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

Edward caught up with Horatio just as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Taking his arm, he managed to stop the younger man.

"You'll not go up there when you're in this state. Not after last night, you won't. Good God, man! Think. You can't bed her one night and break it off with her the next day."

Horatio stopped in his tracks, looking at Pellew. He nodded, embarrassed and saying nothing.

"Come on." Edward led him into the study. "You still have six days before you report, there must be something that we can think of."

Horatio sat on one of the leather chairs before the fire. His elbows on his knees, hands clasped before him. "We could be married before I leave. That way, if she is pregnant, at least the child won't be a bastard and she won't be ruined." Edward handed him a brandy, sitting himself in the next chair, his own drink in hand.

"Is that what you want? I'm not talking about a possible child, I mean do you truly want to marry the girl?"

Horatio's head was held in both of his hands, his glass on the floor beside him. "Yes. I want to marry her. I had hoped to wait until I returned so that she would be completely sure of her feelings and would be slightly older…that doesn't matter. We can marry this week."

"Horatio, is that wh…"

"It's the only thing that I can give her. It's the only thing that I can do for her."

"Do you marry her out of obligation?"

He raised his head, looking intently into the fire, thinking before he answered.

"I can't bear to hurt her. I…slept with her. I think that I love her, but I've never loved anyone before." He looked over at Pellew, a sad smile on his face. "What does it feel like to be in love?"

Sophie had entered the room, seating herself on the hassock between then. She gently smiled. "Poor Horatio. You know that if you report to your ship, it may go badly for you all, but if you don't, it may be worse. If you marry Mavis now, you may save her from a fate worse than… and if you don't marry her now, you may spare her from a different type of heartbreak."

She laughed suddenly, truly laughed. "And here you sit discussing it all with your young lady's parents, of all people…poor Horatio!"

"God, you make me sound completely pathetic!" Horatio joined in her laughing; even Edward broke a smile.

"My dear, as always, you have managed to sum up the situation perfectly!" She took the glass from her husband's hand, taking a sip.

"Damned if you do and damned if you don't, Horatio. What on earth are you going to do?"

The laughter faded to nothing and his expression grew serious again.

"I'd marry her tomorrow if I thought that would make her happy."

Sophie exchanged a look with Edward. "It would. Is it what would make you happy, though?"

"The only thing stopping me is not knowing …Renown is the …I'm not sure about…that part of things."

Edward spoke up. "You're an officer on a ship of war during wartime. We both are and we both understand and accept whatever risks are involved. They're not an excuse to cut your self off from life, though, Horatio. Sophie understands this, so will Mavis."

He was lost in thought for a few moments. Shaking his head, "But she's only sixteen, and…"

Sophie, finally annoyed, had enough of his indecision.

"And you've known that since you arrived here. You certainly didn't let it stop you last night. That's just an excuse, and you know that as well as we do. Now you'll marry the girl this week, or make good your promise when you get back. Either way, you've gotten yourself into this and you will deal with it like the adult and gentleman you are. You were perfectly happy to have the betrothal announced at the Admiral's party and you will not embarrass Edward now by reneging. Am I making myself clear?"

He knew when he was cornered. "Yes, Lady Sophie, of course. You're absolutely right."

"Good." She rose and without a backwards glance left the room to finish checking on the tea preparations.

Edward spoke quietly. "She's right, you know. But I won't allow you to marry her just out of obligation. If you're not going to be happy together, I'd rather you didn't go through with it."

"I do love her, and I do wish to marry her, sir."

"But….?" He prompted.

"Just what I mentioned earlier, that she will be lonely, that…"

"Yes, that you'll be killed and she'll be left alone. We all know about that, it's simply a fact of your life. Mavis understands this better than you probably believe she does."

Horatio nodded, either in agreement with Edward or what ever was going through his mind.

"If you'll excuse me, sir, I'll speak to Mavis." Pellew shot him a questioning look. "No, it will be all right. I'll ask her when we should marry."

Nodding to the Captain, he left the room.

Sir Edward sat unmoving, lost in though. God, don't let him be killed.

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

Sophie walked back into the study a few minutes after Horatio had left.

"Was I too hard on him, Edward?"

"No. He needed to hear what you said to him. He'll do the right thing."

She sat back down on the hassock, her arms across her chest, hugging herself. "I never thought that he wouldn't. He's scared to death and doesn't want any of us to see it. He's afraid that he'll disappoint you."

"Yes, I know that, and that Mavis will be hurt if he doesn't come back." Edward smiled gently to himself. "When we were on the Indy, I would sometimes pretend that he was my son. I would try to think what advice I should give him, how I could steer him on the right course."

She picked up Horatio's untouched glass of port, sipping it. "He never mentions his real family, why is that?"

"From what I understand, his mother died when he was a child and he's estranged from his father for some reason. Has been for years. I can't comprehend that. How could a man not rejoice in a son like that?"

"Have you ever met the father?"

"No, I haven't. It's not uncommon for a man's family to want to see their son or their husband's ship, but his never has that I know of."

"Do you think that he'll be informed of the betrothal or the wedding?"

Edward took her hand. "Perhaps as the mother of the bride you might write a letter?"

She smiled then leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You really are very sweet, you know."

"It shall remain our secret, madam."

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

"Would you really want to be married this week? You were so adamant about waiting."

Horatio tightened his arms about her as they stood where he had found her before the fireplace in her room. "Well, since we've started the honeymoon, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't."

She was blushing. "We seem to have no secrets, do we? Papa didn't threaten you with one of his swords, did he?"

"Just a small dirk." He kissed her lightly. "This is Tuesday already. I must be back aboard on Monday night. How long will it take to make the arrangements?"

She looked up at him, trying to gauge his true feelings about all that had happened in the last few days. Smiling and shrugging at his question she said, "I've no idea. Mama will know, she's so good at things like this. Between her and Preston, I suspect that we'll just be swept along with the tide."

Horatio nodded his acceptance of the inevitable. "I'm sure that will be the easiest for all concerned. Shall we go tell them so the maelstrom can commence?"

Mavis hugged him again, even tighter this time. "Dearest." She seemed embarrassed by her use of the endearment. He smiled his encouragement at her as she continued. "You're not just agreeing to this because of last night, are you? Because if that's the reason, there really is no…"

"Mavis. I love you; I want us to be married. It's as simple as that."

She began to cry. "Mavis? Have I said something wrong? Would you rather wait?"

She shook her head. "No, you don't understand. I've wanted to marry you since I was eleven. You were so kind to me. The first day I saw you on Gibraltar, I thought that you were the most handsome man I'd ever seen. You were the first man to pay any attention to me and you were always so patient, answering all of my questions and writing me letters. You never treated me like a child, so it was easy for me to pretend that you were my---beau. I've pretended for so long that now it's hard for me to believe you actually have your arms around me and that we're talking about our wedding."

He smiled, amused that he had been the object of her…anyone's…fantasies. That was certainly something that had never occurred to him before.

"I don't think that we could have become friends if you had been older then." He blushed. "You're the only sweetheart I've ever had. I've always been awkward with young ladies. It's only because you were so young when we met that I could behave normally around you without becoming tongue-tied."

She reached her arms up to circle around his neck.

"When I saw you that night at your parents party, if I hadn't realized who you were, I could never have spoken to you. I'd have been too embarrassed."

Mavis laughed at him, kindly. "All the girls had their caps set for you from the moment you walked in the door, didn't you know that?"

He was blushing several shades deeper now, becoming self-conscious. "Papa says that you don't know your own worth. Sometimes he says that he used to despair because of it, that you never give yourself due credit."

"Mavis, I really…"

"He's right. You seem to think that everyone else has more value than you do." She took one hand from around his neck and caressed his cheek. "You are everything I want. I've loved you since I was a child and nothing could ever make me stop. When you're at sea, never forget that."

He turned his face slightly, kissing her hand. "I never shall, I promise."

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

My dear Doctor Hornblower, 1 March 1801

Please forgive my forwardness in writing to you, however I know that you will wish to be informed of the imminent marriage of our beloved daughter, Mavis to your son, Horatio.

The ceremony is expected to take place here in Portsmouth later this week, in all likelihood, this coming Friday evening.

We greatly hope that you will be able to attend and it would give my husband and I the greatest pleasure if you would do us the very large honor of being our guest while you are here.

We have become so very fond of Horatio over the past few years and this natural development between the two young people has brought us much happiness already, as I'm sure that it will you. We so very much look forward to making your acquaintance and know that the joining of our families will be filled with joy.

I have sent our carriage for you convenience, and I do so hope that you will be in it when it returns to us.

With all my warmest regards,

Lady Sophie Pellew

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

As they sat down to tea, Mavis and Sophie were absorbed in the details of the wedding.

"Friday evening will be perfect, Mama, that will give us a few days to prepare and still let Horatio and me have a couple of days after to ourselves to rest a bit. I think that the conservatory would be best, don't you?"

"Yes, I agree, dearest. We can bank the candles all around the sides and there are already plenty of flowers there, so that will simplify things."

"What shall we serve for refreshments…"?

The conversation passed both Edward and Horatio by. They were completely left out of the planning and were glad of that fact. Only occasionally would a comment be directed to one of them.

"Horatio, your dress uniform, will it need a cleaning after the Admiral's party the other night? I'll see to it, don't concern yourself."

"Edward, love, you must let me know this evening which officers are to be invited. I need to have some idea of the numbers we'll be expecting."

"Horatio, do you have any friends we should include?"

"The officer's of Indy and Renown, and perhaps we might have my division, also." He looked over to Mavis as she smiled in happiness at his remembering that she had wanted them there.

"Mama, I can wear my new gown from the party, don't you think?"

"Yes, dear, you looked lovely in that. The color suits you perfectly."

And so the planning went on. Sir Edward and Horatio realized that they were superfluous to the discussion and removed themselves to the conservatory for a game of chess. The ladies too busy to notice their absence.

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

The two women turned to the planning, getting everything fairly squared away but the time the candles were beginning to gutter. Both were tired but pleased at what they had accomplished. They had spent hours on the planning and organizing along with Preston and Cook If all went according to plan it would be a lovely ceremony, followed by a simple but elegant dinner and reception. Pleading exhaustion, Sophie went to bed.

Finding Mavis alone at the dining room table where they had been working, Horatio took her hand and led her upstairs. "You need sleep, come along."

Reaching the green door of her bedroom she leaned against him and answered, "I need to sleep with you."

Caressing her forehead and cheek, smiling slightly, he nodded as he whispered, "Yes."

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

Several of the invitations were delivered to Renown early the next morning. One was addressed to Ship's Bosun Matthews and Bosun's Mate Styles.

"What's that, Matty? You getting love letters now?"

"All right, all right. That's enough of that, if you don't mind." Breaking the seals he looked at the contents. He could read, but slowly. Seeing his frown, Styles asked him if something was wrong.

"Well I'll be damned. This seems to be an invitation to a weddin this coming Friday night. It seems that Mr. 'Ornblower is up and marryin Commodore Pellew's daughter…and we're invited!"

"Ah, come on. Wot does it really say?"

"That's the God's honest truth. The whole bleedin division is invited to---let's see here." He read hesitantly. "Join us in the cele…bration of the marri…age of Miss Mavis Pellew and Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower. At seven o'clock."

"Cor! That'll be classy. Wot are they doin inviting us for?"

"It gets better. It's at Pellew's home. And there's a note here on the bottom of the page. 'Miss Mavis has asked for you spec…ially to be included. Ornblower.' My word."

"Well, we're in the chinks now, Matty!"

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

Early the next morning, earlier than usual as there was so much to do, the elder Pellew's were enjoying their breakfast. They were alone in the dining room.

"You know that they spent the night in her room again. Do you want to say something to him or just let it go?"

"I don't really see what possible difference it makes, Sophie. They're getting married in two days anyway and then he's leaving for a number of months if not longer. They might as well spend what little time they do have together."

Calmly nodding her agreement, she turned her attention to her breakfast.

"I hope to have some sort of a count by late this afternoon. We must start getting the food in so that the kitchen staff can get to work on it all."

Edward was looking over the guest list. "It seems that you largely just repeated the list for our party last week."

"Yes, that is what I did, with a few additions. It seemed to be the easiest. They're all our friends and they would be the ones who are in town, most likely. Mavis had asked that Horatio's division be included. Will that be a problem, do you think?"

"He has them well trained, they won't do anything they shouldn't, I'm sure. Likely they will stay in the background when confronted by the amount of gold lace that will be there."

"Sawyer has to come, doesn't he?"

"Of course. He's Horatio's commanding officer. No way around it, I'm afraid."

"I suppose not." She seemed resigned. "He's just so awful."

"I've no doubt that you can cope, my dear."

Preston came into the room to begin clearing. "Excuse me, M'am. Should we just leave the other breakfast things here for when Miss Mavis and the Lieutenant come down or would you rather that we cleared?"

Looking at him for a moment, she finally said, "Please clear, but would you have Cook make up a tray for two and have it taken up to Miss Mavis' room when it's ready?"

He nodded, his face completely bland. "Of course."

"And please do be sure that the coffee is fresh when it goes up. Thank you, Preston." He left the room to pass on the request.

"Breakfast in bed? I'd say that's above and beyond as an understanding parent, my dear."

"In for a penny, in for a pound." Smiling became laughter as she threw her napkin at him.

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

Horatio rolled over, sliding his arms around Mavis next to him, still sleeping. He didn't really want to wake her, but he couldn't bear to not touch her. They were warm and comfortable and had probably slept longer than they should have. He knew that he shouldn't have given into the temptation of joining her last night, but how could he not? He was leaving so very soon.

Sighing, he gently ran his hands down the length of her, feeling the softness of her body, so unlike his own.

Sleepily she opened her eyes, turning her face to his. Smiling she asked, "Again? Haven't you had enough for one night?"

He kissed he deeply. "Never."

"Your beard scratches."

"Forgive me."

He was about to move over her when they heard the footsteps outside her door. "Did you latch it?"

"I don't remember, did you?"

The door quietly opened as they as nonchalantly as possible slid slightly apart, his arm still around her; her head nestled against his shoulder.

"Good morning, Miss Mavis, Sir." Preston put the tray on the small table next to the bed. "I have eggs, toast, ham, potatoes and coffee here. Would either of you like anything else?"

"Perhaps some hot water in a few minutes, if you don't mind."

"Certainly, sir. I'll send someone up shortly." Bowing slightly, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

The two looked at each other before exploding in laughter.

"It seems that they think that it's time for us to get up."

"That was my mother's doing. I'm sure of it. Papa would have never have thought of it on his own."

Still laugh, they settled in to breakfast on the bed, feeding each other and laughing. After a short while, the maid arrived with hot water for them both.

Finished eating, Horatio rose and pulled his clothing on. Leaning in to kiss her one more time, he went across the hallway to the guest room to wash and put on a fresh change of clothing. While he was gone, Mavis had begun dressing when Sophie knocked softly and let herself in.

"Might we talk for a few minutes, Dearest?"

Mavis was wearing just her wrap. Her mother moved behind where she was seated at her dressing table and taking the brush from her hand, began grooming the long hair herself.

"I used to do this when you were a little girl. Remember? I was always after you to tidy your hair, it was forever coming lose."

Mavis smiled at her in the mirror, nodding. "I always loved when you did my hair. You were always so good at it. I was such a little ragamuffin."

"I only minded when you tore your dresses. Is everything going well with you and Horatio?"

Mavis met her eyes in the mirror. She smiled, blushing. "He's so wonderful, Mama."

"I know that your father is happy about the way things have worked out with you two. So am I, Sweeting. You're so very good together."

"He's very much like Papa, isn't he? So smart and honest. Papa says that his men are more loyal to him than any other young officer he's ever seen."

"Yes, he's very special. We all know that."

"I had an odd thought last night." She looked embarrassed about that admission. "I was looking at his hands, he was…touching me." She blushed and looked as though she might not continue, but managed to go on. "I thought how very gentle he is and how kind, but at the same time, I know that he's used those same hands to kill people. I have such trouble imagining him fighting, cutting and stabbing with his sword or shooting a gun, but I know that he does that. I know that he's ordered men to do things that have gotten them killed and that he's given orders that have killed Frenchmen and Spanish."

She looked at Sophie again. "It's almost like there are two of him, the kind gentle man I'm going to marry, and some stranger who kills when need be."

"Yes, I've had the same thoughts about your father. It's difficult to understand how they can separate the different parts of their lives as they do."

With no warning, Mavis suddenly was grabbing at her mother, hugging to her fiercely and sobbing, crying uncontrollably.

"Dearest! Tell me, what is it? Please!"

"I heard him talking with Papa. Horatio admitted that Captain Sawyer would kill him if he thinks he can get away with it. He won't talk to me about it, just says that he'll be fine…but he won't. You know as well as I do that a ship's Captain is in complete control of his ship. He can do whatever he wants, and no one will be able to stop him."

"That's not true, you know that. There will be other officers on the ship watching and you know that Horatio will be as careful as can be. You know that he will. He's smart and he has the loyalty of his men. That will count for much."

But Mavis wasn't interested in being placated. Her crying stopped almost as suddenly as it began. Her cheeks still wet and still clinging to Sophie she calmly spoke. "I know that he'll be killed. I feel it. That's why I decided to share his bed. It's the only thing that I have to give to him. I wanted him to have---me before he left." She drew back to look up at her mother. "Was that a terrible thing to do…I wanted him, too."

"No, Sweet. I did the same thing once when your father was about to go back to sea. It's all right. You did what any woman who is in love would do."

"Will it be so terrible if I have a child?"

Sophie had a small smile on her face and shook her head "No."

Tightening her arms around her, quietly Mavis said, "Thank you, Mama."