Chapter 14

Captain Pellew, upon his return, had confirmed to the crew his intention of remaining a'port for the remainder of the week. At first the crew had dissented - already angry at having to return home so soon in the first place. But the thunderclouded faces soon mellowed and there were choruses of excited muttering that greeted the news that they had leave from duties for several hours during the time the ship was at anchor.

Lorna was glad Sir Edward had agreed to her idea. The men were bitter and resentful of being cooped up for so long without the prospect of action and they needed this liberty to boost their morale, which had been sinking dangerously low, despite their profit of prize money from the sale of the Lucille-Mariette.

The blood was up for adventure and battle yet here they were, stuck in Portsmouth - drifting languorously at moorings.

Giving the men this freedom was always a risky venture - men could seize the opportunity to desert in droves. But she knew none of the able seaman of the Indy would be so stupid! The Master of the Docks could have had every provost in the country set on the backs of the deserters within a day, providing they could escape Portsmouth's very own press gang first! They wouldn't desert - and especially not with the prospect of glory ahead. The thought of returning to this same stretch of water as a hero would keep them in the navy? Besides Lorna trusted her men. How could any man command another without the trust that he would obey?

Lorna, Archie and Horatio's divisions had three nights of liberty under the supervision of their midshipmen, just before the Indy was once again due to make sail for the coast of Brest. It was strange, wandering around on the dry land without the scrutinising eye of a commanding officer, without the ever-present burden of duty. A few hours of complete freedom in the night air, it seemed almost to good to be believed.

***

The men ran ahead, disappearing almost instantaneously into the nearest ale-houses, brothels and lodgings of disrepute where they were guaranteed a good time with no questions asked in the morning, and no strings attached except that of a thudding hang over. The midshipmen, exerting a little more self-control, walked slowly along behind the rapidly thinning gaggle of men.

The great clock in its tower above them mournfully tolled out 10 o'clock. The black velvet night sky was cloud strewn but here and there a few determined stars battled to twinkle through the haze and the full moon, too, shone clear above the cloud curtain casting a silver incandescence over the town. Horatio had walked ahead and Archie dropped back slightly so he was walking beside Lorna. They walked in silence, she looking blissfully around at the dark streets and then the orange rays of light streaming through windows and open doorways of the houses open to the night. She was listening to the faint sounds of revelling being carried on the breeze and the sound of their hollow footsteps on the uneven cobblestones.

Archie took the opportunity to watch her. He knew about the meeting with the Admiral, he knew what she was now and he had simply accepted with a silent nod when she had told him. There were no more secrets anymore on that front. She had been completely honest and he was glad of it. He watched the way she walked, with confident, measured paces: just like a man's. He wondered how she would move in a dress… If it would be feminine? If she would swing her hips? He wondered what she would be like with her hair loose and her breasts un-bound. It wasn't a lustful thought, only curious as to what Lorna would be like as a 'woman'. It seemed almost impossible to imagine her in flowing gowns, twirling in candle light, leaning into the shoulder of one lord or another… Archie's blonde brows lowered as he realised he didn't like that thought.

He studied her face in profile - she wasn't a beauty, the nose forbade that, but she wasn't bad looking, in fact but for that one feature she would have been incredibly handsome. But that wasn't the problem, it was that everything in character seemed to conflict with who she really was. Forthright, passionate, fearless and bloody scary at times, she was hardly the aristocratic wallflower. She sensed his gaze then and turned to face him, a small smile on her lips. He returned it with a grin and she looked away from him once more, the smile slowly faded from his face.

The breeze was getting stronger. A sea wind that pierced clothing and sent shivers down spines. Archie saw Lorna shiver slightly and pull her jacket closed around her. He moved closer to her and, drawing in his breath, placed and arm about her shoulders, pulling her into towards the warmth of his body. But she immediately gave him an angry frown and shrugged him away.

"I'm sorry, I just thought you were cold." He spoke quietly so Horatio would not catch it, but Lorna only shook her head and jogged ahead to catch up with their distant friend. Archie looked distressed for a moment before giving a small embarrassed cough, forcibly plastering a smile onto his face and running ahead to catch up to the pair in front.

***

Lorna tried to avoid Archie's gaze as she kept up a brisk pace beside the rangy form of Horatio. One minute they had been simply walking along, with her admiring the stars and deserted streets, the next she had felt his muscled arm tight around her. She struggled to stop her cheeks growing hot - she had hidden her feelings for a long time, and had a lot of experience. What on Earth had he meant by it? It felt strange being so close to him, unnerving - and with Horatio standing no more that 6 metres away! He could have turned around and seen them, at any time! And what would he have thought then? How could Archie have been so careless?

"Why were you powering ahead with so much determination, Horatio?" She spoke to break the poignant silence that seemed to have developed around Horatio; everyone lost in his or her own imaginings.

"Yes, Horatio - not trying to escape your friends I hope?" Archie chimed in on Horatio's other side. Lorna kept her face completely impassive. Horatio looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"No, indeed. I was just… wondering as to what we… were going to do tonight."

"Well?" Horatio looked even more uncomfortable at Lorna's naïve question and Archie snorted with barely contained laughter. He decided to reply instead of his friend who was slowly turning the colour of a good claret.

"I think our dear messmate is a little… shy around the 'ladies'…" Lorna heard the way he said that word. "And…" He continued despite the glares of Horatio's mute outrage. "And I believe he is desirous of some practice." He gave Lorna a wicked grin before ducking to narrowly avoid the cocked hat as it flew swiftly from Horatio's dark curls at Archie's golden halo. His laughter was mischievous and Lorna could only looked bemused.

Horatio marched off and Lorna made to follow but she came to an abrupt halt as she felt Archie's hot breath on her neck and his mocking voice low in her ear.

"For a lad so smart with his figures and words, you're awful slow on the uptake, m'boy!" His voice went even quieter and tremulous with laughter. "We're of to see some ladies of… erm," he coughed. "Slightly less good repute than your good self." The grey eyes widened in comprehension and she turned and gave him a look, almost to say you wouldn't dare! He only sighed in exasperation. "Come on! There's no escape, I'm afraid. This is the place where a man proves what he's made of." The look he received in reply to that was little short of murderous.

And Lorna, mute and mentally berating herself for being so slow-witted, could only follow him after Horatio into the waiting door of the nearest brothel.