Chapter Thirty-One

"Where is the little coward?" Simpson asked with a cruel smile as Emma made her way past the table. It snapped the last of her control.

"Mr. Simpson. You are a loathsome creature." She spat looking down at him as he sat smugly in his chair. Emma took his drink off the table and dumped its contents onto his lap. Grabbing her coat, Emma stomped outside, much preferring the snowy cold to the oppressive tension in the inn. Besides, fury blazed in the pit of her stomach, warming her. She blinked back tears of anger. How could Horatio have so little regard for her as to risk his life so willingly? To put himself directly in the path of Simpson's bullet. Couldn't he see that Simpson could easily kill him? Did Horatio's honor mean so bloody much that he'd risk leaving her alone, at Simpson's mercy?

Emma was cursing all men when she heard the door open behind her. She turned to see Clayton. Her husband's accomplice, Emma thought sourly. She defiantly turned away from him.

"If you've come in my husband's stead thinking to pacify me, you're wasting your time, Sir."

"That's not why I'm here." Clayton assured her. She threw him a skeptical glare and the corner of his mouth lifted. "Well, not entirely, as it were." He admitted. "Your husband did send me to see to you, thinking that you'd be more likely to do him personal injury than a man twice your age." Emma bit back a smile, trying to maintain her scowl. "That's a bold assumption, Sir. I'm furious with the whole lot of you." She insisted.

"Aye, well that much is evident. But I have a proposal for you that will perhaps endear me into your good graces once again." Clayton said with a small grin.

"Go on." She pressed.

"I will fight the duel in his stead." Clayton told her. Emma stared up at him, caught off guard.

"Horatio will never allow-" Emma began but he interrupted her.

"If you could find some way to keep him here. Lock him in one of the rooms or something of that nature then I can finish our business with Simpson and we can put this whole unpleasant mess behind us."

"But it's so dangerous." Emma said nervously even as a tiny flicker of hope began inside of her.

"Simpson is a better shot than your husband. But I am a better shot than Simpson. I should have taken action against that bast- Oh, pardon me, ma'm, years ago. He would have never have put his foul hands...ah no use mourning that which we cannot change. I shall make amends now and I mean to. With your help. Are we agreed, Mrs. Hornblower?" Henry Clayton extended his hand. Emma was so moved by Clayton's willingness to help Horatio that she felt tears come to her eyes while she squeezed his hand.

"Agreed, Sir."

Emma knew that Horatio would be furious with her when it was all over but given the choice between Angry Horatio and Dead Horatio, his anger would suit her just fine.

Horatio looked at her hesitantly when she entered the empty room he had occupied to refresh himself. She smiled under the guise of wifely tranquility and told him that all was forgiven while she fingered the vial in her pocket.

Horatio, being newly married did not understand the danger in that sudden tranquility and was relieved.

"I'll just be glad when we're back on board the Indy." Emma said. "I brought you some tea." She held up the laced up and moved it towards him.

"Thank you. I had feared you were still sore at me." Horatio said taking the cup and drinking from it.

"I understand that you're doing what you feel you must." As am I. She added silently, willing the powder to work quickly.

Jack had gone ahead with the man he had chosen to be his second and they were to meet them at the agreed upon spot.

It took the powder roughly ten minutes to begin to have the desire effect. Horatio began to yawn and blink as he readied his pistols. "Goodness, I suppose those hours in the rigging are beginning to catch up with me." He said, the statement followed by another yawn.

"Perhaps you should sit down." Emma suggested, not wanting him to drop on the floor and hurt himself.

"Hmmm. Just for a moment. " He agreed sitting on the edge of the cherry wood bed. He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear them but Emma could see the exhaustion beginning to claim him.

"Perhaps you should lie down and take a minute to compose yourself. You don't want to make any dangerous mistakes." Emma offered pushing his shoulders backwards onto the mattress.

"Quite right." Horatio agreed, closing his eyes. In another minute, he was snoring.

Emma moved quickly, pulling Horatio's legs up onto the bed. Closing the door, she left her husband safely asleep and met Archie and Clayton in the corridor.

"Is he out?" Archie asked, having been briefed on the change in plan.

"Ooooh he is going to be so mad at me!" Emma cringed following them down the stairs. But at least he'd be alive, she assured herself.

The three of them were silent while the carriage made it's way to the dueling spot. If Clayton was nervous, he didn't show it. Emma wanted to take his hand to provide some reassurance but decided against the gesture. It be best not to remind him of his nervousness if he was doing his best to put it out of his mind.

"We're here." Archie announced. Emma's stomach gave a nervous clench. Clayton would be fine. He wouldn't have suggested taking Horatio's place if he wasn't confident in his ability to best Simpson, Emma told herself. Emma held on to that thought as the carriage came to a stop. Archie took her hand and helped her out.

The cold air bit her cheeks and her breath came in white clouds but at least the snow had ceased.

"Well, where is he?" Simpson asked.

"I will be shooting in his stead." Clayton announced.

"You mean the little coward has pissed himself?" Emma bristled at Simpson's words but Archie held her still.

One of the men in charge of the recruiting party had been made overseer of the duel and he now spoke up.

"I'm not sure you can do that, Sir." He objected.

"He's Horatio's designated second." Archie insisted.

"And you're not afraid of me, are you Jack?" Clayton asked locking eyes with Jack Simpson. The two men stared at each other, locked in a silent battle of wills until the overseer spoke again.

"Alright then. If you're ready, gentlemen."

Emma swallowed hard, her hand going to the ribbon at her neck. It gave her courage that regardless of the outcome, she had done the right thing. She gave silent thanks that Horatio was far away from this terrible scene.

"Ten paces, men." The man instructed.

A.N:

Camreyn: Thanks as always for your great feedback. Hope you enjoy this chapter! I could tell you what happens, but I don't think you want me to. (laughs)

Riva: (hides from death monkeys) (peeks out) I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks so much for your feedback. Emma is one of my favorite female leads that I've written so far. I enjoy slash and there is some beautiful Horatio/Archie out there but I'm not ready to do that to them just yet. I love love stories so I decided to plunk a female lead on the boat cause I think that's the fun of imagination. You really can go anywhere. I personally enjoy strong female characters and those are the stories I like to read about so I took one of my favorite fandoms , Horatio Hornblower and wrote the type of story I would love to read.