Edrington
"You do realize that he's completely besotted with your sister, don't you?"
"Hmmmm." Edrington's words eventually penetrated Kennedy's befuddled brain. "Heh? What?"
Edrington nodded to where the rest of the party was still gathered about the tea table. "Hornblower is completely besotted with your sister." he said. "Not that I can blame him. She's a lovely girl, Archie. Do you mind if I call you Archie?"
"No. Of course not." What else could he say? "What did you mean by that comment, my lord? About Horatio and my sister."
Edrington smiled; a secretive smile that somehow emphasized every aristocratic line of his face. He gestured toward the expanse of lawn, and he and Kennedy began to walk. "I simply meant that he seems much taken with her. I didn't mean to imply anything else."
Kennedy snorted derisively in response. "Bah! He thought he was in love in France also! We all know how that ended!"
Edrington stopped underneath the spreading boughs of an enormous oak tree and turned to Kennedy, his expression now all seriousness. "I didn't say he was in love with her, Archie. I said he was besotted with her. There is a difference, you know." He thought for a moment. "Actually, its very similar to what happened with that French chit. What was her name?"
"Mariette."
"Ah, yes! Mariette." Edrington started to walk again. He was silent for some moments, while Kennedy waited in a positive ferment to hear what he was thinking. Finally the pressure was too much and he erupted.
"Well? I imagine you have more than that to say on this subject. Odd, isn't it, that you seem to know more about my best friend and my twin sister than I do."
Edrington had the good grace to look abashed at Kennedy's words. He rested his hand on Kennedy's shoulder for a moment. "I'm sorry, Archie. I was just trying to gather my thoughts. Of course I don't know you sister and your friend better than you do. But what I do know better is human nature, and this situation is a fascinating study. The similarities to the situation in Muziallc alone..."
"My lord!" Kennedy shouted.
"Sorry, I sometimes get ahead of myself." Edrington grinned. "And you may call me Hal, Archie. Now need to bother with 'My lord'. And only my mother ever calls me Henry."
Kennedy smiled in return. "Hal, is it? As in Prince Hal?"
"Exactly."
"All right. Now that that's settled, perhaps you would continue with what you were saying about Horatio and Annie."
"I was simply thinking that Hornblower always appears at his best when he has a role to play. In this case, as in the case of Mariette, he can step into the role of white knight striving to protect the fair damsel in distress." Edrington thought some more. "Truth be told, as much as I admire and respect Hornblower for his good qualities, I rather fancy that he is so in love with the navy that any woman would pale by comparison."
Kennedy had to laugh at that remarkably accurate assessment of his friend. Before he could respond, however, Edrington continued.
"I imagine that if he marries at all it will be out of some sense of obligation and duty. Certainly not for love." He took a moment and stared up at the sunlight filtering through the oak leaves. "Although I suppose if he were to fall in love it would be so completely and passionately that he would scarce know what to do about it!"
They were both laughing at this point, but Kennedy's mirth faded as something else Edrington had said finally sunk in. "My lord..." Edrington gave him a look. "Hal, what did you mean by describing my sister as a fair damsel in distress?" Realization hit Kennedy like a broadside out of a heavy fogbank. "What have you heard about my family?"
Edrington blushed a little, but he still managed to look Kennedy in the eye. "That's part of the reason I invited you, and your family, here today. I wanted a chance to talk to you." He took a deep breath. "You do know that the village is rife with gossip about your father, don't you?"
"No. I had a feeling, but I didn't know how bad it was."
"Its bad, Archie. Very bad. One of my tenants who sells in the village market keeps me informed of what's going on." Edrington stared off into the distance before continuing. "There's a great deal of talk of drunken binges, and tavern brawling. I've not given much credence to it, but..." His words trailed off.
Kennedy laughed, but his laughter held a bitter note. "Why not give credence to it? Its all true!" His voice grew louder and more agitated. "My father is drunk more often than he is sober, and it doesn't surprise me that he'd get himself involved in a brawl or two. And my brother is no better!"
"Archie..."
Kennedy totally ignored Edrington as he continued. "And, to make matters even worse, I find out that the proposed marriage of my sister to Robert Chamberlain has never even been proposed!" He began to pace underneath the trees. "Everybody just thinks its been proposed. And I have a sneaking suspicion that my brother made up the whole story! Worse?!" he barked, repeating his earlier word. "How the bloody hell could it get worse?!!" He stilled his motion and looked back towards the house. He could clearly see Emma Chamberlain, her dark hair shining in the sun. She was seated beside Annie, and the two of them were chatting and laughing like old friends.
Kennedy's words had shocked Edrington. "What do you mean, the proposed marriage of your sister and Chamberlain?"
Kennedy shot his companion a sardonic glance. "Don't tell me you haven't heard that rumor? And here I thought it was the most popular one!" He took a breath and let it out in a heavy sigh. It was no use being angry, he told himself. Everything would just have to work itself out. "I'm sorry. I know that its nobody's fault, but I can't help thinking..."
"You wonder if things would have been different if you had been here. If you hadn't been a prisoner of war and then trapped in some godforsaken Breton village on the most ill-conceived mission ever to come out of the Admiralty." Edrington did nothing to disguise the bitterness in his voice as he spoke. He turned and began walking back to the house. "Well, my friend, unfortunately things probably would be the same. Life has a funny way of doing what it wants." He glanced sidelong at Kennedy. "Now, are you going to explain what you meant by your sister marrying Chamberlain?"
Kennedy smiled ruefully. "It hardly matters, does it?" He clasped his hands behind his back and launched into the story. He left nothing out, including his conversation the previous day with Emma and the conclusions he had drawn. "So you see, right now I hardly know what to think. Miss Chamberlain did promise to speak to her father about this and see if the question had ever been raised. I imagine its all just wishful thinking and creative imaging on my brother's part."
"Well, you're about to find out."
"What?"
Edrington nodded toward the house, and Kennedy looked that way. Lady Sarah was coming down the path, and at her side was Emma Chamberlain. Edrington did not fail to notice the blush that immediately stained his friend's cheeks, and he smiled secretly to himself. Kennedy seemed frozen in place, so Edrington walked forward and took Lady Sarah's arm and steered her back to the house. His last words, although spoken quietly, drifted back to where Kennedy stood rooted to the spot.
"Come along, my dear. I think our young friends need to have a few words."
Kennedy was too shocked to move, but he felt himself blushing fiercely. He knew it was useless to try and hide it, but nevertheless he turned his face away, cursing his fair complexion. When he looked back he saw Edrington glancing over his shoulder. The older man raised his eyebrows and smiled. You're on your own, his look seemed to say.
"Mr. Kennedy..."
Kennedy snapped his attention back to Emma. "My name is Archie." His words came out sharper than he intended, his voice still tinged with a bit of anger. He saw Emma take a step back in reaction, and he quickly reached out and caught her hand. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have barked at you like that. But since you had invited me to call you Emma yesterday, I thought turnabout was fair play."
Emma smiled and relaxed. "All right, Archie." She blushed slightly as she said it.
Kennedy noted her rosy cheeks and smiled to himself. His heart was elated at the thought that she was as affected by him as he was by her. "Would you care to walk with me, Emma?"
She nodded her assent, and they set off down the path. They walked in silence for a time, each sneaking glances when they thought the other wasn't looking.
"Mr. Kennedy." Emma smiled. "I'm sorry - Archie! I spoke with my father last night. He confirmed what I told you yesterday. Your father has never spoken to mine about his marrying your sister. I don't know why everyone seems to believe that an agreement has been struck. Even Annie thinks that everything is already decided. She seems to simply be waiting for the date to be announced!"
Kennedy stopped walking and stared at Emma. "You spoke to Annie about it?"
"Yes, I did. I thought it was best that she know the truth." Her chin went up slightly, and she had a defiant tone in her voice. "I would like to consider her my friend, and as such I couldn't keep this from her. She is quite relieved about the matter now." She cast a sideways glance at the man beside her. "You're not angry, are you?"
"Angry? Why should I be angry? You spared me the difficulties of having that conversation with her." He looked up at the beautiful blue sky and grinned. "I can't say I was enjoying any of this! I never thought it would be my responsibility to discuss her future marriage with my sister."
Emma laughed. "No, I suppose not. Very few brothers do think along those lines. But its been taken care of now. So, you see, you don't have anything to worry about!"
"Except figuring out exactly how this whole mess began! If it wasn't my father..." Kennedy grimaced. "I hardly know what to think, but I do have to deal with it. Father is likely to react badly when I broach the subject with him." And that, he said to himself, is the understatement of the decade.
Emma sighed. "Yes, there is that. Do you still wish for my father and I to dine with your family tomorrow evening?"
Kennedy turned to face her. "Yes! More than ever!" He suddenly became aware of the fact that he was still holding her hand, and his face reddened as he stared at their entwined fingers. "I would very much like to have you and your father there when I speak to my father about this matter."
Emma had been greatly aware of her hand in his the entire time they had been walking. His blue eyes had met and held hers as he spoke, and the fervency in his words had touched a chord in her. For whatever reason, Kennedy was nervous about the whole situation and in need of reassurance. Emma gave his hand a gentle squeeze, and was delighted when he smiled in response. Kennedy tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and they continued their walk.
When they returned to the garden the tea things had been cleared away and quiet had settled on the gathering. Lady Sarah and Annie were conversing in low tones, punctuated by an occasional peal of laughter. Edrington slouched low in a chair, his long legs stretched in front of him and his face tilted up to the sun. An expression of pure contentment was on his face, rather like a cat after an especially delectable dish of cream. Each time a giggle bubbled from either of the ladies his lips quirked upward in the slightest of smiles. Except for that small movement any observer would think him sound asleep.
Three members of the party were noticeably absent, however. Kennedy was about to question Lady Sarah about Hornblower, Mr. Chamberlain and Lady Edrington when a quiet voice came from behind him.
"They've gone inside. Mama is giving the grand tour and her most in-depth lecture on family history." Edrington stirred himself and sat up in his chair. "She never misses a chance to show this place off."
Lady Sarah sighed deeply and shook her head. "You're not being fair, darling. You know how proud your mother is of this house, and of her children."
"Children?" Kennedy asked. This was the first he had heard of the major having any siblings. He had been under the impression that he was the only child.
Edrington shot his fiancee a look that would have curdled cream, but she blissfully ignored it. Raising her hand to her lips, she blew a kiss in his direction before settling back in her chair. Kennedy directed Emma to a chair before sitting down himself.
Edrington grunted. "Outvoted again!" he said under his breath. But his eyes were soft as they watched Sarah, and his smile spoke volumes. He turned back to his guests.
"Yes, Archie. Children. I have an older sister, Alexandra, and a younger brother, William. Alexandra is married to Viscount.... somebody or other."
"Ainesley, Hal." Lady Sarah said. "Viscount Ainesley."
He acknowledged the information with a brief nod before going on. "She lives in Pembrokeshire. My brother is in the army, like myself. Lieutenant The Honorable William Hugh Edrington." A brief laugh. "That's exactly how he styles himself; he won't leave out one bit of his title or his name." He glanced shrewdly at Kennedy. "I think you'd like him, however." An idea seemed to occur to him. "I expect William home tomorrow. Why don't you join us for dinner? All of you." His gesture encompassed Emma and Annie. "I'm sure William would appreciate the company of such lovely young ladies."
Kennedy opened his mouth to respond, but Annie got there before him. "Actually my lord, my brother has invited Miss Chamberlain and her father to dine with us at Rosefield tomorrow night. It will be Hor... I mean Mr. Hornblower's last night with us, so we were thinking of something of a going-away celebration, weren't we, Archie?"
Edrington's brow furrowed. "Hornblower's last night? I thought he had been granted more leave?"
"He had, my lord, but that leave had been granted by Captain Pellew." Annie continued in a voice too cheerful to be believed. "He's been transferred. To HMS Renown."
Kennedy gave the briefest of nods in response to Edrington's questioning look. "Its true. He needs to leave the day after tomorrow so he can return to Portsmouth to take up his new posting. So you see, Major...." He let his sentence trail off.
Edrington stood and began to pace about the garden. Although he did not really know either of them that well, he could not conceive of Hornblower without Kennedy, or vice versa. He had witnessed the strength of their friendship himself at that bridge, and, to his surprise, had found himself envious of their bond. Except for his brother, Edrington had been isolated from virtually all of his contemporaries from the age of fourteen, when his father had died and he had suddenly found himself an earl.
At that moment Lady Edrington appeared in the doorway, with Hornblower beside her and Chamberlain trailing behind. She was speaking softly; so softly, in fact, that Hornblower had to hunch over slightly to hear her. Edrington caught one word in the whispered discussion: Agincourt. The words erupted from him before he could stop them.
"Good God, Mother! Would you please stop trotting that moldy old story out for every guest that sets foot in this house?"
"What about Agincourt?" Emma piped in. "I haven't heard the story, my lord, but I would certainly like to."
"As would I." Annie said.
Edrington glanced at Kennedy, who gave him a sheepish shrug in response. "Sorry, but I would also like to hear it."
The earl threw his hands up in disgust. "Very well, if you all insist! Mother, I believe you have the floor." He looked down at the grass under his feet. "Or the ground, I should have said." And he collapsed back into his chair and studiously ignored the rest of the group.
The dowager countess kept her audience enthralled with the tale of the first Viscount Edrington, fighting bravely and saving the life of his king on the field at Agincourt. Except for an occasional derisive grunt from her son, all was silent until she had finished. She had not sat while she spoke, choosing instead to pace the small patch of grass. Despite needing the assistance of her stick, she was remarkably agile as she acted out certain things, much to the delight of her listeners.
At the end she was standing beside her son's chair. She reached out with her cane and sharply poked his legs as he slouched, ankles crossed. He jumped up, startled by her sudden movement, and she moved away and gracefully took a chair across from him.
"Henry hates all these stories." Lady Edrington announced. "Perhaps when he has children of his own," she glanced meaningfully at Sarah, "he'll feel differently."
Edrington just sat in his chair, an enigmatic smile on his face.
Lady Sarah stood up and went to stand beside her fiancee. "That's not fair, my lady! You know that he just dislikes hearing them over and over again!"
Edrington reached out and pulled Sarah down to perch on his leg. "Thank you for defending me, my dear." He kissed her cheek before setting her back on her feet and then rising to his. He went and knelt before his mother's chair, clasping her hand in both of his. He looked so like a penitent seeking absolution that Kennedy had to laugh. The sound shattered the scene and set everyone else off. Lady Edrington cuffed her son on the ear, but she was grinning as she did so.
Robert Chamberlain spoke up at that moment. "Mr. Kennedy, my daughter tells me that we are to dine with your family at Rosefield tomorrow night. I look forward to it."
Kennedy blushed a little and glanced over at the earl. "Actually, sir...."
Edrington jumped in at that point. "Actually, I would be pleased if you would all dine here at Edrington Manor tomorrow night. My brother is due to arrive home on leave, so it would be a celebration of sorts." He glanced at Hornblower." As well as a going away dinner. I understand from Mr. Kennedy and his sister that you've been transferred to a ship of the line, Mr. Hornblower. My congratulations."
Hornblower accepted the hand that was offered to him, as well as the good wishes of the others. He looked over at Kennedy with a question in his eyes, and Kennedy nodded in response.
"On b..b..behalf of my friends, my lord, we would be honoured to dine with you and your family tomorrow night." He blushed as his slight stammer betrayed his awkwardness.
Edrington clapped him on the back. "Splendid!" He turned to Kennedy. "Your father and brother are both included in the invitation, Archie."
For a moment Kennedy panicked at that thought of his father and Reg, drunk and angry at Edrington Manor. But there was nothing he could do but give his assent.
After that it was time to leave. Kennedy was distracted by his thoughts of the upcoming dinner, so Hornblower carried Annie and installed her in the carriage. As he was about to walk out the front door Edrington caught his sleeve and held him back for a moment.
"Archie, there is another reason I wanted to have all of you here." He seemed edgy and nervous, almost at a loss for words. "I wanted you to have the support of as many friends as possible in dealing with your father and brother. I hope I've not overstepped my bounds."
Kennedy looked into the earl's handsome, aristocratic face, and felt a shock of realization. Despite what had passed between them in Muziallc, Edrington respected him, and perhaps even liked him a little. It was a dizzying sensation. For most of his life Kennedy had been too withdrawn to truly build any friendships; first because of his fits, and later because of Simpson's abuse. But Hornblower was his friend, and now Edrington was offering him a helping hand, and the support of friendly faces in a trying time.
"Overstepped your bounds?" His voice was incredulous. "My God, Hal, that is probably the most generous thing anyone has ever done for me! I can't even begin to thank you!"
After an afternoon of being the blusher, Kennedy was relieved to see the red stain creep up Edrington's cheeks. "You don't have to thank me, Archie. Just don't get yourself killed in your next engagement, all right?" His lips quirked in his distinctive half-smile. "Besides, I don't think Miss Chamberlain would be pleased at that, do you?"
Oh well, Kennedy said to himself. Back to blushing. He peered out the door and watched as Emma and her father climbed in their carriage. She waved until they were out of sight. Kennedy trotted down the steps and fairly leapt into the carriage. Hornblower had taken the seat next to Annie, leaving Kennedy to the backward facing seat.
As the carriage pulled around the bend in the drive he looked back toward the house. Edrington and Lady Sarah stood arm in arm at the top of the stairs, waving as their guests drove off. The last glimpse Kennedy had of the couple Edrington pulled his fiancée closer to him for a kiss.