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is fond of her, for all that she's given the dockyard a great deal of trouble.'
    ‘ But how can that be?' Lucy asked with a frown. 'She was a new ship in — what was it? — '96 or '97.'
    ‘ That's the heart of it, my love. She was built partly with new timbers, not properly seasoned, and they have warped badly. But Haworth says they had her in dry-dock until last week, and so he hopes they have solved the problem. He intends to walk up and see you this morning, so you can ask him all the technical details yourself.’
    She made a face, aware that she was being teased. 'I shall also ask him what he means to do with his children,' she said. ‘They can hardly stay in that tiny house at Southsea with only servants to look after them. He had probably better send them to me. They can perfectly well live down at Wolvercote with my three. They'll be in nobody's way there.’
    Weston smiled and kissed her hand. 'I love the way you collect children, so carelessly, as though they were snuffboxes or Sevres vases.’
    To his surprise she looked a little upset and confused for a moment, and when she did reply, it was with a forced laugh. ‘I should much prefer Sèvres vases, I assure you,' she said lightly. ‘Who else did you see this morning?’
    He knew that it was of no use to press her; that if anything was wrong, she would tell him in her own time, or not at all. ‘Let me see, now,' he mused. 'Old Admiral Scorton was there, of course. He said he saw you in the Park this morning, on Mimosa, and waved to you.'
    ‘That's right. He hailed me as if I were at the foretop, and told me there were more gales on the way! I love that old man,' she added inconsequentially. 'Who else?'
    ‘ None of your particular friends. I heard some news, however. Collingwood is in Town. I didn't see him — he was closeted with Lord St Vincent — but he's sure to call on you later. Everyone says he's bound to be promoted to vice this time, which will cheer a few northern hearts. Scorton thinks he'll get Victory. She's lying at Portsmouth, newly refitted.'
    ‘She's a good ship, isn't she? And what command?'
    ‘Second in command to Cornwallis, Scorton thinks.'
    ‘Is Blue Billy to have the Channel Fleet again?'
    ‘ It seems likely. St Vincent likes him, and he thinks he did well there before the Peace; and Pellew is to have the western approaches, almost certainly.'
    ‘And Nelson?’
    Weston made a comical face. 'He and Lady Hamilton are out of mourning for poor old Sir William, at all events. He's busy making himself unpopular by demanding a pension for Lady Hamilton for her services to the country —'
    ‘What, as his mistress?' Lucy put in, in astonishment.
    Weston roared. 'Oh Lucy, you are such a joy to me! No, no, you simpleton, for her diplomatic services in Naples! He's also put a petition before Addington for an increase to his own pension, on the grounds that both St Vincent and Duncan get more than he does, and that since he has a wife and a mistress to support, he simply can't manage on two thousand a year.'
    ‘ I can't see even Addington acceeding to that,' Lucy smiled. ‘Has he his command yet?'
    ‘ Not yet. He'll probably get the Toulon station again, but I think Their Lordships will delay as long as possible in appointing him, in order to shew their disapproval of his private life.’
    She stared at him in sudden concern. 'Oh Weston —!’
      ‘ What is it, my love?’
    She gripped his hand tighter. 'It has just come to me,' she said reluctantly. ‘Do you suppose ... could it be that it is our relationship which has prevented you from getting your ship?’
    Weston hesitated, and shrugged. He never lied to her: their relationship was not built along those lines. 'It is possible.'
    ‘Oh Weston —!'
    ‘ Now, Lucy, don't look so tragic. There'll be ships for all the active officers as soon as war is formally declared. I've never blotted my service record, don't forget. Disapproval of my private life may delay matters, but I