Gentleman Captain

Twenty year old Matthew Quinton is a gentleman and an inexperienced captain of “Happy Restoration”.  It doesn’t take him long to wreck the ship on the shore of Ireland.  Fortunately, Quinton is saved by the ship’s master, Kit Farrell.  They make a bargain once recovered on shore; Farrell will teach Quinton about sailing while Quinton will teach Farrell to read.

When King Charles demands your attendance, you don’t hesitate.  Such was Quinton’s reaction when he was called to Whitehall.  There the king appoints Quinton captain of the “Jupiter”.  His mission is to sail to Scotland to forestall a shipment of guns arriving.

Arriving in Portsmouth, Quinton is in no doubt that the men of the “Jupiter” are loyal to their dead former captain.  In fact the ship’s lieutenant tells Quinton that he is sure the former captain was murdered.

How can the new captain go about earning the respect of his crew?  And will Kit get to the ship before it sails?  Fortunately Kit just makes it and their mutual teachings begin.  Also, Quinton sails close to the Cornish coast so that news from families there can be shared with the sailors of the “Jupiter”.  One such piece of news provides further evidence that the previous captain was indeed murdered.

Off the coast of Scotland, the captains of the two ships are invited to join General Campbell for a meal at his abode.  The following day they meet the powerful Lady MacDonald.  Both wonder why there are two English ships in their waters.  They provide the excuse of stopping Dutch ships from being in the same area.

However, all is not as it seems.  Author J. D. Davies has ambition, treachery and a wild battle awaiting our hero.  What will be the outcome?  This is a good read for fans of historical fiction.