Chapter Thirty-Three

"Well, I'm glad you're proud of yourself, Emma." Horatio hissed.

"How dare you? How dare you talk to me about pride. That is your sin, not mine. If it wasn't for your pride and Archie's pride we wouldn't be in this mess. If you had gone to the captain about Simpson in the first place things never would have escalated to this point. How can you put this on my shoulders? Emma asked, her eyes filling with tears. "You keep forgetting that marriage isn't just about me doing what you say-" She ignored his snort of derision. "But it's about the husband protecting the wife. How did you intend to do that if Simpson killed you? So yes, when Clayton came to me suggesting he take your place, I agreed!" Emma snapped brushing the tears from her cheeks.

Horatio was prevented from making a reply by Archie who was now running towards them.

"They've done it! They've actually killed him." His peach colored cheeks were bright red from more than the cold and his eyes were two dancing sapphires.

"What?" Emma asked a little taken a back by Archie's blood thirstiness. "Who killed whom?"

"The French have murdered their king. The attack on us was a preview. It means war. We're at war!" The man was practically giddy, Emma observed with a sinking stomach.

She knew the men were beginning to grow restless from the lack of action but the attack yesterday had put an end to the peace. Emma had to prepare herself now for repeats of the carnage she had experienced the day before. God help me. She didn't know if she could handle it. The chaos of caring for wounded and dying men, distracted by the fear that those she cared for were above and could be taken from her by a bullet or sword in the space of a heartbeat. Well, you knew that when you came aboard, didn't you? Yes, but that doesn't mean that I'm glad of it. Her worry must have shown on her face because Horatio took her hand and squeezed it. All earlier anger and resentment forgotten, replaced by worry instead.

Captain Pellew was furious when the four of them returned without Clayton and when they told him why. He informed them that their punishment would have to wait as Horatio and Jack were needed to command two boat crews on a night mission to capture a French ship.

"I think Captain Pellew is somehow convinced that the duel was somehow my fault." Emma said. He kept looking at me. Did you see? As if you men can't find your own messes without a woman being at the crux of it. Most unfair." Emma scowled.

Horatio was about to remind Emma that the reason Clayton had fought the duel was her fault but he thought it best to let that argument lie. James Stuart's words came back to haunt him. Indeed, his wife could be most illogical when emotional. He winced as she pulled the bandage from his forehead.

"Another few days and it should be all closed up." She pressed her fingers gently against his colorful jaw. "Tell me if this hurts." Emma said, pressing a bit more firmly.

"Only slightly. Bit of a throb." Horatio replied.

"She's meanin' the head above your shoulders, mate." One of the injured men joked as he waited his turn to be examined. Emma lowered her head and blushed furiously at the insinuation.

"Watch your tongue, Heather." Horatio warned firmly but his own face had warmed as well. Damn the French. Thanks to the attack, the sick berth was full to capacity with injured seamen in various stages of recovery. He was sorely tempted to take his lovely wife and drag her off to the cargo hold, take her madly and have done with it. Scruples were a damned inconvenience, more so than his filthy minded shipmates who weren't so far off the mark. Double damn the French.

"These should start to fade tomorrow." Emma said. "It'll be nice to see your face again." Tomorrow. Horatio cringed inwardly. Would she still be here tomorrow? They Indy would be pulling into port at dawn. He'd sent a note to his father about his sudden nuptials and the news that Emma would be staying with the good doctor Hornblower. He didn't hold out much hope for his poor wife and wanted to make sure she'd be taken care of before Horatio set sail again. He, of course, said nothing of this to Emma who had been initially optimistic that she could bring his mates around but he could see the worry beginning to creep into her face and it pained him.

Logically, he understood the men's objections to having her on board and at first he had agreed with them but for the most part, Horatio was impressed with Emma's skill and could even improvise effeiceintly when medical supplies were low. Horatio bit back a smile at her joy when she'd acquired her new supplies. He hadn't remembered ever beaming like that himself.

He'd watched her silently during the card game and her face had looked as if she'd been lit from within. Horatio's smiled faded as he remembered the events of later that same day. Clayton. The guilt simmered deep inside of Horatio.

That was one of the major reasons that he wanted Emma off the Indy that cancelled out any romantic reasons that he rather she stayed. Clayton. Or more specifically, Simpson. Horatio could not continue to perform his duties if he was worried about keep that swine away from his wife. It was hard enough keeping the sick creature away from Archie and even that inevitably failed more often than not. Simpson would delight in defiling Emma at the first opportunity. The idea of his wonderfully passionate curious wife learning about the ways between men and women at the hands of Jack Simpson put murderous thoughts in Horatio's head.

Simpson wouldn't do it because he wanted her. Horatio knew better by now where Simpson's inclinations lay. He'd do it because it would be the most effective way to destroy Horatio.

It ate at Horatio's soul that he couldn't always keep that creature's filthy hands off his best friend. The younger man was like the brother Horatio never had. He'd been the first face Horatio had seen at the beginning of his naval career and the two had formed a deep friendship. Captain Pellew had often remarked, "If you've found Hornblower, you've found Kennedy." and vice versa. It had been that bond that Jack Simpson had latched on to and exploited. Horatio had taken dozens of beatings to purchase peace for Archie. He knew that Archie had done the same and more besides.

Now Simpson found a new weakness of Horatio's to exploit. No. Emma would be much better off with his father. Of course, Horatio kept this to himself. He didn't think that Emma would appreciate his opinion.

A.N.

Camreyn: Thanks as always for your lovely feedback. I thought since Clayton' s film line "You don't know half of what he's capable of." really brought home the idea that he more than likely knew what Simpson was doing to poor Archie. I wanted to aknowledge it and give Emma even more food for thought. She really is an innocent in that kind of evil so it genuinely would not occur to her. I wanted to plant more seeds to lead her to that conclusion though and she will get there.

Yep, Horatio knows she drugged him. They actually went as part of a recruiting party to get more sailors seeing as they just lost a crap load.

Horatio is really a rather calm sort of man so to be married to someone as fiery as Emma brings out the best and worst in him.

I figure out that it was two words, I just wasn't sure that it was the same in Britain or if Mr. Englishman had made a whoopsie. (smiles) So are you saying that in Britain it's the same? A lot is still two words. Lordy I hate grammar. (laughs)

An-Cat-Gaelige: Technically they've only been on board the Indy for two days. (laughs) I know it reads like a hell of a lot longer but I just keep coming up with stuff to happen before we get to the climax, so to speak. (smiles) Plus it'll be a lot better when they do finally get down to it if they're even closer than if they'd 'gone to town' on their wedding night. It will be tomorrow, but now, how many chapters that day will last, I can't guess. (laughs)