When she had asked him about Herrick, he had been more wary.

"I first knew him as one of the Cap'n lieutenants in the old Phalarope-back in eighty-two, it was." He had given his lazy grin. "Course, I didn't exactly volunteer, so to speak." It seemed to amuse him. "When the Cap'n finally left Phalarope he took us with him, me an' Bryan Ferguson. Then I became his cox'n." He had shaken his head like a big shaggy dog. "Lot of water since them days."

Then he had looked at her very directly. "RearAdmiral Herrick is a stubborn man, begging your pardon, m'lady. An honest gentleman, an' that's rare enough these days, but…"

Catherine had watched his uncertainty. "Sir Richard is deeply concerned about him. His oldest friend, would you say?"

It had given Allday the time he needed. "Next to me, m'lady! But folk don't change, no matter what their circumstances. Sir Richard never has. A flag officer he may be, a hero to most people he certainly is, but he's no different to the young cap'n I saw in tears at the death of a friend."

"You must tell me that too, Allday. There are so many gaps I want… I need to fill."

The carriage had lurched into a deep rut and Yovell had awakened with a startled grunt.

"Where are we?"

But Allday had looked at her in that same level way, as he had at English Harbour when her husband had been alive, and Bolitho had become her lover again after their stupid separation.

"I'll tell you, m'lady, don't you fret. This passage we're makin' to the Cape will show you the man we sees, not the one who comes home from the ocean. The King's officer."

She heard herself laugh. "I do believe you are filling in your own gaps about me, Allday!"