Disclaimer: Please see Chapter One. The use of Tortuga is not from Pirates of the Caribbean, Tortuga was a real pirating and privateering port.

A/N: And please! Review!

Chapter Two: The Lady Edrington

She had heard stories about the young—some called him upstart—Captain of the Hotspur, the young girls at various society balls often giggled and swooned over mentions of his cunning and heroic deeds. "It was a pity," They all murmured, "That he's married, and to such a common, plump little thing, like a fisherman's wife, hardly a lady at all. Some Maria." It was this little tidbit that had interested her at the time, for a successful naval officer to marry anyone less than a society lady was odd. What sort of man would take such a risk? Was it love? Or passion? Some lust? All the above? But peering at the Horatio Hornblower in front of her...she was a little disappointed, there was nothing of the impressive stories in this flustered person. Rather, he seemed...slightly awkward.

Isabelle smirked.


Horatio stopped at the sight of the girl—woman—lady in front of him. She was horribly scarred, burn tissue across the right side of her face. Yet, there was a twinkle in her eye and he had the oddest sensation that she was seizing him up. And he wasn't sure if he liked her conclusion.

"Right, er—" Horatio winced as he fumbled.

"This is Lady Isabelle Edrington, my sister, and that," at this Lord Edrington, indicated the black ship bobbing in the water behind them "Is my ship. The Libertine. And here..." He took a sealed letter out of his jacket and handed it to Horatio. "Is your new commission, Mr. Hornblower, courtesy of Admiral Bane."

Horatio opened the parchment, finger sliding under the heavy wax, and quickly scanned the document. The ship Libertine...owned by Lord Edrington II...shall escort passenger, Lady Edrington...venture to Caribbean...protection of vessel and passenger—

He stopped and carefully re-read the statement. Shall escort the Lady Edrington as a passenger aboard the sloop Hotspur and look to the safe return of passenger and the ship Libertine to the port of Tortuga...so, he hadn't misread. Startled he glanced up to find said passenger Lady Edrington watching him with an amused expression. She was quite lovely actually, beautiful even, despite…but his gaze had lingered too long and Lady Edrington frowned breaking eye contact.

"Questions...Mr. Hornblower?" Colonel Edrington asked, "You seem confused."

Horatio blushed. "No, my lord. I was just somewhat surprised...this, this vessel is yours?" He looked to Edrington questioningly.

"Yes." At this question Lord Edrington was actually starting to look a little uncomfortable himself, but recovered quickly. "A prize ship, French. Are you questioning the taste of a nobleman Mr. Hornblower? Most impolite."

"Ha—h'm, uh. No, I was jus—," Horatio realized Edrington's teasing tone, once again, he was being too serious. Blushing again, he fidgeted with his next question: "May I inquire as to why the Lady Edrington and the Libertine are traveling to Tortuga? Surely a known pirate port is no place for a lady."

"Yes, that." Edrington paused and glanced at his sister. "Well, our family actually has a friend in that area, not a pirate of course, a privateer, he will take my sister on to Port Royal, where she will be visiting family, the ship is meant for him, for his efforts in wartime for the British Empire. He was injured in the last battle, and cannot come himself. A Captain Abraham Blauvelt, I'm sure you'll have heard of him."

Yes, Horatio had heard of the man. He was the dapper sort, a 'reformed sinner', pirate turned privateer, and completely untrustworthy. But, he was endorsed by the crown, and apparently, by the Edringtons as well.

"Very well, my lord. Lady Edrington, I shall be honored to have you as my guest aboard the Hotspur. I must beg your pardon, if we are to leave by the next day I need to complete the resupply of my ship. I wish you goodday." With that, Horatio made a small bow to the Lady and the Colonel then turned, briskly exiting as he came.


They were seated in the parlor of their Portsmouth estate, taking in the afternoon tea, when Edrington spoke up.

"Isabelle, you do understand that you must be of the utmost discretion in this matter, I've already put a lot on the line getting you out of that Spanish hellhole and recovering the Hurricane. Now this. I cannot risk anymore." Lord Edrington stared at his sister almost pleadingly. "When will you give up this silly adventure of yours and settle down? You are of marrying age Bella! No more!"

Isabelle Edrington glared at her brother, "A silly adventure? Settle down? Into what? An insipid life of tea parties and tight gowns? Smiling and fanning until I go mad? Or shall I gulp down the laudanum like mother?" She softened at Edrington's worried frown. "I know you're concerned, but this is right for me. You know that I would not allow any man to bind me, I'd only get worse." She chuckled a little.

"I want you to be happy, Isabelle."

"I am happy."

"I want you to be secure." Lord Edrington insisted.

"Life's too short to waste 'being secure'," Isabelle answered with a wry grin. "Besides, how else to better annoy my exceedingly proper older brother? Than to be Isabelle Du Lac, the scourge of the seven seas!"


Lt. Bush didn't quite know what to do with the distraught Captain. He'd only seen him like this one other time, on Horatio wedding day. He paced and fidgeted and sighed, until Bush could take no more.

"Sir, are you alright?"

"What? Oh, er, right, yes, I'm quite fine, thank you Mr. Bush. Now, we'll need to hasten the supplies, I've just been commissioned to escort Lady Edrington and the ship Libertine to Tortuga, we leave the next day. If you would make sure my cabin is suitably outfitted, that would be appreciated." Horatio concluded with a quick nod.

"A passenger, sir?" Bush was puzzled, the Hotspur was not some travel vessel, what business did a Lady Edrington have aboard it?

"Not quite just a passenger, the Colonel Edrington's sister, we're to take her to Captain Abraham Blauvelt, and the Libertine as his prize for his efforts on behalf of the crown. It's a reasonable commission Mr. Bush." Horatio looked at his most trusted lieutenant, a slight plea in his eyes.

"Of course sir, I'll get right to it." Bush smiled and left the room.


The next morning came with a light breeze, some sun and a good prospect for sailing. Horatio smiled and watched as the last of the supplies finally made it below decks. He and Lt. Bush had come on board early that morning (after a meeting with Colonel Edrington with last minute details about the trip and his sister, he apologized as he was not going to be able to send her off properly, he'd just recieved a dispatch and needed to prepare) to make sure there wasn't anything missing or out of place with their slightly rushed schedule. Now it's was only a matter of waiting for Lady Edrington to arrive.

Finally, Midshipman Orrock pointed out the rowboat heading towards the Hotspur, a frilly hat and head visible over the men's heads. There were only two modest trunks visible, and for that, Horatio was grateful, women of the upper class were known for their extensive luggage. As the the boat drew closer he began to recover some of that fluster that had come over him the previous afternoon. And as Lady Edrington was being hoisted up on deck, he only became more nervous. So preoccupied with seeming composed, he did not notice his First Lieutenant's face as he caught sight of the young lady.

Nor did he catch Lady Edrington's own peculiar reaction.


A/N: I ask again, please review! At least let me know if it's bad.