Summary: Besides wondering whether he could man his ship in time to return to sea Hornblower had other worries because his wife Maria was with him in his lodgings. She was tearful and told him that he might become a parent again. He felt guilty as he was just getting over the shock of the news that Lady Barbara Wellsley over whom he had nearly made a fool of himself aboard the Lydia, had just married Admiral Leyton a man under whom Hornblower was now serving.
