Against the glittering backdrop of the Scottish Guard of France, Walter Fenton rises from obscurity into rank, honor, and the first dangerous stirrings of love. His new distinction draws the admiration of Lilian Napier and the reluctant tenderness of Lady Grisel, while quiet walks by the loch and visits to Bruntisfield turn military pride into a deeply personal romance. But affection grows in a world shadowed by political violence. Annie Laurie's wit, memory, and teasing expose the harsh realities of Claverhouse's raids, house-quartering, and enforced conformity, while a lost glove reveals Walter and Lilian's secret attachment. In Edinburgh, gossip, rank, and reputation sharpen every encounter, and Walter's rivalry with Lord Clermistonlee erupts into a public duel that ends in chaos, comic interference, and narrow escape. As autumn 1688 approaches, Scotland trembles on the edge of revolution, with James VII's rule under strain and William of Orange's arrival threatening to overturn the old order. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.