There was no time to fret over Archie's words, or even gather the normal unease he should have felt at meeting the boy's family, noble or not. The carriage lurched for only a few streets more before rumbling to an abrupt stop. Kennedy did not wait for the coachman, but threw the door open, and jumped down, heedless of the puddles.

Horatio was more cautious as he stepped out, blinking against the rain as he stared up at the stone steps of the Kennedy residence. Even by lantern-light it was extremely grand. A couple boys were spilling up from the kitchen entrance, while above, a very solemn looking man opened wide the double doors just ahead of Archie's bounding pace.

He hardly had the chance to glance about at the cobbled street, lined with identical homes, each reaching several stories about the pavement and looking together like one single building with a hundred lit windows.

"Come Hornblower, the lads will get our chests and bags, and we're letting in the air." Archie was waiting impatiently at the top, disappearing inside as he followed. The man at the door, older than his own father, shut out the night behind him, and then Archie was stripping off hat and greatcoat, and urging him to do the same, before they passed through the entry and into the main hall.

The two story room was humbling, brightly lit and dominated by a great staircase leading up to a gallery around the second floor, where he could see a series of doorways. Everywhere was polished wood or stone, the walls hung with drapes where there were not paintings. He'd never been anywhere half so luxurious in his life, and could only stand and stare, self-conscious of his crumpled jacket and afraid to look down and see what mess his wet shoes were making of the carpet. Archie was chattering at the servant who had let them in, and Horatio was vaguely aware of his name being mentioned, when his attention was more thoroughly captured by a girl's head poking out of an upstairs doorway.

The head, piled with curls in a familiar hue, was quickly followed by the rest of her, charging down the stairs without a care for her expensive looking white frock. "Archie! You're home safe!" The girl flung herself into her brother's arms. Horatio had several moments to discern the relationship, as they hugged and kissed with an affection he found alarming. They could be twins, though he knew from Kennedy they were not. She was plump, and small, and had the same tiny nose and high cheekbones, and a smile he had seen many times, which was bestowed on him in turn, along with a pair of very curious gray eyes.

"Archie, you have brought us your Mr. Hornblower. Is he come to stay?"

"I believe he has." Archie's broad grin dared him to deny it. "Horatio, may I introduce you to my second sister, Miss Kennedy. Anne, as you have guessed, this is Horatio Hornblower." She made a very pretty curtsy, and Horatio remembered just in time to bow.

"Robert is still at his club, but John is above with mother and father. They'll be waiting, you should come up."

"No avoiding it until after a cup of tea?"

"You are too late for tea, you must do without." Anne wrapped her arm through Archie's, and urged him back up the stairs. Horatio trailed behind, as they went through the doors at the top into a large sitting room. There was an instrument in one corner, and several couches, chairs, and tables scattered about, but his gaze went first to the occupants of the room. Standing was an older gentleman, in an expensive suit that did not entirely conceal that this was a powerful man, gone slightly soft with age. Graying hair was pulled back in a sailor's queue, and the Earl's posture, hands clasped behind, gaze distant, recalled the quarterdeck.

Seated together nearby was a small woman, no doubt Archie's mother, and one of her sons. Some years older than Horatio, John had dark hair and the father's sharp nose, though wide-set light brown eyes gave a much gentler aspect to the young man's features. The Countess was a very sweet looking lady, with those same brown eyes, but her daughter's face, only blurred with age.

Horatio was aware of Archie pulling up stiff and straight beside him. "Father, mother, may I present my good friend, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, lately of the Justinian, but who will sail with me on the Indefatigable as well. Mr. Hornblower, The Earl and Countess of Cassillis, and my brother, Mr. John Kennedy."

He bowed low, feeling horridly awkward. The Earl only gave him a perfunctory nod, but the Countess smiled at him, and seemed pleased enough to meet him, while John Kennedy got up to shake his hand, and then clapped Archie on the back.

The Earl cut into the greetings. "We expected you an hour ago, Alexander. Left Portsmouth late, did you?" Horatio looked about, expecting some other brother come into the room, but Archie answered.

"Not at all, sir. We left quite early, but hit the rain early as well. I think we made good time for all of that. Do we have time to wash up before dinner?" Archie addressed the last to the Countess.

"More than an hour. Will you be joining us for dinner, Mr. Hornblower, or do you have your own family here in town expecting you? If you do not, you are quite welcome."

Archie quickly answered for him. "I've invited Horatio to stay until Monday, mother. I've promised to show him a bit of London before he is consigned to the wilds of Kent for the rest of his leave."

Horatio cursed Archie silently, but didn't quite have the nerve to contradict the boy in front of others. "Only if it will not be an inconvenience, ma'am, sir." He winced at the tardy realization that he should have used lord and lady, instead.

The Earl overlooked the offense, being busy glaring at his friend. The Countess just smiled at him wider, and patted the cushion beside her. "No inconvenience at all. I wouldn't dare send a young man away to the country without giving him a chance to see the city. Why don't you come sit with me, you must be tired from the trip. Anne, ring the bell."

He did as he was asked, of course, and sat beside the Countess for some minutes, while she arranged their rooms with the maid, and then asked him very kind questions about his father, and Kent. She had a much stronger American accent than the Earl or her children, and a very friendly, chatty manner, not at all how he thought a noblewoman, or even a rich one, ought to be. He liked her very much, and when Kennedy came to stand near, and her hand reached up without thinking to take her son's, Horatio couldn't help feeling a sudden envy of his friend.

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