One Night in Gibraltar by Clonesgirl
Part II: Feminine Wiles
Their loving touches shattered by the intrusion, both men jerked apart, quickly rising. The Captain indicated that Hornblower should escape to his own room in haste, which he did, grabbing his bath sheet from the chair and shutting the door quietly behind him. As the knock sounded once more on the connecting door to the Duchess's room the Captain grabbed a dressing gown which had been left out for him and shouldered into it before opening the window wide, chancing a quick glance at his ship in the process. Barefoot, he padded to the connecting door.
The Duchess of Wharfedale greeted him warmly wearing only her undergarments.
The Captain took in her state of undress with some disquiet. "Your Grace! Is something amiss?"
"Oh, Sir Edward, sorry if I got you out of bed but I wondered if I might ask a favour?"
"Certainly, Your Grace."
"It's my stays. I've got the damn laces in a knot again," the Duchess complained. I wondered if you'd be so kind as to undo them for me?"
The Captain was slightly flustered by this turn of events. "Uh, yes, of course, Your Grace."
She turned around but he was obliged to ask her to step into the centre of the room where the light was better. With deft fingers he managed to undo the knotted jumble of the laces while privately wondering how on earth she had managed to get them so badly tangled for these knots would be a challenge to any sailor.
"There, Your Grace. You should have no trouble with it now."
She turned back to face him. "Oh, Sir Edward, how can I thank you!" She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Even more agitated, he managed to mutter, "I assure Your Grace it was no trouble at all."
"Tell me, Sir Edward," she murmured, "it must get lonely for you at sea for months on end. No one to comfort you."
To Captain Pellew's complete consternation her arms wound sinuously around his neck. He stepped back, at the same time endeavouring to gently remove her arms.
"I can assure Your Grace that I am far too busy with matters concerning my ship to even think about matters of the heart. We are in a war situation, as I am sure Your Grace realises."
"Yes, but you are ashore now, dear Captain. Surely you are at liberty to... relax?"
"Uh, that is as may be.." he retreated further until he was less than a foot away from the bed, and he had still not succeeded in removing her arms from his neck, "... but I assure you I am quite fatigued and must be up early in the morning."
"Oh, but, Sir Edward, are we never to be alone with one other?" she coaxed, once more stepping closer, causing Captain Pellew to completely lose his dignity as he toppled ungraciously onto the bed behind him, the Duchess falling on top of him, still with her arms around his neck.
"Oh, Sir Edward, this is more like it!" she purred, endeavouring to kiss him as he frantically turned his head to one side in an effort to avoid it. While doing so, to his horror he spotted the sandalwood oil. In their haste they had left the small phial on the bedside table, the cork lying beside it.
Overwhelmed by the woman's feel and the heady scent of her perfume, not to mention desperate that she not set eyes on the oil, Edward Pellew twisted his body so that they were now lying side by side, the Duchess now facing away from the offending oil.
"Madam! I mean Your Grace! For the sake of your dignity, and my own, I believe it ill behoves us to..." The rest of his words were smothered as she leaned forward and kissed him full on the lips. However, at that moment there was a knock on the connecting door to Hornblower's room. Both froze as the door promptly opened to reveal Hornblower in night attire and dressing gown.
"Captain, you requested..." Words failed Hornblower as he took in the sight before him. He had thought perhaps that his Captain might need his help to extricate himself from the clutches of the Duchess of Wharfedale, but to see them together on the bed closely embracing and in the act of pulling back from what had obviously been a kiss was more of a shock that he had anticipated.
"Mr Hornblower!"
Not even the site of the 'Papillon' coming to the aid of 'Indefatigable' when she had faced certain defeat at the hands of three French corvettes had engendered this much relief in her stalwart Captain. Taking the opportunity, he quickly escaped from the lady's embrace. Rising from the bed, he straightened his dressing gown and assumed a dignified air before gently lifting the Duchess to her feet.
"Sir, you requested to see me with regard to 'Le Reve's' manifest. However, if I am interrupting I can..."
"Oh, Mr Hornblower, I was just leaving, " the Duchess interjected. "Your gallant Captain came to my rescue when I slipped and fair lost my dignity."
"Your Grace gives me far too much credit," Captain Pellew insisted.
Pursing her lips, she seemed to consider for a moment. "Sir Edward, I have another favour to ask: I wonder if you'd mind changing rooms with me?"
Somewhat taken aback by this request, the Captain was in a quandary, most curious as to the reason for the lady's request.
"Is there something wrong with your room, Your Grace? I could send for a servant..."
"Uh, no, Sir Edward. It's... Oh, dear, this is a bit awkward! Well it's like this: It's Sir Huw," she whispered conspiratorially.
"What about Sir Huw?" the Captain inquired in all innocence, privately realising with a sinking feeling where this might be leading.
"He thinks he's still a young man but he's really a dirty old one!"
"But surely Your Grace is not serious!" the Captain murmured in all sympathy.
"Ah, but I am, Sir Edward! And Her Ladyship is suspicious!"
"Uh, I see." Rapidly, he thought of the bed, now surely scented with.... Also, if he changed rooms with her that would put her between himself and his lover and make it that much harder for them to get together without being seen as they would have to use the corridor. There was also the danger that if the Duchess had the room next to Hornblower's she might turn her amorous attentions to his beautiful young officer, and that would not do at all. Desperation begat inspiration.
"Your Grace, if it is your desire to avoid the attentions of Sir Huw this night, then perhaps it might be as well to get as far away as possible from your room. Mr Hornblower, would you be so kind as to change rooms with Her Grace for the night?"
Hornblower glanced at his Captain for guidance and saw the faint nod. "Uh, certainly, sir," he acquiesced, striding back into his room to retrieve his uniform and shoes while the Duchess thanked him and apologised for the inconvenience. However, it seemed to the Captain that she would somehow have preferred his own room rather than Hornblower's.
After fetching clothing and a few other items from her room the Duchess of Wharfedale bade them good night as she settled into Hornblower's room requesting only that they not tell Sir Huw that she had changed rooms.
As they said good-night and closed the connecting door, the Captain locked it with no small amount of satisfaction, slipping the key into his dressing gown pocket.
"And now to lock the other door. See to it, Mr Hornblower!"
Hornblower grinned. "Aye, aye, sir!"
However, before he could take two strides toward the door, there was a knock on the outer door.
"Damn! That could be Sir Huw!" the Captain realised. "You can not be seen in my room like this. Quickly! Under the bed!" he ordered. "I shall get rid of him as soon as possible."
"But, sir, could I not hide in the empty room?" Hornblower pleaded.
"And what if he has a key and enters it looking for Her Grace? I gave my word that we would not give away to Sir Huw the fact that she had moved. Now under the bed with you!" his Captain hissed.
Hornblower looked suitably dismayed but ran for the bed and managed to slide his long frame beneath it, though there was very little room. As he lay there in semi-darkness, hidden by the heavy, fringed flounce that fell to the floor he heard his Captain greet Sir Huw. He found he could see quite well through the fringe.
"Sir Edward, forgive the intrusion but I...."
He appeared to be looking for something - or someone - Hornblower concluded. No doubt Her Grace. He smiled to himself in his hiding place.
"Is there a problem, Sir Huw?"
"Uh, no. No, Sir Edward. However, I thought we should put our heads together and see if we can't come up with a strategy to prevent any more of these fireship attacks on Gibraltar."
"Uh, of course, sir!" Captain Pellew was forced to agree.
Under the bed Hornblower groaned quietly, forcing himself to relax for the next three quarters of an hour while the two senior officers discussed various tactics that might conceivably be employed to protect shipping in the very open harbour.
Finally, realising that it was now well after midnight, Sir Huw bade the Captain goodnight once more, apologising for disturbing his rest. He left the room and the Captain locked the door behind him.
Hornblower once again slithered out from under the large bed and dusted himself off to be greeted by his captain with a hug.
"Sir, do you think Sir Huw expected to find the Duchess in *your* room?" Hornblower inquired.
The Captain chuckled softly. "No doubt! And he no doubt suspects she's hiding in here somewhere. However, I doubt he will be back tonight. So let us enjoy what is left of this night, my dearest Mr Hornblower."
"Yes, sir!"
"Oh, and by the by, Mr Hornblower, you never heard a word of my conversation with Sir Huw," his Captain stated in most stern manner.
"What conversation was that, sir? I heard none," Hornblower responded in all sincerity.
"Good lad!"
The removal of clothing quickly accomplished, they adjourned to the bed once more to share kisses and the warmest of embraces, the younger man soon becoming most ardent in his affections.
"Oh, sir!" he sighed, giving a soft groan of pleasure as his Captain bent to suck his freshly washed and rampant flesh while pressing the firm roundedness beneath.
"Truly, man, you are a feast!" his Captain murmured between licks, his fingers running through the surrounding forest of crisp, black hair, feeling the curls coil gently around his fingers as though trying to trap them. "Beautiful!" He resumed his fervent sucking as Hornblower groaned.
"Shhh.... Quiet, my love," he whispered. "Remember, the Duchess is just through that door."
Hornblower nodded, gritting his teeth as his lover resumed his attentions to that part of him where all sensation was centred; the part that strained and yearned until he tossed his head in abandon, utterly consumed.
*
As his lover lay beside him quietly dozing Captain Pellew decided that he should get up and extinguish the candles, not to mention lock the connecting door to the room which had belonged to the Duchess. Forcing himself to remove the warm arms that were around him, not to mention the equally warm leg thrown over him, his actions elicited a grunt of protest from his comfortable lover who did not wish to be disturbed. Not withstanding, he got out of bed and put on his dressing gown once more. However, as he went toward the connecting door there was a soft tap at his own door. Frozen in mid step he listened anxiously as a man's voice called out in low tones, "Your Grace? Your Grace, it is I, James!"
Glancing at the bed, he saw that Hornblower had been awakened by the knock and was now standing beside it, already in his drawers and stepping into his breeches. With a quick gesture of his hand, the Captain indicated that his lover would once more have to spend time under the bed, as opposed to in it, which was far more preferable. Rolling his eyes heavenward, Hornblower once more lay down and slid under the bed.
The Captain opened the door wide to reveal one of the servants; a tall, dark-haired and quite handsome fellow.
"What is the meaning of this disturbance?" he demanded. "I did not ring."
"Oh, beg pardon, Captain Pellew sir, but... uh... I must have the wrong room. I believe it was Her Grace who sent for me."
"Next door!" the Captain barked in no uncertain terms.
"Thank you, sir. Apologies for disturbing you, sir."
Captain Pellew shut the door and locked it once more as Hornblower got out from under the bed once again.
"Mr Hornblower, do you suppose we shall get *any* sleep tonight?" He sounded resigned.
"I would not care to place a wager on it, sir. And what if Sir Huw returns?"
The Captain sniffed loudly. "Sir Huw has no doubt come to the conclusion that Her Grace must have moved to the other room and is quite likely plotting how to once more rejoin her without his good lady wife's knowledge!" He chuckled softly. "If she will have him!" he added. "Now we know why Her Grace wanted to change rooms!"
Hornblower appeared puzzled. "Sir, do you mean to imply that you believe Sir Huw has spent illicit time with the Duchess prior to tonight?"
The Captain nodded and smiled. "Otherwise why would his good wife be so concerned?"
"Of couse, you are right, sir. But do you mean that she asked to change rooms not just to put off Sir Huw but because she had an arrangement with...?" Comprehension dawned and he grinned widely.
"Quite, Mr Hornblower!" His Captain returned the smile, walking toward him, hands outstretched. Hornblower grasped his Captain's warm hands and the older man brought them both to sit on the bed.
"My dearest Horatio," he began, "whatever you thought you saw earlier, it was not as you imagined." Hornblower gazed at him steadily, his countenance a study in puzzlement. "Her Grace told half the truth. It was not she who slipped but I. I was retreating and managed to slip."
"'Retreating'? That does not sound at all like you, sir," Hornblower remarked, a smile in his eyes.
"'Retreating', Mr Hornblower! When it comes to the wiles of women I am forsooth a coward."
"The lady fancies you, does she not?" The Captain nodded. "And you turned her down and... she sent for a servant instead?"
"Good lad! I'll make a tactician out of you yet!"
Hornblower remained somewhat uncertain though. "Sir, are you certain you...?" With his eyes he indicated the general direction of the room currently occupied by the Duchess.
The Captain grasped his shoulders in a grip of iron. "Horatio, listen to me. When you knocked on that door and entered the room in all your beauty and dignity, I was never so relieved in my life. I would sooner be in the thick of battle than in the clutches of anyone other than my dearest and most enticing officer."
He leaned forward to kiss Hornblower, reassuring his young lover of his fidelity in the face of almost overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
"Still, I cannot blame the Duchess for wanting to share your bed," Hornblower mused. "You are after all... most handsome." His long fingers traced the line of his Captain's jaw. "She no doubt thought you were lonely. After all, you don't get to spend time with a woman very often."
"Huh! She as much as said the same."
Hornblower grinned widely before once more seeming serious as his Captain captured his hand and brought it to his mouth to kiss the palm.
"Mr Hornblower, it is my considered opinion that the ways of the fairer sex will forever remain a mystery to the minds of men!" He sighed. "At any rate..." he stroked his lover's strong jaw, "... I want you to know that I was *not* tempted by the Duchess. Not even for a moment!" he emphasised.
"But you will admit that the lady is most attractive," his lover insisted.
"Certainly, my dear. And I will also admit that once upon a time only a short time ago I would willingly have spent the night in the lady's arms and enjoyed it."
With his finger under Hornblower's chin he lifted his lover's face, tilting it toward him and leaning over until their lips met in a soft and succulent kiss.
"And now?" his lover queried, fire once more lighting the depths of his large, dark eyes.
"Now?" Edward Pellew deliberately teased his lover by appearing to muse over the question. "Now, sweet lad, no one will take your place, in my bed, or my heart."
Hornblower kissed him and together they fell back onto the pillows, desiring only the closeness of bare flesh against bare flesh. They were in the process of once more removing their night clothes when they were once again disturbed by a knock on the door.
* * *
