She was quite calm again, her breathing steady. "I know that, Bryan. But you don't think like John, not about the sea an' Sir Richard."

Allday strode into the room. "Kate's asleep again, I see." He shook his friend's hand. "Going to be as smart as paint when she grows up, just like her mother!"

Unis said, "I'll fetch a wet for you, Bryan." She touched the big man's shoulder, and Ferguson saw the pain in her eyes. "You too, of course!"

Allday looked steadily at him. "She's left us alone. So what is it, bad news?"

"Sir Richard's called to London. The Admiralty." He shrugged. "Same old story, eh?"

"They didn't waste much time. When do we leave?"

Ferguson was both moved and troubled. Like the last time, and all the times before that.

"He'll not expect you to go to London, you know that, man. You've responsibilities here now, Unis and that bonny little mite sleeping in the parlour. The fighting's over, with the French anyhow, and the Yankees will never come this far!" It was no good. What had he expected?

Allday said, "My place is with him, you knows that. He needs me more than ever now. That eye of his is no better."

Ferguson said nothing. Allday trusted him with the secret, knowing he would tell nobody else, not even his wife. Especially not Grace. He loved her with all his heart, but he had to admit that she loved gossip.

Allday looked at his hands, strong hands, with scars to mark the years at sea. "Is Sir Richard put aback by the news?"

"It's hard to say. I watch him and his lady together like you, I feel proud to be a part of it, but his thoughts he keeps to himself."

Unis returned with two sweating tankards. "When my brother gets back I must tell him to set up some more ale. I think we shall be busy this evening." She looked at Ferguson. "You told him, then?"

"Aye."

Allday stared at the tankard between his hands, as if he wanted to crush it. "Can you see Sir Richard taking on somebody else? It's hard, but we don't expect things to change, not overnight."