The Privateer's Revenge: A Kydd Sea Adventure (Kydd Sea Adventures)

325 Pages·2008·1.1 MB·English

by  Julian Stockwin

$24.00
A Kydd Sea Adventure
Praise for The Kydd Series tt
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“Stockwin’s richly detailed . . . portrait of life on ship and shore
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in Britain’s oceanic empire is engrossing. He writes evocatively Kii
vv
y
of shipboard routine, the panic and confusion of combat, and
daa
the terrifying approach of a storm at sea, and he knows how to dtt
ee
S
stage enthralling action scenes.” —Publishers Weekly ee
e
rr Facing a grim future, Thomas Kydd takes
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’s’s
“Continuing the rousing adventures of Thomas Kydd . . . A fate into his own hands. Now his courage
dRR
and seamanship must win the day if he is
Stockwin, a career navy man, writes of the nautical life with v
e to come home alive.
nee
vivid authority.” —Kirkus Reviews

tvv
u
ree In this ninth installment in the Kydd
“A rousingly exciting and delicious full-immersion in the perils enn series, Lieutenant Thomas Kydd faces im-
Julian Stockwin was sent at the age of four-­
of seafaring and society during the great Age of Sail!” gg placable enemies in high places as he reels
teen to TS Indefatigable, a tough sea-­training
—Dewey Lambdin ee from the death of his fiancée and the loss of
school. He joined the British Navy at fifteen,
his brig, Teazer. Framed and unfairly dis-
transferred to the Australian Navy when his “This writer knows his stuff when it comes to describing life
missed from his ship, he and his friend Renzi
family emigrated there, and saw active ser-­ at sea.” —The Historical Novels Review
JJ struggle to survive in Guernsey while they
vice in Vietnam. He became a teacher and an
uu attempt to clear Kydd’s name. Then Renzi is
educational psychologist. Later he was com-­
ll hired by a mysterious nobleman and reluc-
missioned into the Royal Naval Reserve and
ii tantly engages in covert operations, while
was awarded the MBE. Retired from the RNR
aa Kydd becomes captain of a deadly privateer.
with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he
nn Kydd cannot forget his lost honor, however,
now lives in Devon, England. Visit him on the
and seizes one final chance for revenge and
web at www.julianstockwin.com.
SS restoration.
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rivateer s
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McBooks Press, Inc. ii
ISBN: 978-1-59013-165-7
Ithaca, New York 52400 nn
For a free Historical Fiction Catalog visit us
M
at www.mcbooks.com—or call us toll-free—at
Pc Cover painting by Geoff Hunt.
1-888-BOOKS11 (1-888-266-5711). 9 781590 131657 reBo Dust jacket & interior design by Panda Musgrove.
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s
$24.00
A Kydd Sea Adventure
Praise for The Kydd Series tt
hh
ee
P P JJuulliiaann SSttoocckkwwiinn
“Stockwin’s richly detailed . . . portrait of life on ship and shore
A
rr
in Britain’s oceanic empire is engrossing. He writes evocatively Kii
vv
y
of shipboard routine, the panic and confusion of combat, and
daa
the terrifying approach of a storm at sea, and he knows how to dtt
ee
S
stage enthralling action scenes.” —Publishers Weekly ee
e
rr Facing a grim future, Thomas Kydd takes
a
’s’s
“Continuing the rousing adventures of Thomas Kydd . . . A fate into his own hands. Now his courage
dRR
and seamanship must win the day if he is
Stockwin, a career navy man, writes of the nautical life with v
e to come home alive.
nee
vivid authority.” —Kirkus Reviews

tvv
u
ree In this ninth installment in the Kydd
“A rousingly exciting and delicious full-immersion in the perils enn series, Lieutenant Thomas Kydd faces im-
Julian Stockwin was sent at the age of four-­
of seafaring and society during the great Age of Sail!” gg placable enemies in high places as he reels
teen to TS Indefatigable, a tough sea-­training
—Dewey Lambdin ee from the death of his fiancée and the loss of
school. He joined the British Navy at fifteen,
his brig, Teazer. Framed and unfairly dis-
transferred to the Australian Navy when his “This writer knows his stuff when it comes to describing life
missed from his ship, he and his friend Renzi
family emigrated there, and saw active ser-­ at sea.” —The Historical Novels Review
JJ struggle to survive in Guernsey while they
vice in Vietnam. He became a teacher and an
uu attempt to clear Kydd’s name. Then Renzi is
educational psychologist. Later he was com-­
ll hired by a mysterious nobleman and reluc-
missioned into the Royal Naval Reserve and
ii tantly engages in covert operations, while
was awarded the MBE. Retired from the RNR
aa Kydd becomes captain of a deadly privateer.
with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he
nn Kydd cannot forget his lost honor, however,
now lives in Devon, England. Visit him on the
and seizes one final chance for revenge and
web at www.julianstockwin.com.
SS restoration.
tt
P
rivateer s
oo ’
the
cc
kk
ww
evenge
R
McBooks Press, Inc. ii
ISBN: 978-1-59013-165-7
Ithaca, New York 52400 nn
For a free Historical Fiction Catalog visit us
M
at www.mcbooks.com—or call us toll-free—at
Pc Cover painting by Geoff Hunt.
1-888-BOOKS11 (1-888-266-5711). 9 781590 131657 reBo Dust jacket & interior design by Panda Musgrove.
so
sk
s
the privateer’s evenge
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Also by Julian Stockwin
Kydd
Artemis
Seaflower
Mutiny
Quarterdeck
Tenacious
Command
the Admiral’s Daughter
Julian Stockwin

the
privateer’s Revenge
A Kydd Sea Adventure
McBooks Press, Inc.
www.mcbooks.com
Ithaca, New York
Published by McBooks Press 2008
Published simultaneously in Great Britain by Hodder and Stoughton
Copyright © 2008 Julian Stockwin
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or any portion thereof
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written per-
mission of the publisher. Requests for such permissions should be addressed to
McBooks Press, Inc., ID Booth Building, 520 North Meadow St., Ithaca, NY 14850.
Cover painting by Geoff Hunt RSMA.
Represented by Artist Partners Ltd., www.artistpartners.com.
Dust jacket and interior design by Panda Musgrove.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stockwin, Julian.
The privateer’s revenge : a Kydd sea adventure / by Julian Stockwin.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-59013-165-7 (alk. paper)
1. Kydd, Thomas (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Great Britain—History,
Naval—18th century—Fiction. 3. Seafaring life—Fiction. 4. Sailors—
Fiction. I. Title.
PR6119.T66P75 2008
823’.92--dc22
2008019445
McBooks Press publications can be ordered by calling toll-free 1-888-BOOKS11
(1-888-266-5711). Please call to request a free catalog.
Visit the McBooks Press website at www.mcbooks.com.
Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
To Admiral Sir James Saumarez

Chapter 1
His Majesty’s brig-sloop Teazer eased sheets and came round
prettily for the last leg of the short passage from Polperro east-
wards to Plymouth Sound. The ship’s clerk knocked softly at the
captain’s cabin door. There was no reply so, from long friendship,
Nicholas Renzi entered quietly. Commander Thomas Kydd was
sitting rigid at the stern windows staring out. He turned, his face
a bleak mask. “Tom, dear fellow? I’ve brought you this,” Renzi
said, proffering a glass. “The natives hereabouts do swear by its
power to lay demons and recruit the spirit.”
Kydd accepted the offering but it remained untouched in his
hand. “Fine nor’-westerly blow,” Renzi went on brightly. “We
should raise the Sound on this tack, I’d venture.” There was no
response from the fine and ambitious sea officer, who had made
the incredible journey from the fo’c’sle to the quarterdeck, then
achieved his own command, now brought so low.
It had been so sudden. Returning triumphant after a rousing
cruise, Kydd had decided to snatch a few moments in Polperro,
the home of his newly betrothed, Rosalynd. There, he had learned
of her tragic death, just days before.
Renzi drew a chair close. There was little to be said—grief was
such a private thing, but in this Renzi knew guilt. His closest
friend had stood alone when he had followed his heart and asked
 Julian Stockwin
a country lass to be his bride, not Persephone Lockwood, the ad-
miral’s daughter. There had never been a formal understanding
between Kydd and Miss Lockwood, but society—and Renzi—had
been outraged nevertheless.
“You should know this, dear friend, I—I own myself shamed by
my actions, you must understand,” Renzi said, in a low voice. “It
was unpardonable not to recognise that it was—that your senti-
ments sprang from the noblest and purest . . .”
His words went unheard but he vowed that whatever lay ahead
for Kydd he would be at his side. Especially when he tried to re-
enter the world that had turned its back on him. But there were
more pressing concerns now. “We dock in so little time I have to
ask, shall you prepare to take the deck again?”
Kydd’s face turned slowly. His eyes filled as he tried to speak
and his fists clenched.
Renzi knew for the sake of the future that Kydd should be the
one to take Teazer to her rest. “You are the captain still, and duty
is a stern mistress. Shall I . . . ?” He let it hang.
As the words penetrated, Kydd rose from his chair like an old
man and made his way to his inner cabin. After a few minutes he
emerged and took a last long look through the windows at the
receding wake.
“I have th’ ship, Mr Standish,” Kydd mumbled to his first lieuten-
ant, and stood alone, face set and pale, staring ahead. Rame Head
passed abeam; Teazer hauled her wind for the Sound and home.
Hands went to stations for mooring ship and she came gently to
single anchor at Barn Pool.
The early autumn sunshine had a fragile, poignant quality as
the sloop’s gig pulled across the short distance to the dockyard; at
Kydd’s side, Renzi held ship’s papers. The boat nuzzled into the
landing stage and Kydd stepped out, seeming lost and bewildered.
“This way, old fellow,” Renzi said, glaring at passers-by, who