The Heir

THE HEIR The Heir is the third book of the Chadlington Chronicles, spanning from 1979 to 2010 during the time of the Thirteenth Duke. It was the first to be written and "stands alone" so it can be read without reference to books one and two. In August of 1979, in Hong Kong, a young Chief Inspector takes two bullets intended for one of his team. In June of 2003, the RAF loses a Tornado whilst carrying out a low-level attack on an Iraq airfield. In February of 2006, in New York, a young woman is threatened by her estranged husband and his current girlfriend. In the following years, the threads come together. In the absence of the proverbial spare, an international search is on for an heir to the Duke of Chadlington. Finally, he is found, living on a remote island. He accepts the challenge and moves to the United Kingdom where he finds the duchy in disarray. The Agent is a corrupt sexual predator who does not bulk at murder and few of the Duchy's assets are generating a return and the London house is operating as an illegal casino and a brothel. Additionally, there are three family mysteries to solve and the duchy's overseas holdings have mysteriously disappeared. With the help of his team, Stephanie a local girl whom he employs as his PA and who quickly becomes his right hand, Sandy who looks after the veteran cars and has a history of his own, Henry the young enthusiast who takes over from the Agent and several more, the new Duke sets out to solve the problems and the mysteries. On the family side, he has a son, Charles and a daughter Catherine. Charles is a merchant banker in London, whose new status as heir to a duke does his career no harm. The Duke joins the board of the bank and uncovers a scheme that could have brought the Bank down. Catherine finds herself promoted from stable hand to lady of the manor; with it comes a chance to compete on the European Show Jumping Circuit and the possibility of fulfilling her dream and riding at the Olympics. She also finds romance and her karate skills are not wasted. Then there is Lady Margaret, daughter of the late Duke. Friend or foe? Sex comes easily for a duke. Millie, Gina, Sophie (the naked bimbo), Venus, Annette, Beverly and Lillian. All are good for a romp, but none is suitable for a duchess. Love and a suitable duchess eventually arrive but she will have none of it! Three attempts to murder him force the duke back into his old role as a policeman. The mysteries finally give up their secrets but produce another. Was, as he hinted, the late Duke murdered? Things appear to be settling down when the newly married couple go on their honeymoon but the Duke finds himself embroiled in Fijian politics and carrying a proposal from Hong Kong to London that ends with him becoming deeply involved with the SIS. His involvement deepens when an agent is betrayed and must be extracted from Hong Kong before he disappears into a torture chamber over the border.