Pursuit of Princes (The Jacobite Chronicles Book 5) Read online

  Also by Julia Brannan

  HISTORICAL FICTION

  The Jacobite Chronicles

  Book One: Mask of Duplicity

  Book Two: The Mask Revealed

  Book Three: The Gathering Storm

  Book Four: The Storm Breaks

  Book Six: Tides of Fortune (Early 2018)

  CONTEMPORARY FICTION

  A Seventy-Five Percent Solution

  The Bigger Picture (Autumn 2017)

  Pursuit of Princes

  The Jacobite Chronicles

  Book Five

  Julia Brannan

  Copyright© 2017 by Julia Brannan

  Julia Brannan has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  DISCLAIMER

  This novel is a work of fiction, and except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental

  Formatting by Polgarus Studio

  Cover Model Photography by VJ Dunraven of www.PeriodImages.com

  Photograph of Culloden, Scotland by Julia Brannan

  Cover model: Jason Tobias

  Cover design by najlaqamberdesigns.com

  To Bob Macchione and Dolores Lowe

  For believing in me.

  Thank you.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  First of all, as ever, I’d like to thank Jason Gardiner and Alyson Cairns, my soulmates and best friends, who put up with me on a day-to-day basis, and who understand my need for solitude, but are always there for me. They’ve both supported me through every stage of my writing, and, indeed, in all my other endeavours, both sensible and madcap!

  Thanks to the long-suffering Mary Brady, friend and first critic, who reads the chapters as I write them, critiques them for me and reassures me that I can actually write stuff people will want to read.

  Thanks also go to Mandy Condon, who sends me useful articles, has already determined the cast list for the film of my books, and who has been a wonderful and supportive friend for over twenty years. Long may that continue!

  Thank you to Kym Grosso and Victoria Danann, both successful and talented authors, who have been extremely supportive and have generously given me the benefit of their invaluable advice, gained through experience. They have both saved me a lot of time, money and tears, and I value their friendship enormously.

  And thanks also go to Jason and Marina for doing an excellent job of formatting my book, to the talented and very patient Najla Qamber, who does all my covers, puts up with my lack of artistic ability, and still manages to somehow understand exactly what I want my cover to look like! Thanks too to Jason Tobias the cover model for Pursuit of Princes – you make a perfect Alex!

  Finally, but VERY importantly, to all my wonderful readers, who not only buy my books, but take the time and effort to give me feedback, and to review them on Amazon and Goodreads – thank you so much. You keep me going on those dark days when I’d rather do anything than stare at a blank screen for hours while my brain turns to mush…you are amazing!

  Table of Contents

  Also by Julia Brannan

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND NOTE

  THE STORY SO FAR

  LIST OF CHARACTERS

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  HISTORICAL NOTE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  FOLLOW HER ON:

  Also by Julia Brannan

  HISTORICAL BACKGROUND NOTE

  Although this series starts in 1742 and deals with the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, the events that culminated in this uprising started a long time before, in 1685, in fact. This was when King Charles II died without leaving an heir, and the throne passed to his Roman Catholic younger brother James, who then became James II of England and Wales, and VII of Scotland. His attempts to promote toleration of Roman Catholics and Presbyterians did not meet with approval from the Anglican establishment, but he was generally tolerated because he was in his fifties, and his daughters, who would succeed him, were committed Protestants. But in 1688 James’ second wife gave birth to a son, also named James, who was christened Roman Catholic. It now seemed certain that Catholics would return to the throne long-term, which was anathema to Protestants.

  Consequently James’ daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange were invited to jointly rule in James’ place, and James was deposed, finally leaving for France in 1689. However, many Catholics, Episcopalians and Tory royalists still considered James to be the legitimate monarch.

  The first Jacobite rebellion, led by Viscount Dundee in April 1689, routed King William’s force at the Battle of Killiecrankie, but unfortunately Dundee himself was killed, leaving the Jacobite forces leaderless, and in May 1690 they suffered a heavy defeat. King William offered all the Highland clans a pardon if they would take an oath of allegiance in front of a magistrate before 1st January 1692. Due to the weather and a general reluctance, some clans failed to make it to the places appointed for the oath to be taken, resulting in the infamous Glencoe Massacre of Clan MacDonald in February 1692. By spring all the clans had taken the oath, and it seemed that the Stuart cause was dead.

  However, a series of economic and political disasters by William and his government left many people dissatisfied with his reign, and a number of these flocked to the Jacobite cause. In 1707, the Act of Union between Scotland and England, one of the intentions of which was to put an end to hopes of a Stuart restoration to the throne, was deeply unpopular with most Scots, as it delivered no benefits to the majority of the Scottish population.

  Following the deaths of William and Mary, Mary’s sister Anne became Queen, dying without leaving an heir in 1714, after which George, Elector of Hanover took the throne, as George I. This raised the question of the succession again, and in 1715 a number of Scottish nobles and Tories took up arms against the Hanoverian monarch.

  The rebellion was led by the Earl of Mar, but he was not a great military leader and the Jacobite army suffered a series of defeats, finally disbanding completely when six thousand Dutch troops landed in support of Hanover. Following this, the Highlands of Scotland were garrisoned and hundreds of miles of new roads were built, in an attempt to thwart any further risings in favour of the Stuarts.

  By the early 1740s, this operation was scaled back when it seemed unlikely that the aging James Stuart, ‘the Old Pretender,’ would spearhead another attempt to take the throne. However, the hopes of those who wanted to dissolve the Union and return the Stuarts to their rightful place were centring not on James, but on his young, handsome and charismatic son Charles Edward Stuart, as yet something of an unknown quantity.

  I would strongly recommend that you read the first four books in the series, Mask Of Duplicity, The Mask Revealed, The Gathering Storm and The Storm
Breaks before starting this one! However, if you are determined not to, here’s a summary of the first four to help you enjoy Book Five…

  The Story So Far

  Book One – Mask of Duplicity

  Following the death of their father, Elizabeth (Beth) Cunningham and her older half-brother Richard, a dragoon sergeant, are reunited after a thirteen year separation, when he comes home to Manchester to claim his inheritance. He soon discovers that while their father’s will left her a large dowry, the investments which he has inherited will not be sufficient for him to further his military ambitions. He decides therefore to persuade his sister to renew the acquaintance with her aristocratic cousins, in the hope that her looks and dowry will attract a wealthy husband willing to purchase him a commission in the army. Beth refuses, partly because she is happy living an unrestricted lifestyle, and partly because the family rejected her father following his second marriage to her mother, a Scottish seamstress.

  Richard, who has few scruples, then embarks on an increasingly vicious campaign to get her to comply with his wishes, threatening her beloved servants and herself. Finally, following a particularly brutal attack, she agrees to comply with his wishes, on the condition that once she is married, he will remove himself from her life entirely.

  Her cousin, the pompous Lord Edward and his downtrodden sisters accept Richard and Beth back into the family, where she meets the interesting and gossipy, but very foppish Sir Anthony Peters. After a few weeks of living their monotonous lifestyle, Beth becomes extremely bored and sneaks off to town for a day, where she is followed by a footpad. Taking refuge in a disused room, she inadvertently comes upon a gang of Jacobite plotters, one of whom takes great pains to hide his face, although she notices a scar on his hand. They are impressed by her bravery and instead of killing her, escort her home. A secret Jacobite herself, she doesn’t tell her Hanoverian family what has happened, and soon repairs with them to London for the season.

  Once there, she meets many new people and attracts a great number of suitors, but is not interested in any of them until she falls in love with Daniel, the Earl of Highbury’s son. The relationship progresses until she discovers that his main motivation for marrying her is to use her dowry to clear his gambling debts. She rejects him, but becomes increasingly depressed.

  In the meantime, the Jacobite gang, the chief members of whom are Alex MacGregor (the scarred man) and his brothers Angus and Duncan, are operating in the London area, smuggling weapons, collecting information, visiting brothels etc.

  Sir Anthony, now a regular visitor to the house, becomes a friend of sorts, and introduces her to his wide circle of acquaintance, including the King, the Duke of Cumberland and Edwin Harlow MP and his wife Caroline. Beth does not trust the painted Sir Anthony and thinks him physically repulsive, but finds him amusing. Following an ultimatum from her brother that if she keeps rejecting suitors he will find her a husband himself, she accepts a marriage proposal from Sir Anthony, partly because he seems kind, but chiefly because he has discovered a rosary belonging to her, and she is afraid he will denounce her as a Catholic, which would result in her rejection from society and her brother’s vengeance.

  The night before her wedding, Beth is abducted by Daniel, who, in a desperate attempt to avoid being imprisoned for debt, attempts to marry her by force. Beth’s maid, Sarah, alerts the Cunninghams and Sir Anthony to Beth’s plight, and she is rescued by her fiancé. He then gives her the option to call off the wedding, but thinking that being married to him is the best of the limited options she has available to her, she agrees to go ahead as planned.

  Book Two – The Mask Revealed

  Sir Anthony and Beth marry. The following evening at a function, he has to remove his glove and she sees his hand and its scar for the first time, and remembers where she has seen it before. Having removed his furious wife by force from the company before she can give him away, Sir Anthony admits that he is a Jacobite spy, and that he is really Alex MacGregor. He explains the odd circumstances that led him to follow such a strange double life, and admits that he married her mainly for love, intends to make her dowry over to her and effect a separation, thereby giving her her freedom. She, being of a very adventurous spirit, refuses, stating that she intends to stay with him. He tries to persuade her against this, as his lifestyle is a dangerous one, but eventually he agrees, and they go on honeymoon to Europe together, as Sir Anthony and wife.

  He explains that he will be visiting Prince Charles Stuart, son of the exiled King James, as a few weeks ago the Duke of Newcastle, not knowing him to be a Jacobite spy, recruited him on behalf of the Hanoverians, to become acquainted with the prince and report back any useful information.

  On the way to Rome, Angus (who has accompanied them as a servant) overhears a private conversation between two French courtiers, in which it is revealed that King Louis of France is secretly planning to invade England, and that one of the men (Henri), intends to give the plans to the British. Alex now decides he must do something to prevent this, but must first carry on to meet Charles and convey the news of the prospective invasion to him. He does, and Beth and Alex are married again in Rome under their real names.

  After giving a misleading report of his meeting with Charles to Sir Horace Mann who is the Hanoverian envoy in Florence, Alex, Beth and Angus travel to France, where, at Versailles, Beth becomes acquainted with, and starts to like, the man Henri. Alex, as Sir Anthony, pretends jealousy and challenges Henri to a duel, during which he kills him, as though by accident.

  Beth, having not been entrusted with his plans, and also having been kept in the dark about some other things, is very hurt and leaves suddenly, travelling back first to London and then Manchester, on her own, where she settles in with her ex-servants.

  Alex’s return is delayed as he is held in prison for duelling. He sends Angus to Rome to stop Prince Charles riding to Paris to join the invasion and thereby raising British suspicion and Louis’ anger. Alex then returns home to London, where he is expecting Beth to be waiting for him. When he discovers she has left, he follows her to Manchester, where they are reconciled.

  Book Three – The Gathering Storm

  Following their reconciliation, Beth and Alex return to London, where Beth engineers a marriage between Anne Maynard and Lord Redburn. The prospective French invasion of England is unsuccessful and shortly afterwards the MacGregors journey to Scotland, where Beth meets the rest of her clan and is initiated into the Highland way of life, which she adapts to very quickly. She also meets her MacDonald relatives, including her grandmother, now a very old lady. During a short stop in Edinburgh, Beth, accompanied by Duncan, unexpectedly encounters Lord Daniel, and after an acrimonious and almost violent exchange, Beth realises he is now her sworn enemy.

  On their reluctant return to London, Beth is confronted by her brother Richard, requesting funds from Sir Anthony. Incensed by this, Beth ejects him from her home, whereupon he secretly courts and marries Anne, who is now the wealthy widow of Lord Redburn. Beth is concerned about the safety of Anne, and Lord Redburn’s unborn child, whom Anne carries.

  Prince Charles lands prematurely in Scotland, and the clans start to rally to him. Alex sends Duncan and Angus to raise the clan but he, as Sir Anthony, feels that he will be of more use gathering information if he remains with his wife in London. He consoles himself with the knowledge that this will be a temporary measure, and he will soon be able to take his rightful place as chieftain of his clan in Scotland and fight for the Stuart cause.

  Whilst attending a social evening at the house of the Prince of Wales, Sir Anthony is challenged to a duel by Lord Daniel, which he declines to accept. The prince sides with the Peters and Daniel vows revenge. He begins secretly investigating Sir Anthony’s background.

  Shortly after this encounter Alex receives a message from Prince Charles, asking him to stay in London gathering information about troop movements, until the invasion is over, and James III and VIII is crowned in London. Alex is distraught, bu
t cannot refuse a direct request from his prince, so reluctantly accepts that he must remain Sir Anthony for the foreseeable future.

  Book Four – The Storm Breaks

  Alex discovers that he is about to be betrayed and he and Beth flee and join the rebels at Edinburgh, where the Jacobites are victorious in the battle of Prestonpans. The Jacobite army then begins its progress southwards, arriving in Manchester, with more people rallying to their call. At Derby, much against the wishes of Alex and many other members of the clans, it is decided that the army should not march on London, but retreat to Scotland to await French reinforcements.

  On reaching Manchester, Beth discovers the child Ann, daughter of her servant Martha who was dismissed by Richard on his first arrival home. The child has suffered badly at the hands of her mother’s killer, who Beth suspects is Richard. Alex doubts her suspicions, and Beth is driven to tell him of her brother’s attack on her. Alex is enraged that she has not trusted him and this leads to an estrangement between them. The army continues northward and Beth, convinced that their marriage is over, attempts to leave Alex. She is attacked and in rescuing her, Alex realises what he has nearly lost, and they are reconciled.

  They continue northwards, where the Jacobite army eventually meets with Cumberland and the government forces at Culloden, while the women, led by Beth, shelter in a barn. The battle is lost, Duncan is killed and Alex badly wounded. Angus, after getting his brother to safety, goes in search of the women.