When Mr.Hornblower and the Captain returned and they bought good news. Mr.Hornblower was to captain the Le Reve. Well, this came as sort of a surprise to Annabelle. Why would Captain Pellew want to take this action? Some sort of mission? Indeed. It was a mission. The Le Reve and its crew was to carry a Duchess back to England safely. Surely, she would have a safer time aboard a ship of the enemy. That way, no Frogs or Spainors alike would try to capture the Le Reve. Annabelle was thrilled upon learning that a Duchess was to be aboard. However, she was appalled by the behavior of the crew when the Duchess first came aboard. The crew could nothing but stare! As a wide grin spread across Styles' face, Annabelle nudged him in the ribs and gave a roll of the eyes. When the crew went back to their work, they could only talk about the Duchess.

"Very handsome, she is." Matthews said.

"Will make a fine wife to a lucky fellow." Oldroy added.

"Can we all turn our attention towards sailing the ship to England? We are suppose to offer the Duchess a passage to England. Unless you would all rather her stay aboard and stare at her if she were some prize horse."

Annabelle left the deck and went below. She sat in her hammock where Styles came and sat next to her.

"I see no reason for you all to stare at her all day. She's just a woman. Just as I am. None of you have even looked at me in such a manner. Almost as if you were undressing me. It sickens me."

"The way we look at her? Or the way we don't look at you?"

"A little of both, I suppose. Mr.Styles, I know I have said that I hated being surrounded by many suitors and hearing them talking about me and staring at me but. I still do hate the very thought, but...The Duchess makes me wonder. Why do I feel this way? Why do I feel as if I am ugly?"

"Hey, none of that talk, alright? You're beautiful. A beautiful-"

"Young lady? Is that what I shall always be, Mr.Styles? Some little child who must be called beautiful only by her parents and male companions? I don't want to hear that I'm beautiful, I want to believe that I am. I just didn't know it until I saw the Duchess. Gorgeous eyes, beautiful hair. Look at me! I'm nothing short of thilf."

"Annabelle, you won't believe your beautiful until you see what we see."

"What do you see, Mr.Styles?"

"I see a young...a woman who is as beautiful inside as she is out. She's just lost. She needs to see herself and not what she doesn't want to see. Come with me."

Annabelle followed Styles to deck. They both looked at the ocean.

"What do you see?"

"I see my reflection."

"A mighty pretty reflection. Annie, you're a beautiful woman. You shouldn't be jealous."

"You're right, Mr.Styles. I shouldn't. I'd better help the Duchess get settle into her quarters."

Annabelle worked with helping the Duchess get settle into her quarters almost all of the evening. The Duchess kept observing her.

"Is there something wrong, miss?" Annabelle asked.

"I was only wondering why I cannot have that shade of auburn hair. I haven't had that color since I was your age, my dear girl."

"Girl? You called me a girl, miss."

"You may fool the crew of this ship but I can see a good act. Come sit with me."

Annabelle nodded and sat in the Duchess' hammock. The Duchess ran her fingers through Annabelle's hair and made a small clicking sound with her tongue.

"What a pity. To keep that beautiful hair all tight in knots. Well, I will see it is proper."

The Duchess grabbed a brush and then unbraided Annabelle's hair.

"What are you doing?"

"Braided or not. Your hair must be brushed. Don't tell me you have not been taking proper care of your gorgeous locks."

"Aboard the Indefatigable. I have no time to think of hair. I have so many chores and there seems to be many battles during the day that I-"

"Oh, it's understandable, my dear. Years aboard something as vile as a frigate would make you forget your duties as not a boy, but as a lady of England."

"I would hardly call the Indefatigable "vile," my lady. It has been my home for almost three years. I do enjoy the company of most of the crew. Besides, I'm treated well."

"I see. Miss uh..."

"Annabelle, my lady."

"Annabelle. How did you end up on a ship? Why are you not in England? Preparing yourself for a marriage."

"Well, I would rather be a spinister then not marry for true love. So, I ran off to seek adventure. I've been forunate enough to find it."

"Do you not miss your home? I could tell Mr.Hornblower and-"

"Oh, please don't, my lady. I don't want to go home. I want to stay in Captain Pellew's services. It may seem unusual, but I am happy where I am."

"No worries, Annabelle. I woud never tell your secret. Besides, most people have secrets and most prefer to keep it that way. You are no different."

"Do you have a secret, my lady?"

"Indeed. Oh, but I shouldn't trouble you with that. Now, let me fix your hair and you go straight to your hammock. No excuses. You look terribly exhausted."

"Goodnight, my lady."

Annabelle got up and left the cabin. She then went to her hammock and fell soundly asleep. The next morning, she woke up. Annabelle was so use to feeling the sun on her forehead every morning, that she got concerned when she could feel nothing but a cold breeze. It was probably fog. She got out of her hammock and went to deck, sure enough there was a morning fog. She saw Mr.Styles and Mr.Hunter were already on deck.

"Mr.Hunter, what is-"

"Quite, Farleigh." Mr.Hunter whispered.

"Pardon, sir, why are we whispering?"

"Do you not hear the Eagles?"

"Eagles, sir?"

"The Spanish." Styles whispered.

Annabelle listened closely and heard the voices of Spanish soldiers. Annabelle was about to speak, but Styles covered her mouth.

"Silence, Farleigh. Styles, go below and wake Mr.Hornblower." Mr.Hunter ordered.

"Aye, aye, sir."

Styles went to find Mr.Hornblower. Mr.Hunter sat Annabelle down.

"Quiet, boy. Or you'll be thrown overboard. Am I clear?"

"Aye, sir."

Soon, Mr.Styles and Mr.Hornblower came to deck. Mr.Hornblower and Mr.Hunter spoke in whisper. Pretty soon, Mr.Hornblower thought of a plan. They would slip into their French clothing again and raise a French flag, in hopes that the Eagles would buy into the plan. Soon, the Duchess came to deck just as the Spanish ship was drawing closer. Mr.Hornblower began speaking in French to the Spanish captain.

"He's offering us his his assistance. God damn him to hell." Mr.Hornblower said.

"We've got to get out of this!" Annabelle said to Oldroy.

"We will. Mr.Hornblower will get us out."

Annabelle soon spotted another Spanish ship. She was growing worried and finally realized...

"It's a trap." Annabelle whispered.

"Sir? There up to something, sir." Matthews said.

Annabelle noticed that one of the Spanish captains was signaling with his hand.

"They're signaling, sir." Matthews said.

"What are they signaling?" Mr.Hornblower asked.

"She's loading her ports, sir."

Pretty soon, one of the ships opened its ports to reveal cannons. The longboat, carrying some crew of one of the Spanish ships, was growing closer. Mr.Hornblower spoke French again, it seemed he was trying to convince them of the act.

"We know who you are. Surrender or we fire." The Spanish captain said.

Mr.Hornblower continued to try to talk them down, before a cannon was fire and had hit one of the sails. Then another cannon, which blew a small hole into the ship and caused one of the crewmen to sustain an injury. Annabelle knelt at his side and tried to wrap his wounds.

"Oldroy, hold down the colors." Mr.Hornblower said.

"Aye, aye, sir."

Annabelle was so distracted that she did notice that the crewman had died. She sighed and covered him with a blanket. Mr.Hornblower went below for awhile and returned shortly with the Duchess. Annabelle could tell they were hiding something, just by the way they looked at one another. Pretty soon, the Spanish crew came aboard and the Captain stood before Mr.Hornblower.

"Do I have your surrender?" The Captain asked.

"Acting Lieutenant Horatio Hornblower of His Majesty's frigate the Indefatigable, at your services, sir." Mr.Hornblower said.

With that, Mr.Hornblower handed his sword to the Spanish captain and bowed politely, as did the Captain.

"Well, Mr.Hornblower, your rules almost succeeded. You play the rules of war very loose, sir."

"I play to win, sir."

"But here you are."

Pretty soon, the Duchess appeared.The Spanish men seemed to be a bit fascinated with her.

"Who is this lady, sir?" The captain asked.

"Her Grace, the Duchess of Wharfedale." Mr.Hornblower said.

"We will take Le Reve, Mr.Hornblower. I'm sure my Captain will be delighted to entertain our duquesa. However, you and your men will be put ashore. I'm sure you will be able to find your prison, to keep you safe for the rest of the war." The captain said.

"Don't bet on it, mate." Styles said.

Pretty soon, one of the soldiers knocked Styles on the head with his gun. All of Mr.Hornblower's crew, including Annabelle, was taken ashore to a Spanish prison. When they first made land, the Spanish were incredibly rude. They began shouting insults and throwing food at them. They were all placed in different cells. Annabelle, Matthews, Styles, and Oldroy were sent to one cell. While Mr.Hornblower and Mr.Hunter were sent to another.

"How did it come to this?" Annabelle asked her friends.

"It's all Mr.Hornblower's doing."

"You musn't blame him, Mr.Oldroy. Not every plan can be perfect. Everything has a fault. Unforunately, this fault has landed us in prison. I have no worries, Mr.Hornblower will get us out.

"I'm with Annabelle. We must wait this out until Mr.Hornblower thinks of an escape." Matthews said.

"Or we get hanged."

Later in the evening, Annabelle felt terrible for Mr.Hornblower. So she went to the prison wall and held her face to it.

"Mr.Hornblower? Do you hear me, sir?"

"Loud and clear, Farleigh."

"I know you believe you are at fault, but you aren't. The Eagles were bound to catch us one day. We couldn't run. Just as we can't run from the Frogs. Besides, prison doesn't seem so bad. I can last maybe a year in here without food. Do you remember two months ago? When we hadn't had enough food for almost four months? We all survived then. We survived the plague, Mr.Hornblower. That's got to mount for something."

"Thank you for the encouragement, Farleigh."

"It's a lost cause." Another voice broke in.

"Mr.Hornblower? Was that your cellmate?"

"Indeed. You won't believe who it is."

"Who?"

"Take a look."

Annabelle searched the wall for a loose stone and finally found one. She removed it and saw a pale man laying on a bed. He looked sick and tired, he seemed a bit frail in the mind as well. Annabelle finally recongized him.

"Good god. Mr.Kennedy." Annabelle gasped.

"Good evening, Charles." Mr.Kennedy said.

"A pleasure to see you, sir."

Suddenly, Annabelle heard footsteps approaching. She quickly placed the stone back and laid back down. Matthews saw Annabelle had gone completely white.

"Annabelle, what's wrong? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

"I have, Mr.Matthews. I have seen a ghost."