Moments of Truth

Dinner that evening had been an informal affair, with much conversation and laughter. Edward had spent the meal regaling Hornblower with tales of Archie and Annie as children, and Hornblower had returned the favor with stories of life on board the Indefatigable. A sober Edward was able to exert a considerable amount of charm, and Hornblower softened from his usual reticence.

Kennedy had sat and watched the easy interaction of his father, his sister, and his best friend. He himself felt more at ease then when he had arrived, but at the back of his mind a worry still nagged. Reg was not at home. According to Jenkins he had gone out just before dinner, with no word as to where he was bound or what time he expected to return. Despite his joy at having his father back, Kennedy knew that there were still questions to be asked, and his instincts told him that only Reg would have the answers.

When told about the invitation to Edrington Manor, Edward's face had paled, but he agreed to go. That brought a measure of ease to Kennedy's mind, but he still felt unsure. Before dinner he had dispatched a message to Edrington, detailing the change in his father and expressing his hope that it spelt the end for his family's troubles.

"She's really quite sweet, Father. You'll like her. Archie certainly does!"

The sound of his name dragged Kennedy's thoughts back to the table. Annie was smiling at him, but with a mischievous gleam in her eye. Hornblower kept his gaze on his plate, but his grin was also unmistakable.

Kennedy glared across the table at his sister. "What exactly has brought my name into this?"

Before Annie could answer Edward spoke up. "I was just asking about the Chamberlain's, Archie. Considering what you told me earlier, I'm understandably curious." He smiled at both of his children. "Annie was just telling me about Emma."

"Oh was she?" he asked, looking murderously across the table at his sister. Annie's only response was an impish smile and a wink.

"I must say she sounds like a perfectly charming girl. What did you think of her, Hornblower?"

Hornblower looked at his friend before replying. Kennedy narrowed his eyes and shook his head slightly, as if to say "Don't you dare!" Hornblower took the warning as meant, and confined his remarks to generalities.

Kennedy breathed a sigh of relief when his father appeared to drop the subject, but his relief was short lived. For when he moved his gaze from his friend he found his father's eyes on him, shrewdly assessing his seeming disinterest in the subject of Emma Chamberlain. He had forgotten, if indeed he ever really knew, just how intuitive his father was. He laughed inwardly at the idea that he could ever have hidden anything from Edward.

After dinner Edward took Hornblower out for a brief tour of the grounds. As they went out the door Edward was already bubbling over with ideas for re-planting the rose garden. Hornblower looked a little dazed at the flow of information. He mentioned that in six years in the navy he hadn't seen many roses, but Edward rolled right over that. He was in high spirits, and there was no stopping him. Hornblower followed along rather meekly, uttering an occasional Yes sir and No sir in response to questions.

Kennedy carried his sister into the drawing room and set her gently on the sofa. He sat in the chair opposite her and took a deep breath. Annie had been reaching for her book, but at his in-drawn breath she stopped and met his eyes.

"What's bothering you, Archie?"

"I..." He swallowed hard. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Annie smiled slightly. "What, pray?"

Her eyes were knowing and shone like emeralds in the light. Kennedy had a sudden image of himself as a boy, caught in some mischief and brought to his mother to answer for it. He had the same feeling now with his sister that he had then. He fidgeted in his chair under the impact of her gaze.

Well, better to get right down to it and take it like a man, he told himself. "I want to talk to you about Horatio." He watched his sister closely for any sign of a telltale flush at mention of the name, but her cheeks remained pale. For no reason her composure irritated Kennedy; perhaps because of his own inability to remain unruffled when Emma Chamberlain was mentioned.

"What, no maidenly flush?" His voice came out sharper than he intended. "You were certainly quick enough with your blushes this morning!"

Annie gave her brother an appraising glance and turned away from him to pick up the embroidery she had been working on. "If you have something to say to me, Archie, perhaps it would be best if you said it." The needle flashed in and out of the linen; her hands were steady, but the chill in her voice was like ice.

"All right, I will." He stood up so that he could look down to where his sister sat. "I don't want you encouraging him, Annie. He'll be back on board ship in a couple of days, and then back at sea. Its no use pretending any different, and if you think he'll give that up for your sake, then you are sadly mistaken!"

Annie set the embroidery beside her on the sofa and viciously stabbed the needle down. She looked up at her brother, not in the least bit cowed by him as he stood over her. "And just which of us are you more concerned for, Archie? Are you so worried that I'll hurt him, ruin his career, spoil his future?" Her voice began to rise with the tide of her anger. "Or is it me you're worried about? Are you afraid I'll be so devastated by his leaving that I'll do some harm to myself? Or is it something more? Perhaps you believe that I'll unthinkingly give myself to him before he leaves, thereby spoiling whatever decent marriage chances I have!"

She stood up then, eye to eye with Kennedy. "Well, I have a bit of news for you, Archie. I am neither that stupid nor that self-loathing! So you can cease fretting about your friend and me. I promise, I'll do nothing to ruin either of our reputations!" She abruptly sat back down, aware again of the pain in her foot.

Chastened by her words, it was a moment before Kennedy could bring himself to speak. "Annie, I didn't mean..."

Annie cut him off, her voice sharp as a knife. "I know exactly what you meant, Archie! What I can't understand is why you would consider, even for one moment, that I would do anything of the kind! Am I so different to the girl you remember?"

Kennedy knelt in front of his sister and took both of her hands. "No! You aren't different at all! I just don't want..." He stopped, not quite sure how to express his thoughts. "I don't want you to get hurt. I know he's intelligent, and handsome, and he can be charming. But, Annie, Horatio is in love with the navy! That is where he belongs; where he's happiest!" He looked into Annie's eyes. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Annie laughed and reached out a hand to brush a lock of hair back from his forehead. "Did you think I wouldn't figure that out for myself?" She began to laugh harder. "Oh Archie! You sweet, adorable, fool!"

Dumbfounded now, Kennedy could do little but sit back on his heels as his sister gave way to merriment. Despite his earlier discomfort and her anger, he couldn't help but smile at seeing her so happy. Only when her laughter had quieted, and then died, did he speak again.

"Are you finished?" he asked, a smile in his voice and his eyebrows raised.

One last giggle escaped; Annie clapped one hand over her mouth and nodded. When she removed her hand she was grinning broadly: a beautiful smile that reached to her eyes. "I'm sorry, Archie, but if you could have seen your face..." She swallowed another round of laughter. "But to think you were so concerned about how I feel about Horatio leaving!"

Kennedy got up from his knees and sat besides his sister. "Well, you have to admit I had reason to wonder! You two have grown quite close in the brief time you've known each other. What else could I think?"

Annie shook her head. "You could have given me some credit for brains, Archie!" She sighed deeply. "I may have been entertaining thoughts along those lines, but seeing him in uniform..." She laughed a little. "Well, that made it perfectly clear! He's not meant to stay on land and have a regular life, with a wife and children." She looked off into space for a moment. "Although I'm guessing that he doesn't yet realize it."

Now it was Kennedy's turn to laugh. He shook his head at his own foolishness and put an arm around his sister's shoulders. "Yes, I should have given you more credit. Its strange, because Edrington said almost exactly the same thing this afternoon."

"What did he say?"

"That Horatio was so in love with the navy that any woman would pale by comparison." He looked pensive for a moment. "But I fancy there's more to it than that. At least in this instance." He looked at Annie sitting quietly at his side, her eyes intent on him. "Our last mission... I can't tell you everything, Annie, but we were in France, in Brittany, with Royalist troops and a half-battalion of British infantry. That's how Horatio and I met Lord Edrington. There was this girl in the village..." He stopped speaking, his mind flashing back to powder smoke and musket fire; to his terror as he ran across that bridge - the fire of the explosions singeing his hair and the tails of his coat; to a beach and an empty sea.

"Archie?"

Kennedy shook himself out of his memories. "I'm sorry. The experience is still rather vivid." He smiled slightly at those words, an understatement if ever there was one. "There was this girl. Horatio wanted to protect her; I think he believed he was in love with her."

"What happened?"

"She was killed. Shot by Republican troops. Her own side. She had hurt her ankle somehow, and couldn't run. Horatio was helping her and supporting her with an arm around her waist. She was shot in the back, and she was dead before she fell to the ground." He saw the understanding dawn on Annie's face. "So you see, Horatio is still reeling from the whole experience. Its like he's trying to feel his way through a whole maze of emotions that he's never felt before. Add into that his obvious attraction to you and it makes for an awkward situation all 'round, don't you think?"

Annie was thoughtful for a time, worrying her lower lip with her teeth. "I imagine he also feels guilty because I'm your sister."

"Yes, I would imagine that's part of it."

She picked up her embroidery again. "Well, no reason to worry. I'm not going to lose my head over a little flirtation and a couple of kisses." A blush rose on her face as she remembered the couple of hours asleep in Hornblower's arms, but she resolutely pushed those thoughts from her mind. "I would be pleased and honored to call Horatio my friend, and I hope he feels the same way."

A quiet knock on the door intruded into the conversation. Jenkins entered the room, bearing a message on the silver calling card tray.

"From Edrington Manor, sir." he announced.

Kennedy had already recognized the seal before Jenkins had said a word. He quickly opened and read the missive.

Archie,

I was extraordinarily pleased to read that your father has begun to make his way back to himself. I know it cannot be easy, but you may trust in me to help in any way I can. Lady Edrington, Lady Elliott and myself look forward to your presence at dinner tomorrow evening with pleasure. Please convey my regards to your sister and father, as well as to Mr. Hornblower.

In Friendship,

H. E.

"Well, I guess we are still expected at Edrington Manor tomorrow. Thank you, Jenkins." The butler acknowledged the thanks with a brief nod and left the room just as Edward and Hornblower came in. They were talking animatedly, if somewhat breathlessly. At least on Edward's part. He had not regained his breath, and was hurrying to keep up with Hornblower's longer strides.

When he noticed his twins sitting there Edward came to an abrupt halt, but only for a moment. He took a chair across from his children and immediately resumed the discussion, pulling Archie and Annie in.

"I'm surprised, Archie, about how little knowledge your friend has about horticulture." he said. "Although I suppose you can't grow very many plants on board a ship."

Kennedy laughed at his father's simple assessment. To Edward not being able to have a garden would be a form of hell on earth. "Yes, Father. There is very little room for gardening on board a frigate." he said, a touch of laughter in his voice.

Hornblower had blushed slightly at Edward's words, but he rallied to his own defense. "You can't hardly blame me, sir! My father was never a gardener, and as you yourself said, it is difficult to grow plants in the navy."

"What about your mother, lad?" Edward asked, innocently blundering onto a difficult subject. "I've never met a woman that didn't have some interest in gardens."

Annie looked up from her embroidery as Kennedy tensed at her side.

"Father..." she began.

Hornblower held up a hand and stopped Annie's words before he met Edward's eyes. "My mother died when I was only six, sir. I hardly knew her. But you are right in assuming she was interested in gardening. There were lilac bushes in front of our house that Father said she had planted just after their marriage." He smiled slightly; a wistful grin that said more than his words. "I always think of my mother when I smell lilacs in bloom."

Edward looked somewhat abashed at his misstep. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hornblower. If I had known..."

Hornblower brushed of the apologies. "There was no way you could have known. I don't exactly make it public knowledge. And it was a long time ago. I've long since gotten past it."

The sound of the front door slamming brought a halt to the conversation. Voices could be heard in the hall, one quiet and calm and another loud and belligerent. "Where is that self-righteous prig who calls himself my brother?" a voice demanded, the words slightly slurred.

Annie set down her embroidery at the words and turned a worried face to her brother. Hornblower had not sat down when he and Edward had come into the room, and he moved to stand beside his friend as Kennedy rose to his feet. They were all facing the door when it burst open with a crash.

Reg stood in the doorway, swaying slightly on his feet and with a satisfied smirk on his face. Edward jumped to his feet at the appearance of his elder son.

"Well, well, well. The happy family at home. With guest. How charming!" Reg exclaimed, his sarcastic tone sending a chill around the room.

Archie took a step forward, but his father was there before him. "You're drunk, Reg." Edward said calmly.

Reg laughed. "What, and you're not? Now there's a surprise! A little short on brandy supplies, are we? Never fear, Father. I've brought my own!" He pulled a bottle of gin from his coat pocket, pulled the cork and took a long drink. He carefully put the cork back in the neck and set the bottle on the table, within easy reach of Edward's hand.

Edward glanced once at the bottle and clenched his fist, but otherwise showed no reaction. He turned back to Reg. "You're drunk." he repeated. "I think perhaps you should go to bed and sleep it off. We can talk about this in the morning." He looked to where Jenkins hovered just inside the doorway. "Jenkins, would you please help Mr. Reginald to bed?"

He turned away and was resuming his chair when Reg grabbed hold of his arm. "Oh no, Father! Not so fast! I'm not leaving this room until I say what I've got to say." He turned his bitter and mocking face toward his brother. "And what I have to say concerns my oh-so-noble brother." He waved to include Edward, Archie, and Hornblower. "You all may as well sit. We may be here a while."

Archie resumed his seat beside Annie; Edward and Hornblower took the chairs on either side of the unlit fireplace. All four of them watched Reg with wary, closed expressions on their faces.

Reg rubbed his hands together gleefully, his grin broadening. "Well, where shall I begin? Its a simple story really. I have just spent a most fascinating evening in the company of a sailor. A man by the name of Chambers." He looked at Archie and Hornblower. "Ahhhhh! I see that name means something to the both of you! Very good."

"Just get on with it, Reg. " Archie said stiffly.

"Don't rush me, little brother. Now, it seems this man Chambers is acquainted with the both of you." He pointed at the two younger men. "Seems he served on board the Justinian and knows a few things about that ship." He noted with satisfaction how both his brother and Hornblower were sitting rigidly, their faces set in stone, revealing nothing.

"In particular he told me about things that were known to take place in the midshipman's berth. Would you know anything about that, Archie?" Archie looked away. "No? Well, what about you, Hornblower?"

Hornblower unwaveringly met Reg's stare but for one quick flash of the eyes toward his friend. "I know a great deal about what went on in the midshipman's berth on board Justinian, Reg. Far more than either Chambers or yourself could ever know."

Reg laughed, but it was completely without humor. "I suppose you were in on it also." he said maliciously.

"In on what?" Edward asked.

Reg turned to his father. "I am so glad you asked that! All manner of degenerate things, Father. Bullying, beatings, brawling. But what Chambers really remembered was all the talk of buggery."

"Of what?!"

"Bug-ger-y." Reg said the word distinctly and clearly so that there would be no misunderstanding. "In short, Father, sodomy. Your precious son and a chap by the name of Simpson..."

Archie had shot to his feet at the mention of that name. He opened his mouth to speak but his throat closed tight on the words. He felt his hands begin to shake. His sight grew blurry and darkened around the edges. The last thing he remembered before pitching face forward to the carpet was Annie's cry of alarm.