After the victory at the battle of Trafalgar in October 1805, the fleet returns home to Plymouth. It's a somewhat less fanciful celebration than usual, since Admiral Nelson, who led the battle, died on board his ship Victory, after being shot by a French soldier.Captain Fielding commanded one of the 74-gun vessels in Nelson's attack column. At the celebration party he encounters a lady crying at the loss of so many men who had served their country so well. The Captain listens to her poignant life story, and empathizes. He fights at the Battle of Copenhagen in 1807, but on return is devastated by the meaningless fire-related death of his parents, and asks higher command for relief from active duty. He moves to the east side of London after seeking out the woman he met two years earlier, and asking her to be his housekeeper there. She accepts. The Captain's first few assignments are managing freighters to America, but in 1810 he is asked to captain a convict ship to Australia. The Lords of the Admiralty are upset at the way prisoners have been treated on the long voyage and the consequent high death rate that ensues. They look to Captain Fielding to change things. His task is magnified when he is assigned a mixed load of male and female convicts. Before leaving, and once on board, he devises various ways to make prisoners more comfortable and well served. He overrides military command and ensures food and cleanliness are improved, offers games and education, and extra clothing. On arrival in Sydney he is given a gift from the inmates in appreciation of his care, concern, and consideration. Whie the ship is repaired he meets and engages with various merchants and dockworkers to secure cargo for the return trip. One of the dockside labourers turns out to be the long lost son of his housekeeper. Edward worked at the Cornwall tin mines for years but stole merchandise, was caught, and transported to Australia as a 7 year convict. The captain hires him on as crew in order to give him a ride home. Edward performs, but worries heavily about his mother's reaction after his years away.