The Admiral's Daughter

Thomas Kydd and Nicholas Renzi have just returned to England from Van Dieman's Land, where Kydd finds orders for him to head to Plymouth.  He is lucky enough to be given command of his old ship, "Teazer".  Even before he can get his full complement of crew and provisions, Teazer is ordered to Le Havre to bring refugees before war broke out.  However, upon arrival he discovers that Bonaparte has declared war and ordered the arrest of any English people in France!

Teazer barely makes it away, and unfortunately has to leave some of her crew behind.  The next task for Teazer is to patrol the coastline.  Kydd brings Renzi aboard to act as his secretary.  Kydd's new lieutenant is a man called Standish, who seems to be experienced and prepared to do his duty.  Before they ship out, Kydd is invited by the admiral to a ball.  It will be an entirely new experience for him.  It is at the ball that he meets Miss Lockwood, the admiral's daughter.

Teazer sets sails eighteen men short of a full compliment.  It doesn't take long for the crew to begin to work together.  At Fowey Kydd is made aware of a French privateer plying the nearby waters.  He offers to convoy ships to Falmouth.  Off Penzance they discover a French privateer, and begin chase.  The captain of that ship definitely knows the waters and is able to escape.

Returning to Plymouth, Kydd is convinced by his sister, Cecelia, to lease a house.  He installs his friend Renzi there, too.  Once settled in, Kydd receives an invitation from the admiral's wife to a picnic.  He takes his sister with him, to impress upon her his new social standing.  Later when he and Renzi host a party, Kydd is surprised when Miss Lockwood shows up as a friend of another guest.  Cecelia tells him to not think too much of it.  Renzi suggests that the young lady is toying with him.

Teazer' next task was to take on smugglers along the coast of England.  Although they capture the ship and men, they don't get the cargo.  Kydd decides to put a couple of men ashore to see if they can infiltrate the smuggling gang.  Will the information gained be of any value?

Author Julian Stockwin has his hero doing battle on land as well as at sea. Will the saying "Love conquers all" prove itself true or otherwise?  His land battles prove to have as many hazards as those at sea.  Another good sea adventure from this author.