Marina paused as she rehung a hammock, feeling the ship moving beneath her feet. They had finally set sail despite the slight lack of wind. She settled the hammock and then made her way up on deck.

She looked up at the quarter deck in time to see her brother and Bush shouting instructions to the crew and felt a surge of pride in her brother.

But the ship didn't seem to be moving very fast. They were out in open water now, Plymouth Sound behind them. Marina glanced up at the mainsail stretching far above her. Under the pretence of yawning she blew into her hand as it guided the breeze towards the sail. Immediately the wind picked up and the ship picked up speed.

She smiled in satisfaction and turned to see her brother noting the increase in speed and then sending her a stern glare. Feigning innocence she shrugged and mouthed "What?"

She went up the steps to the quarterdeck and leant against the outer rail, observing the officers at work. As well as the physical workings of the human body she also loved the psychology behind the actions and she positively adored people watching.

One of the junior lieutenants was giving a navigation lesson to the young midshipmen and 'young gentlemen' on loan from the naval college to make midshipmen of them. Two of the midshipmen caught her attention. One, Orrock, was the oldest there and could probably have taught the class much better than the lieutenant, and was therefore quite bored. Orrock caught Marina's eye and grinned. Another, Wellard, beside Orrock, she knew quite well. She'd noticed his laudanum addiction and was treating him for it. As she watched him, he took a little bottle out of his coat pocket, uncorked it and took a swig.

Sideling over to the class she nodded to the lieutenant who saluted her as did the midshipmen. She went around the back of the seated students and thence to Wellard, who still had the bottle to his lips. Gently yet firmly she reached around him and took the bottle from him and silently demanded the cork. He looked dismayed at the discovery and loss of his bottle but could do nothing in protest. She was his superior in rank, was in the right, a female relative of a superior officer, and the captain had been the one to point out his addiction to her; if Wellard protested, the captain would hear of it before you could say Jack Robinson.

Marina returned to the rail with the bottle. She was very tempted to tip the contents overboard; she didn't like opiates, thought them too convenient a remedy, and hated that all the doctors prescribed it for every malady. Personally she preferred the old remedies, herbal mixtures passed down through the ages from grandmother to mother to daughter. She slipped the bottle into the pocket of her white apron.

She watched her brother, remembering how she had managed to find a herbal cure for his fits that at least ensured that they were very infrequent. Archie was at present deep in conversation with the captain, they were pacing up and down on the other side of the quarterdeck, both with their hands clasped behind their backs and heads bowed. Bush was in conversation with the sailing master Prowse over by the helm.

It was quite odd to see almost all of the ship's officers out on deck. They made a nice picture, all of them together. The sun was out and Marina leant back a little, soaking it in. She was glad they were outside; sunshine was one of the best healers, in the right measures.

She turned her attention back to the captain. Hornblower wasn't exactly handsome, but there was a nobility about his features which made him so. A heroic quality and determination which struck her. But he was so restrained. It was as though he wore a full body and soul corset which he made sure was kept tight, rarely letting a breath of emotion out. She chuckled a little to herself at this image.

She became aware that Bush was standing near her, watching her carefully. From what she knew of him she understood his slight hostility. Bush had little experience of women, being unable to understand them as his captain was unable to understand music, and Bush was wary of the female sex in general. He thought them too cunning for words and felt that they would pull all manner of tricks to get what they wanted. Marina knew that he disapproved of her presence on board and that he didn't trust her in the slightest. It didn't bother her, she knew she could make him come round to liking her, but even if she failed to manage it, it wouldn't faze her.

"She sails well, doesn't she Mr Bush?" she asked pleasantly, trying to keep the smirk from her face.

"She does." He replied curtly. This time she had to restrain a chuckle.

"Is there something wrong with the captain? He looks a little green around the gills, if you'll pardon the observation." She said after a little pause.

"He is seasick." Nothing more. No requests for her to try and help him.

She was about to laugh outright at his coldness when a cry from the lower deck caught her attention. One of the seamen had fallen and was lying on the deck.

Marina rushed to his side and begged him to lie still. There was no blood but the man was clearly in a great deal of pain. He clutched at his shoulder and seemed unable to move the arm it was attached to. Marina felt the shoulder bone, apologising to him for the fresh burst of pain she caused.

"It's dislocated. You gentlemen might want to close your ears. Forgive me, Timmins." This last was directed at her patient as she removed his shirt. The arm looked like it was out of place. Marina put her hand on the shoulder joint and looked at Timmins. "Ready? This'll hurt." The man nodded and in a sudden movement and a horrible cracking of bones she pushed the arm back into place. Timmins cried out in pain and every man in the crowd of his fellows winced. "I'm sorry." She made his shirt into a sling and put the arm into it then got up and helped him to his feet. "Come on. Let's find you something for the pain." She smiled with a mixture of comfort and encouragement.

The men watched her helping Timmins down below in the direction of the infirmary. She had relieved any doubts they had had about her capability as a doctor. A few minutes later she reappeared with a happier looking Timmins, his arm in a sling but his spirits uplifted.

"If it troubles you come back to see me." she said, smiling at him before returning to the quarterdeck.

Now it was Archie's turn to look proud. The officers had watched the whole event but Bush still looked unconvinced.

"Very well handled, Dr Kennedy." Hornblower said to her, making her blush. She caught Archie watching her carefully with a glint in his eyes she recognised as being his 'I have a theory' look. As always, this worried her a great deal. It never led to anything good.