"Consequences" by Jestana - Horatio Hornblower
Title: Consequences
Author: jestana
Characters: Edward Pellew and Major "My Lord" Edrington
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing except the story itself. The characters belong to CS Forester and whoever else owns the rights to the Hornblower franchise
Challenge Prompt: O Captain, My Captain
Word Count: 614
Summary: Major "My Lord" Edrington visits Captain Pellew after they return from France.
Beta: Not for this one.
Consequences
A knock on the door startled Captain Sir Edward Pellew from his contemplation of the view from his window. "Come!"
"The Earl of Edrington is here to see you, Sir," his manservant announced when he opened the door. "Shall I show him up?"
Edward blinked, surprised. He'd understood that Alexander would be busy touring his family's holdings for several weeks. Recovering his composure, the captain addressed his manservant. "Yes, thank you, Davies. Do show him up."
"Yes, Sir." Bowing slightly, the other man withdrew from the room.
Shaking his head slightly, Pellew moved to the liquor cabinet, pouring two glasses of brandy. At another knock on the door, Edward again called, "Come!"
This time, Davies was followed by a tall, leanly-muscled man about sixteen years younger than the captain, wearing the distinctive red coat of the Army, pale blond hair pulled back into a queue. "The Earl of Edrington, Sir."
"Thank you, Davies, that will be all for now," Pellew dismissed his servant, who bowed and withdrew once more. Now alone with his guest, Edward addressed the younger man. "I thought you had business to take care of, Alex?"
The Earl accepted the glass the captain offered him, taking a generous swallow. "I did, but it didn't take as much time as I thought it would."
"That's good news," Edward observed with a rueful smile. "I wish I could say the same."
Brandy-brown eyes flashed with anger for only a moment behind Alexander's aristocratic mask. "Surely the Admiralty isn't holding you responsible for the failure of Muzillac? You're the only reason there were any survivors at all."
"Yes, but I disobeyed my orders to come to your aid, Alex." The captain's voice was quiet and resigned, accepting the Admiralty's need to blame someone else for their mistakes.
A gloved hand reached up to clasp the captain's shoulder. "You won't be punished severely for this. You're too good a captain and officer for them to simply throw you aside."
"I know." Pellew nodded, covering Edrington's hand with his, grateful for his faith in him and his decisions. "It's mostly formality at this point. I will most likely be put on blockade duty for some months."
Alexander squeezed gently and released Edward's shoulder. "They won't leave you there for long. They need fighting captains."
"Yes, I will endure it because I know it won't be forever." Pellew sighed and caught Edrington's hand, twining their fingers together.
The Earl nodded and brought the captain's hand up to kiss the back. "Exactly. In the meantime, we can make the best of your situation."
"How?" Edward raised an eyebrow, suspecting the answer he would receive.
It didn't come, however. Instead, Alexander asked, "Have you been to Drury Lane lately?"
"I'm afraid I haven't been since I went with my wife to see Romeo and Juliet," Pellew admitted this a little guiltily.
Edrington smirked slyly. "It just so happens that I have two tickets for the School for Scandal tonight. The Incomparable Kitty Cobham will be performing. It's always a pleasure to watch her perform."
"I suppose I can indulge," Edward mused, unwilling to deny the anticipation in the Earl's eyes. For all the maturity his position in the Army and title had brought to the younger man, there were still some 'vices' from his younger days that he'd maintained. Theatre was one of them.
A pleased smile appeared on Alexander's face and he squeezed the captain's hand warmly. "You won't regret it, I promise."
"That remains to be seen," Pellew remarked, drawing Edrington close for a soft kiss. "You're a good friend to me, Alex."
The Earl returned the kiss with pleasure. "Just as you were to me, Edward."
End
Post-Fic note: Edrington's last comment is a reference to fic I wrote called Reflections.
Author: jestana
Characters: Edward Pellew and Major "My Lord" Edrington
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing except the story itself. The characters belong to CS Forester and whoever else owns the rights to the Hornblower franchise
Challenge Prompt: O Captain, My Captain
Word Count: 614
Summary: Major "My Lord" Edrington visits Captain Pellew after they return from France.
Beta: Not for this one.
Consequences
A knock on the door startled Captain Sir Edward Pellew from his contemplation of the view from his window. "Come!"
"The Earl of Edrington is here to see you, Sir," his manservant announced when he opened the door. "Shall I show him up?"
Edward blinked, surprised. He'd understood that Alexander would be busy touring his family's holdings for several weeks. Recovering his composure, the captain addressed his manservant. "Yes, thank you, Davies. Do show him up."
"Yes, Sir." Bowing slightly, the other man withdrew from the room.
Shaking his head slightly, Pellew moved to the liquor cabinet, pouring two glasses of brandy. At another knock on the door, Edward again called, "Come!"
This time, Davies was followed by a tall, leanly-muscled man about sixteen years younger than the captain, wearing the distinctive red coat of the Army, pale blond hair pulled back into a queue. "The Earl of Edrington, Sir."
"Thank you, Davies, that will be all for now," Pellew dismissed his servant, who bowed and withdrew once more. Now alone with his guest, Edward addressed the younger man. "I thought you had business to take care of, Alex?"
The Earl accepted the glass the captain offered him, taking a generous swallow. "I did, but it didn't take as much time as I thought it would."
"That's good news," Edward observed with a rueful smile. "I wish I could say the same."
Brandy-brown eyes flashed with anger for only a moment behind Alexander's aristocratic mask. "Surely the Admiralty isn't holding you responsible for the failure of Muzillac? You're the only reason there were any survivors at all."
"Yes, but I disobeyed my orders to come to your aid, Alex." The captain's voice was quiet and resigned, accepting the Admiralty's need to blame someone else for their mistakes.
A gloved hand reached up to clasp the captain's shoulder. "You won't be punished severely for this. You're too good a captain and officer for them to simply throw you aside."
"I know." Pellew nodded, covering Edrington's hand with his, grateful for his faith in him and his decisions. "It's mostly formality at this point. I will most likely be put on blockade duty for some months."
Alexander squeezed gently and released Edward's shoulder. "They won't leave you there for long. They need fighting captains."
"Yes, I will endure it because I know it won't be forever." Pellew sighed and caught Edrington's hand, twining their fingers together.
The Earl nodded and brought the captain's hand up to kiss the back. "Exactly. In the meantime, we can make the best of your situation."
"How?" Edward raised an eyebrow, suspecting the answer he would receive.
It didn't come, however. Instead, Alexander asked, "Have you been to Drury Lane lately?"
"I'm afraid I haven't been since I went with my wife to see Romeo and Juliet," Pellew admitted this a little guiltily.
Edrington smirked slyly. "It just so happens that I have two tickets for the School for Scandal tonight. The Incomparable Kitty Cobham will be performing. It's always a pleasure to watch her perform."
"I suppose I can indulge," Edward mused, unwilling to deny the anticipation in the Earl's eyes. For all the maturity his position in the Army and title had brought to the younger man, there were still some 'vices' from his younger days that he'd maintained. Theatre was one of them.
A pleased smile appeared on Alexander's face and he squeezed the captain's hand warmly. "You won't regret it, I promise."
"That remains to be seen," Pellew remarked, drawing Edrington close for a soft kiss. "You're a good friend to me, Alex."
The Earl returned the kiss with pleasure. "Just as you were to me, Edward."
End
Post-Fic note: Edrington's last comment is a reference to fic I wrote called Reflections.