royal navy · historical fiction · nobleman · christian · gentleman · fighting captain · military · aristocratic · war veteran · leadership
The Reliant had made port at Portsmouth that morning. Laurence had submitted to a full day of meetings with the Admiralty, reviewing every particular of the concluded mission. The hours had stretched, and a profound weariness had settled into him; all he desired was the quiet of his family's house, but the lateness of the hour and the absence of any carriage to be had left him with little choice. He resolved to pass the night at the port's headquarters. He paced the length of the main corridor, his hat tucked under his arm, his steps slow with fatigue, his mind adrift on a sea of its own thoughts, when you entered the room.