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Much later that night, Mavis woke to Horatio muttering and thrashing. Frightened, she put her hand on his shoulder.

"Horatio?" She could barely make out his mumbled words. He seemed to be apologizing for something, pleading--promising to make something better. She moved her hand to his forehead, stroking while calling his name again. Unable to wake him, she finally placed her hand firmly on his chest, feeling the tension in the muscles, she calmly spoke into his ear.

"Horatio, wake up. You're having a dream, wake up. It's not real, it's just a nightmare."

His eyes flew open, unseeing. His breath was ragged and he was trembling violently.

"Horatio. It's just a bad dream. You're all right. I'm here. You're fine now."

His eyes moved to her face and slowly seemed to focus as he recognized who she was.

"Oh, God. Forgive me. I didn't mean to…"

"Sshhhh. it's alright. You just had a bad dream. You're fine. You're all right. It wasn't real."

His arms went around her in a death grip. His entire body had a sheen of sweat and he continued to shake badly. Mavis spoke soothingly into his ear, meaningless sounds which slowly began to calm him. His arms still clenched about her, he slowly began to come back to himself.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Mavis. It's been so long since I've had one of these. I thought that I was over them years ago. I'm sorry."

She began stroking his hair, holding him close, using her smaller body to shield his larger one. "Sshhhh, it doesn't matter. You're safe, you're fine. Nothing will harm you here." Startled, she felt tears leaking from his eyes. Gently she wiped them away with her fingers, stroking his face, his cheeks, and his forehead. "Tell me. What was it? Please tell me."

He pressed his head against her, as a child with a skinned knee presses against its mother for comfort, his arms still around her.

"It was my mother's death. I relive it, just as it happened. I hear her in the next room, asking my father to allow her to see me. I was carried in to her and placed on the bed next to her. She held me, kissed my forehead and told me that she loved me. She felt so hot. I remember that. It was the fever. But she seemed like she was burning. I remember that. The heat seemed to radiate from her. And her arms were around me, but she had no strength. I was afraid to hurt her. She seemed so weak, fragile. He hair was loose on the pillow. I remember that. She always wore it up, but it was long, like yours is, and all around her. I remember that it was damp. It was from the fever, I suppose. It was only down when she was in bed. She was so sick."

"Horatio, Sweeting, sshhhh. You're upset, love, it was just a dream." He was lost in his own memories, going on with his nightmare.

"No it wasn't. Don't you understand? I relive it. When she died. I was on her bed for a short while, just minutes and she was embracing me, then she began to cry and my father carried me back to my own bed. I was crying that I wanted to stay with her, I hit him and I think that I was kicking, but he was so much larger than I was and so much stronger. There was nothing that I could do. He put me in the bed and told me to stay there. He left and closed the door. I heard him go back to her and then, just a few minutes later, she died and then he was crying. I heard him. I had never heard an adult cry before, so I crawled out of bed and down the hall to their room. He was kneeling on the floor next to her and holding her hand and crying and she was dead."

Mavis continued to hold him as he went on and on. Stroking his head as he pressed against her.

"I wasn't allowed to go to the funeral. I guess that they thought me too young and I was still sick anyway. About two weeks later, I was better then, up and about the house. My father told me that he had decided that I would go to another school, one that would be good for me. I left the next day. It was fifty miles away from our village. I only saw my father on school holidays after that and after the first few years I realized that I was underfoot when I went home, so I stopped going. I just stayed at school. At first the headmaster didn't know that I was still there, but when he found out he would bring me food and give me books to read. I was the only one who stayed during the school breaks."

"How old were you when all this happened?"

"I was six when she died. I think I must have been nine or ten when I stopped going home."

"But didn't your father go to get you?"

"No, he would have someone fetch me-he was busy with his patients. One day I refused to get in the carriage, so they left me there."

Finally, Horatio seemed to have talked himself out, resting quietly curled against her. Moving up further against her, his hand gently turned her face down to his. Kissing her gently, just pressing his lips to hers, he caressed her cheek. Again, again he pressed his mouth to her skin, on her mouth, her cheek, her neck and shoulders. Gently, almost as a parent would kiss a young child for comfort. He both took and gave calmness to her. He moved his body up so that they were lying evenly together, pressed skin to skin from toes to knees to thighs, groins and hips, bellies and torso, shoulders in contact, arms wrapped around each other, kissing tenderly.

"I'll never hurt you, Horatio, I promise that I'll never cause you harm."

"I know that. But I'll hurt you. I don't want to, but I will."

He had pulled back to look at her as he said this last. Not answering him, she returned his look and felt his fear.

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That morning at breakfast, despite the bustle of the wedding preparations, the family and their guests were a small island of relative calm.

Sir Edward was, as was his custom, reading the morning paper, Lady Sophie was a gracious hostess to her guests while quietly answering the numerous questions Preston would silently whisper in her ear. Doctor Hornblower was maintaining a pleasant stream of small talk about the locals in his village and Mavis and Horatio were subdued, causing Sophie to wonder if something was wrong between them.

About half way through the meal, the Captain remembered the note that had arrived the night before.

"Horatio, this came for you after you had retired."

Opening it and quickly scanning the contents, Horatio said to the table's approval, "Mr. Bracegirdle has agreed to serve as my supporter tomorrow."

"Good, so things are falling into place. Mavis, are you sure that your new gown is the one you wish to wear? It's lovely, of course, but I fear that everyone will remember it from last week."

"I suppose that some will, but we hardly have the time to have anything new made up. It will be fine, Mama."

"I saw something at Mrs. Whiting's shop last week which might suit you, one of her samples. It looked to be almost exactly the size for you. I've asked her to bring it around this morning, if you don't like it, you needn't have it."

Mavis didn't seem at all interested, but attempted good manners. "Yes, Mama, thank you. I'm sure that it will be lovely."

"And, Horatio, when you're in town today, please get yourself a new shirt if you would. I fear that the cuffs on the ones you own are quite beyond salvage. I'll have them replaced for you before you leave, but I'd rather you found yourself a decent garment to be married in."

Horatio, as uninterested in his garments as his intended, smiled in politeness and nodded his acquiescence. He had to pick up the ring today, and getting out of the house would be a welcome respite from the arrangements that were starting to build to a peak

"Horatio, if you have a few minutes before you're off to town, I'd appreciate you joining me in the study when you're done eating".

"Yes, of course, Sir Edward. I'm done now, if you'd like."

His father's eyes fixed on him, gratefully, he made his escape.

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"You look like the very Devil, man. Not having second thought at this late date, are you? Or is Mavis keeping you up till all hours?"

Blushing a bit, "No sir, not at all. I fear that I slept badly. I'm fine. You wished to speak with me?"

They two men sat in the two chairs before the fireplace, now burning with a low fire. The captain took a moment to marshal his thoughts.

"Horatio, I truly have no wish to intrude into your own family, but your father is making an effort at rapprochement and as far as I can see, you've rejected him at every turn since he's arrived."

Horatio was silent, obviously thinking about the man who had, nominally at least, raised him. He took several breaths, seemingly discarding more than one attempt at response. Finally he spoke.

"Mavis wants me to speak with him also. I gather that Lady Sophie would like if I did so, too." Another pause. " I simply can't. I have no idea what to say to the man." He looked as though he expected Pellew to upbraid him, but no rebuke came.

"He's your father, whatever problems may exist between you, that fact remains."

"He sired me, he's no father to me." This was out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"Could you not see him as an old man who is lonely, then?"

"See him as an object of pity?" His expression was bitter. "Any loneliness his lives with is of his own creation." He saw the grim look on Edward's face. "I'll be civil to him for the sake of everyone in the house and the occasion, but I have no desire for more. Perhaps if he had …" He stopped, shaking his head.

"If he had what?"

Horatio had withdrawn into himself again. "Forgive me. I fear that I simply have no desire to have a close relationship with the man. Whatever his own desires in the matter are, my own are that things remain as they are."

Pellew looked as though he were about to say something further, but instead remained silent. There were boundaries that he wouldn't cross.

"If you'll excuse me, sir, I have several errands in town." Rising and nodding to the captain, he turned and walked out. Pellew heard the front door open and close not three minutes later and saw Hornblower walking past the front windows, headed in the direction of the shops.

Several minutes later Sophie found her husband still sitting in the same chair.

"Did you make any headway with him?"

"Not so much as an inch. He is nothing if not stubborn."

She sat down in the chair that Horatio had just vacated. "I spoke with Jacob last night after you were asleep. The poor man. He told me that he was down here looking for a book to read, but I'm sure that he simply didn't want to see Mavis' closed door and know that Horatio was in there with her."

Edward seemed surprised. "You think that he had moral reservations about them being together?"

Sophie laughed aloud at that. "Oh, really, Edward! I'd very much doubt that he cares about that side of things. He seems to be a practical man, for Heaven's sake! I think that he was…I don't know…jealous, I suppose. They're right next door to him and those walls aren't ten feet thick."

Edward raised an eyebrow at this thought. "Jealous of what, then? Their being together?"

"Not that. I think he's sad that Horatio has found someone and will now most likely never really need his father again. It's almost as though it closes a door that Jacob hoped Horatio would still, perhaps, be willing to go through."

"I hadn't thought of it like that." He stood up, gathering some more dispatches that had arrived that morning and needed his attention. " Have you managed to learn what the problem was this morning with the lovebirds? I don't think they said three words all during breakfast."

"Mavis told me that Horatio had the most frightful nightmare. I gather it woke her and then they were talking for quite a long time afterwards. I suspect that they were simply tired."

"A nightmare? That doesn't sound like him."

Sophie made a sympatric face. "My mother used to say that a dream tells you more about yourself than you might like to hear. Perhaps Horatio should listen to himself."

"Edward nodded in agreement. "How is Mavis taking all of this? Is she all right?"

"Mavis is over the moon. She knows that tomorrow she'll marry the young man she's been in love with since she was a child and that he loves her in return. She told me this morning that she wants to become pregnant before he leaves."

"Well, there's no guarantee for that. They've only been…well…for a week or so."

"Aren't you the one who said that once is all that it takes in theory? You know that she wants this."

"You'd mentioned that. I can hardly see how she's going to avoid it at the rate they're going."

"No wonder poor Jacob couldn't sleep." They both began laughing.

"Sophie! You quite shock me."

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Mavis was in Horatio's room looking over some of his clothing with an eye to preparing his sea chest when Jacob walked in. She turned, startled.

"Forgive me, my dear. I didn't mean to frighten you. I was merely wishing to thank you for your lovely note the other day. I was touched that you would extend me such a kindness."

She smiled, slightly embarrassed by his gratitude.

"I know that there is some unpleasantness between you and Horatio, but I do hope that we will be friends. I would like that very much."

"As would I." He stood for a moment, as awkward as his son could be in an unfamiliar situation. "I'm so very glad that he has found you, my dear. You both seem to be well suited to one another. I've not seen him so happy in many years. " He paused as he considered his next phrase. "I know that my son has no warm feelings towards me, but I hope, with all my heart, that the time will come when that changes. Though he would scoff, I do love him deeply."

"Actually, I think that he would believe you, I just don't know that…" She faltered.

"That he would care? No, I fear that you are right about that."

"Doctor Hornblower, Horatio is such a good and gentle man, I know that he will come about in his stance towards you. It will take some time, but I believe that he also wants this, though he won't yet admit this."

He smiled at her indulgently, as an older man to a child who thinks that wishing can make something so. "Well, perhaps, my dear."

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Horatio had just about finished with his errands, having picked up the ring and a new shirt, when he heard the familiar voice. "Horatio?"

Turning he saw Lieutenant Bracegirdle approaching him from a neighboring shop.

The two men came together with a slap on the younger man's shoulders. "I thought that was you, lad. Holding up till tomorrow, are you?"

Smiling, "Yes, fine. Just finishing up some last minute things."

"And getting away from the center of the storm, perhaps?"

They laughed as Joss suggested, "So, have you had your luncheon yet? What? Up to your old tricks again, are you…it's well past four bells in the midday watch. Well then, come along. I'm not sure, but I think that my main task as your supporter is to see that you stay out of the line of fire the day before…and get enough to eat so that you'll have the strength to do your duty on the morrow."

They headed into a nearby pub known for it's good and inexpensive fare. Finding an empty table they gave their orders for beef stew and tankards of ale.

As they waited for their food Horatio turned to the older man. "I would truly like to thank you for standing with me at such sort notice. It's good of you to do so, Joss."

"I'm honored that you would think of me. I take it that Archie is not available?"

Horatio looked embarrassed. "Well, I think that he went up to London to see his family and…"

"And the wedding is short notice and he won't be back in time? No need to feel strange about it, lad. I know that you two are close friends. I'm sorry for you that he won't be there next to you…he'll be sorry, too, when he hears about what he's missing."

The plates of stew arrived with slices of bread and their ale.

"Your young lady is charming, Horatio. You're a lucky man to have her. And I'm sure that the Commodore is happy with the match as well."

Horatio looked up sharply, judging the intent of the remark. It seemed harmless. "Sir Edward and Lady Sophie have been quite good to me over the years. And Mavis has been like a sister to me since she was a child."

Joss burst out laughing. "I certainly hope that you've changed your perceptions of the lass or tomorrow night will be an awkward affair!"

Turning as red as he ever had, the young man tried to extradite himself from the hole he'd put himself in. Just as he was about to speak another voice cut in between the two friends.

"Ah. Mr. Hornblower and, I believe Mr. Bracegriddle. I glanced through the window as I passed by and received the pleasant surprise of seeing the both of you sitting here."

Both Lieutenants' stood for the superior rank.

"This is Lieutenant Bracegirdle, sir."

"Bracegirdle, yes, of course. Please do forgive me, sir."

Joss nodded at Captain Sawyer who had by now seated himself at their table. "Well, sit back down. You're not going eat your dinner standing are you? No, no, I haven't time to join you for a meal, thank you all the same, gentlemen."

"Might you at least join us in a tankard, Captain?"

"You're more than kind, Mr. Brace-girdle, but I fear that I must be away. I merely wanted to add good wishes to Mr. Hornblower here on his auspicious alliance with the good Commodore. And his lovely daughter, of course. I look forward to the celebration tomorrow, gentlemen. I trust that I'll see you both there."

"Yes, sir, you will."

"Good. Very good. Well, I'm sure that you both have much to do with time growing so short. Again, my heartiest congratulations, Lieutenant. I'll take my leave now, if you don't mind. Until tomorrow."

After Sawyer had walked away, Joss turned back to Horatio. "That was odd, didn't you think?"

"Not particularly for him, no."

Refraining from saying anything else, Bracey simply looked at Horatio in alarm.

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"Yes, darling. That gown is simply perfect and fits as though made for you. You must have it. I insist."

Sophie and Mavis were up in the master bedroom with the dressmaker trying on some garments she had brought over to look at.

"But, Mama, it's so expensive. Papa will be furious when he sees the cost of this on top of the reception and the party just two weeks ago and the new draperies and all."

"Sweeting, this will be your wedding dress, so it should be something absolutely perfect and special and wonderful. You will wear it again for dances and dinners for quite a while."

"It is beautiful…"

"And you'll want to enchant Horatio tomorrow evening, won't you?"

Mavis smiled with a glow as though she were lit from within.

"Well, then. It's settled. Mrs. Whiting, we'll take this gown and that lovely sapphire night dress and wrapper, also."

"Mama, no!"

"Hush, darling, it's my present to you. It's almost Navy blue, isn't it? I'm sure that Horatio will like the color, don't you think? Look at this lace around the neck and down the front. It looks like whitecaps on waves, doesn't it? And the pattern in the silk…just like wind rippling over the water." She turned to the woman standing just off to the side. "Mrs. Whiting, just leave these things here and have the bill sent to us. You were so thoughtful to bring these over to us to save us the time today. You're always so kind, I can't thank you enough."

"Oh, Mrs. Pellew, it's my pleasure, you know that. Miss Pellew here will be the prettiest bride in Portsmouth, I'll stake my life on it. You just be sure to be good to your young man now, and you'll both be just fine."

"Thank you, Mrs. Whiting, I know that we'll be terribly happy. He's so marvelous."

The dressmaker smiled as she made her exit…young and in love. Was there anything better?

Mavis threw her arms around Sophie, hugging her tightly. "Thank you, Mama. He is brilliant, isn't he? And you and Papa love him, too. That makes it even more perfect."

"Yes, he's quite an exceptional young man."

Mavis was as happy as Sophie had ever seen her. She looked shyly at her mother.

"I think that I'm going to have a baby. I'm sure of it."

Not really surprised, Sophie said, "But darling, it's too soon to know. You'll have to wait at least a month or two to be sure."

Mavis nodded. "But I'm sure. I can just tell. I can feel it. I knew the minute that it happened. We had…well, you know…before, but it was different that time. I just knew."

Sophie did, indeed know what she meant. She had felt the same way when she had conceived Mavis.

"Have you told Horatio?"

"No. He's asked me to promise to let him know as soon as I'm sure. I wanted to be really positive before I told him. I don't want him disappointed in case I'm wrong."

"That sounds prudent, dearest."

Mavis threw her arms around Sophie once more, dancing her about the room. "But I am sure, Mama, I am."