"You know I do love you. But, Francis, our situation is impossible. Why, oh why, did you ask me again?" - Sophy / frozcnhours.
Another rejection. Francis should have been quite used to them by now but it still hurt, it still filled him with a cold worse than that he had lived through in his expeditions, a stiff drink would soothe it afterwards. He kept his character calm though and accepted the answer of his latest attempt, he would climb higher in the navy and try again.
“I am a man of impossible odds.” He tried to joke but if she felt love for him, surely, surely she and Sir John would see past his heritage, he had proven himself time and time again that it did not matter that he was Irish, that he could get as high as he was despite it would mean something.
“I ask you again because determination is all a man like me can have, a heart of hope and one that I think you know already belongs to only you.”