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By mid morning the acceptances had begun to trickle in. Although the wedding was on short notice, that was often the way of it in the military during wartime, and people were used to responding in a timely fashion.

"Sophie, I was about to take the carriage and I've been informed that it's been sent on an errand to some village in Kent. Would you know anything about that?"

She answered without looking up, busy with her lists. "Umm, yes. I sent it to fetch Horatio's father. It should be back later tonight, I would think. Oh, I forgot…Preston! Please see to it that the other guestroom is prepared for this evening, if you would."

"Yes, M'am."

"Thank you, Preston. Edward, are Mavis and Horatio still in the conservatory?"

"Horatio went into town, to look for a ring, I believe. I've no idea where Mavis has gotten herself off to. Do you need her at the moment?"

"Um, no, not really." She was still studying her lists. "Has he mentioned to you who will stand up with him? I really should get in touch with whomever it is he decides on."

Edward sat down to look over the morning paper while he waited for a hired rig to be brought round. "No, he hasn't mentioned anyone to me. I would think that he'd ask Kennedy. He seems to be Horatio's closest friend."

Sophie looked over at her husband. "Kennedy?" She was trying to place the name. Ah! It came to her. "That handsome young blonde who was one of your junior officers on the Indefatigable? Is that the one?"

Bemused by the description, Edward simply nodded. Thinking better of a nonverbal answer he added, "I believe that he's a Lieutenant on Renown now with Horatio."

"Nice that they're still together. Give them each someone to talk to during off hours."

"Yes, I suppose. Does Horatio know that you've sent for his father?"

Sophie stood up, gathering her things in preparation for moving somewhere else. "I haven't mentioned it to him specifically, but I would think he'd assume I'd invite the man. Why do you ask?"

"I thought that I'd mentioned that they are estranged. It could well become awkward-we don't know what the cause is or how deep the rift goes."

Refusing to see a problem, Sophie replied, "Oh, really, Edward. They're father and son. What better time to renew their relationship than at the wedding of an only child."

"To a young woman he's never met in the home of complete strangers." He was about to start reading again when he had a thought. "You know, you could have simply have put the Doctor in the room Horatio is nominally occupying…save on linen. I doubt that it would be too crowded."

Giving him a look that told him exactly what she thought of his logic and concerns, she walked out to cope with another of the hundreds of details involved in a wedding.

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

Horatio was down on the quay while the Pellew's conversation had been going on. He had gone down straightaway after leaving the house. Seeing Styles sitting on a bale of hay for the ship animals, he approached the man.

"Good morning, Styles. By any chance would you know if Mr. Kennedy has reported back aboard the ship."?

Looking blearily at his officer, he tried his best to focus, despite the thundering headache he was attempting to ignore. "Can't say that anyone has seen him, sir. If he's back, he hasn't reported onto the ship that I know of."

"Thank you, Styles." He turned away, disappointed. Archie had gone up to London to see some of his family and to get away from Renown, evidently he was drawing it out as long as he could.

"Sir? Begging your pardon, wot's this we 'ear about you getting married? You don't really want the likes of us there, so you?"

He turned back, amused. "Yes, I'm getting married the day after tomorrow and Miss Mavis and I would both very much like the entire division to be there, if you'd like to attend."

Styles looked him over, blunt as ever. "Wot would the likes of us do with all them gold braid officers who'll be there, Mr. 'Ornblower?"

Horatio had been afraid of this. "You needn't come if you'll feel uncomfortable. Mavis is very fond of you all, especially you and Matthews, as is Commodore Pellew. I'm sure that you'll be able to find a room where the gold braid will leave you alone." He smiled slightly, understanding the thoughts of being out of place.

Nodding and returning the small smile he returned, "Yeah, I guess that we'll be there, sir. Should be somethin to see, all them Admirals and such. I ain't ever been in a Commodore's house before."

"Good." He laughed once. "I'll be happy for some friendly faces myself." He turned to go.

"Sir?"

"Yes, Styles?"

"Your marryin Miss Mavis, and her bein Commodore Pellew's daughter---you think there's any chance of you getting transferred off Renown now?"

Horatio knew why he was asking. The men all knew of Sawyer's hatred for him. "No, I think not. At least not until after this next voyage."

Styles nodded, understanding what this could mean. "We'll see ya Friday night, then, sir."

Nodding, Hornblower left the dock.

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Going to the small jeweler's shop that Sir Edward had recommended, Horatio was surprised at how easy it had been to select a ring. It was a simple gold band, half an inch wide. It might be too wide for her finger, but Mavis had said that living in a Navy town, she wanted to be sure the sailor's knew from a distance that she wasn't available.

The sizing was simple, too. Joking, she had put a ring she had worn at her parent's party on his hand, teasing him with it. Her ring had fit perfectly on his little finger. Her wedding band was sized to his hand. After deciding on the inscription, he told the proprietor that he would return the next day to pick it up.

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As he was in the shop, Horatio had failed to notice that watching, staring at him through the window had been Captain Sawyer, leaving before the Lieutenant had finished his business.

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

While Horatio was in town and her father had been waiting for a hired coach, Mavis had been busy writing letters up in her room.

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Dear Dr. Hornblower, (the first one read)

I hope that you don't find me too presumptuous in writing to you like this, but I wish you to know how very happy Horatio and I are together. We've known each other for five years now, and I think that I fell in love with him the first day I saw him.

We will be married in just two days and two days later he will leave to go back to sea.

I know that I will miss him so very terribly.

I hope that we might write to each other, you and I. I would so much like us to become friends. You are Horatio's father and to have raised him, you must be a special man yourself. I hope that you will come to see me as your daughter, and not just as your son's wife.

I hope that we might be able to comfort each other while he is gone and perhaps share any news we might receive of him when he is away.

He is so wonderful to me, kind and gentle. He must have learned that from you.

I am so very glad that you will be able to see our marriage. It will mean so much to both Horatio and me to have you here with us.

With affection,

Mavis Pellew

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

She sanded and blotted the paper. Well, at least she hoped that the Doctor would attend. Mama had sent the carriage, after all. She knew that she probably should have told Horatio that his father had been sent for, but the very few times that she had mentioned him, Horatio had frozen her so completely that she had changed the subject.

Well, she would leave the letter on his pillow and if he didn't come to the wedding, she would rewrite it and sent it to him in Kent. She wanted to get to know the man.

She began the next letter, to be placed in Horatio's kit when he left so that he would find it at sea. She would write several letters to him, she had decided, so that they would be there when he unpacked on the ship.

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My dearest Horatio,

Soon my husband in name and not just in fact.

I wanted to tell you my thoughts now, so soon before our marriage but all I can think to write is that I love you.

I love your smile when I've surprised you by kissing you awake and I love the way your hair curls in your queue.

I love that you are taller than I am and so strong.

I love that your eyes are so beautiful.

I love your hands, so much more graceful than my own.

I love to watch you when you're asleep and you're peaceful and relaxed.

I love that you won't let me win at chess when we play, but that you make me work to beat you and then you don't mind when I have.

I love to find that you are looking at me when you think I don't know.

I love to look at you when you're unaware.

I love how you look in your uniform.

I love how you look out of your uniform.

I love that your voice is calm and that you never have need to raise it.

I love your kindness and that you are gentle and I love that your men love you as they do.

I love that you try to protect me from fearing for your safety.

I love that you fear for mine.

I love that my parents wish you for their son.

I love that we will have children together.

I love holding you in my arms all night.

I love that you love me.

Dearest Horatio. I promise that you will never have cause to regret marrying me.

I do love you so.

Your Mavis

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She sealed this one tightly. It seemed too precious to chance someone else reading it.

She moved on to the next.

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Dearest Mama and Papa,

I wish to tell you how very precious you both are to me. Your acceptance of Horatio and me has been such a joy to me that I fear that I lack the words to truly tell you how much it does mean.

I know that you both think that I am too young to be marrying and that you both wish that we would wait. I know this and so your letting us go ahead is so important. I know with all my heart that Horatio and I will be so terribly happy together.

I do love him so very much.

When I first met him back on Gibraltar I knew that he would become important in my life and I'm glad that when I told you this, Mama, you never thought to laugh at me. I know that you thought it was just a child's crush.

I know that I am young, but my feelings for him have never been just a crush or a passing fancy. I think that I've been spending the last five years growing up so that we can be together.

I'm so happy that you both also love him. He is such a special man.

When I found out that he had been taken prisoner, I didn't believe that I could bear that pain, not knowing if he were dead or alive or if he'd ever be freed. I don't know what I would have done if he had not been released safely.

I know that he will go back into danger when he goes back aboard Renown. He tries to tell me that it is nothing and that he will return in a few months safe and sound.

I fear for him leaving on that ship where he may come to harm, but I trust that he will be well. I must believe this

I am so frightened, but I have to believe that he will be well.

He is so strong, how could he come to harm? He will return to me safely. I know that he will.

You have both been so good about letting us have this little time together. I love you both even more for that.

Your loving daughter,

Mavis

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By the time that Horatio had gotten back to the Pellew home, it was close to teatime. Going upstairs to have a quick wash, opening Mavis' door he saw that she seemed to be taking a nap stretched out on the bed.

As he sat on the edge of the mattress, the movement woke her. She turned her face towards him as her eyes opened and gave him a gentle sleepy smile. He put his hand on her cheek.

"Still tired? You could go back to sleep."

"No, I'm awake now." Her arms came up to his arms, pulling him down to her. She started kissing him, he was returning her kisses and they were going too far too fast. Her hands were inside his shirt, stroking his skin and he was quickly becoming aroused.

"Mavis, no, not now. The door is open and your parents are around here somewhere. It's almost time to eat."

She stopped without releasing him, holding him tightly. "We have so little time." It was said against his neck.

"I know." His arms tightened around her as she lay under him.

They began kissing again. Saying nothing and without warning he suddenly got up, crossed over to the door, closing and latching it.

He returned to the bed and Mavis.

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

"Should I call Mavis for tea, Edward? She's just up in her room."

He looked spooned some sugar into his tea. "No, I'd leave her. I'm sure that she knows what time it is."

"Horatio's not here, either."

"He came in about half an hour ago. I heard him go upstairs."

"Oh." She buttered her scone.

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

About an hour later Horatio found Sir Edward in his study reading some dispatches.

"Sir, I was wondering if you might know where Mr. Bracegirdle could be found?"

He looked up and peered over his glasses at the young man. "He's usually to be found staying with his brother just outside of Portsmouth, why do you ask?"

"Well, since Archie seems to still be with his family in London I fear that he won't receive word of the wedding in time to be my supporter. I was hoping that Joss would be willing to step in."

"I'm sure that he'd be honored to do so. Why don't you write him and we'll send it off straight away. Use the desk here, if you'd like."

Horatio sat down and began to write as Edward went on with his reading. After a few minutes he spoke up.

"Horatio, have you given any thoughts to what you will do about providing for Mavis after the wedding? I assumed that she would continue to live here, of course. After all, there's no reason for her not to. Plenty of room and she and Sophie will keep each other company. But still, you'll want to do something for her, I would think."

He was looking at the Commodore. "Yes, I'd been thinking about that. I agree that her staying here is the most reasonable place under the circumstances. I thought that I'd arrange with the paymaster to give her two thirds of my pay."

"Well, leave yourself enough for your own needs. You'll have food to pay for on the ship and the occasional new shirt or tot of rum ashore."

He was smiling. "I'll be fine, with any luck we might find some prizes and I may make some money at whist…the new officers seem to be a likely lot to me."

Although he privately believed that Horatio was leaving himself quite short, he decided to put a good face on it. "If anyone can, it's you."

They were both working in companionable silence when they heard a carriage pull up in front of the house. They heard the sound of the front door opening and Preston saying that he would see if they were in. Opening the study door, he politely informed them both that Doctor Hornblower had arrived and was in the front hallway, should he be shown in?

Horatio had the look of a man who had just taken a fist to the stomach, pale and slightly nauseous.

He practically hissed to Sir Edward, "My father is here? How in the name of God did he learn about this?"

Edward whispered back, as the door was still open. "Sophie sent for him, obviously. He had to know, he's your father. Now behave and act like an officer and a gentleman." He turned to Preston. "Please show him in and tell Cook that there will be one more for dinner. Also, would you please inform Lady Sophie that the Doctor is here?"

An older man of perhaps sixty-five, tall and thin entered the room behind Preston, staring at his son the moment his eyes found him. Horatio spoke first. He was polite but completely detached, as though introducing a stranger.

"Father, how good to see you again. May I present Commodore Sir Edward Pellew? He is Mavis' stepfather and was my commanding officer when I was posted on Indefatigable. Sir Edward, my father, Doctor Jacob Hornblower."

"Doctor Hornblower, how very good of you to make this long trip on such short notice. I couldn't be more pleased to meet you." He stepped forward, taking the Doctor's hand and gesturing him to one of the chairs by the fireplace. "You must be cold after that carriage ride in this weather, could I get you a brandy, sir?"

"Yes, thank you, that would be appreciated." He turned his attention back to his son. "You look well, Horatio. Too thin, but healthy. The navy must suit you."

"It suits me well enough, Father."

"Is this wedding as sudden as it seems to be? Forgive me, Commodore, but I hadn't heard from my son that he even had a sweetheart, let alone that he was planning to marry." Horatio offered nothing by way of response. Finally Edward stepped into the fray.

"They've known each other about five years, sir. They first met when we had put into Gibraltar and have remained in contact ever since."

Jacob nodded without saying anything. The silence was becoming awkward.

Suddenly Sophie opened the door, "Doctor Hornblower! How very wonderful you are to come all this way!" He rose to greet her and she immediately kissed his cheek. " I've so been looking forward to meeting you and Mavis has spoken of almost nothing else for days. Horatio---why didn't you tell us that you and your father are the spitting images of each other? I'd have known you as his father anywhere, Sir."

Forcing a small smile, Horatio said, "If you'll excuse me for a minute, I'll see what's keeping Mavis." Before anyone could object, he was out the door.

As he left the three older people alone together, Jacob commented, "My son doesn't seen particularly happy to see me. Perhaps it would be better if I were to offer my good wishes and then return home. I've no desire to ruin his wedding day for him."

"Absolutely not, I won't hear of it Doctor. He's just surprised, is all. There is quite a lot going on here at the moment and I fear that your son may be stretched to his limit. We'll have him calmed down before you know it. And if we don't, Mavis certainly will."

His smile was grateful. "You're very kind, madam. I'm afraid that Horatio and I are not-close. I fear that we are almost strangers to one another."

"He's a wonderful young man, you've every right to be proud of him, sir."

"Thank you, Commodore, that's kind of you to say." The old man seemed resigned in his relationship with his son. He wore his sadness about him like a well-worn coat.

"Please, call me Edward … Horatio is one of the finest officers I've had the privilege of working with in all my years in the Navy. I don't say this lightly. He'll go far, I've no doubt of that. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he were to pass me by, in time."

The piercing dark brown eyes, which he shared with his son, appraised Edward. "He's that good? He always was bright, of course, but I never thought the military would really suit him. I'm pleased to hear that he's doing well. I feared that sending him to Keane would prove to be a mistake."

"Justinian had...problems. Fortunately, most of the men who were aboard her are fine now."

Jacob seemed thoughtful. "It seems that you know my son better than I do, sir…no, please, don't protest. I may be old, but I'm neither blind nor stupid. I would like to know him better through you, if that might be possible."

Sophie joined in, "Doctor, Horatio is a kind and gentle young man. He and my daughter are deeply in love and will, I've no doubt, have a happy life together. My husband can tell you about the young officer he knows from his ship, but I can tell you about the young man who I gladly give my daughter's keeping to."

Jacob seemed wistful and sad. "When Louisa-Horatio's mother -- died I felt that my life also ended. I couldn't face raising the boy alone and so sent him away to school when he was six. At first it was my decision which kept him there, then after a few years he no longer wanted to come home." He looked from one of the Pellew's to the other. "And now it's as though I have no son. I know he feels that he has no father." He paused to take a sip of his brandy. " I would very much like to hear what both of you know of him. Perhaps later we might have time to talk at length."

Edward put his arm around Sophie's waist. "Of course. Perhaps we might have Horatio join us."

They heard laughter in the hallway and the two young people entered the study. Horatio's face assumed the expressionless mask the instant he saw his father, but Mavis practically leapt across the room to greet him. He saw that she was lovely with dark hair and eyes, much like Horatio. She seemed to be very young.

"Doctor Hornblower! I'm so very, very happy to meet you at last!" and her arms were around him in a hug. "You must be wonderful to have raised Horatio. I know that I'll love you as much as I do him."

Preston silently entered the room, moving over to Sophie and murmuring into her ear.

"I'm told that dinner is ready, shall we go in?"