Lady Wedderburn's wish, Vol. 1 (of 3) : A tale of the Crimean War

As Europe edges toward the Crimean War, a letter arrives at the Wedderburn breakfast table with life-changing news: Captain Cyril Wedderburn’s regiment may soon be ordered abroad. His mother is distressed by the danger, while Cyril meets the prospect with an officer’s composure—and a healthy appetite. Around him are his brother Robert, his cousin and fellow soldier Horace Ramornie, and a visiting gentleman whose presence promises to complicate the family’s quiet country life.

Behind the military preparations, hopes and anxieties are gathering at Willowdean and the surrounding estates. Young Mary Lennox finds herself at the centre of tender feelings, uncertain intentions, and social schemes, while the family’s connections bring both romance and unease. Blending domestic drama with the looming realities of campaign life, this opening volume follows its characters from drawing-room conversations and country walks toward the first painful separations. Historical military episodes, duels, gambling quarrels, and personal honour add colour to a story where love must contend with duty, secrecy, and the threat of war.