The Heir

A captivating tale of power, passion, and family secrets set against the tumultuous backdrop of post-World War I England. At thirty-three, Edward Deravenel has survived betrayal, ruthless enemies, countless lovers, and a war that ravaged his country. Now, in 1918, he is finally king of his company, but an influenza pandemic sweeps the nation, threatening his family and business. Edward must navigate between his loyal brother Richard and treacherous middle brother George, an alcoholic bent on self-destruction and ruining Edward's good name. Meanwhile, suspicions about Edward's relationships with other women push his ever-jealous wife Elizabeth to a boiling point. Inheritance politics are fierce as different family factions vie for honor over the years. An heir is needed to carry on the Deravenel name, but tragedy and death remain constant obstacles. The potential successors include a loyal caretaker, a jealous rumormonger, a charming young woman, a sickly boy, and the scion of the family Edward once ousted from power. In this gripping historical saga, Barbara Taylor Bradford triumphs with a novel of passion, treachery, marriage, and the compromises we make for power and love.