Chapter IX: The Murderer
"Colonel, where are you taking my marines?" Penelope demanded to know . my marines? Was she joking? Could it be that she believed she was apart of the marines? His Majesty's marines?
The French Colonel only chuckled and responded in English," Worry not, love, they will be kept safe, locked in irons, until your father decides that you are in danger and come for you." He explained.
"You are British, sir. "She mused, noticing his English accent. She glared," You are not fighting for the French advantage? What is your purpose, sir?" Penelope asked.
" Your father, is what I want, you are only the bate."
" And why is that? What has my father done that makes you do this? Betray your country?" Penelope asked with disgust.
The colonel took a seat near her and sighed," I was only a young man of twenty. leftenant Pellew and myself had landed on an island off the coast of Spain. He was wounded and had to be taken to get medical attention or he would have died. An old woman told us that her daughter had studies with medicine. So she took us to her home, and there, the most beautiful woman, tended to Pellew. Her name was Esparonza. Your mother." He paused and looked at her and saw the woman within her. Her strength. And beauty. Shaking off the image, he continued." Unfortunately, she became only a friends and told me that she was in love with Pellew. I was angered. He did not deserve her as much as I did. I went to the wedding, but then left, and never looked back. I had been told sometime later, that Esparonza had given birth to a baby girl. And I, angered by this, traveled placed, in search of revenge, knowing that his child should have been mine." He sighed and rubbed his forehead,
" Why did you kill my mother?" She asked." If you were in love with her?"
" When I finally found her, she was living alone at the moment, as your father still had his duty at sea. I begged her to take you and come with me, as I was not willing to neglect her as Pellew was at the time. She refused and said that no matter what, she loved him and knew that he loved her and Penelope. And so, if I could not have her, then I decided that no one could. I killed her and was going to come after you, however you'd already taken off."
"And so where did you go?" Penelope asked, hiding her anger.
" I hid low in your home, and that same evening, Pellew had returned. I fought him, but lost, and I was taken to France and decided to lay low, as I blamed that blasted Pellew for Esparonza's death."
Penelope nodded faintly and fought her urge to spit in his face and knee him in the crotch." You destroyed my family. You murdered my mother because your anger and jealously got the best of you." Penelope snapped." I demand that you let me see Hornblower or let me go, sir!"
The colonel thought for a second then looked at a Frenchman," Captain." He began in French," Take this young lady to the leftenant."
The man did as told. Penelope, hands remained bound, but she was granted to see Horatio. Upon the door to the small prison cell opening, Horatio tried to stand." Penelope." He began.
"Leave us. I will have a guard send for you when I am through." She said.
"I am so sorry about this, Horatio." Penelope began. Kneeling down to Hormblower.
"It is not your fault, Penelope, I promised your father that you would come back. Unharmed. And I failed." He said.
Penelope shook her head." No one blames you. Perhaps this was meant to happen." She whispered.
Hornblower looked at her." If I get you back, your father will know what happened and that will be the end of our time together." All Penelope could do was nod slightly, then leaning to him, she kissed him deeply. And warmly, reminding him that no matter what, she would always love him. They smiled lightly at one another.