"Is the beef not to your liking, sirs?" asked Doughty. The steward had prepared a gourmet meal for his new commanding officers, but to his disappointment it had not been well-received. He stared at the food, wondering at his point of error.

"Yes, thank you," said Hornblower. He had barely touched his plate.

"Very good, Doughty," said Bush. He had spent his time shifting pieces of meat and vegetables about.

"Mmmph," hummed Kennedy. In contrast to his superiors, he had taken to the beef in crust with French beans and Spanish fritters with enthusiasm.

"Sir Edward always enjoyed my royal beef casserole in thin crust."

"I have simple tastes," said Hornblower. Oh, God; Pellew had assigned him to a captain who would rather dine on hard tack. At least Kennedy appreciated fine cooking. But he was there to serve the captain, not merely the second lieutenant.

"There's not too much pepper, is there?" He almost spat the words in frustration. Hornblower's responding glare told him that he had overstepped himself, and he made a hasty exit to the galley.

Kennedy looked up from his food and watched Doughty go. Pellew had his heart in the right place, he thought, but his palate was another matter entirely. The food was indeed excellent, a match to the standards of his former master, but Hornblower was not inclined towards the finer things in life. And neither, apparently, was Bush, for he had put aside his fork and knife and was rising from the table.

"If you will excuse me, sir," he addressed Hornblower, "I shall retire early."

"You may, Mister Bush," Hornblower replied. He said this to Bush's shirtfront. As soon as Bush had left, Kennedy sighed and set aside his own utensils.

"I thought the wedding most pleasant, Horatio," he said. "You have made Maria a very happy woman."

"Yes," Hornblower said, drawing out the word. "It was a... a joyous day for her."

"And for yourself? Be truthful with me, Horatio. I know you too well, and I would think that you have no need to dissemble on my account."

"She will make a devoted wife," Hornblower said. Kennedy huffed in annoyance at him. "She cares for me, Archie. She... she loves me."

"And do you love her?" When he received no reply, Kennedy continued. "Horatio, marriage must be an accord for both wife and husband. If you do not love her... Horatio, she will know this."

"No. My feelings do not--"

"Your feelings will show in your actions towards her. She is not blind, Horatio, no matter how much her affection might lend her to deceive herself."

"It matters not," Hornblower said, resignation in his voice. "I have pledged myself to her, and that cannot be undone."

"Why, Horatio? Why such haste to wed Maria? She is a good woman, but..."

"Maria... at my lowest point, when I did not even have the coat upon my back, she came to my aid. She gave to me when she could not herself afford charity."

"And you repay her with lies."

"No! I repay her the only way I can. She would not accept any other. Archie, I have made my choice. I am sorry that you take issue with it, but I will hear no more on this matter."

"Then there is another matter I would have you hear of: William."

At this Hornblower's face closed. "There is no 'matter' to speak of," he said, formally.

"Am I mistaken in my thought that you had become close in my absence? In your most recent letters, infrequent though they were, you spoke of him with fondness. And now I return to find you as distant as if you had just met."

"Things changed, Archie," Hornblower said. He spoke flatly, betraying no emotion.

"In less than a fortnight? Not without reason, and of that you have shown little since my return."

"If you do not want to serve beside me, Mister Kennedy, please be truthful with me. Do not lay your discontent upon my wife and Mister Bush!" he spat.

"I would not have come if I did not wish to be by your side as officer and friend," Kennedy said, angrily, "but as your friend I have a duty to be honest as well as loyal. And in all honesty I see that you have fallen as a man as you have risen as an officer."

"Mister Kennedy!"

"I know you lay with him, Horatio." At Kennedy's words Hornblower's anger was stopped cold. "He asked that I not speak to you about it, but I see now that it must be spoken of. It fouls the air between you. I do not think it chance that less than two days afterwards you flung yourself into matrimony."

Hornblower was pale and struck silent.

"In a fortnight you have failed at both love and friendship. It grieves me, Horatio, for the sake of yourself as well as those you have pushed away even as you drew them close. Be a true husband and a steady friend, or do not be either at all." He rose from his seat. "Good night, sir."

As he walked towards Bush's quarters he passed Doughty, who was hurrying to the officer's mess. Doughty stopped him and bowed stiffly. "My apologies, sir, Mister Prowse's respects, but he requests Captain Hornblower's presence on deck."

"I am sure he will welcome your news. I will alert Mister Bush."

"Very good, sir."

Kennedy wished dearly to speak with Bush at length, but as ever his duty to the ship came first. He sighed as he approached the sleeping quarters and paused before the door. As many reasons as he had for returning, he had reasons not to, and tonight had been a pointed reminder of this. But as Hornblower had made his choices, so had he. Whatever end they brought, he must see his way to it.