Chapter Twenty-Four

Emma made her way to the cook's galley, passing the all too familiar glares of dislike from the officers at their tables.

"Sir, I was hoping I might ask a favor of you." Emma said, facing the cook as he served the line.

"Grab your plate and get in line, Miss." The cook insisted.

"I've already been served." Emma explained, pointing to Archie who was standing away from the line, holding two trays.

"Then move along, eh?" Emma felt a nudge at her back and turned with a glare of irritation to the midshipman she recognized as Cleveland. A plump, fair haired man.

"I beg your pardon, Sir." She said with forced patience and turned back to the cook. "I was hoping you would be generous enough, Sir, to consider parting with a jar or two of honey."

"Honey? What on earth for?" The old man asked with a scowl.

"I require something in lieu of ointments to seal up cuts and the like." Emma explained.

"All out of honey." He said curtly, then turned away to ignore her and continue filling the men's bowls. Emma had to step back from the line or be knocked over. Behind the cook, she could see partly into his pantry. On the top shelf sat at least six jars of thick, golden honey. Emma stared back at the cook in disbelief. Bloody liar! She wanted to shout in frustration. She was about to give him what for when she was roughly pushed out of the way by someone trying to get in line.

"Get out of the bloody way!" She recognized Styles' deep voice. She narrowed her eyes at him, but moved out of the way.

"The nerve of the bloody man! Lying straight to my face when the jars were sitting there plain as day!" Emma burst furiously while she and Archie made their way back to her quarters.

"You could get the captain to order him to spare one." Archie said as she held the door open for him.

"I could, but then I'd be no better than a child tattling on a schoolmate."

"Tattling on who?" Horatio asked from his seated position on the bed.

"Your ogre of a cook. Refused straight out to spare me a jar of honey."

"Ah." Horatio uttered in sympathetic understanding. "Not the cheeriest of men but a true marvel in the kitchen. What did you bring me?"

"Just some oatmeal with the non-existent honey, surprisingly enough." Emma scowled. "And some tea as well. I imagine it would hurt to chew just yet." She pressed her fingers along his jaw gingerly, pressing only a tiny bit to check his reaction and he winced. "The color will get worse before it gets better but you should be able to walk around a bit this afternoon." Emma informed him then she faced Archie. "And what about you, Mr. Kennedy?"

"What about me, what?" Archie asked blankly.

"Have I proven medical ability enough that you would trust me to be my next patient?" She watched him go quite pale and then stiffen uncomfortably in what she was beginning to term, 'his official pose.'

"Ah..well, I shall be quite busy today, m'am. " He insisted with a nod. He gave Horatio a look that could only be interpreted as one telling a dog owner to call off their pet.

"I'm sure Captain Pellew would give me a few minutes to check you over. I might just be insulted, Sir and think that you do share the opinions of the rest of your mates." Emma insisted. Archie blushed and sent Horatio a helpless look.

"Rest assured, Emma, I do not.-"

"Wonderful! Then let us eat our meals and drink our tea and then you shall hop upon my table." Emma said cutting off any further argument. Archie sighed in that way that was all too familiar to Emma by now. It meant she'd won and Emma his her smile in her cup of tea.

A few minutes later a knock on the door made her look up from her plate in surprise. Besides Horatio and Archie, who were already in the room, no one had ever come voluntarily to see her. Unless one counted that vile Jack Simpson and Emma certainly hoped it wasn't him on the other side of the door.

"Yes?" Emma called out before opening it.

"Captain Pellew, Mrs. Hornblower." The stern voice called out. Emma cringed and shared a look of panic with her husband and his best friend. Emma rushed over to them, holding her finger to her lips in a gesture of silence and drew the blanket hanging over the rope above the bed so that both Horatio and Archie were hidden from view.

"Good morning, Captain." She said cheerily once she opened the door. Captain Pellew looked down at her and absentmindedly scrunched his nose, gingerly, a habit he seemed to be developing every time he saw her.

"And to you, madam." He said with a nod. "I was hoping to speak with your husband. I trust he is not still dawdling this late in the morning and neglecting his duties."

"I regret, Sir, that Horatio is feeling a touch ill this morning." Emma said putting on her best 'concerned' face.

"Hmm...Nothing serious, I hope?" He asked in that tone of voice that made her wonder if he believed her or not.

"Oh no, Sir. Just caught a chill and upset stomach. Bed rest and some nourishment and he'll be right as rain by tomorrow." Emma explained, wondering what they were going to do about the bruises tomorrow.

"Very well. Get yourself well, Mr. Hornblower." Captain Pellew called out.

"Aye, Sir." Horatio replied.

"And, Mr. Hornblower."

"Sir?" Emma wished Horatio would at least try to sound ill.

"If you should see Mr. Kennedy, tell him I need to see him in my cabin, would you?"

"Aye, Sir." Horatio said while Emma was mentally shooing the captain out the door.

"Good day, madam." Captain Pellew said to her.

"And to you, Captain." Emma said while closing the door.

"Saved by the captain." Archie said grabbing his hat and heading for the door.

"Not so fast, Mr. Kennedy." Emma reached out and grabbed his arm. "As soon as your finished meeting with Captain Pellew, I expect to see you back here and ready to be poked and prodded."

Archie grimaced, but nodded.