She smiled, listening to him. She understood the desire for security. Even admirals couldn't be so sure of that. An ineffective post-captain would, yes, be eventually promoted to post-captain if he could live long enough for his name to advance, stuck in its order, up the lists. But he would find himself on shore with his half-pay and no command. For a prudent, cautious man, an admiral's half-pay could make a decent life.

But most yellow admirals were not so.

"A farm." She'd spoken before of her desire for a house in the country, away from the city she knew so well. She envied her sister-in-law to have Crawford Manor all to herself save her staff. "With someone trustworthy to watch it for you and a few labourers while you were at war, that might provide some security. An income, at least, separate from the whims of commission."