Works in Progress

Julia continues work on the first book of a new series, tentatively entitled “The Unexpected Heirs.” Three soldiers who bond after the storming of Badajoz expect to live quiet lives back in England if they survive the war. Instead, each finds himself unexpectedly heir to a title, with the duties, responsibilities—and problems that entails.

The first book, “The Unexpected Duke” will feature Lieutenant Hartley Charles Edmenton, who is recalled from the Peninsula following the untimely death of his cousin, the Duke of Fenniston. Hart’s father, youngest son of the previous duke, had been estranged from his family after marrying the daughter of a Scottish gentleman. With Hart having two uncles senior to his father and the dukedom’s heir having a son his own age, he never expected his branch of the family to inherit the title. But after the deaths of the older generation and the untimely passing of his cousin, he finds himself the new presumptive heir—most reluctantly. His few visits to the ducal estate while growing up left him with bitter memories of the condescension and scorn expressed toward the Scottish-transplanted branch of the family. Pressed to his duty by his friends and commanders, he arrives back at the estate to be greeted by the sister of the bereaved duchess—who displays all the condescension and scorn he expected. Suspecting part of that scorn arose from her overhearing him using a heavy Scottish brogue to dismiss his Scots batman, he decides on the spot if they are expecting an uncouth Scottish soldier, he’s happy to play the part.

Widowed Claire Hembleton took refuge with her younger sister, the Duchess of Fenniston, after her husband’s death. Soon, as she had all the years of their growing up, she finds herself assuming her sister’s burdens, running the household, settling disputes, and even checking on progress around the estate. She’s deeply conflicted about her brother-in-law, whom she once secretly loved, resentful of the uncouth stranger who’s arrived to take his place, and as a widow with little money of her own, worried about what the new duke’s installment will mean for her place in the world. But in the meantime, as she has for the last two years, she’ll take upon herself one more duty for the estate--to try to groom the newcomer into becoming a duke worthy of his title.

Check here for progress on this and other titles in the series!