“Sir,” she said.  James hadn't told her why he’d asked her to report to his cabin, something that was rarely good news.  “What can I do for you?”

“I want you to understand something first,” James said, silently damning himself.  He had no right to keep an eye on his commanding officer, let alone involve a young and defenceless officer in his activities.  “If what I am about to say makes you feel uncomfortable in any way, you are free to leave and forget about it, as long as you keep your mouth shut.”

The young woman’s eyes narrowed.  James winced, inwardly.  Clearly, she suspected that her superior was about to make an indecent proposal.  Which was true enough, James had to admit, even if it wasn't quite the proposal she thought was coming.

“The Captain, as you know, used to have a problem with drinking,” he said.  “Do you think he still has a problem?”

Midshipwoman Lopez looked thoroughly uncomfortable.  “I believe,” she said, after a moment, “that he has largely stopped drinking.  However, I do not monitor his alcoholic intake.”

“No, you wouldn't,” James nodded.  He did his best to avoid sounding threatening or disapproving.  “I need you to let me know if you have good reason to believe that this has changed.”

There was a long pause.  “Sir,” she said, “you seem to be expecting me to spy on the Captain.”

James didn't bother to try to deny it.  That was precisely what he was asking.  But it opened up a whole new can of worms.  Captains had a right to privacy – they were the only officers onboard ship with a reasonable expectation of privacy – and he was asking a young officer to betray that.  It would destroy her career far more thoroughly than anything the Captain could do to him.

“The Captain is under a great deal of stress,” he said, instead.  “That will only get worse as the media frenzy grows stronger – and it will.  I need to know if the Captain returns to his old habits.  If you tell me, it won't go any further.  And I'm sorry.”

“If I see such evidence, I will let you know,” Midshipwoman Lopez said, clearly biting off several words that would probably have earned her instant demotion.  Not that James could really blame her for anything she called him, at least in the privacy of her own head.  Her tart voice was almost painful.  “May I leave?”

In a way, James realised, she’d lost her virginity.  Everyone liked to think of the navy as a band of brothers ... and it was, to some extent.  But there was also treachery, backstabbing and a certain amount of one-upmanship.  Perhaps the war would change that, James hoped, or perhaps it would just make it worse.

He shook his head.  All he could do was monitor the Captain and hope that nothing showed up that would force him to take action.

“You may,” he said.  “And thank you.”