Summary: When the cat´s away, the mice will play, or so the saying goes. But what happens when kitty is home?
Category: Romance, drama
Pairing: Horatio/Archie/Kitty Cobham
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers/Warnings: slash and het, general references to “The Duchess and the Devil"
Notes
Disclaimer

Kitty gently wiped away the last vestiges of her stage makeup and gazed a bit pensively at her reflection in the mirror. Tonight´s performance had been a good one for the most part, she decided. Well, except for that buffoon Farnsworth, of course. She´d always considered him a poor choice for the part of Sir Peter Teazle. He had a most lamentable tendency to overplay his characters and given that Sir Peter was broadly drawn to begin with…well, satire was one thing, but parody was quite another. Still, she could have tolerated his questionable choice in characterization if only he could remember his bloody lines. He´d forgotten his lines not once but twice, and one of those during the pivotal scene in between Sir Peter and Joseph Surface in act four. They were damned lucky that Hopkins was so sharp. He´d managed to cover up Farnsworth´s blunder quite neatly and only someone who knew the play and knew it well would have noticed that that passage of dialogue should have been uttered by Sir Peter and not young Mr. Surface.

Such a lack of professionalism; it offended Kitty´s sensibilities. Back in the day, Sheridan would never have stood for it. Sheridan had little patience for lazy, incompetent actors and none at all for those who butchered his words. Farnsworth would have been sent packing in short order, ne´er to be missed. But then, these weren´t the old days anymore. Sheridan had left Drury Lane for Parliament some years back and the current manager was more preoccupied with the contents of his strongbox than with the quality of the pieces they staged. Still, if Farnsworth´s performance continued to decline, even he would be forced to take some action, lest the theatre´s reputation likewise suffer. After all, poor reviews were not good for profits.

A sudden sharp pain pulled her out of her reverie.

“Sorry, mum," her maid apologized, the hairbrush stilled. Kitty gave her a small smile.

“It´s quite all right, Mary," Kitty reassured the girl. Mary nodded and continued to brush her mistress´ hair with greater care.

Kitty considered her reflection once more. Her sharp, unwavering gaze took in everything: the fine creases about her eyes, the slight thinning of her lips, the pallor of her complexion. Candlelight might soften the evidence of the passage of time, but it could not erase it entirely.

‘You aren´t the same anymore either, my dear,´ she mused wryly. When she had first treaded the boards under Mr. Sheridan´s watchful gaze, she´d been but a girl, still in the first blush of youth. Even now, she well remembered the exultation she´d felt when he had cast her in the role of Maria Teazle, her first major part on the stage. But that was twenty years past. Where once she had played the guileless Maria, she now found herself in the role of the venomous Lady Sneerwell instead. It was a more interesting role, to be sure. Kitty had always found ingénue roles to be insipid and generally uninspired. They required no talent, really, just a pretty face and a knack for flashing a bit of ankle or a hint of bosom at just the right moment. Nevertheless, there were times when she regretted her vanished youth.

Still, Kitty knew she was luckier than most. She still had a fine figure, lithe and slender in keeping with the fashion of the day. Her hair, a rich, lustrous brown, as yet showed no sign of those threads of silver that began to encroach when one attained a certain age. Most importantly, she retained her wit. Beauty and youth inevitably faded, but a clever mind used well was always a woman´s greatest asset.

She and Mary both looked up at the sound of rapping on the door. An admirer, no doubt. There were fewer than there had once been, but there were still enough to flatter her vanity.

“Mary, please send whoever it is away. I´m feeling rather fatigued."

“Yes mum," the girl replied with a bob of her head and a curtsey. She placed the hairbrush of the table and scurried to the door. Kitty watched her retreating back in the mirror with an amused smile. Even after two months of service, Mary remained as skittish and shy as a newborn colt in Kitty´s presence. She couldn´t decide if she should be flattered or vexed by the girl´s wide-eyed awe. Ultimately, Kitty did what she always did; she calmly accepted and carried on about her business.

Kitty retrieved the brush and continued brushing out her hair, her mind drifting pleasantly. Mary returned a few minutes later, unaccountably flustered, cheeks stained pink.

Kitty frowned. “What is it, Mary?"

Mary curtsied again. Her brown eyes were wide and she had the look of a rabbit that had been startled in a farmer´s garden. “Beggin´ yer pardon, mum, but there´s two gen´lemen ta see you. Young gen´lmen," Mary clarified, her cheeks becoming even pinker. “I told ‘em that you weren´t ta be disturbed, but they was awful certain that you would want ta see ‘em. One of ‘em, ‘e said ta tell you that ‘e was Mr. Haitch come ta pay his respects ta the Duchess."  Mary frowned, clearly bemused by the odd message.

Mary´s frown deepened even as Kitty´s vanished entirely to be replaced by a smile of genuine delight. Her heart began to beat a rapid tattoo in her chest.

“Yes, yes, show them in! Wait!" she called to Mary. “Help me into my robe."

Mary wrapped her mistress in the robe of blue china silk, the gift of a wealthy and erstwhile admirer, before Kitty shooed her away with an admonishment not to keep the gentlemen waiting. Kitty cast a final glance in the mirror to make sure she was presentable. She gave her cheeks a quick pinch and bit her lips sharply. It was little enough artifice, but it was the best she could do on such short notice.

She smiled into the mirror as it reflected her callers. Rising gracefully, like a queen holding court, she held out her hand to greet them.

“Mr. Haitch," she said, affecting the thick, unschooled accent that she had used while in the guise of the Duchess of Wharfedale.

Lieutenant Hornblower smiled back at her, his expression alight with pleasure. He strode forward, took her hand in his and bowed gracefully. Kitty´s smile broadened; clearly he had been practicing since last they met. “Your Grace," he murmured against her knuckles before he kissed her hand. He was still smiling when he righted himself and there was a glimmer of amusement and, she thought, admiration, in his dark eyes when he looked at her.

Certainly it couldn´t match the admiration that she herself felt upon gazing at the gallant young officer before her. Her first impression was that he looked taller and broader than she remembered him to be. Whether that was due to a physical change, or merely a glamour wrought by his uniform, she could not tell, nor did it matter. He was resplendent, every inch the dashing naval officer who had braved the elements to rescue the crew of an enemy ship with no thought for his own safety. Where once there had been an earnest, if callow youth, now there stood a remarkably poised and confident young man. And an extremely comely one at that. Kitty would have wagered her opal necklace that he had left a trail of broken hearts stretching all the way from Cadiz to London.

“Mr. Hornblower, it is good to see you again," Kitty said. This time there was no affectation of any kind, either in her voice or her words.

“And to see you, ma´am," he replied, a hint of his native gravitas creeping into his voice. “You remember, Mr. Kennedy?"

For the first time, Kitty took note of Hornblower´s companion. She frowned for a moment, unsure of his identity. Like Hornblower, he wore the uniform of a naval lieutenant. Perhaps she had met him during her time on the Indefatigable? The young man didn´t speak, but watched her avidly, his lips curved ever so slightly upward as he watched her puzzle it out. And then memory fell into place and she realized that here before her stood the poor, frail creature she had encountered in the infirmary of El Ferrol. It was no wonder that she did not recognize him, for if she had thought Mr. Hornblower´s transformation remarkable, it was nothing as compared to that of his companion. The thin, sickly lad was gone, and in his stead she found a solid young man, brimming with good health and good humor. The alarming grayish pallor had been replaced with a high color that spoke of long days beneath the bright Mediterranean sun and the hair that had once hung in lank, brown strands shone reddish gold in the candlelight of the dressing room. It was a startling transformation, indeed.

“Mr. Kennedy," she said at last as she extended her hand to him. “It is good to see you as well, sir. You look far better than you did when last we parted company."

He gave her an elegant bow, as effortless as Hornblower´s had been practiced, and kissed her hand as well. The quality, she recognized at once. “Thank you, ma´am. And you look more beautiful then you did when last we parted company, if I may say so."

Kitty smiled. “You do me too much honor, sir."

He smiled back, her hand still clasped lightly in his. “The fairest hand I ever touched: O beauty, Till now I never knew thee."

Kitty laughed. “I think you will quite turn my head, Mr. Kennedy," she said. He released her hand and Kitty seated herself once more, her hands folded lightly in her lap. “So, gentlemen, to what do I owe this honor?"

“The Indefatigable has been recalled to London. We have been granted a few days leave while we await our orders."

“Well, that is good news. And tell me, how is your captain?"

“He is well, ma´am, although I dare say, he will be even better once we are at sea and fighting His Majesty´s enemies once again."

“Of that I have no doubt," she replied with a conspiratorial grin that made both young men smile. “So, what have you two been doing with yourselves while you´re in London?"

The young men exchanged a long glance before Horatio spoke. “We have been acquainting ourselves—or in the case of Mr. Kennedy, reacquainting ourselves—with the city. We were most gratified when we learned that you were performing tonight."

“You attended the performance, then?"

“Yes, ma´am."

“And what were your impressions?"

Hornblower shifted and cast an almost pleading glance to his friend Kennedy.

“Your performance was the high point of the play, Miss Cobham," Kennedy replied smoothly.

“Flatterer," she chided with a laugh.

Kennedy gave her a brilliant smile. She amended her earlier opinion; the dashing Mr. Hornblower wasn´t the only one trailing a string of broken hearts in his wake.

“And what are you brave gentlemen doing with yourselves this evening?"

“Well, ma´am, that´s why we´re here. We are celebrating Mr. Kennedy´s recent promotion to the rank of lieutenant."

“My congratulations, Lieutenant Kennedy," Kitty said, smiling up at the young man. His cheeks colored in response. It was a most fetching sight.

“Yes…well," Hornblower continued. “We had hoped that you might join us for supper if you did not have a previous engagement. Nothing elaborate, of course," he clearly felt obliged to confess, “but we would consider it a great honor if the Incomparable Kitty Cobham were to grace us with her presence."

“Gentlemen, nothing would please me more than to dine with two such handsome and distinguished officers such as yourselves." They were both blushing now, she was pleased to note. “I would be honored to do so, but on one small condition. That you must allow me to take you to dinner."

As expected, her proposal, met with immediate protest from both young men. She raised a hand to silence them. “Please let me do this. I owe you a debt of thanks for returning me home to England."

“You owe us nothing, ma´am," Horatio replied quickly.

Kitty shook her head. “I disagree. But in any case, I would derive great pleasure from the gesture. Surely you gentlemen would not deprive a lady of such a small and inconsequential indulgence as this?"

The two officers cast embarrassed glances at one another.

“Besides, I happen to have a dear friend who owns a lovely little restaurant not far from here. The food is excellent and not at all dear."

She watched as the two of them exchanged another awkward glance, then came to an unspoken agreement. Hornblower turned back to look at her, his expression clear. “Thank you, ma´am. We would be honoured to accept your invitation."

“Good, now that that´s been settled there is but one more thing to resolve. My friends call me Kitty and as I consider you gentlemen friends, I hope that you shall do so as well."

“In high places or in low?"

Kitty smiled, immensely pleased that he remembered the sally. “The highest, Mr. Haitch," she replied, winning her a bright smile from Hornblower and a look of bemusement from Kennedy.

“I hope that you will allow us to extend the same courtesy?"

“I would be honored, Horatio." She turned a look of inquiry on his companion.

“Archie, ma´am…I mean Kitty."

“There now, we´re all acquainted properly," she said with a gracious nod of her head. “Of course, before we go anywhere, I need to get dressed. I wouldn´t want to set tongues to waggling by strolling about with handsome young officers dressed in nothing by my robe and my petticoats."

“Of course," Hornblower replied. He and Kennedy turned as if to leave, but she bade them stay.

“Mary!"

The speed with which the girl responded to the summons made it clear that she had been hovering just outside the door, no doubt eavesdropping on the curious conversation between her mistress and the pair of strange gentlemen. Mary cast a shy glance at the young officers and blushed furiously when they smiled at her.

“Mary, help me get dressed."

“Yes, mum," she replied with a quick bobbing curtsey.

Kitty glided behind the dressing screen and draped her robe over the top. She cast a quick glance at her callers and was not surprised in the slightest to see that they had both turned around, facing away from the screen, their hands clasped behind their backs. She smiled; such chivalrous and well brought up young men. It was a novel experience.

Mary was there a moment later, a bundle of dresses in her arms. Kitty cast a quick, critical eye over them all then selected a dress of blue watered silk. It was fairly understated with the barest hint of lace along the neck and the sleeves, but the color brought out her eyes and the décolletage was most flattering. Mary laced her up most expertly while Kitty smoothed out the front of her skirts and arranged the lace cuffs to her liking. She slipped from behind the screen and seated herself before the mirror once more. Mary began to dress her hair, twisting and pinning it in place with deft, economical motions, before she wound a length of ribbon from crown to nape and back again.

Kitty reviewed her reflection and was satisfied with the results. She regretted that she didn´t have her opals; they would have set off the gown most strikingly. The choker of turquoise and pearls would have to do. A quick application of powder to cheek and bosom and she was ready. Kitty rose from her seat and turned towards her callers.

“Gentlemen, I am ready."

They turned as one and Kitty was deeply gratified by the look of open admiration in both pairs of eyes. She graced them with her most charming smile as she walked towards them.

“If I may be so bold, you look most fetching this evening, Kitty," Hornblower said.

“Very fetching," Kennedy echoed.

“Thank you Horatio, Archie," she replied as she threaded her right arm through Hornblower´s and her left through Kennedy´s, drawing them close and winning twin smiles from her companions. “I don´t know about you gentlemen, but I am quite famished. Shall we?"

They nodded their agreement and arm in arm they departed Kitty´s dressing room and headed out into the night.

It was a pleasant evening for a stroll. The streets were awash with people in search of diversion or merely enjoying the rare spring weather. Kitty could feel appreciative eyes upon them as they passed, although she could not be certain if their frank admiration was directed at her person of those of her escorts. She caught the gaze of a fashionably dressed young woman walking on the arm of an older man with an imperious manner and the bushiest side-whiskers Kitty had ever seen outside of the theatre. The young woman´s expression was one of open envy and Kitty nodded graciously in passing, a triumphant smile tracing her lips. The other woman tossed her head disdainfully and continued on her path, her eyes straight ahead once more, but Kitty spied her casting one last covetous look over her shoulder as her companion led her away.

They reached their destination soon after. Kitty ushered her escorts inside and she paused to take the measure of the place. There was a modest, but lively crowd tonight. Small knots of people huddled around the tables scattered about the room, their laughter echoing off the pristinely white washed walls.

“Kitty!"

Kitty turned at the sound of her name and smiled brightly. “Jacques!" she called back as she extended her hands to the man who scurried over to greet them.

He took her hands in his and kissed her palms expansively. “Oh, but it is so good to see you! Tu m´as manqué terriblement, ma chatte!"

“I am sorry, mon ami, but I have been so busy of late. I am sure you understand."

Jacques nodded, his smile bright in his ruddy face. “Of course, of course. But it does not matter now. You are here at last."

Kitty turned to gesture to her two companions. “Jacques, this is Lieutenant Hornblower and Lieutenant Kennedy, two of the finest officers in His Majesty´s navy. I met them when last I was in Spain."

Jacques smiled brightly and bowed deeply to the two young officers. “Bienvenu, messieurs. It is always an honor to welcome friends of L´Incomparable into my humble establishment."

“Thank you, monsieur," Horatio replied with a bob of his head. Kennedy repeated the gesture.

“I see that you are having a busy night," Kitty observed.

“Moderately so," he replied humbly. “But it is too loud. No doubt you wish to converse at leisure, non? Come, you shall have one of the private rooms far from the rabble."

He took Kitty´s arm in his and led them towards the back of the room and the stairwell that led to the floor above. He leaned close. “Ils sont vachement beaux, ma chatte," he said in a low voice. “Je suis fort jaloux."

Kitty cast a glance over her shoulder at the two men behind her. Their cheeks had taken on a fetching pink hue. She gave a small laugh and pitched her voice low. “Ils comprendent français, mon ami."

Jacques gave the young officers a smile then turned his attention back to Kitty. “L´esprit ainsi que la beauté ? Tu avais toujours le meilleur goût."

Kitty laughed again and let Jacques lead her upstairs, the two young men trailing behind them. When they reached the landing, Jacques led them down a short corridor then ushered them into a cozy room dominated by a wooden table flanked by two padded benches and a nearby hearth where a fire was laid out, though it remained unlit. Like the common room below, the walls were freshly whitewashed and the lanterns gave it a bright, cheerful aspect.

“Will this do?" Jacques asked, clearly eager to please.

“It´s perfect," she assured him with a smile as she settled herself in the middle of the bench set against the wall. She patted the seat to either side, inviting her companions to sit beside her, which they did after only the briefest of hesitations.

“And what would you like this evening?"

“We shall leave that to your discretion, mon ami," Kitty said gratified by the look of pleasure that crossed Jacques´ plump face. “Oh, and bring us a bottle of champagne. We are celebrating."

Jacques bowed deeply. “I shall have the champagne brought up immediately."

“Thank you, Jacques."

Jacques bowed again and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Although neither man spoke, Kitty could well imagine the question running through both their minds. “Jacques was the chef of the Comte d´Alembert," she explained. “Five years ago, the revolutionaries came for the count and his family, even through he was well liked and had always been exceedingly kind to his tenants. Crimes against the people," she added, making no effort to hide her contempt.

“Jacques had been away visiting a cousin the day that they came. He returned home to find the count and his family gone, their home ransacked and many of the servants butchered. It was terrible." Even now she could see the look of stark terror in Jacques´ eyes as he recounted the tale. “Fearing for his life, Jacques fled France and eventually made his way to England. In time, he built a life for himself and started this restaurant. Many of his clients are émigrés, of course, but he has become a good friend and I come here often."

She cast a look at her companions. Both men´s expressions were stern, their lips tipped downwards in a frown.

“The situation in France remains most unfortunate," Horatio said at last. “Many innocent people have suffered as a result. We can only hope that reason will assert itself once more and put an end to the needless slaughter."

Archie nodded his agreement, his expression thoughtful.

“One can hope," Kitty said, then shook her head. “But listen to me! This was to be a celebration and here I am, giving us all a right fit of the blue devils. I apologize, gentlemen."

“There is no need to…" Horatio began before Kitty cut him off with a wave of her hand. Before she could respond further, a knock on the door announced the arrival of a servant carrying a tray bearing the bottle of champagne and three glasses.

“Ah, here we are," she said giving the young men her brightest smile, determined to lighten the grim mood she had cast upon them. The servant opened the bottle with deft fingers, the loud pop of the cork giving them a start that oddly enough, seemed to erase the earlier tension. The champagne poured, the servant bowed and made his exit.

Kitty raised her glass, waiting until both her companions had taken up their own. “To friendships, both old and new."

“To friendships," both men echoed before each took a cautious sip from his glass.

“Not exactly grog, is it?" she asked, making no attempt to hide her amusement at the twin expressions of delight that crossed their faces.

“No it´s not," Horatio agreed before taking another drink. “Not nearly so strong."

“Ah, you should be careful, my dears; champagne is a deceptively mild drink. It can go straight to your head before you even notice," she warned. “It wouldn´t do for a pair of His Majesty´s loyal officers to become inebriated, now would it?"

Archie gave a snort of laughter and Horatio chuckled as well. “We´re sailors, Kitty," Horatio explained. “I believe people would be more shocked if we didn´t indulge in strong drink when the occasion presented itself."

Kitty let the remark pass without further comment and merely sipped demurely from her own glass. They were grown men, after all; who was she to tell them their business?

She leaned back and gazed at her escorts, smiling. “So apart from attending the theatre, what diversions have you gentlemen been amusing yourselves with?"

There was a quick exchange of glances between the two. “Ah, not much, actually," Archie replied a bit hastily, “apart from getting fitted for our new uniforms and attending a party at my sister´s house."

“Oh?"

“My sister is the Countess of Bedford," he explained without even a hint of the smugness some might have indulged in when mentioning a well connected relation. It did, however, confirm Kitty´s earlier appraisal of the young Mr. Kennedy´s origins.

“We did go to Vauxhall Gardens," Horatio added.

“And did they meet with your approval?"

The young men exchanged another look, their lips curling slowly upwards into identical smiles of pleasure. “Very much so."

Curious, Kitty cocked a brow at the pair of them. Before she could interrogate them further, the moment was shattered by the knock on the door announcing the arrival of their meal. A pair of servants arrived, carrying trays that fairly groaned with heavily laden platters and steaming dishes. Kitty watched appreciatively as the feast was spread before them and a mixture of tantalizing aromas filling the room. Jacques had truly outdone himself. A third servant arrived bearing several bottles and a bucket packed with ice. Kitty smiled when she saw the labels, noting that two more bottles of champagne were among them. Jacques, as always, had anticipated her requests before she could even give voice to them. She made a note to thank him for his care later.

Kitty glanced at her companions. Their eyes were wide with wonder at the bounty laid out before them. Having sampled naval fare both Spanish and British, Kitty was hardly surprised. Though Sir Edward had set a passably fine table, his ship´s cook could not hope to compare with Jacques´ artistry.

One of the serving men refilled their glasses, gave them an awkward bow—Jacques´ influence, clearly—then departed along with his fellows, closing the door behind them.

“This is…" Horatio began, clearly overwhelmed as his eyes swept the table again.

“Very," Archie added, equally astounded.

Kitty waved them off with a smile. “Jacques is trying to impress you gentlemen. He will be right pleased that he succeeded. Now, the best way to show your appreciation," she said as she uncovered one of the dishes, a lovely trout fairly swimming in wine and lemon, and served each of her companions a generous portion, “is to eat well and enjoy every morsel!"

They both looked a bit chary, but in the end their own bellies overcame any lingering awkwardness and they surrendered to Kitty´s sage advice. After the first mouthful, it was apparent that neither man was apt to lodge any further complaint.

Kitty sampled her own serving, not at all surprised by how succulent and flavorful the fish was, nor by how the flesh seemed to melt on her tongue. “Now, you must tell me all that has happened since last we parted," Kitty said, finally ceding to her curiosity. “Clearly you are no longer guests of Don Massaredo, but I should like to hear the particulars of how that came to pass. Did you escape at last?"

Horatio and Archie exchanged another fraught look. Archie cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head slightly in what seemed a silent query before Horatio gave a faint nod in acquiescence.

“No, ma´am," Horatio began, seemingly unaware that he had slipped into more formal address once more. “We were released."

“Released?"

Horatio nodded. “Yes. We were pardoned and set at liberty by order of His Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain. In recognition for our efforts in rescuing the crew of the Almaria."

“How extraordinary! Not that you did not earn such gratitude, of course," she hastened to add, not wishing to imply otherwise. She knew all too well how prickly and unpredictable male pride could be at times. “It was a brave feat. Having been there myself I know that better than anyone. But then, the Spanish have always admired gallantry," she remarked thoughtfully, “so perhaps your release is indeed less extraordinary than the heroic act that earned it."

Horatio was blushing furiously now and he shifted uncomfortably beside her. She found the display of modesty utterly charming. Such a paradox, her Mr. Haitch, she thought fondly. As brave as a lion in battle but still as shy as a schoolroom miss. Deciding to take pity on Horatio, she turned her attention to her other companion. Archie made no effort to mask his enjoyment of his shipmate´s discomfort, though his smile was more doting than sardonic.

“So, what happened after you were released?" she asked, resting her hand lightly on Archie´s forearm as she addressed him. He blinked several times, his amused expression shifting to one of confusion as he suddenly found himself the recipient of her undivided attention.

“Ma´am?"

“What happened after you were released?"

“Oh." Archie replied rather stupidly, though to his credit, he composed himself quickly enough. “Well, Don Massaredo arranged passage for us aboard a Spanish cutter heading towards Oporto. The captain was none too pleased to have a band of British sailors aboard at first, but he finally agreed to take us. I think Massaredo must have paid him rather handsomely. No doubt our gaoler was pleased to be well and truly rid of us at last."

“Now, Archie, that´s not entirely fair," Horatio chided gently. “Don Massaredo was most lenient with us after our return."

Archie´s eyes narrowed. “You well know my feelings on this subject, Mr. Hornblower and it is unlikely that we shall ever reach an agreement. Perhaps it would be best to consign this discussion to the past, where it belongs."

Though his tone was bland, there was a hint of coolness to it that did not escape Kitty´s trained ear. Inadvertently, she had steered the conversation into troubled waters, a fact that was confirmed by the flush that stained Horatio´s cheeks and his suddenly downcast eyes.

“I apologize, Mr. Kennedy," Horatio replied after a brief hesitation. His manner and speech were formal, but his dark eyes were soft and pleading. “I should have known better than to broach this topic again. Forgive me?"

Archie´s expression softened at once and the small, tentative smile he gave his shipmate was affirmation enough that all was forgiven. “Of course. But the blame is partly mine; I should not have reacted so."

Kitty had the distinct impression that at that particular moment, both men had completely forgotten her very existence. She knew she should have been insulted, but she found herself more intrigued than offended by their curious behavior. An idea was beginning to take shape in Kitty´s mind, as the small, subtle signs began to add up to something familiar. Familiar and dangerous. Kitty wondered if they knew it themselves. Perhaps not. Grown men they might be, but in matters of the heart, no one was quite so wise as they thought themselves to be.

Kitty cleared her throat, a gentle reminder of her presence. Both men looked at her, clearly abashed by their inattention. She did not chide them, however; she had occasionally fallen victim to her own wayward sentiment in her younger days herself. Instead she refilled their glasses and returned them to the original narrative.

“And after Oporto?" she asked, taking a sip from her glass. She could easily read the gratitude in their answering smiles.

“Well, we were fortunate enough to beg transportation on a British frigate, the Lenore," Horatio explained. “She´d made a brief landfall to deposit some persons of importance before continuing on to Gibraltar to join the Mediterranean fleet."

“We were lucky that she was well crewed, otherwise our men might have been pressed." Archie added.

Horatio nodded his agreement then continued. “Very lucky indeed. We arrived at Gibraltar to find the Indefatigable sitting in the harbor awaiting some minor repairs following a skirmish with the Spanish. We presented ourselves to the captain, a bit worse for wear, but free men all the same and were officially returned to the ship´s ranks."

“He must have been pleased," Kitty said.

“Flabbergasted might be closer to the mark," Archie replied, casting a mischievous smile in Horatio´s direction. “I believe his exact words were ‘By God, Hornblower, what are you doing here!´"

Kitty laughed. “That certainly sounds like dear Sir Edward!" Kitty´s amusement only grew at the reproving look Horatio shot at his friend. Archie, however, was apparently well accustomed to such looks and was not put out in the slightest. He simply sipped his champagne, his manner demure, though Kitty caught a flash of merriment in those blue eyes of his. Horatio continued to glare for a few moments longer before his stern expression melted entirely to be replaced with an abashed grin.
 
“I confess, I´d often heard that life at sea was exciting, but I never truly appreciated the truth of it until recently. So tell me of your recent adventures. I am a most eager audience."

The two men exchanged another speaking glance and Horatio´s grin turned into a frown. He was clearly reluctant to speak, whether from his innate reticence or from a chivalrous—and wholly unnecessary—impulse to spare her feminine sensibilities, she did not know. Perhaps a bit of prodding would help.

“Come now Mr. Haitch," she said, once again adopting the broad, vulgar accent of the Duchess of Wharfedale. “I´m not some delicate flower that needs to be protected. I´ve been in this world longer than either of you lads and seen things that no lady should see. Thankfully, I´m no lady," she added with a lecherous grin that startled a smile and a blush out of them both, “and there´s nothing you could say that would shock me. So, tell me of your adventures."

Horatio remained hesitant, but thankfully Archie was more willing to put aside his gentlemanly manners in order to indulge her request. “Horatio, do you remember that encounter we had with the Spanish brig, El Halcón?"

Horatio nodded slowly. “Yes, I remember." A slow smile spread across his face. “That was a grand chase, wasn´t it?"

He turned to look fully at Kitty. “It was shortly after we had returned to the Indefatigable," he explained. “We encountered her on patrol not far from Gibraltar. She was remarkably fast for a brig and she led us a merry chase. Three days we pursued her and every time we thought we´d got her, she somehow managed to slip past once more."

“And then the storm hit," Archie interjected, eyes shining at the memory.

Horatio nodded as well, clearly warming to the subject now that his initial reluctance had passed. “It was a major blow, every bit as bad as the storm when the Indy chased the Almaria into the Devil´s Teeth."

Kitty felt a frisson at the memory, despite herself. She didn´t let it show, however, not wanting to halt the narrative now that Horatio had finally begun to recount it. “Go on."

“Well, we chased her through the storm. It´s a good thing the Indy had recently had her damaged mizzenmast repaired, otherwise she might have sustained serious damage. As it was, we lost the bow sprit and the forward topsail. The Halcón did not fare quite so well, however."

“We found her again after the worst of the storm had passed," Archie said, picking up the narrative from Horatio without missing a beat. “She´d lost her mainmast and was taking on water. She surrendered without much of a fight and we towed her back to Gibraltar as a prize."

“It sounds exciting," Kitty remarked as she served them each a portion of Jacques´ superb fricassée de veau. “More champagne, Horatio?"

Horatio murmured his thanks, though his eyes had a faraway look, as if he was focused upon the sight of a damaged Spanish brig rather than on the plate set before him.

“It was. But not nearly as exciting as that battle with the French frigate the Lorraine. We encountered her perhaps two months after our engagement with the Halcón. It was a fierce battle…"

Kitty settled back and listened as Horatio recounted the dramatic naval battle and then another, with the able assistance of Archie who happily chimed in, providing further details, additional insights and the occasional amusing quip whenever he deemed it necessary. As the evening progressed and the champagne continued to flow, her guests were increasingly set at their ease. Any reticence that Horatio might have felt seemed to evaporate, and by the time they had finished the lamb cutlets in aspic and the roasted capon, Horatio was smiling broadly, his face flushed with drink and remembrance.

At present, his face was flushed with more than drink, however. Frustrated by Horatio´s excessive modesty, Archie had wrestled the most recent tale from Horatio and was recounting it with considerable gusto, much to Kitty´s amusement and Horatio´s obvious embarrassment.

“And then he walked right up and pointed his pistol--his empty pistol, mind you—at the French captain and in his most imposing voice demanded his immediate surrender, despite the fact that the man had his sword at Horatio´s throat."

“And did he surrender?" Kitty asked as she leaned forward to rest her chin on her hand.

“Of course he did! Who wouldn´t have? I was ready to drop my own sword and I´m not even French!"

“Mr. Kennedy exaggerates," Horatio replied somewhat primly.

“I do not." Archie leaned in closer, his manner conspiratorial and his smile quite devilish. “Don´t let his reserved nature fool you, Kitty. The French tremble at his very name and you can´t hear a thing over the clatter of swords being thrown to the deck in the haste to surrender to Lieutenant Hornblower, the scourge of the French navy!"

Kitty´s laughter deepened as she noted Horatio´s scowl and Archie´s own laughter joined hers. Horatio looked as if he was about to cuff his friend on the side of the head, but then an uncharacteristically wicked grin stretched across his handsome features.

“Tell me Kitty, would you like to hear about Mr. Kennedy´s first battle?"

Archie´s amusement vanished immediately. “You wouldn´t!"

Horatio´s smile widened. “It was just after we´d been transferred to the Indefatigable…"

Kitty could not suppress her grin at the picture her mind conjured of a much younger Archie Kennedy, spattered with gore and brandishing his sword as he bounced about like an eager puppy and proudly recounted his defeat of “two…well at least one" French sailors.

Archie sniffed haughtily and gave Horatio a cool look, but it was clear that his annoyance was largely feigned and he was soon joining in their laughter.

“God, but we were young then," Archie said as he wiped a few tears of mirth from his eyes. Horatio nodded his agreement, still chuckling.

Kitty watched them, amused and fascinated by the easy familiarity of their by-play and the genuineness of their affection. She turned speculative eyes on Horatio, finding it increasingly difficult to reconcile this young man who appeared so happy and relaxed with her memory of the painfully sober young man she had encountered in Gibraltar. Horatio had been so reserved then, stiff and uncomfortable in society and ill at ease in his own skin.  But the young man seated next to her now had clearly shed much of his awkwardness and was far less severe and self-conscious than his younger self had been. It was a pleasant change and Kitty could not help but wonder how much of it was due to his friend who teased him mercilessly and watched him such open fondness. She wondered idly if Horatio had exerted a comparable influence upon Archie. She had no way of knowing for certain, of course; she´d had almost no interaction with the young man before this evening. Nevertheless, she had a strong suspicion that Horatio wasn´t the only one who had been transformed—and for the better—by their friendship. Not for the first time, Kitty wondered what exactly had passed between them in the prison of El Ferrol.

Kitty thought back to that first meeting in a dim room back in Don Masserado´s prison at El Ferrol, and the unexpected sight of Horatio hovering over the pallid figure of a young man she did not recognize. Horatio´s own face had been horribly pale and his expression so anguished and bereft, that for a moment Kitty´s heart had frozen in her chest. Drawn by Horatio´s obvious distress, she´d instinctively moved closer, even though she feared that she was about to gaze upon a cadaver. The young man had not been dead, though at the time he had looked fit for the Ferryman´s company. His eyelids fluttered open and Archie had gazed up at her with a dazed smile as he murmured words that had lost nothing of their familiarity or their power with the passage of time. She had not performed that role in many years, but still she knew those lines, could still hear her voice rising and falling with their cadence, as Cleopatra lamented the death of her beloved Caesar before following him into Death´s cold embrace. The crown o´ the earth doth melt. My lord!...

At the time, Kitty´s instinctive response had been one of fear, fear that her identity had been revealed, that the persona that she had so carefully and cunningly crafted was unraveling right before her very eyes. She had dismissed the words as the ravings of a dying man, despite the pang of guilt that casual refutation had caused. She could not risk exposure, not in a place her position was so precarious. Now, however, there was awareness as the full implication of those words sunk in.

She turned towards Archie and rested her hand lightly on his forearm. “It occurs to me, dear Archie, that you have not as yet told the story of how you recognized me when first we met."

Archie gazed down for a moment before raising his eyes to meet hers. “I saw you perform, at Drury Lane. When I was growing up, my family spent much of the year in London," he explained in a halting voice. “Being a third son, no one really bothered over much where I spent my time and I eventually gravitated to Drury Lane. I loved the theatre. I even indulged the idea of becoming an actor myself. Childish fancy, of course," Archie said his expression rueful. “But still, I loved to go to the theatre. And then one night I saw you."

“Antony and Cleopatra." Archie nodded, confirming her guess.

“You were playing Cleopatra to Mr. Kemble´s Antony. I was smitten on the spot. You were quite the most beautiful thing that I´d ever seen." There was a touch of wistfulness in his voice and his cheeks had gone very pink. “I attended every night that you performed and by the time the play had closed, I knew every word by heart. More childish fancy, I suppose."

“And you never came to see me?"

“I came backstage a few times but I could never quite work up the courage to knock on your dressing room door. Too afraid you´d turn me away. After all, what would a grand actress such as Katherine Cobham want with a fourteen-year old boy?"

She looked at the young man seated beside her looking so abashed by his confession of boyhood folly. She could easily imagine what he had been like at that age, sweet and shy but with that charming smile and a flash of mischief in his eyes. He would have been a lovely thing even then and she had no doubt that his youthful adoration would have been far dearer than that of the older, harder men who had frequented her dressing room and her bed in times past.

“I would have welcomed you most sincerely, sir, as I do now," Kitty said, gracing him with her warmest smile.

He blushed again, his pale lashes sweeping downwards to veil his eyes in an unconsciously coy manner. In that moment he looked even younger than he had when she´d first set eyes upon him in El Ferrol.

‘You´re still young,´ Kitty thought. ‘You´re barely more than boys, the both of you.´´ She dared not voice the sentiment aloud, but when Kitty looked at them, their cheeks flushed with drink and eyes shining with merriment, she could only think of how very young they were. And how breathtakingly beautiful. In fact, she couldn´t recall when last she´d seen anything quite so lovely as the pair of them. Dark and fair, grave and mischievous, they complemented one another to perfection, almost as if they were two halves of one whole. And their devotion was all the more touching for it. Sheridan, she knew, could have written a wonderful play about them and an artist like Mr. Romney could no doubt make them the subject of a painting that would be the toast of the Royal Academy. It was hardly surprising that she herself would be so taken by the pair of them.

Kitty´s appreciation, however, was not entirely aesthetic and quite unbidden her thoughts began to take a far more carnal turn, in spite--or perhaps because--of their youth. She felt vaguely like a lecherous old woman for even entertaining such thoughts, but reminded herself sharply that for all their youth, they were both men grown, old enough to wear the king´s colors and fight his wars. They were hardly innocents, if even half the tales she´d heard about sailors were true, and Kitty suddenly burned with curiosity to know just how experienced they were.

A respectful rap on the door broke through her reverie. Kitty sat up a bit straighter as the servants entered and cleared the table with admirable speed, whisking away plates and platters and empty bottles. The ice bucket was removed and was replaced by a fresh bucket housing another bottle of champagne.

Kitty cast an inquiring look at the man as he settled the bucket on the table. “Monsieur Vuillemin´s compliments, ma´am," he explained with a short bow. At Kitty´s nod, he opened the bottle with a loud pop and replenished their glasses. Kitty smiled her thanks as the servants left the room. She would owe Jacques a sizeable favor after this, but she had no doubt it would be worth it.

Once the servants left, closing the door behind them, Kitty turned towards Archie once more and rested her hand lightly upon his arm.

“Since I find myself in the presence of a true lover of the theatre, I am alight with curiosity as to your impressions of this evening´s performance. Tell me, Archie, what did you think?"

Archie blinked, startled, then cleared his throat. “I am but a poor amateur. I would not presume…"

“Hush," she said with an airy wave of her hand. “None of that. We are all friends here, after all. So?"

Kennedy frowned “Well, if I may speak frankly," he began somewhat tentatively. At her nod, he took a breath and continued. “I enjoyed the play as a whole immensely. The pacing and delivery were for the most part excellent. And I did not lie when I said your performance was the highlight of the evening."

“But," she prompted.

“Well, I must confess I found Mr. Farnsworth´s performance to be rather disappointing."

“Oh?"

“There was no…subtlety to it. I know that it is not a role of great depth, but still it seemed heavy handed. And he almost ruined the scene in act four when he forgot his lines, though Mr. Hopkins covered the error most adeptly." He hesitated, and suddenly turned shy. “I hope I haven´t offended you."

“Not at all," she reassured him with a smile. “I quite agree with your observations, Mr. Kennedy."

Archie smiled, relief and pleasure evident on his face. He shook his head. “Such a pity, really. It´s such a droll play. I know there are many who prefer The Rivals, but I do believe that School for Scandal is the superior piece."

“Did you know I made my debut upon the stage in School for Scandal?" Kitty said sipping from her glass.

“Really?" Archie leaned forward even more, his expression one of open fascination.

Kitty nodded. “Mr. Sheridan himself cast me in the role of Maria Teazle back when he was the director of Drury Lane. A little before your time, I dare say."

“I´m sure you were ravishing. Miss Bell was lovely tonight but a little out of her depth."

“And given the lack of depth to the role, that does not bode well, does it?"

Archie laughed at her observation, eyes bright with amusement. “Now who is being wicked?"

“I am merely sharing my perceptions of the limitations of a role I once performed, sir," she said primly. “´Twas you who questioned the quality of the player."

“Touché."

Kitty raised the nearly empty bottle of champagne and at Archie´s nod refilled his glass. He took a sip and leaned towards her again with an appreciative sigh.

“It must have been amazing to tread the boards under Mr. Sheridan´s direction."

“It was indeed. Drury Lane is simply not the same without him," Kitty added a bit regretfully. “I remember once when we were staging his play The Critic—you would have been in short jackets and curls back then, my dear—oh, what a row that turned into!“

Kitty recounted her tale of what had begun as an ill-fated production turned triumph. Archie hung on her every word, his chin propped on his fist, eyes shining in the lantern light. Kitty felt restless motion beside her and it was only belatedly that she remembered the presence of her other guest.

Kitty turned to look at Horatio who was looking at them intently even though he had not uttered a word throughout the entire discussion. He sat up sharply and offered her an embarrassed smile.

“Look at me, forgetting my manners. I apologize, Horatio. We must have bored you terribly, chattering on about the theatre like this."

“No, not at all," he replied a tad too hastily.

“It´s no use, I´m afraid," Archie´s voice addressed her from the other side. “I´ve been trying for years to encourage Horatio´s interest in the theatre but alas, my efforts have met with little success. Not even the sublime beauty of Shakespeare has proven adequate enticement to lure him away from his navigational texts."

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, Mr. Kennedy," Horatio replied serenely.

“Some things are incontrovertible, Mr. Hornblower. The brilliance of Shakespeare is one of them."

“I take it you are a devotee of the Bard, Archie?" Kitty asked.

Horatio gave a snort of laughter. “Archie is a most fervent admirer of Mr. Shakespeare´s works. As the entire officers´ mess of the Indefatigable can attest to at great length."

“I fail to see how anyone can consider himself an enlightened Englishman without a thorough knowledge or appreciation of Shakespeare," he replied easily.

Horatio chuckled, not put out in the slightest by his friend´s censure and Kitty suddenly realized that she was bearing witness to what was no doubt a longstanding but amicable dispute between the two of them

“Am I to assume then that you would not approve of Mr. Garrick´s alterations to King Lear?" Kitty asked.

“Lear with a happy ending? Indeed not." Archie gave a disdainful sniff. “I know that it was customary to rewrite the Bard in times past, but it is beyond my comprehension how anyone could even conceive of such a desecration as an improvement." He shook his head sadly.

“A purist, I see.  Well, not all performances of Shakespeare´s work are so dramatic in their alterations. Tell me, Archie, did you ever have the opportunity to see Kemble´s Macbeth?"

Archie´s face lit up at once, his previous outrage banished entirely. “Oh yes! Now that was extraordinary! Much truer to the original. Though Mrs. Siddons´ performance as Lady Macbeth could not begin to hold a candle to yours as Cleopatra," he added.

Kitty gave a small laugh, delighted. “You are wicked to flatter me so, Archie."

“I speak only the truth," he replied earnestly. He paused, his expression becoming contemplative. “Oh, I do not deny that her presence on stage is impressive, for indeed it is, but she has none of your grace of movement. She is  too…cold for my tastes. I prefer to see a woman of flesh and blood on the stage, not one carved from marble."

He gave her a meaningful look that sent a sudden thrill along her spine. “And I am quite certain that she could never have carried off the role of Lady Sneerwell as effortlessly as you did tonight."

“If you continue to praise me so fulsomely, sir, I do believe that I shall blush like girl."

“I should very much like to see that, my lady!"

Kitty laughed again, basking in Archie´s attention. Oh, how she had missed engaging in such flirtations with pretty young men. In her youth, she´d had many such admirers hovering about her like bees in a garden, seeking her favors, pledging their undying devotion. But with the passage of time, their number had inevitably diminished. Thankfully, she´d lost nothing of her wit or her wiles in their intervening years as evidenced by the responses she elicited. Kitty leaned towards him, resting her chin upon her hand, pleased to see him shift towards her ever so slightly. Although she wore a coquettish smile upon her lips, the look she gave him was far from demure. He flushed a little, but did not look away.

“You are a shameless creature, Mr. Kennedy."

“So I have been told on many occasions," came his cheeky reply. He smiled at her, but she could not help but notice how his eyes flickered past her for a moment to snare those of his shipmate. Archie´s rakish smile softened fractionally.

Her smile turned knowing as an idea suddenly came to mind. She shifted on the bench and turned more fully towards the young man at her side. “Well, shameless you might be, but I am touched by your devotion, nonetheless. Such fidelity deserves to be rewarded, even if belatedly." She cast a sly glance over her shoulder. “If I may, Mr. Haitch?"

Horatio´s eyes went wide, and his brows shot upwards disappearing entirely beneath the errant fall of curls that covered his brow. “Yes, of course," he choked out at last, appearing bemused and more than a little disquieted.
 
Kitty laid her hands against Archie´s neck, feeling the warmth of his skin and the leaping of his pulse through the layers of cloth. She leaned close once more and then with infinite care, kissed him.

It was a languorous kiss, the slow, inexorable press of lips as tantalizing as she would have imagined. Archie´s mouth as sweet and warm and he followed her lead willingly, surrendering up control without hesitation. Hands came to rest lightly upon her waist, holding her steady as she moved closer to deepen the kiss.

Kitty felt pleasure dance along her nerves, reveling in the softness of his lips as they molded effortlessly to her own, in the warmth and strength of his hard young body as it pressed eagerly against her own. It was, consequently, with a keen sense of regret that she broke the kiss at last, when the need for air overtook desire.

She pulled back and looked at the young man. Archie´s eyes had fallen shut and when he opened them once more he gazed upon her with such naked adoration it quite took her breath away.

“Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates/ all that is won and lost," he murmured. His eyes never left her face, his gaze as reverent as any caress she had ever received. “Give me a kiss; Even this repays me."

Kitty reached up and touched his face, the backs of her fingers trailing along the curve of his cheek and the sharp line of his jaw. He gave her a winsome smile and in that moment Kitty felt like a girl tumbling head over heels for the first time. If he had been this lovely at fourteen, she knew she would have been hard pressed to resist the temptation to bed the dear boy. Of course, he wasn´t a lad barely out of short jackets now and there was no reason to remain aloof. The urge to kiss Archie again was potent, and it was only the belated realization that they were not alone that stayed the impulse.

Kitty turned to look at Horatio. She had expected to see amusement or even embarrassment reflected on his face. What she hadn´t expected to see, however, was petulance. There was a grim set to his jaw and a hardness to his eyes that she´d never seen before as he stared back at her. It was most disconcerting to be the recipient of that thunderous gaze. Any doubts about how things stood with Horatio in regard to his friend were laid to rest once and for all. Clearly she had trespassed. She only hoped that she had not done so irrevocably.

She turned to look back at Archie, her eyes tendering the apology she knew could not be voiced. He was looking at his friend, however, his gaze considering. Archie caught Kitty´s eye and then the serious expression vanished and a small smile crossed his face. Kitty frowned, uncertain as to what he was contemplating. The answer cam soon enough when Archie leaned in and kissed her again.

Kitty stiffened momentarily as his lips met hers and his hands settled upon her waist once more before she relaxed fully into his touch. This time it was Archie who led, his tongue slipping between parted lips to probe her mouth with exquisite care. She sighed into his mouth at the wonderful sensation, but started when she felt his hand slip from her waist to ghost across her skirts. It did not remain there as she had expected, however, but continued past towards Horatio. When it did not return, Kitty realized that even now it must surely be resting on Horatio´s person, in all probability on the thigh pressed next to Kitty´s on the bench. She felt a delicious and unexpected jolt of excitement at the thought of the staid Horatio being drawn into their embrace thusly. Archie, it would seem, was a naughty lad. She heartily approved.

When Archie released her at last, she pulled back carefully and turned to gauge Horatio´s reaction. He was frowning again, his brow deeply furrowed, but the peevishness, she was relieved to note, was gone. In its place was a palpable air of bemusement and Kitty fancied that she could almost see gears turning in his head as he tried to puzzle out what was happening. She was not at all surprised that it was Archie, not herself, upon whom Horatio´s probing gaze came to rest.

Archie returned that look levelly, though Kitty was sure she caught a glint of mischief in his eyes. She watched as Archie lifted his hand—the hand that was indeed sitting comfortably atop Horatio´s thigh—took hold of one of Horatio´s hands and then, quite deliberately, laid it upon Kitty´s. She gazed down at her lap where their three hands were entwined with Horatio´s nestled snugly and securely in the middle.
 
Kitty looked over at Archie. His lips were still curved into a small smile that a less knowledgeable party might almost construe as modest but which did not fool her in the slightest. She quirked a brow at him and he winked back before he tugged gently on their joined hands to pull the nervous Horatio towards the two of them.

Horatio´s bemused expression gave way to one of mild panic and Kitty felt a sudden swell of sympathy for him. Reaching up, she laid her free hand gently against the side of his face and let her thumb stroke across the curve of his cheekbone in a slow, steady rhythm, soothing him much as she might a skittish pet. He sat there, taut as a bowstring, holding himself rigidly almost as if he was at attention. She continued to caress his face until she felt him begin to relax a little beneath her touch. His eyes remained wide and startled, but when she smiled at him, she was gratified to find him smiling shyly back at her.

This was not confident Lieutenant Hornblower she saw before her now, but her dear Mr. Haitch, gawky and self-conscious and so terribly fragile beneath his armor of propriety. She felt another swell of emotion rise within her, not of sympathy this time, but of genuine affection. He was such a dear, guileless lad.

“Shh," she whispered as she gentled him with her touch and fond smiles. She held his gaze and felt more than saw him swallowing nervously, his tongue peeking out to wet lips gone dry in anticipation.  Kitty was suddenly reminded of those long, empty days when she was the guest of Don Masserdo, the way the hours stretched until she thought she might scream from the boredom of inactivity. Her walks with the then Acting Lieutenant Hornblower had been the only reprieve from the monotony and she had relished their time together. Awkward and unschooled in the social arts he might have been, but he was then, as now, a lovely thing and more than once she´d found her gaze drifting to that absurdly pretty mouth of his, contemplating how soft those full lips would be pressed against her own, considering how delightful it would be to initiate the clearly inexperienced Horatio into the mysteries of lovemaking.

She had not acted upon that impulse then, of course. There had simply been too much at stake to allow for such distractions, pleasurable though they might be. Oh, she had flirted with him, of course. She had needed to keep Horatio off balance so that he might not turn that clever mind of his to questions she would rather not answer, questions such as how she had known to hide dispatches in her petticoats in order to keep them from enemy hands. And it had worked perfectly, at least for a time. But oh, how she had wanted to kiss him, just once.

Drawing herself up, Kitty decided the time had come to do just that.

Still holding his gaze, Kitty leaned slowly, purposefully, towards him. Horatio remained perfectly still, neither advancing nor retreating. She saw the way his eyes skittered past her and she knew he was looking at Archie, whether for support or permission or something else entirely, she couldn´t begin to guess. Whatever he saw must have reassured him, however; Horatio´s eyes fluttered closed and he accepted the touch of her lips without so much as a murmur of protest.

The kiss was decidedly chaste but there was a yearning sweetness to it, like the dawning of a summer day ripe with the promise of warmth and lazy pleasure. She pulled back, the embrace over almost before it had even begun, and looked at him. His eyes still closed, Horatio´s tongue slithered out and traced his lips again, as if chasing the taste of her. Kitty held her breath and waited. As delightful as it was, she would not continue this game unless Horatio wished it. She was far too fond of him to toy with him in such a manner. Horatio opened his eyes at last and when he looked at her his expression was earnest and thoughtful. And then he smiled again, an awkward, endearing smile that made her heart melt.

She leaned in to kiss him again and after the barest of hesitations, Horatio leaned forward to meet her halfway. Horatio angled his head just so to align their mouths more fully and pressed his lips gently to hers, moving and sliding as he kissed her quite thoroughly. Kitty felt an arm steal around her waist, warm and heavy against the small of her back and then Archie was leaning in to her as well, pressing her closer to Horatio in the process and she couldn´t help but wonder where Archie´s other hand had gotten to, though she had an idea or two on that account.

Finally, she pulled away and was both surprised and pleased when she felt Horatio unconsciously move towards her, unwilling to break their kiss. His eyes opened and he caught himself, leaning back a bit, cheeks stained red. Kitty gave him an indulgent smile and Horatio responded with a thoughtless grin, before his lashes swept down to veil his gaze.

She cast a look at Archie over her shoulder. His body still pressed close, he was watching them both with a heated, avid gaze. He gave her a brazen smile, though the effect was undermined by the blush that colored his cheeks. For all his boldness, there was still enough of the infatuated boy remaining to make him self-conscious in her presence. His uncertainty, she decided, was every bit as charming as his boldness was intoxicating,

Kitty watched as Archie turned a searching gaze upon Horatio. No words were spoken, but when Horatio gave a faint smile and nod of his head, Kitty could feel Archie relax against her, his breath exhaled in a long, deep sigh against her neck.

For all that they had not spoken Kitty still had a fair idea of what communication had passed between them. Perhaps she was being unduly optimistic, but Kitty had always believed that nothing ventured was nothing won. She brushed a hair that had escaped her coiffure away from her forehead and carefully smoothed down the folds of her skirt, as she composed herself. When she was done, she looked at her companions with invitation in her eyes.

“Well, gentlemen, this has been an excellent meal, but I believe the time has come to depart. Would be so good as to accompany me back to my lodgings?"

There. The remark has vague enough that if they so chose, they could interpret it as nothing more than a perfectly innocent request to see a lady safely home. As she had hoped, they did not so choose. Another shared glance, another silent dialogue and then both men were smiling back at her, pink cheeked and as lovely as the day.

“It would be our pleasure, Kitty."

They rose, only a little unsteadily, and accompanied Kitty out of the room and down the staircase to the common room below.

Jacques was there, of course, and he came over to greet them. Before he even spoke, Kitty could see the question in his eyes. She smiled and gave the faintest of nods and Jacques´ smile brightened a fraction.

“Ma chatte, you are leaving us so soon?"

“I´m afraid so, Jacques. The meal was exquisite as always, but the hour grows late, I´m afraid."

“You are off to bed then?"

Kitty smiled at the less than subtle query. “I am indeed. And these two gentlemen have graciously offered to see me safely home."

Jacques nodded. “Of course." He took her hand and raised it to his lips before he turned to face Horatio and Archie. “L´Incomparable is a treasure and should be cared for, n´est-ce pas messieurs?"

“Indeed," Horatio agreed, his manner excessively formal. “You can rest assured of it. Thank you, monsieur, for the fine meal. It has been a pleasure."

“Of that I have no doubt, monsieur," Jacques replied meaningfully.

“You will send the bill to my lodgings tomorrow, Jacques?" Kitty asked.

“Of course." Jacques bowed. “Goodnight, ma chatte, messieurs."

“Goodnight, Jacques."

They left the restaurant and headed out into the night. The streets were less crowded now and the temperature had dropped a bit, which provided a perfect excuse to pull her escorts close and enjoy the warmth of their bodies pressed against her side as they walked back to Kitty´s lodgings.

The trip was a short one. Pausing at the door, she turned to look at the two of them and for a brief moment she couldn´t help but wonder at her own recklessness and theirs, half fearing that what had passed between them just a short time before was nothing more than a sudden fit of madness, like a fever that flares then burns off just as quickly. Unaccustomedly nervous, she drew a breath before daring to speak.

“Would you gentlemen care to come upstairs?" she inquired, her tone and expression mild.

They looked at each other and then back at her and any doubts fled when they smiled sweetly at her. “It would be our pleasure, Kitty," Archie said while Horatio nodded his agreement. She smiled at them in turn then led them inside and up the stairs towards her rooms.

She opened the door and ushered the young men in, after first directing Horatio to light a candle from the rush light near the stairs. He obeyed her request with the alacrity one might expect from an officer in His Majesty´s service.

Her lodgings were modest, but had always felt more cozy than cramped, and the landlady Mrs. Biddle, being of a fastidious nature, assured that the rooms were well kept. Kitty moved through the room, lighting a few candles as she went. She paused at the hearth. A fire had been laid out for her, but Kitty suspected that she would be kept warm enough this night so she did not light it. Replacing the last candle on the mantle Kitty turned back towards her companions.

She saw at once that the earlier boldness had been replaced with shyness. If they had lost their nerve, she would not press them, but perhaps all that was needed was a moment to compose themselves. Smiling warmly she offered them a drink and the flash of relief she saw reflected on both visages reassured her.

Kitty poured them each a small measure of brandy. “Purely for medicinal purposes," she said as she handed them their drinks. The levity of the remark had the desired effect, winning her twin smiles. Kitty raised her glass.

“To friendship."

They echoed the motion then drank deeply. Kitty shivered as the alcohol burned a path down to her belly, stirring another, more exquisite heat within her. She took another drink, watching her companions over the rim of her glass. Both sets of eyes were hooded, but she caught the flickering glances they shot in her direction and at one another. By the time they had emptied their glasses, their cheeks were flushed but not entirely from drink. Archie looked a question at Horatio who after a brief pause nodded in return before they both turned to look at her with expressions that wavered between brazen and coy.

Kitty put down her glass, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt as nervous as a bride facing the marriage bed, but there was exhilaration as well, like the breathless anticipation she felt as the curtain rose and she made her entrance upon the stage. She smiled in invitation.

She was not surprised that it was Archie who accepted the challenge. Crossing the distance between them, he took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. His expression was serious but as his lips grazed her knuckles, Kitty same that now familiar flash of mischief in his eyes. Kitty´s smile broadened. Archie did not release her hand, but used it to draw her closer even as his other arm circled her waist. He kissed her slow and deep, his tongue stroking hers in a lazy, sensual rhythm. Kitty´s arms reached up to circle his neck pulling him closer still and he hummed with pleasure as she pressed against him, swaying her hips provocatively. When he released her at last, Kitty was greeted by the sight of tousled hair, flushed cheeks and an expression that managed to be both impish and wanton. His eyes were dark and intense as they met hers for a moment longer before he turned aside and took Horatio´s hand and tugged his friend towards them.

Horatio´s nervous gaze shifted between them though he seemed to relax when they smiled reassurance at him. Archie moved behind Horatio and laid his hands upon his shoulders, leaned in and whispered something in Horatio´s ear. His voice was pitched too low for Kitty´s ears, but whatever he had said had been outrageous enough to make Horatio gawp and his cheeks to color. Horatio looked back at him, but Archie smiled again and whispered something else. This time Horatio licked his lips nervously but gave a small nod and then Archie gave his shoulders a gentle push until Horatio was standing before Kitty as shy as a newborn colt.

Kitty caressed his cheek again before her hand slid down to tangle in that mass of dark curls as soft as silk beneath her fingertips. She pulled him gently towards her and he surrendered to her at once, his arms slipping around her waist. Although she initiated the kiss, she let him control it. His touch was tentative at first, but bit by bit it grew bolder and more assured. It was soon clear that, despite his shyness, he was not entirely without experience. Kitty doubted he had learned the skill from some portside doxy. No, this was the legacy of a gentler and far more patient instructor and Kitty had no doubts as to who his tutor had been.

Horatio´s arms tightened pulling her closer, his embrace firm yet still tender. Kitty gasped into Horatio´s mouth as she felt a touch ghost along her neck and her hair shifted aside. Lips trailed across her newly exposed nape, heating her skin with warm breath and soft kisses. A warm body settled against her back and pressed her forward against Horatio, sparking a frisson of pure, dizzying delight within her as her body was crushed between two warm and unmistakably male bodies. Her nerves sang with pleasure at the sensation of implacable strength surrounding her, sheltering her.

Archie continued to kiss her neck occasionally nipping her skin with his teeth only to soothe it a moment later with a flicker of his tongue. He nibbled at her earlobe as his hands slid along her sides, moving upwards. And then Kitty gasped again as an errant hand slid beneath the edge of her bodice to cup her breast. The gasp quickly became a moan as the hand squeezed and fondled and the pad of a thumb brushed repeatedly across her nipple, making it harden.

Kitty´s head fell back upon her neck, her breath coming in gasps. She turned, her mouth seeking the man behind her and Archie accommodated her. This time his kiss was demanding and she yielded to it willingly. She was surprised when she felt another pair of lips sliding along the side of her neck. Apparently Horatio had overcome his earlier shyness, a fact that was underscored soon after as another pair of hands began to tease along the edge of her bodice, still tentative, yet undeniably inquisitive.

When she pulled away from Archie´s kiss at last, she gazed down to find the unexpected sight of Horatio carefully unbuttoning her bodice. He wore an expression of such fierce concentration, his brow furrowed and the tip of his tongue trapped between his teeth, that Kitty thought she might laugh. That is, until he finished. Horatio pushed the bodice aside, exposing her breasts, and then to Kitty´s utter amazement, bent his head and began to suckle her breast like a kitten at its mother´s teat. Kitty felt her breath hitch in her chest. “Yes," a voice—Archie´s voice—whispered and it was only then that she realized that Archie´s free hand had come to rest at the back of Horatio´s head, stroking the soft curls in a slow gentle rhythm even as his other hand continued to fondle her.

She tilted her head to gaze up at the man behind her. Archie´s eyes were fixed upon the top of Horatio´s head, his expression one of open lust. She didn´t know if it was aimed at Horatio or her or the both of them but at that moment she did not care. Reaching behind her, she threaded her hand in Archie´s hair and pulled him down into a hungry, open mouthed kiss.

“Kitty," he whispered against her skin when she released him at last, his voice low and rough and soaked with adulation. She pressed back against him and he gasped at the contact. Kitty´s body tingled at the wet heat that began to pool between her legs. In spite of the petticoats and heavy folds of her skirt that separated them, she could feel Archie´s hardness pressed against her arse while Horatio´s pressed against her belly. She ached with wanting them and knew they felt the same. She reached down and gently tipped Horatio´s chin up. His eyes were wide and black and his lips were as red as plums, shining with his own spit. She smiled at him, but she knew that this time, there was nothing gentle or reassuring about it.

“My bed is this way," she said, holding his gaze. Horatio nodded then straightened. She took his hand in her left and Archie´s in her right and pulled them along after her. Neither man protested.

The bed was hidden from view by a screen of Chinese silk. While of generous proportion for one, it was going to be a bit of a challenge to fit three, but then, wasn´t the challenge half the fun?

Archie swept her into another kiss, hard and sharp and flavored with shared hunger. Hands--Horatio´s or Archie´s she wasn´t sure which--began to tug at the fastenings of her bodice. She pushed them away, keenly aware of the urgency of the moment and knowing that she was better suited to the task. She pulled the dress over her head, other hands aiding her in the task, and discarded it nearby. The top of her shift had already been untied and it was easy enough to shimmy out of her petticoats. Her corset would be more of a challenge so she left it for the moment turning her attention to her stockings instead. Even as her hands reached for them, Archie stayed her motion. She shot him a curious glance then watched as he sank to his knees before her and then with a gentleness and patience she would not have anticipated at this moment in the proceedings, he began to roll her stocking down her leg.

Archie´s hands were warm as they slid along the skin of her thighs. He leaned in and blazed a trail of delicate kisses down her leg as more and more of skin was revealed. When he was done she raised her foot and kicked off her shoe, then watched as Archie repeated the process upon her left. When he was done he gazed up at her with a smoldering gleam in his eyes, lifted up the bottom edge of her shift and then began to nuzzle at her sex.

Kitty gasped as she felt the tip of his tongue tease along her entrance. Her legs instinctively slid apart to allow him access and then she gasped again as she felt that warm, wetness slid inside her. Her whole body shuddered and she found herself clutching at his shoulders as he pleasured her with his tongue. This was a form of worship she had received all too rarely, most men interested only in their own gratification. Kitty accepted Archie´s adoration with delight, urging him on with breathy moans and soft words of encouragement as her fingers twisted into the fabric stretched across his shoulders.

Her head rolled to the side and out of the corner of her eyes she spied Horatio who was sitting on the edge of the bed watching Archie with rapt fascination as it he had never seen anything quite so astonishing in his life. Perhaps he hadn´t. If that was the case, any future bride of his would be grateful for the instruction he was receiving this day.

Archie´s nimble tongue continued to move within her and then Kitty bucked and gasped as pleasure shot through her. Her legs suddenly felt like they could no longer sustain her, but thankfully Archie rose and steadied her, gracing her with an expression that was both fond and hungry. Kitty pulled him in for another kiss, tasting herself upon his tongue before she pulled away and began to unbutton his jacket. Archie reached out and stilled her hands. He shook his head when she looked up at him quizzically, then nodded his head towards Horatio who still sat on the bed and watched them intently.

Kitty nodded her understanding then went to sit on the bed beside Horatio, while Archie perched himself near his shoulder. Archie leaned in again and whispered something in Horatio´s ear. Kitty could no more hear the words this time than she had before, but now she noticed the way Archie´s hand stroked Horatio´s hair away from his ear as he leaned in, letting it linger briefly along Horatio´s neck. The caress was discreet but telling. When Archie finished, Horatio nodded again and Archie´s hand slid to Horatio´s shoulder before he began to help Horatio remove his jacket before turning his attention to the buttons of Horatio´s waistcoat.

Kitty caught the look Archie shot her and nodded again before she began to unbutton Horatio´s breeches as carefully as possible. She felt him jump then settle and when she looked up, she saw that Archie was whispering in Horatio´s ear once more, just as a groom might do to soothe a high strung thoroughbred. The strategy appeared to have the same salutary effect upon Horatio because he did not so much as twitch as Archie and Kitty continued to disrobe him until finally he was as naked as the day he was born.

Kitty´s eyes lingered on the body laid out before her, tall and slender and perfectly formed, with a rangy leanness that did not entirely hide the strength beneath. Horatio´s body was pale save for his forearms and neck where the sun had darkened the skin; flawless, but for the puckered scar of a bullet hole high upon his left shoulder. She wondered if she would be able to wrestle the tale of how he had earned it later on. Her fingertips brushed the wound, but did not remain there. Her eyes and hands drifted lower to where his manhood rested, half hard against his thigh, some of his earlier urgency having faded from shyness. She let her hand glide along his leg and across the delicate skin of his inner thigh and watched as his eyes closed, a soft sigh escaping his lips. She let her hands explore this familiar region a little longer before gently stroking the once more hardened flesh.

Horatio´s eyes shot open at that and she felt him stiffen beneath her touch, but Archie was there, calming him with soft words and a hand upon his shoulder. Horatio relaxed back into the mattress and let Kitty explore his body with knowing fingers. He all but jumped when she ran her fingernails lightly along the underside of his cock, but settled just as quickly. His eyes fluttered shut and his body relaxed beneath her as he surrendered himself to her ministrations.

Startled by the unexpected show of trust, Kitty felt a sudden thrill at the sensation of power. She looked across the bed to where Archie was seated. He had shed his jacket and removed his stock, but remained otherwise dressed, in stark contrast to Horatio´s nudity and her own state of dishabille. He smiled at her and the expression she saw writ upon his face was not mischievous or even licentious, as she would have expected, but oddly grateful. This was a gift to his friend, Kitty realized, and the affection she´d felt for Horatio rose up to encompass Archie as well. She leaned across Horatio´s supine body and gave Archie a gentle kiss before she returned to her exploration.

Horatio, she learned soon enough, was a most responsive subject. The soft press of lips against smooth skin elicited shivers, while a gentle raking of nails over flesh could make him moan and twist beneath her touch. She continued to move along his body, testing his reactions. Kitty soaked up the startled exclamations of pleasure along with the sight of the normally restrained Horatio writhing and whimpering with need, his staid façade fracturing beneath the onslaught of sensation.

Kitty nipped lightly at one dark nipple, prompting a hiss from behind clenched teeth. She raised her eyes to look at Archie who was watching Horatio with an expression of wonder. Completely absorbed by the tableau playing out before him, Archie´s hand continued to stroke up and down Horatio´s arm absently as he whispered soft words of encouragement.

“So beautiful…" Kitty heard him say, repeating it over and over like a litany. Kitty could not help but agree.

As if sensing her eyes upon him, Archie looked back at Kitty and smiled. She felt her chest tighten at the tenderness reflected back at her. His left hand continued to caress Horatio´s arm, but he reached out with the other and let his fingertips graze her cheek and slide down her neck, his touch as warm and liquid as honey.

“Please…"

Horatio´s entreaty was little more than a whisper, but the word was steeped in such desperate need that only the stoniest of hearts would not have been moved. Kitty gave Archie another fleeting kiss before she moved to straddle Horatio´s body. Taking hold of him with one hand she guided him towards the entrance to her body before she sank down upon him

A broken moan was torn from Horatio´s throat as she took him fully inside her body. She held still for a heartbeat and then another before she began to move in a slow, steady rhythm. Other noises filled the air, soft exhalations of breath, gasping moans and the faint creak of the bed as she rode Horatio´s body, undulating above him seeking pleasure for the both of them. She rested her hands against his chest, partly for balance, partly for the sheer pleasure of having warm flesh beneath her palms. Sweat had begun to bead Horatio´s chest and she let her hands slide along damp skin to feel his heartbeat.

Kitty sighed as she felt Archie´s hand slide along her side, completing the circle. His touch was slow and rhythmic, matching the pace she had set as she moved atop Horatio´s body. Archie was watching her now with the same heated gaze he had bestowed upon Horatio. She gasped as a sudden thrill of arousal shot through her and then Archie was leaning forward, hand twining in her hair, to steal the sound from her lips. His kiss was hungry and urgent and Kitty trembled at the sensation, her entire body alight with desire as waves of pleasure rolled through her.

Horatio was writhing beneath her now. He bucked upwards sharply again and again and his head began to thrash on the pillow, eyes squeezed shut as if to block out the sensations threatening to overwhelm him. Archie broke their kiss and then he leaned close to Horatio´s ear.

“Let go," he murmured to the other man, the words loud enough to be heard over Horatio´s increasingly ragged breathing. “Just let go."

A soft sound like a whimper, then a cry as Horatio did just that. His hips rose sharply from the bed, almost dislodging Kitty from his body as he reached his climax. He bucked up a few more times then collapsed against the mattress is a gasping heap, as beautiful in his exhaustion as he´d been in his earlier abandon.

When he opened his eyes at last, they were as soft and dark as velvet and more tender than she could ever have imagined. Horatio reached out with one hand to touch Archie´s face and with the other he caressed Kitty´s, his expression one of undisguised amazement. Archie grasped his hand and pressed the fingertips to his lips. Horatio smiled sweetly in response. When Horatio turned that smile upon Kitty she couldn´t decide whether she wanted to steal the breath from his lungs or place a chaste kiss upon his forehead like a doting sister. She opted for the former, pleased to note that he merely sighed and let himself sink contentedly into her kiss.

Kitty broke the kiss with some regret and slid from his body to curl up beside him. He turned to look at her with such amazement shining in his eyes that Kitty could feel a blush begin to crawl across her cheeks. Even with his curls plastered to his forehead and his cheeks pink and damp from exertion, he was a lovely thing, all the more so after the long wait.

She smiled at Horatio again and tipped her head meaningfully to the side. Horatio frowned for a moment, uncharacteristically slow in the afterglow before he finally caught her intent. He twisted around and looked up at Archie who was smiling down at both of them with an almost paternal indulgence. Horatio frowned for a moment before a bright, boyish grin lit his face. With greater speed than Kitty would have anticipated under the circumstances, Horatio grabbed Archie´s hand and pulled hard, tumbling a startled Archie to the bed. He landed between them with an undignified squeak.

“Horatio!" Archie chided, though there was no real irritation behind his exclamation.

“You´re still dressed," Horatio said, pronouncing the words as carefully as a drunkard. “You shouldn´t be." Horatio then matched action to words by tugging clumsily on the buttons of Archie´s waistcoat.

“Horatio´s quite right, Archie." Kitty agreed equitably before she joined Horatio in his efforts. Archie, not surprisingly, made no protest, but submitted meekly to their offensive. It did not take before Archie was stretched out naked on the bed. Archie shifted his gaze from Kitty to Horatio and back again, his face alive with eagerness and perhaps a hint of trepidation.

There was no need for apprehension, of course. Horatio was still looking at Archie with a doting expression that no doubt would have mortified him had he been made aware of it. Kitty suspected that her own expression was equally fond. She trailed her fingers along the side of Archie´s face, drawing his gaze, before she leaned in to kiss him. When he reached for her to deepen the kiss, she pulled away, a tender, half-teasing smile upon her lips. She began to move above him, exploring his body much as she had Horatio´s before him, charting both the similarities and the differences between two such attractive bodies. Like Horatio, Archie´s skin was very pale, though his body was shorter and more compact, stocky where Horatio´s was lean. And while Horatio´s chest was as smooth and hairless as a boy´s, Archie´s was covered with a patch of gold russet hair that trailed down his breastbone towards his sex. Kitty decided to follow that path, blazing a trail of her own laid down in kisses and inquisitive touches.

Archie proved to be every bit as responsive as Horatio had been, though his reactions differed. A kiss to his collarbone made him hum with pleasure, while another placed near his stomach made him gasp. And then there was a teasing touch just below his ribs that startled a giggle out of him. The sound was so unexpected that Kitty could not resist the urge to scrape her nails across the spot again, making him squeal and curl in on himself. He retaliated by pulling her in for a sharp kiss which she granted most contritely, before returning to her previous study.

When Kitty cast a quick look over to where Horatio lay stretched out beside Archie, she wasn´t surprised in the least to see him watching the proceedings with rapt fascination. His eyes were wide and dark and one hand was clutched in the bedding scant inches from Archie´s body as if needing to be close but still unable to simply reach out and touch. Kitty felt a pang of melancholy at that thought and an idea began to take shape in her mind.

Kitty made her way down Archie´s body, jotting kisses as she went until she reached his cock curved upward against his belly, the head flush a deep scarlet. She trailed a finger along its length from base to tip, feeling it twitch, then slid her finger back down the same path. Archie moaned softly and shifted restlessly against the bedding.

“Shhh," she instructed as she laid one hand against his hip to urge him to stillness. He acquiesced, though it was clear the effort cost him. She skimmed her fingers along the heated flesh again then wrapped her hand carefully around it began to move it up and down in a slow, careful motion. Archie moaned again, a high querulous sound.

She continued to move her hand in that same precise rhythm and watched until Archie´s eyes fluttered closed and his face went slack as he abandoned himself to sensation. Kitty caught Horatio´s eye then, noting the intensity of the gaze he fixed upon Archie. She gave him a knowing smile before she lowered her head and took Archie into her mouth.

Archie gasped and bucked as her lips surrounded his sensitive flesh. She tightened her hold on his hip, her fingers digging into the layer of flesh stretched taut across the jut of bone, until he settled once more. She took him deeper into her mouth and swallowed him whole. She began to move along his cock, adopting the same slow rhythm her hand had used. She wanted to make it last, wanted to repay the unexpected tribute he had offered to her. Kitty could feel him moving impatiently and although her eyes were closed, she knew his head was thrashing upon the pillow. And all the while, Kitty was keenly aware of Horatio´s drinking in the sight with open wonder.

Kitty hummed against Archie´s cock and delighted in the incoherent sounds that issued from his mouth as she pleasured him. This was power, she knew. So many men perceived this act as one of subservience never understanding that it was the giver, not the recipient who was in control. One hand still remained on his hip while the other had come to rest upon his thigh. Kitty could feel the muscles tense beneath her palm as he struggled to hold himself still. He was close now, very close, his body trembling and writhing as need continued to build until he could endure no more. Kitty heard the hoarse cry a heartbeat before the taste of him filled her mouth. She held herself still as he spent himself then sank to the bed with a sigh.

Wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, Kitty crawled up the bed and stretched out beside Archie. His face was blurry with satiation and when he smiled up at her, there was such piercing sweetness reflected there that this time she did surrender to impulse and leaned forward to place a light kiss upon his brow. He continued to smile at her even as his eyes began to droop a little in exhausted contentment.

Kitty looked over at Horatio who was still gazing intently at Archie. She reached over and tucked a finger beneath his chin. He turned towards her and when Kitty pulled gently on his chin, Horatio let himself be drawn towards her. Kitty paused, her lips a breath away from Horatio´s, before she leaned in and kissed him. Horatio yielded beneath the gentle pressure of her lips as her tongue slipped inside his welcoming mouth. Kitty´s hand moved to rest against his nape, holding him steady, as she deepened the kiss. Horatio moaned, but still she did not relent, not until they were both trembling and gasping breathlessly.

Kitty´s hand still lingered on Horatio´s neck and she used it to tug him close once more. This time, however she whispered in his ear. “Can you taste him, Horatio?" she purred. “Can you taste Archie on my tongue? In your mouth?"

Horatio gasped at her provocative words, but when she looked at him, she did not see disgust or even embarrassment reflected upon his visage, but something else entirely, something that could only be described as fascination. Fascination and lust.

Kitty gave Horatio a knowing smile. “He´s beautiful, isn´t he?"

Horatio´s eyes flickered to his friend´s face then back to hers. Horatio swallowed and gave a small nod.

“Touch him." It was something more than a request, but less than a command. Horatio hesitated, torn between his desire and his native reticence, so Kitty took his right hand in hers and placed it against Archie´s chest. Heat radiated from Archie´s body, the skin still slick with sweat and steeped in the scent of animal arousal. Horatio hesitated a moment more before he let his hand roam across the bare skin beneath his fingertips.

Kitty rose and circled the bed then sat beside Horatio. Much as Archie had done, Kitty rested her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

“He´s beautiful, isn´t he, Horatio?" she asked again.

“Yes." The word was hissed as if pulled from between clenched teeth.

“You want him, don´t you?"

She could feel the shiver that raced through Horatio´s body at her words. “Yes."

Kitty rubbed her cheek against Horatio´s shoulder and smiled against warm, bare skin. “It´s all right, Horatio. He wants you as well."

Archie confirmed her words by reaching up to stroke his hand lightly against Horatio´s chest, his heavy lidded eyes soft with affection. She could hear Horatio´s breath as it caught in his chest.

“Have you ever taken another man, Horatio?"

Horatio stiffened and pulled back, his hand sliding from Archie´s chest. When he turned to look at Kitty, his distress was evident

“I couldn´t," Horatio confessed. He closed his eyes and drew a shuddering breath. “I won´t hurt him like that."

Kitty kneaded Horatio´s shoulders, trying to ease muscles gone tense beneath her touch. “You wouldn´t," she assured him, her words as gentle-firm as the motion of her hands upon his shoulders. “Not if you´re careful. I could show you how."

Horatio shook his head. “I can´t. I couldn´t do that to him."

“Perhaps he would like you to. Why don´t you ask him," Kitty suggested.

Horatio gave her a startled look before he turned to look down at the man stretched out on the bed beside him. Archie reached up and cradled Horatio´s face with his hand, a fond smile tracing his lips.

“Yes."

Kitty watched Horatio´s profile, saw him blink in bemusement. “Archie?" he asked.

“Yes," Archie repeated with a smile that was impossibly warm and tender.

“Are you sure?"

Archie nodded. “I trust you, Horatio."

“I don´t want to hurt you."

Archie´s smile became even more affectionate. “You couldn´t, Horatio." Archie trailed his fingers lightly along Horatio´s cheek, his gaze soft and beseeching. “Please, Horatio. I want this. With you."

“You´re certain?"

Archie replied by pulling Horatio down for a lingering kiss. Kitty took advantage of their distraction to slip from the bed and retrieve the requisite item from her dressing table. When Kitty returned, she pressed it into Horatio´s hand.

Horatio gazed at the small glass bottle in his hand. He removed the stopper and the scent of roses filled the air. Horatio turned a quizzical look to Kitty.

“Not the purpose for which it was intended, but I believe it will suffice."

A soft snort pulled Kitty´s attention to the bed. Archie was looking up at them with a faintly amused expression. “I shall have the sweetest smelling arse in all of London."

Horatio gave a choked laugh. Archie´s irreverent words apparently sufficed to assuage Horatio´s last misgivings. Kitty could feel the tension drain from Horatio´s body and when Horatio turned to look back at her, his expression was clear. “What do I do?"

Kitty gave him a gentle kiss and took the bottle from him for safekeeping. “Lie down beside him. Archie turn over on to your side." This last she directed to Archie who followed her directions at once, rolling over so that his back now turned towards Horatio. Horatio followed suit and curled up around Archie´s body, close but still not touching.

Kitty gave an indulgent sigh. “He´s not made of spun sugar, Horatio. You can move closer."

Archie, however, decided to take matters into his own hands. He wriggled his way backwards until he was pressed against the length of Horatio´s body and before Horatio could attempt to shift back, Archie twisted around, tangled his fingers in Horatio´s hair and drew him into a slow burning kiss. Kitty watched, mesmerized, as Horatio simply melted into Archie´s embrace, his arm stealing around Archie´s waist to anchor them together. She continued to watch as they kissed slow and deep and previously shy hands grew bolder. Their limbs tangled together just as their hair was twined where it fell upon the pillow. They were indeed lovely together.

Her eyes still resting upon the pair, Kitty rose from the bed and finally freed herself from the confining corset and her shift. She quickly wrapped herself in her dressing gown then returned to her perch. Not surprisingly, the bed´s occupants didn´t even notice as they continued to kiss and caress. Their bodies were now rocking together in a lazy, instinctive rhythm accompanied by the most delicious sounds. When their movement started to become more urgent, Kitty decided to intervene.

Kitty placed her hand upon Horatio´s shoulder and gave it a small shake. “Horatio?"

So lost was he in the no doubt exquisite sensations of his own body, Horatio seemed disinclined to respond. Kitty shook his shoulder again, and this time Horatio pulled back from his kiss, reluctance etched upon his face. Beside him, Archie made a decidedly disappointed noise.

Horatio blinked up at her with such bemusement it was clear that he had completely forgotten her presence in the room. Hardly surprising under the circumstances. Kitty smiled down at him and dangled the small bottle of oil within his line of sight. He frowned for a moment then nodded his understanding.

“Give me your hand," she said. When Horatio complied, she unstoppered the bottle and poured a generous measure of oil upon his outstretched fingers and rubbed it over them until the digits were slick and shining in the candlelight.

Horatio gazed up at her the question clear in his eyes.

She nodded then tilted her head, directing him to return to his companion´s side. Kitty stretched out on the bed behind him. “Raise his leg up, gently, my dear," she instructed. “Good. Now, slide your fingers down to the entrance of his body until you can feel it beneath your fingertips. Are you there, love?"

Horatio nodded tersely. As she had done before, Kitty placed a hand upon his shoulder and rubbed gently at the tension there. “Good. Now, slide one finger inside him, slow and gentle. It´s all right," she assured him. “The oil will ease the passage. This won´t hurt him, I promise."

Kitty waited, eyes and ears both fixed upon the scene before her. It was the sound of Archie´s soft exhalation of breath, almost, but not quite a sigh that told her that his body had been breached. She held still and listened carefully, and felt Horatio begin to relax as Archie sighed again, this time with contentment.

“Good," she praised softly. “Move your finger in deeper. Slow and steady, my dear, that´s how it is done.

“Is your finger fully inside now, Horatio?" He nodded. “Good. Now, move it in and out. Let his body become accustomed to it. There´s no need to rush; we have all the time in the world."

A bald faced lie, that. Time was slipping away already. With each passing moment, dawn drew closer and with it a new day. One day closer to her dear boys´ return to their ship and the ongoing war with France and Spain; one day closer to Kitty´s own inevitable fading. There was nothing she could do to stop either. Duty called and her dear boys would answer; they could not do otherwise and remain true to themselves. There was even less Kitty could do to stop her own encroaching decline. She could mask its effects but eventually, the hand of Time would leave marks that no amount of powder could hope to disguise. Kitty could not halt the passage of time; all she could do was live life to the fullest in what time she was granted and perhaps—perhaps—help her dear boys to do the same.

The soft sounds emanating from the bed´s other occupants drew Kitty from her musings. She could not see Horatio´s hand, of course, but she could see the effects of its action. Archie was rocking back against Horatio, humming pleasurably as he did so while Horatio nuzzled at Archie´s neck. Kitty smiled, gratified by the sight.

“Archie, do you like what Horatio is doing to you, my dear?"

A breathy sigh that sounded almost like a purr was her answer.

“Do you want more?"

A shuddering gasp. “Yes."

“Horatio," Kitty whispered in Horatio´s ear. “Archie is ready for more. Slide two fingers inside him now. Remember, slow and gentle."

Horatio nodded. A few moments later Archie gave a soft moan and began to push back eagerly.

“Gently, Archie, gently," she advised in a soft voice. She was keenly aware of how nervous Horatio remained and Archie´s enthusiasm, while encouraging, might prove a bit…intimidating to the reserved Horatio, at least this early in the proceedings. Archie was not the only one who needed to acclimate to this new experience.

Perhaps Archie understood this as well for he settled at once and leaned back against Horatio with a sigh. They were moving again, the pace slow and luxurious. Archie´s eyes were closed and a small smile graced his features. Horatio, however, continued to gaze at his friend, a look of fierce concentration upon his face as he applied himself completely to the task before him. She found it strangely endearing.

“Now add a third finger," Kitty advised Horatio after some time had passed. Horatio threw a worried look over his shoulder, but Kitty smiled reassuringly. “It will be all right. Remember: slow and gentle."

Archie gave a hissed gasp and Horatio froze. “Shhh," Kitty said stroking Horatio´s shoulder. “It´s all right."

“Archie?" Horatio asked in a tentative voice.

“I´m fine, Horatio, truly. Don´t stop."

“Are you sure?"

“Quite sure."

Kitty continued to rub Horatio´s shoulder until his muscles relaxed and she felt his arm begin to move even more slowly and gently than before.

Suddenly, Archie jumped and gave a startled squeak.

“Archie?" Horatio´s voice was ripe with concern but when Archie gazed back at him his expression was one of wide eyed wonder.

“Do that again!" he commanded.

Horatio blinked, confused. “It´s all right, Horatio," Kitty assured him with a small laugh. “There´s apparently a spot deep inside that brings tremendous pleasure when touched. I do believe you found it."

“Really?" Horatio asked, skepticism and delight warring for dominance.

Kitty laughed again. “Don´t take my word for it; ask Archie."

Horatio decided to test the results for himself instead and slid his fingers inside Archie´s body once again to search for the spot. Archie´s response was immediate and quite impressive as his entire body shuddered and a deep groan was torn from his lips.

Horatio looked back at Kitty in amazement. She smiled and nodded. Clearly pleased with the results of his experiment, Horatio repeated the motion again and again until Archie was quivering and writhing and soft mewling sounds issued from his throat.

“Please," he gasped at last.

“I believe he´s ready, Horatio," Kitty suggested.

Horatio turned anxious eyes upon Kitty. She smiled back at him and placed a soft kiss on his brow before retrieving the bottle of oil.

“All will be well, Horatio. Trust me. And trust yourself." She waited until he nodded before she drizzled a generous measure of oil upon Horatio´s cock, already flushed and erect with need.

Horatio gasped as the oil spilled across his heated flesh. Kitty wrapped her hand around it, spreading the oil as quickly and efficiently as possible. After all of this, it would a shame were he to spend too soon.

Kitty released Horatio´s prick and gave him a quick, sharp kiss.

“It´s time." She replaced her oil slicked hand on Horatio´s shoulder and nudged him back towards Archie who was watching them with dark, burning eyes.

“Remember, slow and gentle and all will be well."

Horatio took a deep breath and nodded his understanding. Wrapping his arm loosely around Archie´s chest, Horatio moved close. There was stillness and then Archie´s long, slow exhalation of breath as Horatio entered his body with near agonizing slowness. Horatio´s arm tightened and he held himself steady allowing them both to adjust. Finally, after a seeming eternity, Horatio began to move. At first, his movements were restrained, the barest rocking of his hips to and fro as he nuzzled Archie´s neck and whispered soft, soothing words, much as Archie had done for him earlier. Soon, however, the movements became stronger and more pronounced and then Archie was pushing back, demanding even more and Horatio gave up all pretense of control.

Kitty watched, enthralled, as they loved one another, quite certain that she´d never witnessed anything so beautiful before. Archie leaned back and pulled Horatio into a kiss. The angle should have made it awkward, but somehow they aligned themselves perfectly as Archie grasped Horatio´s hair and pulled him closer. Horatio moaned loudly into Archie´s mouth as he they traded hot, moist kisses and then his hand drifted lower until it found Archie´s cock and gave it a quick squeeze that made Archie shudder and gasp.

Archie was pushing urgently back towards Horatio now, harsh panting breaths and grunts accompanying his increasingly frantic motion. Horatio fared no better. His own rhythm stumbled then hastened as his hips snapped back in forth in an erratic motion while his hand on Archie´s cock sped up in an effort to match the insistent, heedless pace of his own body.

Kitty watched as they raced together towards climax, their eyes wild and their cheeks flushed as they abandoned themselves entirely to their pleasure.

And to each other.

Kitty knew that she had ceased to exist for them, that at that moment they knew nothing beyond the fierce desire of their own bodies and the need for one another´s touch. That was as it should be, she decided. They belonged first and foremost to each other and nothing would ever change that. They might well bed other women; they might even take wives one day as gentlemen were expected to do. But Kitty knew with absolute certainty that no marriage bed would ever know the breathtaking passion that she was witnessing in that moment, that no woman would ever own either of their hearts completely. Kitty felt a curious warmth at the knowledge that she had been allowed the opportunity to have them both, if only briefly.

The sound of ragged moans filled Kitty´s ears and she knew that it would not be long now. She watched as one of Archie´s hands scrabbled at the bedding while the other reached up to draw Horatio into another feverish kiss as his body bucked and writhed and he spilled across Horatio´s furiously pumping fist. He broke the kiss with a sobbing breath before melting bonelessly against Horatio. Horatio continued to move but it was not long before he followed Archie to completion. The arm wrapped around Archie´s chest tightened and then he was burying his face against Archie´s neck to smother the broken cry wrenched from him as he reached his climax and then collapsed against his friend´s back.

They lay there entwined, gasping and spent until Horatio pulled back and withdrew from Archie´s body. He collapsed on to his back and Archie followed, draping himself across Horatio. Archie began to dot sloppy, contented kisses across Horatio´s chest and nestled against him.

It was Archie who remembered her presence first. He gazed up at her with a silly, puppyish grin, sleepy and sated and heartbreakingly lovely.

“Kitty." There was such tenderness in his voice and his eyes that she found herself smiling rather stupidly in response.

Horatio cracked one eye open to look up at her. His habitually serious expression was gone, replaced by an endearing boyishness. It was a relief to know that the sweet lad who had charmed so unconsciously was still there and she hoped he always would be. When she shifted her gaze back to Archie and saw the fond, doting smile he turned on Horatio, Kitty knew that as long as Archie was there, her dear Mr. Haitch  would never vanish entirely.

Unexpectedly, Horatio reached over and caressed her cheek. “Thank you," he said, his voice soft and sincere.

She smiled down at him then retrieved her shift. “Here," she said, handing it to him. He stared at it bemused for a moment before its purpose sunk in. “Oh," Horatio replied before he used it to clean himself and Archie who were both quite sticky. Kitty tossed it to the floor then acquiesced as two pairs of hands drew her close.

Kitty settled herself on the bed between them with Archie nestled in front and Horatio behind her then drew up the bed covers. They snuggled close, sharing the warmth of their bodies with her, but it was their sweet, contented smiles that provided the greatest warmth of all.

The first time Kitty woke, it was to luxurious warmth and a curious tickling sensation. While the former made her wish to do nothing more than stretch languorously and burrow into the softness beneath her, the latter was becoming increasingly insistent and distracting. With a sigh, Kitty abandoned blissful slumber and opened her eyes.

Her first coherent thought was that she was glad she had done so; her second that she was *extremely* glad. When Kitty opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a blond head moving across her chest, trailing soft hair in its wake that made her nerves tingle. There were other sensations as well now; the feel of lips dropping light kisses along her collarbone, fingertips gliding down her breastbone. That talented mouth roamed across her skin, moving downwards to nuzzle at her right breast until a wet tongue darted out to lathe her nipple. Kitty sighed at the delicious feeling.

Archie paused in his attentions and looked up at her. She caught the now familiar look that somehow managed to be doting and mischievous at the same time.

“Good morning, Kitty," he greeted with time a bright smile.

It was only then that Kitty realized that she had misplaced a bedmate. Before she could query Archie as to his whereabouts, Kitty learned firsthand where he had gotten himself to. Kitty let out a startled squeak.

There was motion farther down the bed and then Horatio´s tousled head emerged from underneath the bed covers. “Like that, Archie?"

Archie chuckled softly. “Why don´t you ask Kitty?"

Horatio looked up at her with a shy smile, his cheeks coloring. “Good morning, Kitty." His gaze turned coy as he waited Kitty´s assessment.

“Like that, Horatio," she assured him, her own cheeks going a little pink.

She cast an inquisitive look over at the instigator of the current proceedings. Archie was completely unabashed “Horatio was…curious, so I thought I´d, well, teach him how it was done. I rather thought you wouldn´t mind," he added with a cheeky grin.

Kitty could feel heat crawling along her cheeks. It occurred to Kitty that she had probably blushed more in the past evening that she had in the past five years. She decided she rather liked it. She reached down to stroke Horatio´s messy curls. “Why don´t you continue to practice, Horatio?"

Another shy smile and then he disappeared beneath the bed covers. Kitty looked over at her other companion who had likewise returned to his ministrations.

“You are very wicked, Mr. Kennedy."

He looked up from the nipple he was presently suckling with an expression of entirely feigned innocence. “I, Miss Cobham? I am the very soul of purity."

She snorted. “I would not have…oh!...believed that within five minutes in your…aaah!...presence. I certainly…oooh!...don´t believe it…ooooh!...now," Kitty managed to gasp out before she collapsed back on to the bedding. Her hands curled in the bedclothes as she tried to control her increasingly erratic breaths despite the marvelous things that Horatio was doing to her with his tongue. “Corrupting our dear…aaahh!...Mr. Haitch!"

A high, keening moan escaped her lips and her hands tightened in the bedding once more. Despite his native shyness, it was clear that once he set himself to a task, her dear Horatio was a quick study.

The sound of Archie´s laughter drew her back briefly from the delicious sensations Horatio was eliciting from her quite willing body. With his bright eyes and tousled hair, Archie looked like a fallen angel, carnal and unrepentant. He leaned in and began to nuzzle at her neck. “You are a fine one to talk of such things, Kitty," Archie said before he placed a soft kiss below her jaw. “Given how eager you were to assist in his corruption last night." He nibbled at her ear before his tongue slithered out to trace the curve of her ear. “I thank you for it."

Kitty gazed up at him and saw that the previously mischievous look had been replaced by one of genuine gratitude. She reached up and cradled his face.

“Let us repay the kindness." Archie turned his head to kiss her palm.

Kitty felt as if she were being battered by sensation as the sharp, heady arousal Horatio was building within her was joined by a wave of tenderness that she felt for them both. Another soft cry escaped her lips and she pulled Archie down for a kiss, clinging to him as she let herself drown.

The second time Kitty woke, it was to the sound of someone knocking at her door. She blinked, trying to clear the sand from her eyes, then gazed down at herself and smiled. There was a dark, tousled head pillowed upon her breast and a fair, tousled head resting on her belly. Warm and contented, Kitty reached down and gently stroked them both, basking in the soft, steady sound of their breathing as it chuffed against her bare skin.

Another knock on the door. Kitty sighed as she contemplated how she might extricate herself without awaking either of the young men still deep in slumber. It required a good deal of wiggling, but finally she succeeded in slipping out from between them. They both frowned in their sleep, clearly missing her warmth, for they moved closer into the space she had occupied only moments ago. She watched as they snuggled together in the middle of the bed, tangled together like puppies with Archie´s head nestled against Horatio´s shoulder and Horatio´s left leg tucked inside both of Archie´s. She heard a soft sigh and then they settled once again. Retrieving her dressing gown, she wrapped it about her body and went to answer the door. She was more than a little startled to find Jacques Vuillemin standing on her doorstep, his hands tucked behind his back and a knowing smile tracing his lips.

“Jacques! Isn´t it a little early to be collecting your bills?" Her tone was arch, but she doubted it was sufficient to counteract the embarrassed blush currently staining her cheeks.

Jacques smile broadened. “Oh, I am not here for that. I am not interrupting anything, am I, ma chatte?" he asked, craning his neck to look past her towards the screen hiding her bed.

The gesture was anything but subtle and Kitty was horrified to feel her cheeks darken even more. She slapped him on the arm. “You know very well you are."

Jacques´ smile broadened further then softened into something almost paternal. “I had hoped I might. You are glowing."

Kitty´s hand flew to her cheek. Jacques shook his head. “Do not be embarrassed ma chatte. I am very happy for you."

Kitty smiled back and she knew her expression must appear equal parts wry and affectionate. “If you will wait here a moment, Jacques, I shall get my purse…"

“No, I shall accept no money."

“Jacques…"

He shook his head. When he spoke his expression was serious. “I remember how kind you were to me when I first arrived in London, chère Kitty. I remember how you welcomed me and how you brought customers into my humble little restaurant until it could sustain itself. In all the years we have known each other, you have never asked for anything in return. Let this be my gift to you."

“Jacques." Kitty extended her hands to him. He took one, then the other in his own and kissed them expansively. He smiled at her again.

“I have one final surprise for you," he said as he pulled out the basket he´d kept hidden behind his back with a flourish. Despite the crisp white napkin covering it, Kitty could see it was stuffed with food and unless she was mistaken, there was a bottle of champagne tucked in one corner. “I thought you might have need of it today."

She took the basket from him and gazed down at it before meeting Jacques´ fond gaze. “Jacques, I don´t know what to say…" and indeed she did not.

He shook his head smiling. “Then say nothing. Simply enjoy."

Kitty kissed Jacques on the cheek. “Thank you."

“You are happy. That is thanks enough. Now," he said with a decidedly lecherous glint in his eye, “return to your lovely young men before I steal them from you!"

Kitty laughed then watched as Jacques departed. She returned to her bedchamber, the basket clutched to her chest and gazed down at her dear boys, sleeping so peacefully. She smiled at them fondly for a few moments before she abandoned both the basket of food and her dressing gown in favor of her disordered bed and the young bodies that were currently keeping it warm against the room´s faint chill.

As she snuggled against Horatio´s back, Kitty gave a soft sigh of contentment. There was nothing she could do to halt the passage of time, but at least for a little while it seemed that time was, for once, on her side.

Finis

Notes:  A sequel of sorts to “The Gentlemanly Art of Conversation" but can be read independently. This is also my very first ever attempt at het. You have been warned. Title courtesy of Janis cortese