Bravo! A standing ovation from me for that post Gianni - it is very helpful and instructive to 'read' the story from Frederick's point of view.

I have often wondered at his immediate response to Louisa's accident. His apparent dithering seems strangely at odds with the sort of decisiveness one would expect from a successful Naval Captain well accustomed to emergencies and sudden injury.

But at sea there is an established chain of command, individual responsibilities are clear, and casualties are not unexpected. In battle the priorities are clear - defeat the enemy, keep the ship afloat, wounded below decks to the surgeon, nothing can be done for the dead.

The situation on the Cobb is quite different - no chain of command, no established procedures for a predictable crisis. And this is not one of his crew of men at war. This is a cheerful stroll in the sunshine when the smiling girl, flirtatiously larking about with him, suddenly falls dead at his feet. It is an unexpected moment of utter horror for everyone, but for him even more than the others.