*Divergence*

Commander Hornblower, spending a rare evening at home with his wife, could not help hoping that the knock at the door would spare him from having to attempt conversation. He fully expected the caller to be for either Maria or her mother who, with elephantine tact, had taken herself to visit friends that evening. No one ever came seeking him here, except for William Bush who would be fully occupied aboard the Hotspur.

He was wrong, and could not quite cloak his reaction to the fair-haired man in naval lieutenant’s uniform. Fortunately Maria did not seem to notice anything amiss.

“I thought you were stationed at Gibralter.” The words came out more sharply than he had intended.

“My ship was sent with dispatches,’ Lt Archibald Kennedy replied easily. ‘We’ll be in England for a couple of weeks. I thought I should call on your wife while I was here.”

Thus prompted, Hornblower performed the introductions. Maria responded with a mixture of pleasure and diffidence, and made offers of refreshment, which were politely declined. Kennedy extended a small package and a warm smile.

“I hope you’ll forgive the lateness of the wedding gift, Mrs Hornblower, but this is my first visit to England since Mr Bush wrote to tell me of the marriage.”

The present was spoons, and from Maria’s reaction Hornblower guessed that they were finer than any she would have bought herself, but not so much finer as to be an embarrassment. Typical of Kennedy to get the social niceties right. He was handling Maria well, too, answering her questions with no obvious constraint. Yes, he had served with the commander and Mr Bush, in the Indies. Well, the commander couldn’t be expected to mention every man he’d served with, and he would have more than enough to occupy him in the present without bringing up the past. He turned the conversation as soon as it was polite, drawing Maria out about her own life. Hornblower couldn’t help but remember how he himself had talked with her during the days of the peace, finding in her domestic world a welcome refuge from his lonely unemployment. He was surprised to find himself mildly angered to hear her speaking easily to another man, even if it was purely social politeness on both sides.

After perhaps half an hour Maria excused herself, saying she had some sewing to do. Hornblower’s attempt to persuade her to stay was genuine, but she had plainly decided the two old shipmates would want to talk alone. He expected Kennedy to speak first, but the silence stretched out and he did not do so.

“I didn’t know you and Mr Bush were corresponding.” Why had he said that? It hardly mattered.

“We’re not, really,” Kennedy replied. “He just wrote to tell me of your marriage.” With an attempt at lightness he added, “Perhaps he wanted to be sure your wife did not miss out on a wedding gift.”

There was a brief, awkward pause in which Hornblower found himself looking anywhere but at Kennedy’s face. “Well,” he said formally, “I’m sure you will want to be getting back to your ship. Please do not let me detain you.”

“Horatio.” The breach of naval protocol was deliberate. “Are you really going to abandon a decade of friendship?”

“I understood that you were the one who wanted to end it.” He hoped the words sounded calmer to Kennedy than they did to him.

“I said I didn’t want to be your first officer. I never said I wanted to stop being your friend.”

“I suppose you thought you could do better than to serve on an unrated sloop.” He knew the words were not really fair, but he had been hurt by the attitude Kennedy had taken. Hurt and disturbed, it was the last thing in the world he had expected.

“With you in command I’m sure Hotspur will never lack for glory or prize money.” Kennedy paused, evidently trying to order his words. “But that’s the point. It would be you who earned it. I can’t spend my whole career riding on your coat tails.”

“You never did,” Hornblower protested.

Kennedy made an exasperated sound. “Of course I did. You take the lead so well there was no chance of anything else. It’s not jealousy, Horatio, truly. Heaven knows you deserve everything you earn. But how could I ever learn what I’m capable of for myself under your command? It’s different for a man like Bush, he’s learned to know his own strengths long since. I need to find out what I can do without you there.” He stopped, gave Hornblower a bleak look. “You don’t understand any of this, do you?”

“I know you did not want to serve with me.” The words were colder than he had meant them to be. “I will not dispute your sentiments.”

“I’d do it if you needed me, but you don’t. Bush will certainly do as good a job as I could, and probably very much better.” He paused again, if Hornblower had been less concerned with controlling his own expression he might have realised Kennedy was choosing his words with unusual care. “Horatio, it could never be the same. The gulf between captain and first officer is nothing like that between third and fourth lieutenant. A captain has to stand alone, you know that. It would be very difficult. Can’t you see?”

What Hornblower saw was that the one man he had been quite certain that he could rely upon at all times had not wished to serve under his command. He was not angry with Kennedy, he told himself. He had every right to feel as he did. If he did not wish to serve under his friend of long-standing then the fault must, somehow, lie with Hornblower himself.

“I wish you well for the future... lieutenant.” He had tried to say ‘Archie’ but the name would not come.

“Is that all, Horatio? All the years… is that all?”

The hurt and anger rose sharp and sudden. “As I understand a superior officer should not be addressed by his first name.”

Kennedy flushed. “My apologies – Sir.” His jaw tightened in what Hornblower recognised as a rare loss of temper. “I had thought you might even prefer to retain a friendship that could be held apart from rank. Plainly I was mistaken in my judgement.” The tone was cutting, Kennedy’s talent for sarcasm had been legendary among the more troublesome elements of Renown’s crew. “Please convey my regards to your wife. Goodnight. Sir.”

Hornblower opened his mouth, but could not decide what he wanted to say. “Archie–”. It was too late, the door had closed, not with a slam but with a decided snap. There was time to go after him still, he started to rise but then sat back again. What good would that do? They had covered it all. Twice now. More talk would only make things worse. Yet it was a long time before he rose from his seat and went to find Maria.

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