Chapter Text
From the desk of Captain Hodgson, HMS Undefeated, nr Malta.
9th May 1861
Dear Commander Little
I shall indeed be in the country for this Autumn's hunting season, as it has been Decided that Undefeated is to be broken up upon her return, poor thing! This is the kind of news that would have brought me no end of grief as a younger man - though I am terribly sad for the old girl I am rather looking forward to a more extended stay with Sarah. Glad too not to have a repeat of the Season of '56. So, I spend my last few weeks out here enjoying the Maltese heat (terribly nice!) and doing my best to avoid both sunburn and the lower decks. One quite forgets how putrid the smell of sixty grown men at temperature - I believe I have permanently burned off a portion of my olfactory faculties drenching myself with cologne - needs must! Our bos'n complains that my perfume brings him down with one of the French Headaches - sad to say his body odour does the same for me, thus any time we are forced to cross paths both spend the rest of the day clutching our temples and moaning.
But again I start at the wrong part of my letter: greetings of the day to you and Mr Jopson, Mrs Vale, Mr Garrett, Joseph, Sherman, Beth, Cricket, The Spaniel and also the cat. Hoping you all are well.
This time I am writing regarding our Highland Fling (as it were) - my plan is currently as follows, feel free to correct: Sarah and I to Ledbury 21st October and we shall overnight with you, if that's agreeable.
The next morning you, I and Cricket will journey North, stopping as we please and also as the horses require (this I leave to the discretion of the coachman though I have no doubt that you will feel the need to weigh in) - you will get in a frightful strop around the Kings Arms in Lancashire, where we will retire.
Wednesday on to Edinburgh to annoy John until he shuts up shop, hunting by Friday afternoon at the very latest.
Sarah - I do hope it is alright to bring Sarah to yours, you must ask the others - both wishes and is wished by me to accompany to Ledbury. You know I have a horror of being on the roads alone and consider the English West to be just as wild and lawless as its American cousin. (I hear your admonitions, and continue to ignore them.)
As it is to be Mr Jopson's holiday too she will be very glad to take him back to London with her - if that is where he's going of course, and her Gigi and your Spaniel may spend a lovely day or two grumbling at one another.
No doubt she will put pen to paper soon enough or perhaps already to iron the confusions out of this - if she has written before me (and as I write I find myself more certain that she has) - please disregard above, as I am starting again.
Dearest Edward,
Salutations to the Ledbury Lot. Much going on here:
Sky - blue. Weather - balmy. Crew - sweating profusely. Self - also. Undefeated - soon to relinquish her name.
Per Johnny's last missive I am glad to tell you that Mr Dawes is alive and well - I believe the prize was agreed at six shillings which I expect to collect upon arrival chez Little. No doubt he is growing stronger by the day as he longs to fee, fie, foe and fum re: the blood of Englishmen.
I recall in my last letter floating the idea of Kilts, in order to better assimilate ourselves with Dawes, John and indeed the Scots at large - or I thought to float it and misplaced my pen at the time. Either way you have been quiet on the subject but I really must press - you are in a better position than I to go haring off to tailors for Tartans -
Which reminds me that my own tailor was Much Vexed at the state of my tweeds last year viz. fish-hook incidents and I have promised to avoid mishaps this time on pain of being ejected from his store. Consider please some 'haps for yourself, as a change of pace.
In fact - surely I need not remind you that this is your last trip before the dreaded half-century and therefore your last chance to have a mishap from which you might bounce back with the vigour of a young buck like myself. No doubt next year you will have succumbed entirely to age, and become an unrecognisably crumbled and dusty old creature. Fear not, old man, for so long as you can climb a hill Johnny and I will gladly push you down it.
So I should soon sign off on this before I frustrate you to crumple this letter further. I do apologise for mocking your advanced age - in a month where my own sister has become a grandmother for about the twentieth time I can hardly escape the specter of my lost youth.
I pray you have not strained your ancient bones clutching this paper in a rage. My warmest regards, I remain your friend and superior officer -
Geo. H. Hodgson (Cpt RN)
P.S. caught a glimpse of our friend recently! Am always surprised at those who cut plates from books, and this from the most recent de Villers! I am sure you can find a space on your wall for the enclosed, and look forward to spying him there come October 21st.
