Dulcie Carlyon: A novel. Volume 1 (of 3)

A young army officer secretly marries a beautiful but impoverished governess and is met with fierce rejection from his aristocratic parents, who condemn the union for reasons of rank and settlement. The narrative follows the couple's estrangement and the husband's efforts to reconcile personal devotion with family expectations, moving through country-house scenes, social maneuvering, and military interludes. Recurring themes include class prejudice, pride, and the practical pressures of money and inheritance, while relatives and acquaintances complicate loyalties and reveal the emotional cost of defying rigid social conventions.