Hornblower is very young and determined in this (as we know he was in Lieutenant.) He’s never had this before and he really has no idea what he’s doing but he’s wanted something like this for so long and he’d started to give up on every having someone want him in return so when it finally happens he’s equal parts eager and curious and straight up terrified of messing up. But luckily Bush doesn’t give a damn about it, and only sees the eagerness.

Yes, he is drowning in visual detail. In his defence, it’s one thing to see someone naked and another thing to see them naked in a sexy context. He doesn’t know if that desire is going to hold up, or if he’s going to realise it’s merely an aesthetic attraction. But he IS naive, and he wouldn’t have put that much effort in if he didn’t want to go through with it.

Lucky boy indeed!