THE SPEARS OF THE NORTH

The Spears of the North is the first book of the Chadlington Chronicles, spanning from 1630 to 1812 and from the First Duke to the Sixth.

In 1630 Anthony succeeded his father as Baron Bartholemew. Eight years later, at the age of twenty, he married, he had met his bride, Marion, twice before the ceremony. In 1642 the King was at loggerheads with parliament and leaving his wife and son, Anthony rode to support the Crown.

For the next eighteen years, he served the Crown, first in battle and then in the dangerous secret world of the intrigues that eventually resulted in the restoration. During the conflict, the manor house was besieged and Marion took her own life rather than surrender. When Anthony finally returned home, it was as the first Duke of Chadlington and he had a new wife on his arm, a young and rich one.

Over the years, the duchy prospered and grew rich, thanks to the patronage of the King.

In 1682, Anthony's younger son, Hugh, set out to make his fortune as a trader with the East India Company. He brought the family a rich opportunity, a joint venture with a Rajah who wished to trade in jewels in defiance of the East India Company's monopoly. The venture was a success, despite Hugh eloping with the Rajah's favourite daughter.

After serving on the Board of the East India Company for some years, Hugh returns to India as the Governor of Bombay. There, he is unexpectedly joined by his nephew, James, fleeing England to avoid an unwanted marriage. He also has to deal with Stanly May, whose idea of courtship is to abduct any lady he desires.

When James returned to England as the third Duke, he was faced with the problem of a cut-throat band who were preying on travellers in the duchy and the surrounding areas. He dealt with that problem only to have his wife kidnapped and threatened with a dreadful fate.

The family was spared the wars of the eighteenth century; wars that increased the duchy's commercial interests. But the family did not escape internal problems. The presumed sixth Duke did not want to marry, preferring the company of his valet. When he eventually married, his bride shared his distaste for the intimacy of marriage, despite which they did manage to have three children.

The nineteenth century brought the threat of Napoleon. Charles, the Sixth Duke's younger son, is in the Peninsula with Wellington and is alongside his brother-in-law when the latter is killed at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo. His death brings heartbreak to Charles' sister, Marion, already mourning her father-in-law. Shortly afterwards, her elder brother, the presumed Seventh Duke, dies in a hunting accident and the future of the duchy is suddenly dependent on Charles.

A few weeks later, before Charles was made aware that he was now the heir, the sixth Duke died. His brother moved in, intent on taking over. There was only the heartbroken Marion to stop him. She could only stall and wait for Charles to return, but Charles was committed to the storming of Badajoz.

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