1792: Ex-captain turned privateer Harry Ludlow and his brother James find themselves on board a naval 74 gunship, under the command of Oliver Carter, a man with whom Harry has crossed swords before.
But when James Ludlow is found standing over the body of a murdered ship's officer, old scores appear to be put aside... at least for the time being.
Blinded by his own prejudice, Harry begins to assemble the evidence which will prove his brother innocent, but it is soon apparent that his feud with Carter is not the only dark secret aboard the Magnanime...