INTRIGUE. TENSION. LOVE AFFAIRS: In The Historical Romance series, a set of stand-alone novels, Vivian Stuart builds her compelling narratives around the dramatic lives of sea captains, nurses, surgeons, and members of the aristocracy. Stuart takes us back to the societies of the 20th century, drawing on her own experience of places across Australia, India, East Asia, and the Middle East.    Two of John Anson's wishes were granted on the same day. He was offered an important post in the State of Gaupal and Sandra Beauchamp promised to marry him. On that day he also met Rose Lian, the beautiful girl, who, he was told, was of mixed French and Gaupali blood. Their destinies and that of Charles Garrison, a figure from Sandra's past, were to be strangely linked in this romance set against a far eastern background.