A Continuing War: At Home and at Sea, 1803-1804

Captain Sir Richard Giles is now married to the former Daphne Moorhouse, but the demands of war take him to sea almost at once. His frigate is engaged in harassing French preparations for invasion, dealing with privateers, contending with the influence system in naval establishments and being peripherally engaged in espionage activities. Meanwhile Daphne is fully occupied managing her husband's and father's estates and taking her new role as the wife of a major member of the landed gentry and as the doyenne of a great house. Fox hunting becomes a major preoccupation for Daphne while concerns about getting more satisfactory situations for her not very welcome relatives get her scheming to arrange satisfactory marriages for them. Only at rare intervals do the two principals get together to share their lives and interests.