Miss Cheyne of Essilmont, Volume 2 (of 3)

Alison Cheyne stands at a crossroads of her heart, haunted by a love for the enigmatic Bevil Goring while a sea voyage carries her away from familiar shores. On the sleek yacht Firefly she finds herself wrapped in a warm seal‑skin jacket, veiled against the chill, as the French coastline drifts past and the quiet hum of the rigging mirrors her restless thoughts. The attentive sailor Tom Llanyard, accustomed to offering comfort to privileged ladies, becomes an unwitting confidant as he watches the young woman’s melancholy gaze linger on the cliffs.

Behind her, the clever Lord Cadbury and Alison’s father plot a change of scenery, hoping a stop in France might shift her mood—or perhaps remove an unwanted rival. As the boat steadies in the harbor of Boulogne, Alison’s mind drifts back to Bevil, imagining his presence among the beech trees of their shared past. The gentle sway of the waves and the distant silhouette of Napoleon’s column set the stage for a delicate dance of longing, duty, and the uncertain promise of future encounters.