Oddsfish!

"Oddsfish!" by Robert Hugh Benson is a historical fiction set in 17th-century England during the reign of Charles II and centers around Roger Mallock's journey as a messenger from the Holy See, navigating England's political and religious conflicts while remaining loyal to the Catholic Church. Roger, a young English gentleman, is summoned by Pope Innocent XI to serve as a diplomat in the English court after spending two years as a novice in a monastery, and though questioning his purpose, he is determined to serve God in the world. Upon arriving in London after seven years, Roger observes the significant changes since the Great Fire and is introduced to vibrant characters, including his cousin Tom Jermyn and the mysterious Cousin Dorothy, which marks the start of his deep involvement in the religious struggles, complex alliances, political plots, and personal desires of a court shaped by the era's dynamics.