Avery found himself on his feet and at the door, his hat again in his hand.

Sillitoe shaded his eyes to watch the river. "Enjoy your freedom with the beautiful Susanna." He reached out and took Avery's wrist in a grip of steel. "Then come back, and tell me your decision."

Avery heard the horses stamping impatiently.

Surprising that he should be so calm. Like that last day, when Indomitable had fought gun to gun with the enemy and men had died within inches of him. And Bolitho had been with him, depending upon him.

And suppose Sillitoe was wrong about Susanna, and that there might be something deeper than the mere fire of sexual excitement?

He said, "I thank you, sir, but I fear I do not deserve your offer." He thrust a coin into the groom's hand. "My loyalty is to Sir Richard."

Sillitoe watched him without expression. Then you are a fool."

Avery settled in the saddle and gazed down at him. "Very likely, sir." He would have said more, but as he dragged at the reins he saw his uncle perhaps for the first time. The man of power and influence.

A man completely alone.

Bryan Ferguson vaulted down from his two-wheeled trap and made sure that the pony was within reach of water.

"You bide here, Poppy." He glanced at the feed-bag, but decided against it; the pony was getting plump enough as it was.

Then he turned and looked at the low, white-painted inn, The Old Hyperion. Its sign, with the ship heeling to wind and sea, was barely moving. A warm April evening, but the inn would be empty with all the men working late on the farms. He could see the glint of water through the trees, the Helford river; it was a pleasant place. And being the only inn on the edge of Fallowfield village, it could capture what trade there was.

Earlier in the day he had been in Falmouth, and had been very aware of the changes brought about by the news of Napoleon's surrender. There had been more young men in the streets than usual, a sure sign that the dreaded press gangs had been stood down. It would take some getting used to. He flexed his one arm grimly. These days he hardly noticed that he was lacking an arm; it was equally hard to believe that he himself had been pressed into the fleet, along with John Allday.