1840 -1841 Great Britain and China are at odds over the illegal supply of opium by the British into China. The Emperor orders a crackdown and destroys millions of dollars worth after confiscating it from the merchants at Canton. This leads to the First Opium War and the Stockley family is deeply involved, James is sent out on the Stockley's new steamship, the Caroline to provide Secret Service assistance to the commanders of the British Expeditionary force. The lack of any progress in the negotiation of a free trade agreement leads Palmerston to recall Charles Elliot the Superindentant of trade and send Lord Martin Stockley, Earl of Purbeck and Under Secretary for Asia to replace him.

Industrial unrest greets them when they return to England with the Chartists rioting. The First Afghan war is in full flow and an earthquake in the Caribbean sees James go on a rescue mission that turns into the pursuit of an escaped murderer.
As usual its all action for the Stockleys.