Christmas Eve 1803 by Clonesgirl
'Hotspur' was safely at anchor at Portsmouth and Commander Horatio Hornblower had seen to the needs of his ship and her men. It was a week until Christmas and most of the fleet was now in port. Winter gales had set in and 'Hotspur' had been through some very rough weather. She was somewhat battered, as were her officers and men, but she had survived well. He had reported aboard the flagship only to learn that the Admiral had been called away to meetings at the Admiralty but that he should be back within the week.
A long, frustrating week had passed. It was now Christmas Eve and still no word from the Admiral. Hornblower fidgeted. Tomorrow was Christmas Day and he wondered if he would be spending it alone aboard ship. Finally in the afternoon a message arrived by special courier. As he eagerly opened the package and read the brief note his heart leapt.
Commander Hornblower,
You are now on special assignment. My coach will collect you at four bells of the evening watch. Be prepared, sir.E.P.
Quickly, he tucked the note away inside his pocket and again checked his travel bag to ensure that he had packed everything he would need, including the small Christmas gift he had procured the last time 'Hotspur' had made port in Gibraltar. It was vital that nothing of value be left behind for the dock workers would be crawling all over his ship and they were well known for having light fingers.He had already farewelled Lieutenant Bush who was going home to be with his family for Christmas and almost all the crew had now left. Midshipman Orrock would be in charge for another week until the repair crews took over.
*
The sky was overcast and it appeared as if it might snow, or at least sleet, as Hornblower stood waiting in the dark, his cloak wrapped closely around him as the wind bit into him. Not a soul was to be seen in the gloom though he could hear the drunken revels from a nearby inn. He found himself pacing up and down, stamping his booted feet and rubbing his gloved hands in an effort to keep warm as thoughts of the days to come filled his mind. The days - and the nights, he mused. The nights when he would be able to spend every night in his lover's large bed; when they could take their time loving one other. Pellew had once told him that the giving of pleasure was an art unto itself and required careful study. He had taken that advice to heart and he always felt compelled to learn more and still more. This would be their first leave together in four long years and he would learn much, he thought, as he waited impatiently in the cold Portsmouth evening.
Some twenty minutes later a large, black coach rounded the bend and headed towards him. As it pulled up alongside him and he saw the coat of arms on the door he knew that it was Pellew's own personal carriage, the larger one that he used for long trips. As the driver jumped down and greeted him cheerily he saw that it was John whom he had not seen in four years now. As the man took his bag and opened the door for him he saw the lamps lit within - and saw quite clearly that he would not be travelling alone after all.
As Hornblower entered the roomy coach his heart leapt for there to greet him was his lover, Admiral Sir Edward Pellew.
"Edward! I thought that you would have gone straight home from London before sending for me."
Pellew was smiling at him. "I was in meetings until noon this very day, so I came to collect you, my dear. I only regret that I was called away and was not in port to greet you."
Hornblower removed his hat and cloak and sat down beside him.
"Oh, but you are cold!" He covered Hornblower with a heavy quilt that he had been using himself so that they now shared it. "Come. Let us be comfortable. Forgive my tardiness but I thought perhaps you would be cold - and, unfortunately, I see that I was right. Therefore I stopped at the Boar's Head to get you something warm to drink. Here." He produced a flask. "Drink, my dear. This will warm you."
Hornblower removed his gloves, holding the hot little metal flask in both hands. As he raised it to his lips he smelt the delicious aroma of strong coffee mixed with something even stronger, if his tongue did not deceive him.
Pellew smiled. "I know how you love coffee."
Hornblower took a swig. "Mm. Irish coffee if I'm not mistaken."
Pellew grinned. "Drink up, my boy."
"Only if you will share some with me, sir." He offered Pellew the flask and watched as he took a swig before handing it back to him.
Hornblower took two more long swigs before putting the flask down. "Let us save some for later."
"Indeed. We have a long trip ahead of us and I do not like the look of the sky. I believe we shall have snow before morning. This will be a cold and wet night."
Hornblower shifted closer to his lover as Pellew took his cold hands in his own warm ones and rubbed them vigorously.
"I had thought to travel alone and to sleep and conserve my strength."
"Of course you may sleep if you wish, my dear boy."
Hornblower slowly shook his head. "But I find that I am still cold and in need of warming, sir."
Pellew shifted closer still. "Indeed you are still cold, my dear." He tucked the quilt higher around his lover and embraced him.
"I need only you to warm me, sir."
As Pellew's soft lips touched his cold cheeks, familiar warm breath gusting softly against his frozen ears, he found his body immediately responding.
"Edward. My Edward," he sighed, as their lips met, arms steadying each other against the movement of the coach.
"Darling boy, how I've missed you."
They continued to kiss, their smiles and sighs of pleasure betraying their happiness.
"Dearest boy, did you know that the seats extend to form a comfortable bed?"
Hornblower grinned as a delicious heat coursed through him. "Indeed not, sir. Comfortable you say?"
"Indeed, sir, I believe that you will find it more than adequate."
Hornblower, long familiar with Pellew's ways, detected his heightened breathing and heard the slight catch in his breath. "Oh, sir..." he sighed, kissing his commanding officer's cheeks.
Pellew's lips touched his ear in a light kiss. "Mr Hornblower," he whispered, "have you ever made love... in a moving carriage... at night?"
