Rosicky

When I think back to the essence of children's literature, it's always the theme of home-away-home where the child feels that he doesn't belong at the home of his parents, then goes on an adventure where he grows and returns to a place where he belongs. Sir George is on a similar voyage of discovery. He has Portland Place and Brentwood, but he doesn't have a home. So now he's contemplating designing and building his own house ... but could that ever be home? In a way, he's very much like the French crewmen about whom you wrote, "They were now in a country that they served but did not know, and it would give them a place to land." George has very plush places to "land", but none that feel like home because he does not belong. It sorta reminds me of the Looking Glass song "Brandy": He came on a summer's day, Bringin' gifts from far away. But he made it clear he couldn't stay, No harbor was his home. The sailor said " Brandy, you're a fine girl. What a good wife you would be. But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea." So, let's get to work, Mark! Find George a new ship so he can go home! ;-)

So it was all about getting a Bridgemont heir! Well, I hope if she does have a kid it's not George's! But interesting that this ties up the reason for Ramsay's spy mission. On another note, how cool is it to have your own contingent of Marines?!? And I am glad to see George's resilience come into play again. Finaly, poor Bertie ... insulted, yet again! (Everyone's been with Bertie!) LOL! By the way ... did he ever capture the Dutch East Indies? Thanks, Mark! What ship does he get next???

Well that was different, Mark. Hehehe! I do have a fetish for bondage scenes, but not when they include a vagina. LOL! What a twisted, demented, depraved, sick woman Davina is. Perhaps she was responsible for sending the note ostensibly from Freddie to lure George? And just what sort of justice may be exacted for this sort of violation? Perhaps the Marines will put a bayonet to Davina's uterus to ensure she doesn't conceive a child from George? Or maybe Freddie is impotent and this was the only way to produce a Bridgemont heir? I hope she didn't give George an STD ... we know the sort of woman she is! But it is such a sad chapter on so many levels. Even with George's extensive experience, I imagine this was an assault on George's virtue much moreso, relatively speaking, than his first experience with Woodworth the Carpenter when he was still Midshipman Granger. How will George deal with this? Bitter bile rose to his throat whenever he thought of Davina. What will this do to him? A very sad chapter, Mark. On a lighter note, my favorite exchange in the chapter was this: 'Granger leaned into him and ran his hand up Chartley’s leg, gently massaging his formerly flaccid penis. “Your mind,” he said playfully. “That’s not where my mind is located.”' "Sometimes it is,” Granger joked. LOL! :-) What a great few lines! Hehehe! Thanks, Mark! :-)

When you revealed Peter's tryst with Bertie, I thought back to the episode in Madras when Bertie expressed concern about George's visit to Lord Hobart's oil bath. What was it that George wondered ... whether Bertie whored himself out for the advancement of his career? And here we gain another glimpse into another of Bertie's walks on the wild side ... done more for the sake of friendship than anything else? Bertie is an intriguing character ... that mysterious spider we never see but whose webs crop up in the corners unnoticed until George smacks into them. Hehehe! And you've teased us with giving George a possible assignment to the ends of the earth ... but we shall see if another Bertie encounter comes to pass. At least we know that there will be another ship and not some drudgery at the Ministry. Hehehe! Thanks, Mark!

I think you reveal something interesting about Caroline, Mark ... it seems that her ability to read social situations isn't based so much on her own perceptive abilities, but perhaps because she is tied in very well to the gossip network. And it seems she learned something about the gossip network ... gossips never tell the subjects of gossip the gossip about them. On another note, I think Caroline finds the strong and forceful Sir George sexy. Hehehe!

Poor Sir George! At least when you're on the high seas and you confront your enemies you can fire the cannons! The diplomacy of Court life is more treacherous. But let's watch Sir George's cunning master any situation he faces as he finds his land-legs. :-)

Alas. No duel. :-( Hehehe! I've really enjoyed the human/emotional dimension of George in the last few chapters. He is still but a young man and though mature beyond the years of those his age, I'm glad that you're reminding us that there are many aspects to the human experience. Now let's see what he can get out of this bastard kid! LOL! Thanks, Mark!

Ooh! Is there going to be a duel??? Hehehe! Poor Sir George! Though I'm sure if he could get preggers, he'd have delivered many a baby by now. LOL!

How sad! I hope that Sir George's detractors don't accuse him of risking his ship because he was on a hunt for prizes. You know how some people are! Thanks, Mark! :-)

I love action! I'm tempted to log into Wikipedia to include the contributions of The Belvidera in the Battle of Cape St Vincent wiki page. Hehehe! Thanks, Mark!

Excellent chapter, Mark! Isn't it remarkable how even a failure by one of Sir George's crew members is admired by the Commodore? Sir George has trained his men well! And nothing beats showing firsthand distinguished guests that all the good press Sir George gets is well-deserved and not undeserved hype! Looking forward to see what Sir John has to say about all this! :-)

Happy New Year, Mark! I continue to enjoy this series. There is the right balance between action, intrigue and the fulfillment of "needs". hehehe! I look forward to what you have in store for us in 2012! Cheers!

Merry Christmas, Mark! Many thanks for another year of wonderful stories!!! :-)

So happy to see the return of Sir George! :-) Thanks, Mark! Caroline must be worried to have to seek out a personal messenger to George. Is it the evil sister-in-law??? Looking forward to finding out! :-)

Glad to see you back on the boards, Mark! :-) Glad for the update ... hopefully we'll be hearing about George's exploits, too! Hope you're good!

I guess uni is back in session? I'm missing George and his adventures. :-(

I enjoy all your stories, DomLuka! Looking for the next chapter of Hello, Stupid! :-)

I love this story!!! Thanks for writing it!

How unexpected! Part of me wanted to see Ramsey twist in the wind, but this was a convenient demise. Will be interesting to see what Granger was missing in those letters he left behind. What happens next??? Thanks, Mark! :-)

Loving this story. Nice to see Taylor find someone, and the same for Luke! :-) One of my fave lines: "If Luke had a super power, I think it would be his ability to smell good all the time. He was musky and clean." Def gave me a chuckle. ;-)

That bitch! I hope Granger tells the Mrs. and she deals with her bitch of an in-law appropriately. As for Ramsey, let's see what tortures the loyal crew of Belvidera mete out. :-)

Really nice chapter. Sometimes you wish you can help someone by shaking the insecurities out of someone, but you have to take them for the person they are and walk with them at their own pace to a place where they can be safe.

One of my old professors wrote his doctoral dissertation on civility between military adversaries and noted one of the fatalities of modern warfare is the practice of acting honorably and true to your word once there is a surrender. In his study, one of his sources were the diaries of military officers in a battle. It is nice to see the exchange with Jacobo Stuart reflecting that practice. I'm sad about Carslake, though. :-( His competence and experience made Granger's job easier. He died a hero and it was nice to be recognized as such in his death. Thanks, Mark!

I have yet to find an Italian man with a small penis! I'm overdue for a trip to Rome ... maybe I should engage in an intensive search! LOL! Nice chapter, Mark!

Every time I read a chapter, I look at my progress to keep track how much of the story is left, hoping that there's more ... and when I come close to the end, I savor the words. I love this story! Thanks, Mark! :-)