therefore find it convenient to arrange for your own and her ladyship's baggage to follow on.'

Renzi stiffened. ‘The countess?'

‘Her absence would be most unfortunate.'

‘This is another matter entirely, sir! I will not have—'

‘Dealing as it does with affairs at a royal level at which her absence would be remarked.'

‘Royal?'

‘My lord, I'm not in a position to be specific, but it were necessary you convey full court regalia with you, for yourself and her ladyship. And I can certainly say that, in the palace of the sovereign concerned, you may apprehend no danger to yourself or the countess, let me assure you.'

‘C
ecilia, my dear.'

‘Nicholas – I thought you were at your words again.' Cecilia rose from her household accounts and kissed him lightly.

‘I was, and untimely interrupted.'

‘That Jago again!' Cecilia frowned. She'd never taken to Eskdale's under-steward. ‘You must get rid of the man, he's—'

‘Not at all. My dearest, we have to talk. Time presses.'

‘Oh?' she said, with unease.

‘I … I've had a visitor. From London. I'm needed again.'

Her hand flew to her lips. ‘You didn't say yes – did you? Please tell me you didn't!' Her eyes filled.

‘This is of vital importance, and I'm told your husband is the one most suited for the mission.'

She blinked back the tears. ‘Dear Nicholas! There are times when I feel you're too honourable for this world. Of course you must go.' She stiffened. ‘And take me with you this time!'