The Foundling is now available! And of course there’s a giveaway!

My thanks to all of you wonderful JAFF fans who have given the Rags to Richmond series a try! For those who haven’t and who have Kindle Unlimited, we do hope you’ll give it a peek!

The Foundling is Book 3 in the series! Here is an Austen Variations-exclusive excerpt below… hope you enjoy! You can get the book HERE! Book 4, Oakley’s story, releases December 10.

Leave me a comment below if you’d like to win a copy of the first 3 ebooks in the series… The Maid, The Spinster, and The Foundling.

As promised, the duke sent his carriage, along with a waiting woman to accompany Frederica to Cedarvale. The journey was at once nerve-racking and tedious. She had rarely travelled by any means other than by foot, except on the few occasions she had ridden in the back of a dog cart. This equipage, with its plush squabs and gentle, rolling motion that did not rattle her bones with every rut or stone in the road, made for an uncomfortable reminder of the disparity between the world she had left behind and the one towards which she was headed. She would have preferred to occupy her mind with something other than trepidation, but darkness put paid to reading or watching the passing scenery, and her companion was reluctant to make conversation. It was a little while before Frederica comprehended that the woman perceived her as someone of rank, too superior to exchange pleasantries with.

She thought it absurd, given her appearance. She had worn her Sunday best, but it was above four years old, faded, patched, and plain. She owned only one pair of boots, though she had polished them as well as she could. Her hair was arranged into a larger, looser chignon than usual, but more than that, she had been unable to achieve on her own. She was content that her family would not think her a disgrace, but without doubt, passersby would have been forgiven for mistaking her for the servant, and the waiting woman for her mistress.

Cedarvale appeared out of the darkness as a vast bank of light. There was an impossible number of windows all lit by blazing candles, leaving the building itself masked in shadow, but the sheer bulk of it was unmistakable. Inside, the glare of the candles was almost blinding. She lowered her eyes, blinking furiously, and saw with dismay how very dull her gown looked in this light—more pale grey than the violet it had once been.

After passing through several lofty and finely decorated rooms, the butler slowed in front of a large pair of double doors. Frederica was heartened to hear laughter from within, but it ceased when the handle was turned, and that made her hands clammy with nerves.

“Miss Frederica Child,” the butler announced.

Frederica flinched to hear her foundling name spoken in such a grand setting. It was yet another reminder of how far from her sphere she had strayed.

Everybody stood up when she entered, ladies and gentlemen alike. The first face she recognised was Penrith’s. He came towards her, his reliably steady countenance a balm to her rattled nerves, and bowed.

“You are very welcome, Miss Child.”

“Thank you.” She curtseyed. “Um…if it pleases Your Grace, ‘Miss Richmond’ will do just as well now—at least while I am away from the orphanage. It seems silly to persist with ‘Miss Child’ when I am amongst my family.”

He inclined his head in acknowledgement. “As you wish, madam. Please, join us.”

Frederica wished the duke would stay near her, but he gestured for her to precede him into the centre of the room, where five eager faces awaited her. Adelaide and Kem she knew, and Scarlett was unmissable next to her twin. She guessed who Oakley and Worthe must be; the former was identifiable by his fair Richmond hair, and the latter was the only gentleman she had not yet met. Both were smiling welcomingly, but before either could speak, one of the twins stepped forwards.

“Dear Frederica!”

Frederica was touched to see the almost teary gleam in her eyes. “You must be Scarlett.”

Murmurs of surprise and appreciation rippled through the party, and Scarlett gave a little jolt. “How did you know? Nobody can ever tell us apart. Sometimes even our husbands get us muddled.”

“Oh, well…upon my word, I cannot easily account for it. You just did not seem like Adelaide.” Frederica did not like to say that Scarlett had seemed more timid than her twin, with a shyer smile and less firm grip. The likeness was otherwise truly remarkable. From crown to chin, they were the double of each other. Her gaze travelled to Scarlett’s frame to compare her height and build to Adelaide’s, but there, her attention was captured by something entirely different. She could not help but stare at the singularly ugly gown her sister was wearing—a plain muslin day dress that was formless and unflattering.

Adelaide stepped forwards, her gown plainer still and evidently much laundered, rendering it even greyer than Frederica’s own. She broke into a small but triumphant smile. “We guessed you might not have much in the way of full dress, for neither did we used to. We did not want you to feel out of place.”

“These are the gowns we wore in our previous lives,” Scarlett added. “And I must say, yours is much prettier.”

Frederica was deeply moved by their thoughtfulness. She mumbled a thank you and worried that it sounded underwhelming but knew not what else to say.

“If you two have finished explaining your hare-brained scheme, might I get a word in edgeways?” Oakley enquired gamely, coming forwards to bodily elbow himself into their conversation. He took up Frederica’s hands and beamed happily at her, his eyes bright with merriment. “I am Oakley, and I cannot tell you how delighted I am to meet you at last.”

His joviality was infectious; before long, he had completed the introductions, passed on Lord and Lady Tipton’s sincerest wishes, and—once they were all seated—told Frederica more information about the Richmond family than she was ever likely to remember. She was captivated by his ebullience, and Adelaide was right; there was something familiar about his mouth when he talked.

Throughout it all, the duke kept a respectful silence, allowing his guests to talk to—and sometimes over—each other without interference. He kept his eyes on Frederica, once or twice raising his eyebrows in question of her comfort, to which each time she nodded in the affirmative. In truth, she did occasionally feel overwhelmed, but each time, either his steadfast support or some small kindness from one of her family would calm her nerves. She had relaxed enough to begin to enjoy herself when Mrs Coombs, the nanny, came to speak quietly to the duke. He nodded and then turned to address the group.

“Miss Richmond expressed a wish to see my daughter at some point this evening. I hope none of you will object if Delphine and her brothers join us for a few minutes before we go through to dinner.”

So far from objecting, everybody was charmed by the idea, and the children were duly ushered into the room. To Frederica’s delight, Lord Ryde recognised her and ran forwards to show her his wooden horse. Lady Delphine clung shyly to her nanny’s hand until Scarlett complimented her on her ribbons, at which point the little girl ventured to toddle around the room and show them—and her new back tooth—to everyone present. Lord Ryde did not wish to cede his place at Frederica’s knees when his sister reached his side, and she resorted to having them count each other’s teeth to avoid a squabble.

“You two seem very at home with a little one,” Worthe observed.

Frederica looked up, espying a wry sort of smile on Worthe’s lips; her gaze shifted to see that Adelaide was holding little Lord Felix in her lap. Kem was leaning close to them, smiling at the toddler’s sweet babbling. At Worthe’s tease, both reddened slightly and exchanged a look.

“I suppose this is as good a time to tell them as any,” Adelaide said.

Kem smiled at her tenderly, then turned to everyone else. “We are to be blessed soon ourselves. Towards the end of the summer.”

MISS FREDERICA CHILD KNOWS EXACTLY WHO SHE IS. She has always known, for as long as she can remember, that she is the granddaughter of the Earl of Tipton, from whom her father had been estranged prior to his death. But she does not begrudge the life of luxury she never had; her work at the Taverstock Orphanage, creating a sort of adoptive family, is all the reward she desires.

ALAS, JUST AS SHE BECOMES AN ADULT, her contentment is due to be shattered. A new patron of the orphanage—the handsome, young, and recently bereaved Duke of Penrith—discovers her secret and reveals her whereabouts to her estranged family. The reunion is a surprise to everyone, but in one thing the Richmonds are sure: Frederica must return to her family and the life she is due as the granddaughter of nobility.

CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, knowing who she is but unsure of who she wants to be, Frederica struggles to reconcile herself with the decision she must make. The Duke proves an unexpected ally, and she soon recognises that they could be more than just friends.

BUT WITH THE DUKE SO RECENTLY BEREAVED, and Frederica’s own life in turmoil, can love truly bloom? And will she ever be able to find the peace she had in obscurity again?