Relationships - Aubreys and Maturins

The relationship between the Aubrey and Maturin families is a theme of the book. They have both a personal relationship and a business relationship. Jack and Stephen work together. Jack is a ship's captain and Stephen is a naval surgeon. Stephen is also an intelligence agent and uses his medical job as his cover. When the ship is patrolling, they often put Maturin on shore where he can make and meet contacts to see what information he can learn that is of interest to England. Since he is a bona fide medical doctor, he also performs those duties on ship. When the Maturins are in Spain, the Duke of Habachtsthal dies and Maturin inherits his fortune. When he tries to move the fortune to England, it is seized by the Spanish. Since the Maturins have financial difficulties now, they move in with the Aubrey's...