Parlous Times: A Novel of Modern Diplomacy

Set against the sultry backdrop of a moonlit hacienda in a South American plantation, the novel opens with a clandestine meeting that hints at a web of bribery and hidden loyalties. Colonel Darcy, a weary British officer newly married to the estate’s heiress, finds his triumph turned sour as he is drawn into a night‑time encounter with a mysterious stranger bearing secret papers. The atmosphere crackles with the scent of tropical cane, distant music, and the uneasy feeling that every smile masks a deeper scheme.

As Darcy navigates the uneasy alliance between his own sense of honor and the shadowy demands of a foreign conspirator, the story explores the fragile balance of personal desire and diplomatic maneuvering. The characters are painted in shades of doubt—Darcy’s shifty eyes reveal fatigue, while the newcomer’s calm English diction suggests a hidden agenda tied to a long‑forgotten regiment. Readers are invited to follow the early steps of a dangerous game where loyalty, love, and political intrigue intersect, promising a tense journey through a world where the line between friend and foe is constantly shifting.