The Chaplain's Legacy Series by Mary Kingswood

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Arthur Nicholson is the scapegrace youngest son of a baron, scampering from one near-disaster to another but perpetually optimistic that all will be well - tomorrow. Something will turn up, he’s sure, and so it often does. Turned away from his intended ordination as a clergyman, he can’t face his family so he heads north to visit a friend, but a snowstorm strands him at a wayside inn... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Arthur Nicholson is the scapegrace youngest son of a baron, scampering from one near-disaster to another but perpetually optimistic that all will be well - tomorrow. Something will turn up, he’s sure, and so it often does. Turned away from his intended ordination as a clergyman, he can’t face his family so he heads north to visit a friend, but a snowstorm strands him at a wayside inn. Happily, he falls into the company of a northern earl, who offers him the temporary position of chaplain at his remote home. Arthur can’t believe his luck, especially when he meets the lovely Lady Alice Atherton, the earl’s blind daughter. Is Alice his key to a permanent home with the earl? If he can win her over, he will be assured of a comfortable life, and it won’t matter that he was never ordained - will it? This is a complete story, a prequel to the Chaplain’s Legacy series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. The ebook of this story is available free of charge to Mary Kingswood mailing list subscribers. less

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Walter Atherton, Viscount Birtwell, has drifted through his charmed life without a care in the world. As the eldest son and heir to an earl, he has never had to make his way in the world. His days are filled with pleasure, and to set the seal on it, he will shortly be married to a vastly wealthy heiress. His future is set fair for happiness... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Walter Atherton, Viscount Birtwell, has drifted through his charmed life without a care in the world. As the eldest son and heir to an earl, he has never had to make his way in the world. His days are filled with pleasure, and to set the seal on it, he will shortly be married to a vastly wealthy heiress. His future is set fair for happiness. But the brutal murder of the family chaplain reveals a dreadful secret - he was never ordained, and so the earl’s marriage was not legal. Walter finds himself illegitimate, his inheritance lost to him, his whole future upended. What on earth is he to do now? Miss Winifred Strong fell in love with Walter years ago - how could she resist his careless charm? But the daughter of a mere baronet is no fitting wife for a future earl. When the disaster strikes and Walter is suddenly cast down in society’s eyes, Winnie allows herself just a sliver of hope. Surely now her old friend will turn to her for comfort… and love? Or must she remain a spinster forever? But a trip to London brings her an unexpected way out of her dilemma — if she has the courage to take it. This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 1 of a 6 book series. less

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Mr Bertram Atherton has one foot in the Ancient World, emerging from his library only to eat and sleep. But when the chaplain of his uncle, the Earl of Rennington, is brutally murdered, it is revealed that he was never ordained and so the earl’s marriage was invalid, and his children rendered illegitimate. Bertram’s father is now the heir to the earldom, and Bertram after him... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Mr Bertram Atherton has one foot in the Ancient World, emerging from his library only to eat and sleep. But when the chaplain of his uncle, the Earl of Rennington, is brutally murdered, it is revealed that he was never ordained and so the earl’s marriage was invalid, and his children rendered illegitimate. Bertram’s father is now the heir to the earldom, and Bertram after him. It’s a horrifying change of circumstances for a man only interested in intellectual pursuits. Miss Beatrice Franklyn is horrified to discover that her betrothed, the earl’s eldest son, has been disinherited and can’t make her a countess. But his cousin Bertram will inherit now, and he’ll do, won’t he? Bea sets her sights on a second betrothal, and she usually gets her way. How can unworldly Bertram resist her feminine wiles? But no matter how many tricks she tries and how determined she is to lure him into matrimony, she finds that Bertram is equally determined not to be lured. Which of them will win the battle of wills? This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 2 of a 6 book series. less

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. The Earl of Rennington’s daughter, Lady Isabel, has done well for herself. Married for five years to an indulgent viscount, with two small daughters, she lives her life in the centre of a social whirl, respected and admired for her beauty, her elegance and her liveliness... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. The Earl of Rennington’s daughter, Lady Isabel, has done well for herself. Married for five years to an indulgent viscount, with two small daughters, she lives her life in the centre of a social whirl, respected and admired for her beauty, her elegance and her liveliness. But her liveliness sometimes spills over into stormy rows with her staid husband, and she grieves that she’s failed in her primary duty - to provide him with an heir. Her marriage isn’t quite what she’d hoped for. So when disaster cuts her adrift, she wonders what her life might have been like, had she made a different choice. Ian, Viscount Farramont, is a down-to-earth man, but he’s adored Izzy since the moment he first saw her. He won her hand against tough competition, and when he fears he might lose her for good, he sets out to do whatever it takes to win her back. But even if he succeeds, can he ever win her heart, or is he just too dull to inspire love in his vivacious wife? This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 3 of a 6 book series. less

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Miss Teresa Nicholson, daughter of an earl’s chaplain, has suffered two dreadful shocks. First, her father was brutally murdered, and then his will bequeathed her his entire fortune, but only if she marries a gentleman. Tess knows the reason for that - she loves a man who works with his hands, and that’s unacceptable for the niece of an earl... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Miss Teresa Nicholson, daughter of an earl’s chaplain, has suffered two dreadful shocks. First, her father was brutally murdered, and then his will bequeathed her his entire fortune, but only if she marries a gentleman. Tess knows the reason for that - she loves a man who works with his hands, and that’s unacceptable for the niece of an earl. But if she can marry a compliant man who won’t interfere with her life, she’ll be free to do as she pleases, won’t she? If only she could find this mysterious fortune…. Edward, Lord Tarvin has his life exactly how he wants it - his mother confined to his northern estate while he enjoys a bachelor existence in London. But when he hears that Tess Nicholson has designs on his simple minded cousin, he knows he has to do whatever it takes to stop her. If only she weren’t such an infuriating, conniving and downright beguiling woman…. This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 4 of a 6 book series. less

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Mr Kent Atherton isn’t too worried about the sudden discovery that his parents’ marriage was invalid and he is illegitimate — he loves machinery of all types, so what would be more perfect than a career as an engineer? The industrial future is so much more interesting than the traditions of the past. But the son of an earl isn’t supposed to work in trade, and besides, he’s loyalty-bound to support his brother’s little enterprise... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Mr Kent Atherton isn’t too worried about the sudden discovery that his parents’ marriage was invalid and he is illegitimate — he loves machinery of all types, so what would be more perfect than a career as an engineer? The industrial future is so much more interesting than the traditions of the past. But the son of an earl isn’t supposed to work in trade, and besides, he’s loyalty-bound to support his brother’s little enterprise. Will he ever escape his family’s hold on him? Miss Katherine Parish has been orphaned and left penniless. Happily, her aunt has given her a home, but she moves in much higher circles than Katherine is used to. How can the daughter of a mill owner mingle with the Earl of Rennington and his family? But the perpetually cheerful Kent Atherton lifts her out of her gloom, and even gives her hope of a happy future together, until she discovers a shocking secret about him…. This is a complete story with a happy ever after. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 5 of a 6 book series. less

One man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Olivia, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Rennington, has had a difficult year. Denied her first season in town by the illness of her grandmother, there was worse to come — her uncle, the chaplain, was brutally murdered. The discovery that he was not even an ordained clergyman means that her parents’ marriage is void, and she and all her siblings are illegitimate... moreOne man with a secret. A family torn apart by the consequences. Olivia, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Rennington, has had a difficult year. Denied her first season in town by the illness of her grandmother, there was worse to come — her uncle, the chaplain, was brutally murdered. The discovery that he was not even an ordained clergyman means that her parents’ marriage is void, and she and all her siblings are illegitimate. But Olivia has a plan — she intends to outdo her older sister Izzy and marry a duke, and she knows just the man. She’s been following his exploits for years. All she has to do is to meet him…. Robert Osborn was once passionately in love with Izzy but when she chose another man, he lapsed gratefully back into his unfettered life as a man of leisure. But when he unexpectedly becomes the Earl of Kiltarlity, he is weighed down with obligations and responsibilities — where is the fun in that? He is astonished to meet Olivia — the very image of her older sister, and what is more, she has no trouble advising him on his new duties. But is his growing admiration simply because she reminds him of Izzy? And can he deter her from her ambition to be a duchess? Captain Michael Edgerton has been doggedly pursuing the chaplain’s murderer for months. Now, with more violence complicating the situation, he has one last throw of the dice to unravel the identity and motive of the killer. This is a complete story with a happy ever after, but best read after the previous books in the series. A traditional Regency romance, drawing room rather than bedroom. Book 6 of a 6 book series. less