Fic Post
Hornblower, rated G, nonsense.
William, despite his previous prejudices towards the evening, finds himself rather enjoying the glittering society ball Lady Kennedy had insisted he accept an invitation to. He is at considerable leisure thanks to Amiens and had decided to occupy himself with a trip to London to visit Hornblower and Kennedy; who are currently residing with Kennedy’s family.
William excuses himself from the ladies he is conversing with and makes his way to find Hornblower and Kennedy. They are located standing with their old acquaintance Edrington, who William had been introduced to at the start of the evening. Edrington looks coolly amused while Hornblower blushes furiously; Kennedy meanwhile is the picture of animation. Kennedy turns to William on his arrival and gestures across the room, “It’s her! Can you believe it?”
William looks across the room and does not fail to recognise the most famous woman in Britain, he looks around the room eagerly, “Is Nelson here then?”
“Oh never mind Nelson, who cares about him!” Hornblower looks physically pained at Kennedy’s words and hisses, “Archie!”.
Kennedy ignores him, “Isn’t she….scrumptious.” William would swear that Kennedy actually sighs the last word.
Hornblower repeats his admonition at that while William exchanges a look with Edrington, it is Edrington who answers, “Mr. Kennedy, I do believe you have managed to surprise me with your…new found tastes.”
“I do believe, my Lord , that we are gazing upon the only woman I would change my tastes for.”
Edrington snorts at that, “You wouldn’t have the first idea what to do with her, Kennedy.”
Kennedy grins in reply, “Perhaps, but I am certain she would know what to with me”. Before anyone can reply to that Kennedy has grabbed Hornblower by the elbow, “Shall we go and introduce ourselves to her?”
“No!” Hornblower looks horrified at the thought. His protest is ignored though as Kennedy drags him along in his wake.
William stands with Edrington as they watch Kennedy manage to push his way through the crowd while keeping a firm grip of the increasingly pale Hornblower. William turns to face Edrington, “ I don’t think I can look…” He has a sudden vision of Hornblower vomiting on the lady’s shoes.
Edrington merely raises an eyebrow, “No? And miss what promises to be the event of the season?” William concedes the point and when he turns he sees that Kennedy has reached Lady Hamilton’s side. He is leaning in so that she can hear him from over the din, Hornblower looks as if he would very much like cannon fire to come through the windows to provide a distraction.
Whatever Kennedy says, and William dreads to think, his words seem to amuse Lady Hamilton, she throws back her head and laughs. Edrington comments wryly, “How disappointing, I rather hoped we were going to be treated to a show.”
William must confess he had rather hoped the same thing, nothing as serious as pistols at dawn of course, a drink thrown in Kennedy’s face though would have provided an anecdote worth dining out on once he was back at sea.
Both he and Edrington are disappointed as Lady Hamilton offers Kennedy her arm, she then gestures for a very flustered Hornblower to take the other one before they promenade round the room.
William, despite his previous prejudices towards the evening, finds himself rather enjoying the glittering society ball Lady Kennedy had insisted he accept an invitation to. He is at considerable leisure thanks to Amiens and had decided to occupy himself with a trip to London to visit Hornblower and Kennedy; who are currently residing with Kennedy’s family.
William excuses himself from the ladies he is conversing with and makes his way to find Hornblower and Kennedy. They are located standing with their old acquaintance Edrington, who William had been introduced to at the start of the evening. Edrington looks coolly amused while Hornblower blushes furiously; Kennedy meanwhile is the picture of animation. Kennedy turns to William on his arrival and gestures across the room, “It’s her! Can you believe it?”
William looks across the room and does not fail to recognise the most famous woman in Britain, he looks around the room eagerly, “Is Nelson here then?”
“Oh never mind Nelson, who cares about him!” Hornblower looks physically pained at Kennedy’s words and hisses, “Archie!”.
Kennedy ignores him, “Isn’t she….scrumptious.” William would swear that Kennedy actually sighs the last word.
Hornblower repeats his admonition at that while William exchanges a look with Edrington, it is Edrington who answers, “Mr. Kennedy, I do believe you have managed to surprise me with your…new found tastes.”
“I do believe, my Lord , that we are gazing upon the only woman I would change my tastes for.”
Edrington snorts at that, “You wouldn’t have the first idea what to do with her, Kennedy.”
Kennedy grins in reply, “Perhaps, but I am certain she would know what to with me”. Before anyone can reply to that Kennedy has grabbed Hornblower by the elbow, “Shall we go and introduce ourselves to her?”
“No!” Hornblower looks horrified at the thought. His protest is ignored though as Kennedy drags him along in his wake.
William stands with Edrington as they watch Kennedy manage to push his way through the crowd while keeping a firm grip of the increasingly pale Hornblower. William turns to face Edrington, “ I don’t think I can look…” He has a sudden vision of Hornblower vomiting on the lady’s shoes.
Edrington merely raises an eyebrow, “No? And miss what promises to be the event of the season?” William concedes the point and when he turns he sees that Kennedy has reached Lady Hamilton’s side. He is leaning in so that she can hear him from over the din, Hornblower looks as if he would very much like cannon fire to come through the windows to provide a distraction.
Whatever Kennedy says, and William dreads to think, his words seem to amuse Lady Hamilton, she throws back her head and laughs. Edrington comments wryly, “How disappointing, I rather hoped we were going to be treated to a show.”
William must confess he had rather hoped the same thing, nothing as serious as pistols at dawn of course, a drink thrown in Kennedy’s face though would have provided an anecdote worth dining out on once he was back at sea.
Both he and Edrington are disappointed as Lady Hamilton offers Kennedy her arm, she then gestures for a very flustered Hornblower to take the other one before they promenade round the room.