~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Mavis had left him along in the study, Horatio was torn as what to do next. He desperately wanted to go to her, hold her and beg her to forgive his stubborn stupidity. He wanted her completely. He wanted to hold her and kiss her and ….

He shook his head. He wouldn't. He refused to give in, he couldn't.

Looking up he saw that Sir Edward standing in the doorway.

"She's frightened for you, Horatio. That's why she's being so difficult. You know that she loves you."

He nodded in a distracted sort of way. "Yes, I know that… I…." He shook his head, unable to articulate what he wanted.

Edward crossed over to the sideboard and poured two glasses of brandy. Handing one to Horatio he gestured for the young man to sit with him by the fire.

"You want her and you'd probably like to marry her now but are afraid to hurt her should something happen to you. Am I correct?"

He looked over at the older man who had been his teacher for years. "Yes. I don't know what to do. I'd marry her tomorrow, with your permission, but if I don't return, then she'd be left here and…" Again, words failed him.

"And might be left with a child to raise alone. Is that about the size of it?"

Hornblower nodded without saying anything.

"Horatio, your concerns are laudable, but have you considered this from her perspective?"

"Sir?" His eyes were on the father's face.

"Mavis has been in love with you since that first day she laid eyes on you when she was a child in Gibraltar. In the years since what first started as a childish crush has grown into the deep love of a young woman for a young man. She has told me that you've said the two of you will marry when you return from this next voyage, is that correct?"

"Yes, it is, but…."

"Might I make a suggestion?"

"…Of course, sir."

"May I suggest that we take the opportunity of the Admiral's party tomorrow night to announce your betrothal? This way you might each have at least part of what you want. You will have a delay until your return and Mavis will have her commitment from you."

Horatio thought for a moment. It did seem like a simple solution. If he returned, that is. "Well, perhaps that would…"

"Good. It's settled then. You might want to go find the girl. If I'm to tell the assembled worthies tomorrow, then you should have an acceptance from the bride to be, don't you think?"

Horatio didn't move. "Sir, if I may speak freely?"

"Of course you may, for the love of God. What's the problem?"

"Mavis, sir…I fear that she may not accept a simple betrothal. I think that she might insist on the actual ceremony before I leave."

Pellew looked into the fireplace for a long moment. " I think that it's prudent to delay the marriage itself until you return. I agree with that and I'll stand by it."

Horatio knew that it was because Sir Edward also feared for his return. It seemed like a reasonable compromise.

"Thank you, sir. If you'll excuse me, I'll speak to Mavis." Rising he left the room.

Edward remained where he was. If all went well with the voyage of Renown, Horatio would be back in six months or so and the wedding would be in the garden attended by a crush of friends. If Renown experienced what both officers feared, well, then at least Mavis would know that she had been loved and wanted by the man she adored. And if she ended up pregnant, well, having Horatio father his grandchild wasn't the worst thing that could happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They were up in her bedroom where he had found her. Mavis was sitting on the edge of the bed, Horatio on one knee before her.

"Oh, yes! Yes." She put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, his forehead, his chin, his eyelids and finally his mouth.

Breaking apart, laughing, he stayed her and said, "Now, you understand that we will wait until I return before actually having the ceremony. I really must insist on this, Mavis."

Instant tears came to her eyes as she thought of the reason for their needed delay. "Yes, I understand." She kissed him again, differently this time. Gently and tenderly. "We'll wait, if we must." He stroked her cheek and she saw a small smile on his face.

"I do want us to be married. As soon as I return." His smile broadened as he had another thought. "You'll have the entire voyage to plan whatever you would like. It shall be wherever you wish."

"And I shall cause Papa to be glad to be rid of me after he sees in what style we shall be wed." She laughed happily.

"You do realize that you are to marry a penniless Lieutenant? I shall be hard pressed to keep you in any but the most basic of styles"

"Styles! We must invite him…and Mr. Matthews and all of your division. They're all such sweet men. We can, can't we?"

"Of course, if you would like them to be here, they shall be."

She looked at him thoughtfully, sadly. Her gay mood suddenly gone. "You're not just doing this to make me happy, are you? You've been saying all along that you think me too young to marry." She looked down at her hands on his arms. "You will come back, won't you? This isn't just some way to delay so that I'll forget about you and perhaps find another?"

"Mavis, you know me well enough to know that I would never do such a thing. I will return, my word on it. When I return you'll be that much older. And we will marry." He tried his smile again. "You'll grow quite tired of me and wonder why you gave in to my pleadings and didn't wait for some rich Earl to come along for you."

"Yes, when I'm surrounded by twelve screaming brats all looking like you and you're off to the South Seas, I shall curse you and the Navy and Mama will tell me what a fool I was not to marry a fat, rich old Duke."

He kissed her again, and again as they stood with their arms around each other. Her hands stroked his back and his caressed her shoulders and neck. "We're betrothed now, it's different."

"Mavis…nothing has changed as far as that is concerned. I won't risk leaving you with a child when I'm leaving so soon and I'm not sure…" He stopped.

"Not sure if you'll come back?" She stepped back, angry. "And I'm now supposed to live with that thought for the next six months or a year while you're out on that damned ship?"

"Mavis, be fair. You know that I'm a career Naval Officer. As is your father. You must understand what that means for everyone involved." She glared at him. "You see your mother and how she is affected by the reality of this. If we are to marry, you can't think that I will end my career."

" I know that, but there must be something that you can do other than simply accept what even Papa says is a suicide mission for you."

"It's no such thing. And I'm sure that's not the phrase that he used in any event."

Mavis looked down at the floor, contrite. Putting her arms around him again and hugging him tightly she said, "Forgive me. I get carried away sometimes and I shouldn't. I just know that I will miss you so. Come, let's go tell Mama and Papa that you've asked and I've accepted. I think that they're both downstairs."

What she didn't say was that the phrase 'suicide mission' was exactly the words that her stepfather had used to her mother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The completely expected announcement to Mavis's parents went as one would think. There were toasts from the Commodore and kisses and embraces from the women. After the young people had retired back to their favorite area of the conservatory, Edward and Sophie sat in the study, quietly talking.

"She's so happy, Edward, they both are." She was positively basking in the contentment of the two. They had both thought for years that this day would come.

He looked so sad as he replied. "May she have reason to remain so."

Seeing his expression, she asked, "It's that serious with Renown? Tell me the truth. Do you not think that he'll come back?"

"Dearest, I wish that I …" He shook his head. "I fear that here will be situations that no one will be able to control."

"She doesn't know?"

"I think that Mavis may suspect, but she won't want to believe that it's as bad as it really is. The young always think that there will be a happy ending."

Seeing the look on Sophie's face, he took her hand, bringing it up to his lips. Kissing it he added, for her benefit. "Perhaps she'll be right." His reassuring smile didn't reach his eyes, and his wife knew that he didn't believe what he said any more than she did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preparations had been going on for weeks for the Admiral's annual Birthday Dinner. All of the senior officers were expected to attend along with their wives, if available. Mavis would, as always, go as Commodore Pellew's lovely daughter and Horatio would be there as her escort.

Sophie and Mavis had both chosen to use the occasion as an excuse for new gowns and Horatio was easily pressured into having the two missing buttons on his new dress uniform replaced. It was then cleaned and pressed by Sir Edward's servants. A note sent to the Admiral's good wife asking that the betrothal announcement be made before the dancing began would, naturally, be gladly accommodated.

The next night the two couples were surrounded by the best and the brightest of His majesty's Navy to be found in Portsmouth. The Admiral and his wife both enjoyed entertaining and so spared neither expense nor trouble to be sure that their festivities were the finest around. An invitation to join them was considered a social triumph of the first order.

The Pellew's and Horatio arrived at the stated time, the women looking remarkably lovely in their new gowns, the men handsome and elegant in their dress uniforms.

As always, the evening began with the usual round of greeting friends and acquaintances, making small talk and catching up on the latest gossip. Horatio was relieved to see both Archie and Mr. Bracegirdle attending. Mavis seemed to know almost everyone in the room. Countless officer's came up to her, begging to have dances promised later when the music began. She politely demurred them all, all the while keeping Horatio's arm firmly in her grip.

After half an hour or so, Mavis moved off to tell some of her friends the news she couldn't possible keep to herself another five minutes and Horatio wandered off with Archie and Bracey.

"So, I understand that you Renowns are off to keep the world safe for from the Dons soon, eh?"

"Yes, next week we'll be away, Joss. Any idea where you and the Commodore are headed this time?"

"No, I'm afraid not. You know that we're always kept in the dark, at least us lowly Lieutenants are. I'll likely find out our destination after we're halfway there, if I'm that lucky."

"You're still posted with Sir Edward then? You're a lucky man."

"Thank you, Archie. I know that I am. I've been with the man for almost fifteen years now, and I'd sail another fifteen with him if the Good Lord would allow it."

The two younger men smiled somewhat ruefully. Looking to see that no one was nearby, Bracey continued. "You know, I once sailed with a captain who had…. problems. There were times when I questioned whether we would see port again."

The other two looked at him closely. He knew.

Archie spoke up first. "And what did you do, Joss?"

"We did what we had to. We followed our orders, but we made sure that the ship remained seaworthy and that the crew never knew that there was any dissent among the officers. And we all did two other things. We made sure that anytime an order was given, at least two officers were present to hear it. That prevented any misunderstandings, you see. And we kept journals. Detailed, private journals."

"Did anyone ever read these journals, sir?"

"Yes, Horatio. They were collected and read by an examining board at the Admiralty when we returned. To clear up any possible questions as to how things progressed on the voyage, you see." He smiled at them. "Ah, I see Captain Cooper across the room, if you'll excuse me, please, gentlemen. I'll look forward to us dining together shortly." Nodding, he walked away.

Archie and Horatio looked at each other. Fine, it was a start. Others knew.

The dinner, as expected, was excellent. The food was prepared as by an artist and the wines were as perfect as could be hoped for. Mavis and Horatio sat together at a table with Archie, Bracey and several others along with two young ladies who Mavis was friendly with. The talk flowed easily. The women were witty and bright, the men charming and extravagant in their compliments. The toasts to both the King and their host's birthday finished, the guests adjourned to the large room for the dancing. Just as the orchestra leader was about to start, the Admiral stepped up for several announcements.

There had been a number of prize ships brought in and there had been several successful encounters against the Dons, he was happy to report. He thanked everyone for being kind enough to join him this evening and now, if they would please attend, Commodore Pellew would like to say just a very few words regarding a personal matter.

Standing on the small platform that had been built for the musicians, Sir Edward, resplended in full dress uniform, stood while the crowd quieted.

"Ladies and Gentleman, it is with the greatest of pleasure that Lady Sophie and I have the honor of announcing the betrothal of our dear daughter, Mavis to Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower of His Majesty's Ship Renown." Smiling and raising the glass he had been holding he finished with "To the happy couple!", echoed by everyone in the room.

Horatio and Mavis, standing in the center of the crowd were immediately swarmed with well-wishers. His back was slapped countless times, his hand shaken and Mavis's cheeks were kissed so many times that she began to fear they would begin to chap.

As the music started Horatio took her hand, leading her in a graceful waltz to the approval of the other guests. As they started their second circuit of the dance floor other couples joined in, the room awhirl with flowing skirts and glittering military decorations. Hundreds of candles lit the scene; hundreds of hothouse flowers scented the air. Handsome men and their beautiful ladies danced and laughed and managed to forget that they were at war.

It was a never to be forgotten night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, after the last of the food had been eaten and the final bottle of wine was gone. After their feet were too tired for even one more dance and the candles were finally guttering, the party ended.

Back at the Pellew home Sir Edward made his customary check of the house before retiring. He knew that the servants had already locked up, but it was his nature to be cautious.

Seeing the study door ajar and the fire still burning low through the crack, he quietly pushed into the room.

Standing before the fire were Horatio and Mavis, closely embracing and kissing deeply. His coat was off, his cravat and waistcoat gone. Pellew saw that her hands were actually inside of his shirt, which was almost completely pulled free from his trousers, stroking his back. He seemed to be returning the favor, but at least she still appeared to be in her garments, although she had changed from her heavy gown into a light wrapper. How long she would remain so was anyone's guess.

They were completely unaware of being watched.

About to interrupt he thought better of it as he recalled a conversation at the party. James Sawyer had approached him and Sophie after the announcement, offering his good wishes to the young couple. As he was about to wander off he had suddenly turned and, looking Sir Edward directly in the eye had asked if a date had yet been set for the marriage. Upon learning that it had not, being contingent upon Horatio's return the Captain had smiled and then laughed. "Indeed?"

Sir Edward quietly closed the study door and left them alone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"They're downstairs again, aren't they?"

"Yes, they're in the study."

"Studying what, might I ask?" Sophie was smiling at him as she patted the bed beside her.

"Yes, quite." He climbed in next to her.

"Do you want to stop them, Edward?"

He spread his hands in a gesture of futility. "There's nothing that they can't do if they decide to, you know that as well as I do. Horatio is honorable and will be careful of her, I've no doubt."

"He's also a perfectly normal young man and a sailor about to leave his young lady for months, if not longer. And Mavis will do whatever he wants…possibly somewhat more, in fact."

Edward raised an eyebrow. "She's your daughter."

"And he's your officer."

He smiled at her, blew out the bedside candle and received no sleep for another hour. Nor did Sophie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mavis, enough." He was having trouble catching his breath as they lay on the floor before the fire. Mavis had spread a throw and they were fully reclined on it and each other.

She looked up at him. "You don't want to stop any more than I do." She smiled slightly, knowingly.

"Of course I don't want to stop. I want to do what is right."

Her hands moved up to his back again, slowly stroking the skin up and down his spine, each stroke bringing her hands down closer to the top of his trousers, finally moving just under the waistband, pulling his hips even closer against her. She could tell how much he wanted her.

He was kissing and nuzzling her neck and her throat. "Mavis, no."

"Why not, Horatio? We're betrothed. We love each other. We both want each other." Her hands were moving between them to the buttons of his trousers.

"You know why not." His mouth was down on her shoulder and moving lower, the wrapper barely doing its job of coverage.

"I don't care about that any more than you do."

The buttons were now undone, as was Horatio.

His hands brushed against hers at his belly as he moved to gently pull loose the gown's tie. He rolled her under him and began kissing her in earnest. They could each feel the other's skin pressed and rubbing against their own and the sensation was intoxicating. The light from the fire illuminated the room enough for them to see the expressions on their faces. Looking down at her and hearing her breath coming as rapidly as his was, he pulled his face back just a few inches.

"This isn't the way it should be with us."

"Horatio…" She sounded exasperated.

"The first time for us shouldn't be on the floor here like furtive youngsters…. I don't want it to be like this, afraid that someone will walk in. Hurried and furtive like this."

"Oh, for God's sake." She was suddenly very angry, pushing him away and pulling the robe tightly about her as she sat up. "I thought that you loved me, that you wanted me. I thought that we both wanted this."

Pulling himself slightly together, he sat beside her, his arm about her, pulling her head down onto his shoulder. Taking a deep breath to steady himself he spoke quietly.

"Of course I want you, how could I not? I've wanted you since that night at your parent's party when you woke me and I first laid eyes on you and saw how you had grown and changed. It's been all I can do not to take you here and now. You must know this."

He took her hand, placing it on his chest. Smiling he said, "Feel how my heart is pounding." She began caressing the skin under her fingers, her pique forgotten. "Mavis, please…"

She looked up at him from his shoulder. "Did you know that my parents expect that we'll end up doing this? I overheard them talking this afternoon when they thought I was still in my bath. They're not all that concerned. They think that it's normal."

The look on his face was one of amused disbelief.

"On my word, I swear that it's true. Papa was wondering if he should say something to you to behave yourself and Mama told him not to be silly, that we'd do whatever we wanted anyway. Then she said that we loved each other and that it wasn't anything that they hadn't done themselves."

He laughed softly. "That's not quite a seal of approval."

"They know that we'll be apart for a long time and…Horatio, please.", she finished quietly. She was speaking not as a child would who wished for a denied sweet, but as a woman speaking to her lover.

He looked at her for a moment, making up his mind. Standing, he quickly fastened his garments, gathering the discarded items. Then, reaching his hand down, he pulled her to her feet. Tossing the throw back on the couch and still holding her hand he led her out of the room and up the stairs stopping only at her open doorway.

She looked at him sadly, thinking that he was about to bid her goodnight when he pressed her inside. Still holding her hand he moved in with her, closing the door behind them.