Windfalls, Chapter Fourteen
The promised second chapter.
TITLE: Windfalls, Ch. 14
RATING: PG-13 for discussion of certain Articles.
WORD COUNT: 1,217
PAIRING, IF ANY: Horatio Hornblower/Captain Amelia
SPOILER WARNING: Brief references to Ship of the Line.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing here.
SUMMARY/NOTES: Hornblower gets a bit of advice.
Hornblower knew better than to carry on over the separation. It was unbecoming of an officer and presumed a little too much about their courtship. He did, however, put Amelia’s chest on his desk and glance at it from time to time when he was working. Otherwise, life on board continued as it always had.
He hadn’t realized just how far chasing after privateers had taken him until the lookout spotted the flotilla nearly a month after departing the Legacy. Hornblower’s crew cheered at the sight of the Admiral’s flag, and Hornblower himself smiled a little. Seeing the pride of Britain scattered across the water was quite the inspiring sight. “Raise the flags, Mr. Savage,” he said after the cheers subsided, “Tell the Admiral that we’re rejoining the fleet.”
Savage called out a minute later. “Admiral requesting you to come aboard, sir.”
Hornblower nodded; they’d be wanting a report. “I’ll be along presently.”
He sat in his boat, looking up at the approaching ship (he couldn’t be sure, but he thought it was a different ship-Admiral Leighton must have taken a new ship) and trying to get his thoughts in order. No doubt he would be asked about how he’d liked working with Captain Drake. The trick would be making his report sound positive without being too enthusiastic. As Amelia said, the Admirals might not look too kindly on a romance between two of their captains, despite the extenuating circumstances.
The pipes twittered as he climbed aboard, and he nodded to the crewmen who looked at him. “The Admiral’s waiting for you,” Captain Miras said, once introductions had been made, “Just inside there.” Hornblower took off his hat and respectfully knocked on the door.
“Come in, Mr. Hornblower.” said a familiar voice that most certainly did not belong to Admiral Leighton. Hornblower couldn’t believe his ears, but as he pushed open the door, he found it was true; his former captain and greatest mentor, Admiral Pellew, was sitting at a desk and watching him enter. “Admiral Pellew, sir!” Hornblower said, saluting and inwardly kicking himself for the shock in his voice, “Have you replaced Admiral Leighton, sir?”
Pellew smiled indulgently. “Leighton was called away to business closer to home. I was asked to step in. Once I learned of your success in capturing the Vacarme, I decided it was time to recall you so I could have a full report of the details. If you would be so kind as to supply them…”
Hornblower straightened up a little, hands folded reflexively behind his back, and started his report. “I had had some success in chasing down French ships a few months ago, while I was still part of the flotilla. Admiral Leighton, seeing this, thought those talents would be best put to use if I was chasing down privateers. To that end, he sent me to the trade routes to assist Captain Drake.”
“Drake, you say?” Pellew interrupted, looking at Hornblower keenly, “Would this happen to be the infamous ‘Wildcat’ Drake?”
“Yes, sir,” Hornblower answered, trying to maintain his composure, “I trust that you already know the details.”
Pellew sat back in his chair. “I do indeed. Pray continue.”
Hornblower continued his report, focusing primarily on the battles and the prize money brought in than on his interactions with Captain Drake or her crew. When he had finished, Pellew steepled his fingers, nodding his satisfaction, and looked Hornblower over intently. Hornblower stood still, unsure what Pellew found so fascinating. Then, at last, Pellew said, “And how is the good Captain Drake? The usual indomitable spirit, I trust?”
“Yes, sir,” Hornblower said, feeling himself smile a little, “She has quite a bit of enthusiasm for her work. Have you worked with her before?”
“I have not had the pleasure. But I have heard of her exploits from others, and would like very much to meet her for myself one day. I admire those who will not let adversity get in their way, and she, so it seems, is particularly determined. I do hope I get the opportunity to meet her before this war ends; I wish to see her in her element.”
“She’s a fine captain, sir,” Hornblower said, his voice carefully neutral, “And she is very careful to obey all the orders given to her. She’s absolutely dedicated to the service.”
“Even at the expense of marriage?” Pellew said suddenly, “It sounds like a very lonely life for her if that is the case.”
Hornblower’s heart stopped for a moment. Keeping his face blank, he responded, “I believe so, sir. It’s not something that often comes up in the course of conversation, but she did mention her desire to follow the Articles of War to the letter.”
“And what, precisely, did she mean by that?” Pellew’s eyes were boring into Hornblower’s face, and Hornblower was finding it harder and harder to keep still. “Well, she stated quite clearly that the Navy will treat her as a man, and punish her as a man if she falls short. She takes no chances on that front, Admiral. And to that effect…”
Pellew interrupted him again, looking oddly amused. “Mr. Hornblower, I presume you read the Articles of War every Sunday?”
Now utterly baffled, but glad to be on a new topic of conversation, Hornblower nodded. “Yes sir, of course.”
“Can you tell me, then, exactly how Article Twenty-Nine reads?”
Hornblower closed his eyes and conjured up the words from his memory. “If any person in the fleet shall commit the unnatural and detestable sin of buggery and sodomy with man or beast, he shall be punished with death by the sentence of a court-martial.”
“Do you believe that Captain Drake reads the Articles every Sunday as well?”
“I’m sure she does, sir.”
“Then she should know that her worries are groundless. From what you know of her, Mr. Hornblower, does she seem like the type to commit sodomy?”
“No, sir!” Hornblower said, hoping he wasn’t blushing. Pellew nodded his satisfaction. “Then she is free to pursue a relationship if she so chooses. She has a natural loophole to counteract the Article, and the Admiralty would not be so cruel as to punish her for that. Perhaps, if it wouldn’t come across as too personal, you should write to Captain Drake and tell her as much. I would not want a member of the King’s Navy to ignore their life for the sake of the service. This war won’t last forever, after all.”
“Yes, sir,” Hornblower said, saluting and keeping his head low to hide the blush that had now almost certainly materialized, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good,” Pellew said with a slight smile, “You are dismissed. I’m having a dinner for all the captains tonight; I hope you’ll consider joining us.”
“I would be honored,” Hornblower answered, giving a little bow and moving towards the door, “Merely send up a signal flag, and I will be there.”
Hornblower spent the return to the Sutherland turning everything over in his head. As soon as he was safely aboard, he entered his cabin, pulled out paper and ink, and started to write.
My dear Captain Drake; I have returned to the flotilla safely. Upon arriving on board the Admiral’s ship to give my report, I made a startling discovery…
TITLE: Windfalls, Ch. 14
RATING: PG-13 for discussion of certain Articles.
WORD COUNT: 1,217
PAIRING, IF ANY: Horatio Hornblower/Captain Amelia
SPOILER WARNING: Brief references to Ship of the Line.
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing here.
SUMMARY/NOTES: Hornblower gets a bit of advice.
Hornblower knew better than to carry on over the separation. It was unbecoming of an officer and presumed a little too much about their courtship. He did, however, put Amelia’s chest on his desk and glance at it from time to time when he was working. Otherwise, life on board continued as it always had.
He hadn’t realized just how far chasing after privateers had taken him until the lookout spotted the flotilla nearly a month after departing the Legacy. Hornblower’s crew cheered at the sight of the Admiral’s flag, and Hornblower himself smiled a little. Seeing the pride of Britain scattered across the water was quite the inspiring sight. “Raise the flags, Mr. Savage,” he said after the cheers subsided, “Tell the Admiral that we’re rejoining the fleet.”
Savage called out a minute later. “Admiral requesting you to come aboard, sir.”
Hornblower nodded; they’d be wanting a report. “I’ll be along presently.”
He sat in his boat, looking up at the approaching ship (he couldn’t be sure, but he thought it was a different ship-Admiral Leighton must have taken a new ship) and trying to get his thoughts in order. No doubt he would be asked about how he’d liked working with Captain Drake. The trick would be making his report sound positive without being too enthusiastic. As Amelia said, the Admirals might not look too kindly on a romance between two of their captains, despite the extenuating circumstances.
The pipes twittered as he climbed aboard, and he nodded to the crewmen who looked at him. “The Admiral’s waiting for you,” Captain Miras said, once introductions had been made, “Just inside there.” Hornblower took off his hat and respectfully knocked on the door.
“Come in, Mr. Hornblower.” said a familiar voice that most certainly did not belong to Admiral Leighton. Hornblower couldn’t believe his ears, but as he pushed open the door, he found it was true; his former captain and greatest mentor, Admiral Pellew, was sitting at a desk and watching him enter. “Admiral Pellew, sir!” Hornblower said, saluting and inwardly kicking himself for the shock in his voice, “Have you replaced Admiral Leighton, sir?”
Pellew smiled indulgently. “Leighton was called away to business closer to home. I was asked to step in. Once I learned of your success in capturing the Vacarme, I decided it was time to recall you so I could have a full report of the details. If you would be so kind as to supply them…”
Hornblower straightened up a little, hands folded reflexively behind his back, and started his report. “I had had some success in chasing down French ships a few months ago, while I was still part of the flotilla. Admiral Leighton, seeing this, thought those talents would be best put to use if I was chasing down privateers. To that end, he sent me to the trade routes to assist Captain Drake.”
“Drake, you say?” Pellew interrupted, looking at Hornblower keenly, “Would this happen to be the infamous ‘Wildcat’ Drake?”
“Yes, sir,” Hornblower answered, trying to maintain his composure, “I trust that you already know the details.”
Pellew sat back in his chair. “I do indeed. Pray continue.”
Hornblower continued his report, focusing primarily on the battles and the prize money brought in than on his interactions with Captain Drake or her crew. When he had finished, Pellew steepled his fingers, nodding his satisfaction, and looked Hornblower over intently. Hornblower stood still, unsure what Pellew found so fascinating. Then, at last, Pellew said, “And how is the good Captain Drake? The usual indomitable spirit, I trust?”
“Yes, sir,” Hornblower said, feeling himself smile a little, “She has quite a bit of enthusiasm for her work. Have you worked with her before?”
“I have not had the pleasure. But I have heard of her exploits from others, and would like very much to meet her for myself one day. I admire those who will not let adversity get in their way, and she, so it seems, is particularly determined. I do hope I get the opportunity to meet her before this war ends; I wish to see her in her element.”
“She’s a fine captain, sir,” Hornblower said, his voice carefully neutral, “And she is very careful to obey all the orders given to her. She’s absolutely dedicated to the service.”
“Even at the expense of marriage?” Pellew said suddenly, “It sounds like a very lonely life for her if that is the case.”
Hornblower’s heart stopped for a moment. Keeping his face blank, he responded, “I believe so, sir. It’s not something that often comes up in the course of conversation, but she did mention her desire to follow the Articles of War to the letter.”
“And what, precisely, did she mean by that?” Pellew’s eyes were boring into Hornblower’s face, and Hornblower was finding it harder and harder to keep still. “Well, she stated quite clearly that the Navy will treat her as a man, and punish her as a man if she falls short. She takes no chances on that front, Admiral. And to that effect…”
Pellew interrupted him again, looking oddly amused. “Mr. Hornblower, I presume you read the Articles of War every Sunday?”
Now utterly baffled, but glad to be on a new topic of conversation, Hornblower nodded. “Yes sir, of course.”
“Can you tell me, then, exactly how Article Twenty-Nine reads?”
Hornblower closed his eyes and conjured up the words from his memory. “If any person in the fleet shall commit the unnatural and detestable sin of buggery and sodomy with man or beast, he shall be punished with death by the sentence of a court-martial.”
“Do you believe that Captain Drake reads the Articles every Sunday as well?”
“I’m sure she does, sir.”
“Then she should know that her worries are groundless. From what you know of her, Mr. Hornblower, does she seem like the type to commit sodomy?”
“No, sir!” Hornblower said, hoping he wasn’t blushing. Pellew nodded his satisfaction. “Then she is free to pursue a relationship if she so chooses. She has a natural loophole to counteract the Article, and the Admiralty would not be so cruel as to punish her for that. Perhaps, if it wouldn’t come across as too personal, you should write to Captain Drake and tell her as much. I would not want a member of the King’s Navy to ignore their life for the sake of the service. This war won’t last forever, after all.”
“Yes, sir,” Hornblower said, saluting and keeping his head low to hide the blush that had now almost certainly materialized, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Good,” Pellew said with a slight smile, “You are dismissed. I’m having a dinner for all the captains tonight; I hope you’ll consider joining us.”
“I would be honored,” Hornblower answered, giving a little bow and moving towards the door, “Merely send up a signal flag, and I will be there.”
Hornblower spent the return to the Sutherland turning everything over in his head. As soon as he was safely aboard, he entered his cabin, pulled out paper and ink, and started to write.
My dear Captain Drake; I have returned to the flotilla safely. Upon arriving on board the Admiral’s ship to give my report, I made a startling discovery…