1808 and at long last, the British Government decides that 'boots on the ground' are needed on the Peninsular to support the Spanish uprising against Bonaparte and to free Portugal from French rule. Until then, the fight had been carried to France and her allies for the most part by the Royal Navy. The Hon. James Trevelyan is a Lieutenant with the 30th Hussars, and this year was to see the beginning of his involvement in the beginning of the overthrow of Bonaparte. Landing at Mondego Bay, Portugal, the Squadrons of the 30th meet up with the rest of the Army commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley, and James gets his first taste of action shortly after, and at the Battle of Rolica, closely followed by Vimeiro. After that, Wellesley pushes Junot out of Oporto, leaving the way open to move eastwards into Spain and Talavera. James meets a Portuguese wine merchant named Tomas da Silva and his delightful daughter Cassandra, who sets her sights on him as a future husband, but are these two really what they appear to be.......?