The Forlorn Hope: A Novel (Vol. 1 of 2)

Set chiefly at a Highland estate, the narrative traces domestic tensions that follow a second marriage: a proud, attractive new mistress chafes at her stepdaughter's presence while an infectious illness threatens the household and disrupts social gatherings. Arrivals, departures, and military connections bring family, retainers, and acquaintances into contests of feeling, revealing jealousy, pride, and quiet resentments. Through a sequence of intimate episodes and social encounters the story examines duty, personal resolve, and the ripple effects of concealed motives, balancing small cruelties with moments of gratitude and moral testing.