Marina Kennedy glanced around the ship, taking in the poop and quarter decks, the guns and crew looking at her. Her brother smirked at her and poked her forwards towards the poop deck where the captain was waiting to receive her.
She looked a lot like her brother. They had the same sandy brown hair and facial structure. Her eyes were a brighter shade of blue than Archie's but they sparkled with the same sense of fun. She smiled warmly at Captain Hornblower and curtseyed with a flourish. Hornblower restrained a snort; her greeting reminded him forcefully of some of Kennedy's greetings to him when they were both midshipmen: over the top bows in fun with a cheeky smile. Kennedy snorted and elbowed Marina to make her stand up again.
She was a passenger, a guest, and a nurse. She wouldn't be allowed to be called Ship's Surgeon because she wasn't a man but that was essentially her role. She had the training and was a good physician. She was on board the Indefatigable to help keep the spirits of the men uplifted on their long voyage in pursuit of a French frigate bound to take the war into the pacific via Cape Horn and the Galapagos and preying on English whalers in that region.
Marina observed Hornblower and Lieutenant Bush carefully, having heard a great deal about them from her brother. "Hm." She said approvingly before lifting her doctors bag and asking if someone would show her the infirmary. Hornblower told Kennedy to take her down.
Once there she inspected it carefully as Styles and Mathews brought her trunk in and another pair of seamen brought a box of medical supplies in. Kennedy waited until the men had left before drawing her into a corner.
"Now, Marina, about your affliction…" he trailed off not wanting to offend her.
It was too late however. "Affliction! Archie, it's a gift, and I shall use it to help you. What if you're becalmed as is the unfortunate likelihood on this route? I can create a wind to pull us out of it."
"Yes but the others must never find out."
"I understand that. Chivalry doesn't cover suspicion does it?" she smirked as she pulled on her white apron.
"No, dearest, it doesn't." he watched her unpack the box of supplies, reams of bandages to be put into neat rows on a shelf, bottles likewise, books arranged neatly.
"Am I allowed to swim?"
"Only at night when I'm on watch. Any other time someone might see you. And you mustn't go out when it's raining without gloves and a hat or something like that."
"I know the drill, brother. Under no circumstances must I get wet, and if I do, I must either rush to safe cover or distract them and jump overboard. You did mention all this in your letter."
"That doesn't stop me worrying."
She paused and stroked his cheek tenderly. "You worry about everything, but I bet your friends don't know that you do. This cheek hasn't been properly shaved in weeks. Come back to me later and I'll shave it properly." she ordered as a mother hen would her brood.
"May I remind you that I am older than you? By three years. You don't need to mother me."
"But that's one of the reasons why I'm here isn't it? To mother you poor boys on your long trip. To patch up your woes and sorrows as well as your broken bodies." She smirked patronisingly.
"All right, that does it!"
Marina squealed and leapt into action as he lunged for her. They darted around the table and hammocks as though they were children once more.
"You'll never catch me!"
Hornblower and Bush turned in time to see Marina dashing out of the hatchway with Kennedy in close laughing pursuit. A few seamen stopped to watch and cheer. Hornblower laughed as they played cat and mouse, taking turns to be the cat. In one quick movement she whipped the hat from his head and held it out challengingly to him.
"You're such a child!"
"So court martial me!" she lashed out, a laugh in her voice.
"One of these days…" he threatened.
They danced around the boats and crew and finally onto the steps to the quarterdeck where Kennedy caught his sister because she tripped over her blue dress and he grabbed repossession of his hat. Only then, after they had exchanged playful smirks and sneers, did they become aware of their captain's close presence and the disapproving look which was almost betraying his intense amusement. Bush, behind him, was having more trouble restraining his mirth.
Hornblower cleared his throat and they got up and continued up the stairs. Kennedy looked shamefully at his feet, knowing retribution was coming. Marina however looked the captain straight in the eye with a confident smile.
"Care to explain, Mr Kennedy?" Hornblower asked, privately not disapproving of Marina's buoyancy.
"Forgive me, Captain. My sister provoked me."
At this Hornblower turned his attention to Marina who was looking at her brother and restraining a chuckle.
"Miss Kennedy?"
"Yes, sir? I must admit I did provoke him, but the chase provided good exercise for him and also supplied the remedy for his most recent affliction."
"Which is?"
"Growing up too fast. While there is only three years between my brother and I, I must confess that I find him a little too pleased with himself. He has always been in a hurry to grow up and while I was around I managed to remind him exactly how young he was. My absence has done quite considerable damage, I find. I apologise sir, I understand that it does not reflect well on the ship or the navy to have the second lieutenant chasing his sister around the ship. I take full responsibility, and to make up for it, why don't I prepare dinner for you tonight? I am a proficient cook and promise to make you a special meal. As to punishment I will absent myself from the dinner to reflect on my misconduct." All this delivered with an appeasing smile and finished with a curtsey as she made her way back below decks.
Hornblower looked confused and shared a look with his lieutenants. "What just happened?"