Chapter 3

Pellew's eyes narrowed in puzzlement at the bedraggled new midshipman. There was something wrong with the figure before him… He looked the boy carefully up and down, not missing a detail, to ascertain the reason for his discomfort. The boy was young, seeming younger still than the 16 years written on the paper before him, but that was not unusual – many young men looked older or younger than their actual years and it was of no consequence. It was not the boy's ill fitting attire. For most young men, not being able to afford tailored uniforms was hardly a matter for speculation. The boy was quite short he noted but the shoulders were broad and upright and there was no trace of indulgence in victuals, again no irregularity. The Captain examined the face.

Soft face, flawless skin, sweeping black eyelashes, slightly pouted lips…The boy looks like girl, the boy is a girl. The thought almost made him laugh and the Captain was forced to glance quickly down at the map before him. He looked up slowly, his calm once more seemingly implacable. The two dark eyes staring defiantly out from beneath a breaker of unruly black curls made him forget his jocose thought in an instant. The boy made no indication as to having noticed the Captain's slight lapse in concentration, though she had. Lorna prayed silently he hadn't seen.

"Midshipman Saunders, come aboard His Majesty's Frigate Indefatigable and reporting for duty, sir." The voice was educated and a little husky, almost coming from the back of the throat.

"You are welcome. I am Sir Edward Pellew, your Captain. I have been just leafing through your papers…"He paused. Lorna drew in a breath as he looked down at her forgeries" And I find all to be in order. So you have a little experience with ships though not with military connections?" She breathed again.

"Yes sir. My father was a hand on an Indiaman, he died of the sweating sickness leaving enough money for me to come aboard as Midshipman, sir." The lie slipped out easily. Pellew nodded, accepting it.

"I believe that is all, you are our final midshipman to come aboard. Ask a marine to show you to the Midshipmen's birth…"

"Aye aye sir!" She was just turning to leave when he spoke again.

"And you can tell your mess mates that it is like that we sale within the week!"

"Aye aye, sir." She nodded and opened the door, leaving quietly to ask the guard marine directions to her birth…

***

The walk to the midshipman's birth was a revelation for her, and it took all her self-control not to cry out in unashamed horror. Every step she took was one of debauchery and riot. She had never been prepared for this sight. Men shouted and raved, flailing tankers of ale so that the amber liquid flew like sea-spray threw the air and fell to slop on the rough wooden planking. Each man stank of sweat and liquor and many cavorted openly with whores. Lorna paled, her eyes widening before quickly looking away only to find them fixed on some unashamed sodomites in the corner. Every way she turned in the dark, cramped cabin, she saw sin and immorality. She felt almost ill as the ships lurching at anchor weakened her stomach and her mind to her surroundings. The sounds of an out-of-tune fiddle and drunken singing filled the air, as did the foul smoke from numerous pipes as she pushed forward, after the marine. It was with an inaudible sigh of relief that she reached the canvas curtain that marked the corner separated for the use of the warrants. She thanked the marine and closed her eyes for a moment, the forbidden sights swimming before her eyes. She was shocked and that in itself scared her. I thought I would have been prepared for anything. She opened her eyes and steadied herself. She stood for almost a minute before she was completely composed and could push back the canvas barrier.

The roar of the men was subdued to almost a murmur here by the heavy curtain and it was through a cleaner air that she found almost a dozen unfamiliar eyes trained onto her. The silence was disconcerting. She quickly pushed all previous horrors to the back of her mind, and summoned her courage again. She would be welcome or she would not…

"Good day, I believe I am one more mess-mate for you, good sirs." She removed her cocked hat and gave an exaggerated bow. She rose pushing a stubborn curl from her eyes, raised an eyebrow and risked a lopsided grin. The silence was broken instantly by the sound of male laughter, shouted greetings and a call for her to seat herself. There was a vacant seat beside a tall, thin young man, with dark hair and smiling eyes and she took the invitation gladly. There was a general call for introductions. Her grin was ever broadening as she forgot any earlier trepidation and let herself be overwhelmed by the unconstrained familiarity. The greetings quickly faded as the competition to be clearly heard was too straining. Once again all eyes were fixed on her. One particularly blue pair were smiling warmly as their owner stood.

"May we be versed as to your name, Mr…?"

"Saunders. My name is James Saunders. And might you good gentlemen own to your names once more for I am afraid that I was too slow to catch the majority of them?" The man standing made the introductions beginning with a portly gentleman at the end of the table, who was identified as Mr Cleaveland. She shook his hand and then the next man's, eventually finishing with the quiet man at her side who answered to Horatio Hornblower. He gave her a hesitant smile. She shook his hand firmly and then turned back to the blonde man making the introductions.

"I believe you have excluded your good self." He bowed in a similar fashion to that which she had done upon her entrance and promptly replied.

"Kennedy, Archie Kennedy - renown rake and scoundrel of Drury Lane, at your service." She laughed with the others as she clasped his hand too.

"And now that introductions have been made Mr Saunders…"Cleaveland's voice was lazy and self-confident. "A lively man like yourself can hardly object to entertaining us with a little tale of yourself and I'm sure we have a few in response. Let us get acquainted. And I am sure that I speak for all my fellow mess-mates in welcoming you aboard the Indy."