Chapter Twenty-One
Assured that Horatio was now in capable hands, Archie left Emma to tend to her husband while he went back above deck to resume his duties.
"You men are without a doubt the most stubborn baboons I have ever known." Emma scowled. "Lie back." she ordered pushing Horatio's shoulder's back onto the mattress.
"Aye and how do you know baboons are stubborn?" he asked, one brown eye staring up at her.
"I'm glad you find the situation humorous, dear husband." Emma narrowed her eyes at him while dipping the edge of a clean cloth in some brandy. "No doubt your humor will stand you in good stead when your person shall be sore as anything." Horatio hissed when she pressed the cloth to the cut on his face.
"I shall no doubt be more than I am, no doubt and I shall need my humor though my ship mates are convinced I have none." Horatio replied groaning when she pressed her fingers into his ribs.
"Oh, then perhaps I should have Archie come and attend to you through the night to make sure you retain it." Horatio shook his head then winced at the pain it caused.
"He's nowhere near as lovely as you are." Horatio admitted smiling at her which made Emma laugh seeing as he had only one good eye.
"Stop that. I'm quite furious with you." Emma snapped trying to stifle anymore laughter.
"Are you? Then I shall make sure to apologize to Mr. Simpson's fists as soon as I get the chance." Emma slapped his shoulder. "Ow! What happened to that oath about doing no harm and all that?' Horatio grumbled.
"Here we are about to spend our first night alone as man and wife and you've gotten yourself bashed about like a Mexican candy balloon." Emma pointed out, her irritation emboldening her. Horatio blushed then looked at her, his brown eye thoroughly dejected.
"Aye...well. That is a pity." He admitted.
"If you wanted to avoid the wedding night, Sir, there was no need to take such drastic measures." Emma joked wrapping some ice cubes in a cloth and pressing against his swollen eye. "Hold that there." She instructed.
"That was not my intention, dear wife. I assure you." He said. "I was quite looking forward to it."
"I know." Emma said, pulling the sides of his shirt open so she could examine his bruises. Horatio cocked an eyebrow at her. Emma blushed and cleared her throat. "I...well,... I felt..."
"Oh." He said, the opened eye widening a bit and a burst of color flooding his face. "I apologize." he croaked.
"Why? It made me feel...well...that is...I...I liked that I made it..."Emma bit her lip and looked away, busying herself with wringing out the cloth and cleaning his wounds. "Horatio?" she asked running the cloth down his jaw.
"Mmm?" He asked, the warm scent of brandy and his wife's touch lulling him.
"Does it hurt?" She asked. His eyebrows drew together.
"I've been beaten quite soundly, of course it hurts." He answered taking a ragged breath.
"No...I mean...when it...when you...Last night. Is it painful?" One eye opened to stare at her. He cleared his throat before answering.
"Well, no...Not quite p..ppp.pain really. That is...to say...it's rather a sharp sort of ache that starts deep in your stomach. Sometimes it can...happen for no re...reason at all. Most mornings-" he stopped suddenly, realizing by her fallen face that that had been the wrong thing to say. Emma averted her eyes. "But last night it was it was because I wanted the lovely lady that I held." He admitted quickly and was rewarded with a small smile.
"Oh. That's good then." She said, blue eyes shining.
"For you perhaps. Rather uncomfortable for me." He joked.
Emma lowered her head and was about to brush a kiss across his lips when she saw the cut on his bottom lip. She kissed the tip of his nose instead.
He smiled at her and then sighed sadly. "And that is the most consummating that will be done ironically on our first night alone in this bed." Horatio said.
"Well, hope springs eternal, dear husband" She said giving him such an impish smile that Horatio burst out laughing and then groaned at the pain it caused him.