Miss Cheyne of Essilmont, Volume 1 (of 3)

Alison Cheyne is a striking young lady of mixed Scottish‑French heritage, whose amber‑tinged hair and quiet grace set her apart during a lively day on the hunting fields. When Captain Bevil Goring, fresh from his Indian service, spots her near the royal buckhounds, a polite exchange about family names quickly turns into a mutual curiosity. Their conversation drifts from the bright garden‑party at Aldershot to the somber memory of Alison’s brothers, hinting at a shared understanding of duty and loss.

Back at the family estate of Chilcote, Alison’s world feels both privileged and restrained, populated by friends like Mrs. Trelawney and the ever‑present echo of military life. Beneath the genteel veneer, hints of mystery swirl—old family titles, a baronetcy without an heir, and the lingering shadow of her brother Ellon’s tragic death. As the season progresses, the Cheyne household finds itself drawn into a series of subtle intrigues that promise both romance and revelation.