Embark on thrilling adventures and political intrigue set against the backdrop of early 18th-century European conflict. Follow a remarkable protagonist, a master of espionage, languages, sport, and soldiery. Immerse yourself in a world of daring escapades and romantic entanglements during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Captain Daniel Rawson can charm a lady as well as he can parry a sword. And whether it is extracting information from the wife of a French general or leading his soldiers in a Forlorn Hope, Rawson proves himself invaluable to John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough, and the Confederate forces as they head towards the ferocious battle of Blenheim.
It's France, 1705. Captain Daniel Rawson is always ready for adventure, so when the Duke of Marlborough proposes a dangerous undercover mission to discover what has happened to one of their spies, a Dutch tapestry-maker, Rawson happily accepts.
Returning to camp from a dangerous solo mission behind enemy lines, Captain Daniel Rawson finds himself stranded, with French soldiers in fierce pursuit. A kindly farmer helps Daniel hide and then to escape - but with dire consequences.
Despite the resounding victory at the battle of Oudenarde, the Duke of Marlborough finds his position as captain-general threatened by political enemies back in England, and his campaign stalled at the siege of Lille. Captain Daniel Rawson is drafted in with the treacherous task of entering Lille undercover to steal vital plans.
Europe is in the midst of the coldest winter for a century. France, her people starving and her army rattled by mutiny and desertions, negotiates with England for peace. But despite Captain Daniel Rawson's attempts to seek out vital information in Paris, the peace talks collapse. As the opposing armies mass, a bloody encounter looms.