The Straits of Tsushima: An action-packed historical military adventure (Marcus Baxter Naval Thrillers Book 1) by Tim Chant

Author:Tim Chant [Chant, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf, azw3
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2021-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

“Yefimov?” Juneau asked, astonishment clear in his eyes. “He has no love of the British.”

“He appears to have no love, husband,” Ekaterina corrected him. As usual, they were speaking English when they discussed such matters — their command of the language was better than Baxter’s command of Russian, and they were less likely to be overheard by someone who could follow the conversation.

“He certainly has no love for you,” Baxter pointed out.

Juneau looked slightly hurt by that. Though by no means a man who curried favour and affection from his subordinates, the Russian officer was also one who wanted to get along with everyone. “I had never…”

“Think about it, man,” Baxter interrupted, voice harsher than he’d meant. “He’s at least a decade older than you, and to give him his due, he’s a perfectly competent officer. And there he is, an ageing lieutenant, and you’re his superior. And while you’re certainly a better officer and seaman, the reason you got that post and he didn’t is because of an accident of birth.”

Baxter realised he had risen, and the Juneaus were both eyeing him with some trepidation. He realised his blood was up, because suddenly he had seen himself in Yefimov, or at least what he could have ended up as. Perhaps being cashiered from the navy had saved him after all.

He forced himself to breathe out and sit back down. “He may not love the British, Juneau, and he may still love Russia — but like many he is perhaps unhappy with the current state of things.”

“Are you sure you’re not a revolutionary, Baxter?” Ekaterina said, her teasing tone breaking the tension that his fury had created.

He smiled. “I could very well have been, were I born in Russia.”

She gave him a fleeting smile. “Accidents of birth.”

There was a gentle knock at the door, and Pavel entered at Juneau’s invitation. “The last of the chests is ready to go aboard, Graf,” he said in his soft voice. He must have heard the raised voices, but gave no sign of it — ever the consummate servant. If anything, that made Baxter’s rage boil again.

“Thank you, Pavel,” Juneau said gently. “We will repair aboard immediately.”

The steward withdrew as quiet as he had entered.

“We must make arrangements to put Pavel ashore before we reach dangerous waters,” Juneau commented as an aside, then shook his head sadly and turned his attention back to the matter at hand. “We, of course, do not have any evidence that Yefimov has behaved in an ill way — not even the Guard Department would arrest a man on so little.”

Baxter caught the slight edge of Juneau’s tone and also the answering scowl from his wife. “Guard Department?” he asked.

Ekaterina looked slightly pained as Juneau opened his mouth, and he made a placating gesture. “Merely a branch of our police force,” he said, his voice very careful. “Specifically charged with countering revolutionary activity and protecting the Royal family.”

Baxter felt his lip trying to curl in disgust but managed to stop it.

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