‘Gold sovereigns!’ a man near Gus exclaimed. ‘My God, I never saw that much money in one place.’

Slowly more men gave way and signed up, but only a proportion of both crews, and it was clear that Waddell would have liked more; but in the end he gave up trying to persuade the recalcitrants and the crew of the Laurel were ordered to return to their ship. Gus lingered, looking up at the officers gathered on the quarterdeck. He had been thrilled by the story of the Alabama and now it was going to be repeated in real life, and he was not going to be part of it. He longed to sign up, but he was not a seaman. He was just a stowaway and he was afraid of being laughed at if he offered himself. He turned away, ready to scramble back onto the deck of the Laurel.

A voice stopped him. ‘Gus, come over here.’ Mason was beckoning him.

He went over and the midshipman laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘Well, Gus, what is it going to be? Go back to Liverpool on the Laurel, or ship with us aboard the Shenandoah?’

Gus looked up at him, radiantly. There was no hesitation. ‘The Shenandoah!’

Seven

‘Letter for Miss May.’

The butcher’s boy stood in the kitchen, holding out a folded scrap of paper. Mrs Wilkins snatched it from him.

‘What’s this? A love note? What’s going on between you two?’

‘Nothing!’ the boy protested, turning scarlet. ‘A bloke outside asked me to hand it in.’

‘What “bloke”?’ the cook demanded.

‘Cheeky little blighter, driving a trap. I dunno who he was.’

Mrs Wilkins turned on May. ‘So I was right! You do have a follower. Who is he?’

‘I don’t know, Cook,’ May said. ‘I’ve no idea who it might be. I haven’t got a follower. Please, can I see the letter? It might be from my brother.’

For a moment she thought Mrs Wilkins was going to open the note herself, but after a brief hesitation she handed it to May. ‘Well?’

May unfolded the paper. ‘Oh, it’s from Patty! We were friends in the workhouse. She went into service at Speke Hall.’

‘Speke Hall?’ Mrs Wilkins was impressed. ‘She’s done well for herself, then. What does she want?’

‘She’s asking if we can meet. She’s got some time off on Sunday afternoon.’ She appealed to Mrs Wilkins. ‘Can I? I’d really like to see her.’

She saw the cook struggling with contrary impulses. She did not want to favour May but Patty’s connection with the aristocracy, however tenuous, made her unsure about denying the request. In the end she said, ‘Well, if you want to take your afternoon off on Sunday instead of the usual day, I suppose I can make an exception.’

May turned to the butcher’s boy. ‘Is he waiting for a reply?’