Love's Labours

A romance torn apart by treachery and war.

A great read for both sexes.

John Deaver, a young, newly-qualified surgeon, working in a large London hospital, has to return to the family estate in Hampshire when his father is murdered by a highwayman.

There, he meets and falls deeply in love with Elizabeth Raymond, daughter of Edward Raymond, the neighbouring estate owner, and a childhood friend, who has a large dowry.

Their love affair is idyllic, and for a long time they fight their desires, but give in to them once, from which joining Elizabeth becomes pregnant.

They have never heard of Jeb Palmer, a rogue and a killer - an ex-corporal who presents himself as an ex-major, and ingratiates himself into Hampshire polite society, with one aim: to marry into money. He learns of one likely candidate for his wife: Hortense Henderson-Drake, and woos her until she agrees to marry him, but he then finds out that Elizabeth Raymond's dowry is far larger, and determines to marry her for her money instead.

He has Hortense murdered, and sets out to achieve his desire.

Learning of Elizabeth's forthcoming marriage to John Deaver, Palmer, with two accomplices, abduct John when he rides to Portsmouth, to buy the engagement ring. They throw him unconscious, and dressed in smelly rags, into the boat of the press gang, which is working the city that day.

John wakes to find that he is on board HMS Zealous, but has amnesia, due to the blow on his head from his abductors.

He is told that he must serve five years, with no option of returning to land.

Three days later, the fleet sails.

John has disappeared without trace, and Elizabeth and John's mother are distraught. Elizabeth's father eventually finds out what happened to John, and Elizabeth is told that she must wait five years to see him again, if ever, since the Navy is fighting one battle after another, against the French, Dutch and Spanish. She realises that John could be killed.

He does not die, but is wounded, and he distinguishes himself in major battles against the Spanish, making good friends with the other officers.

Palmer, meanwhile, has ingratiated himself with Elizabeth's mother, Edwina – a bitter woman, whose marriage to Edward has always been a sham. Palmer seduces her, and she becomes his willing accomplice in the plan to marry Elizabeth.

She resists his advances, and he then applies more and more pressure, using arson, firearms, and threats of murder, if she does not marry him.

Knowing that he desires her body, but really only wants her dowry, and that his threat to kill her father, and burn down the Raymond household, with everyone in it are real, she is forced to agree to the wedding – determined to do whatever she can to foil Palmer.

John, fighting far-off battles, intends to kill him, if he ever gets the chance.