Second to None: A Military Romance, Volume 1 (of 3)

In Short

This first volume of a three-part military narrative follows Basil Gauntlet, a dispossessed youth who enlists in the 2nd Dragoons—the famed Scots Greys—during the mid-18th century. As Basil transitions from a lonely wanderer to a soldier of the King, he faces the harsh realities of service, the camaraderie of the barracks, and the perils of an expedition to the French coast. Blending historical detail with the tropes of Victorian melodrama, the book captures the restless spirit of a soldier seeking both honor and a sense of belonging in a rigid world.

The Story

The story opens on the Scottish Borders, where Basil Gauntlet, a young man of noble birth but no means, sits by a desolate roadside with only a single shilling to his name. His grandfather, the cruel Nathan Wylie, has effectively disowned him, leaving him adrift in a society that offers little room for the penniless. After a failed attempt to maintain a connection with his cousin Ruth Wylie—which ends in a chaotic flight from an overzealous groom—Basil resolves to forge his own path. He enlists in the 2nd Dragoons, a regiment steeped in history and pride, under the guidance of two seasoned soldiers, Charters and Kirkton.

The army provides the structure Basil lacks, though it also brings him face-to-face with the brutality of the era. He learns that his inheritance has been stripped from him and passed to his cousin Tony, a revelation delivered alongside a mocking shilling from his grandfather. As the regiment prepares for an expedition against the French coast, Basil finds himself thrust into the complex politics of war. During an operation near St. Malo, he encounters a series of dangerous figures, including French deserters and vengeful locals. His courage is tested when he rescues Jacqueline de Broglie, the daughter of a high-ranking French Marshal, from a kidnapper with a personal vendetta against the nobility.

This act of chivalry earns Basil a token of gratitude—an emerald ring—and a brush with the upper echelons of both the French and English military. Meanwhile, his comrade Charters finds himself entangled in a mysterious and high-stakes romance with a woman known only as Sophia, an affair that highlights the precarious divide between the lives of common soldiers and the aristocracy. By the end of this first volume, Basil has solidified his place in the Greys. He has transitioned from a boy seeking security to a soldier defined by his service, carrying with him both the weight of his family’s rejection and the promise of a future forged by his own actions.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Basil leaves his home after a disastrous encounter at his uncle’s estate, deciding to enlist in the cavalry to escape his aimless existence. He meets two charismatic dragoons who introduce him to the life of the soldier and help him navigate the enlistment process.

A new identity Basil adopts a new name to secure his commission, shedding his past associations to avoid recognition by his father’s old friends. He quickly learns the harsh, swearing, and often brutal culture of the barracks, finding that his status as a gentleman's son does not exempt him from the rigors of drill and the skepticism of his peers.

The call to arms The narrative shifts to the preparations for a major military campaign against the French coast. Basil experiences the sensory detail of camp life, the tactical movements of cavalry, and the adrenaline of maritime transport as the troops prepare for their landing.

The peril of the coast Once on French soil, the story turns toward adventure and intrigue. Basil encounters a vengeful local who has been ruined by the nobility, leading to a tense, life-threatening confrontation that forces Basil to rely on his wits and his sword.

An auspicious reward The volume concludes with the rescue of Jacqueline de Broglie, whose gratitude provides a glimmer of hope and romance amidst the grim backdrop of war. As the soldiers look toward the next phase of their duties, the emerald ring in Basil's possession serves as a lingering, mysterious symbol of the adventures still to come.

The People

Basil Gauntlet, the protagonist, is a young man driven by a desire for independence and a sense of lost status. He begins as a "lonely lad" searching for safety but evolves into a confident, if occasionally romantic, soldier who finds a sense of purpose in the "Second to None" ethos of his regiment.

Nathan Wylie is the antagonist, a cold and calculating lawyer whose disdain for his nephew defines Basil’s early life. He represents the rigid and unyielding nature of the family structure that Basil must abandon.

Charters and Kirkton serve as Basil’s mentors and companions. Charters, in particular, is a man of mystery, handsome and daring, who struggles with his own romantic entanglements and the social barriers that separate him from the women he pursues.

Jacqueline de Broglie appears as a pivotal figure of grace, representing the world of the nobility that Basil has been pushed out of. Her presence in the story shifts Basil’s focus from mere survival to the broader, more dangerous stage of international intrigue.

In Its Own Voice

"Wayward has been my fate--my story strange; for my path in life--one portion of it at least--has been among perils and pitfalls, and full of sorrow and mortification, but not, however, without occasional gleams of sunshine and triumph."

The narrator reflects on the instability of his youth and the contrasting experiences that shaped his character.

"Everywhere the proud motto of the corps met my eye; on the standards and kettledrums, on our caps, carbines, and pistol-barrels, and on the blades of our long straight broadswords, I read the words--SECOND TO NONE!"

Basil describes the powerful influence the regiment's reputation had on his developing sense of identity.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book is an exploration of the search for belonging. Basil Gauntlet does not just join an army; he joins a family that operates on a meritocracy of courage rather than lineage. The narrative grapples with the transition from the private, domestic sphere—where Basil is unwanted—to the public, violent, and highly structured world of the military. It questions whether a man can truly shed his past and whether honor is something inherited or earned through service. The book also touches upon the class tensions of the 18th century, contrasting the lives of common soldiers with the distant, often arbitrary influence of the aristocracy.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical military fiction and the classic "young man making his way in the world" trope will find much to admire in these pages. The book offers a window into the 19th-century perspective on the 18th-century military—a blend of genuine historical research, such as the detailed accounts of horse care and troop movements, and the high-flown, dramatic sentimentality of the Victorian era. It feels like stepping into a sprawling, multi-volume saga where every chapter is designed to build a world of "bannered towers" and "glittering" adventure.

It is worth noting that the prose is dense with the formal, flowery diction of its period, which can occasionally make the pacing feel deliberate or slow. Modern readers may find the casual, period-appropriate attitudes toward social status and the occasional romanticized view of war to be a challenge. However, the author’s warm, observant voice and his dedication to capturing the day-to-day grit of a soldier’s life provide a compelling, immersive experience. If you appreciate a story that balances grand historical scale with the personal growth of an underdog hero, this volume serves as a sturdy, engaging introduction to an expansive life story.