Table of Contents
WINNING THE DUKE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Epilogue
WINNING THE DUKE
JENN LANGSTON
SOUL MATE PUBLISHING
New York
BY JENN LANGSTON
THE PERFECT SERIES
His Perfect Bride
His Perfect Game
His Perfect Lady
Catching The Baron
Winning The Duke
WINNING THE DUKE
Copyright©2015
JENN LANGSTON
Cover Design by Rae Monet, Inc.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, business establishments, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
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Published in the United States of America by
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ISBN: 978-1-61935-717-4
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To my wonderful children,
thank you for understanding every time
Mommy needs quiet time to write.
I love you all like crazy,
and it makes me really proud
to see you picking up pens
and writing stories just like me.
Chapter 1
“Mother, I’ve decided who I shall marry, and I don’t care if you don’t approve. I love him,” Lady Grace Denton proclaimed, her voice echoing in the quiet drawing room.
The Countess of Ransley didn’t look up, merely continued to stick her needle in the fabric. “That sounds wonderful, my dear. May I know his name?”
“Mr. Nobis, my dance instructor.” Grace attempted to infuse her voice with as much of a love-stricken quality as she could stomach. “He dances like an angel, and the way he holds me in his arms makes my heart tremble.”
Bile crept up her throat as she uttered the words about the stiff, unexcitable fool. Grace swallowed. This was not going well. She had expected at least some kind of reaction from her mother. Why didn’t the woman care about her?
As her mother stood and walked toward her, Grace felt a lightening in her chest. This was it. The reaction she’d hoped for. The one she needed.
“Thank you for telling me.” The countess patted Grace on the cheek and then left the room.
Grace’s heart sank. Defeat weighed heavy on her shoulders as her chin quivered. What just happened? Was that her mother’s blessing to marry a penniless man? How had the woman become so drastically altered in the past few years? Her mother had never been so uncaring with her older sister, Brianna.
Falling back in a chair, Grace sucked in a shaky breath. What was she to do? Nothing she did ever got through to her mother.
“Grace?” Ashley called as she entered the room.
Although the woman had been Grace’s governess, they couldn’t bear to part with her when Grace came of age. Instead Ashley had remained on by taking other duties around the house, and Grace loved her like a sister. Grace also feared Ashley was the only person in this household who cared about her. Well, besides her father.
“Yes, Ashley?” Grace responded, pasting on a smile, though her insides still churned from the conversation with her mother.
After taking a seat across from Grace, Ashley inhaled deeply and looked at her expectantly. “Your mother said you have some news to share with me.”
Grace sat forward in her chair, feeling marginally better. Finally, the reprimand she sought. “What else did she say?”
“Nothing. Just that you have something you wanted to tell me.”
Reclaiming her previous position, Grace dropped her head against the back of the chair as she wondered why she even cared. No amount of declarations from her could obtain her mother’s attention. Her throat tightened.
“I told her I wanted to marry Mr. Nobis.”
Ashley gasped. “Oh Grace, no. You can do so much better. That silly man wouldn’t know what to do with a woman.”
“I know that, and I don’t want to marry him. I simply wanted my mother to care.”
The look of pity on Ashley’s face hurt Grace more than she wanted to admit. Pinching her lips closed, she tried to discourage her tears from falling. This was why she never told her friend her true feelings.
“She loves you a great deal. She simply has a strange way of showing it. I recall Brianna and I sharing similar conversations about the countess.”
Grace sat up straighter. “No. Brianna never had this problem. Mother handpicked a marquis for her and never allowed Brianna to do so much as to look at another man.”
“Yes, and Brianna hated it. You should be thrilled to have your pick of gentlemen. If you knew of all the danger your sister placed herself in . . .” Ashley shuddered.
On one hand, Grace agreed. She remembered how smothered her sister had felt. But Brianna could never question their mother’s regard.
“Why do you think Mother dropped her standards for me? I grew up knowing what I would go through with her. In fact, I prepared myself for it. Before and during my first Season, I surveyed everyone to find the most suitable titleholders in order to please my mother.”
Ashley chewed on her bottom lip. It was something she often did when she had no answer to give. That was confirmation enough for Grace.
“Perhaps she hopes to encourage your more wild side. After all, Brianna’s schemes helped her obtain the attention of the Marquis of Stonemede.”
Grace snorted, hardening herself against the conversation. “Not likely. Mother continually lectured us when we were children against our recklessness. Anyway, it doesn’t matter as I don’t intend to marry.”
“Don’t make a rash decision just yet. We will be departing soon for Stonemede. You can rest and take time off from thoughts of marriage for the holidays, then next Season . . .”
“I will try. For you. But I assure you, I won’t change my mind.”
If marriage wouldn’t make her mother love her, she wouldn’t put herself through the torture of dealing with an annoying man day in and day out. After all, the only men she could stand to be around wer
e already married or related to her.
She was much better off alone.
Braiden Everett, Duke of Donetic, also titled Marquis of Hauney, stared at his cousin Thomas in disbelief. Ever since Braiden’s wife, Tabitha, died, Thomas continually tried to get him to reenter Society, but he wasn’t interested. He’d paid his dues and suffered for it.
“Don’t give me that look.” Thomas crossed his arms and glared down upon Braiden as if he held the power.
Running a weary hand down his face, Braiden cradled his chin in his palm as his elbow rested on the desk. “Why shouldn’t I? We’ve been over this before. I have no desire to fake a smile and associate with all the made up people.”
“This is different. These people are practically family.”
“Greyson and Abigail are the only attendees who are my family, but with my niece, Amber, being not quite a year old, they have their hands full.”
“Come on. We didn’t attend last year, and I don’t want to miss it again.” Thomas’s voice took on a pleading quality that Braiden hated.
The annual holiday celebration thrown by the Marquis of Stonemede always proved to be a good diversion. As a matter of fact, the usual attendees had helped him get through a difficult time. He put his hands on the arms of the chair, tightly gripping the wood. He was not that man anymore. He’d lost the ability to enjoy life.
“Are you insisting because you want me to socialize or do you desire to see Laura?”
Thomas turned away and coughed, making Braiden shake his head. After experiencing the heartlessness of a woman, Braiden couldn’t understand his cousin’s need to travel such a great distance to see one. Although he knew Thomas and Laura’s relationship existed only for mutual satisfaction, a time would come when Thomas could lose his heart to her. Braiden couldn’t bear to see that happen. The very thought brought a tightening in his chest.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing Laura. Besides, it saves me from having to hold your hand all the time.” Thomas stroked his bare chin.
The insinuation burned within him. Would everyone always look at him with such pity? And treat him like a child or someone to be coddled? He was a man, damn it. He could take care of himself.
“I don’t recall telling you to move to Donetic or Everett House with me.” Braiden’s voice sounded bitter, even to himself. “I told you, as my heir, you can make yourself comfortable at Hauney, since it will be yours one day.”
“Yes. And I still say I wouldn’t make a good duke. Why not marry some random skirt, sire an heir, and then see her off to an unused estate?”
“Do you honestly believe that is the best solution? You are better suited to—”
“Braiden, I want my own life. Not yours. I came to live with you to help you, not groom myself for the position.”
Pushing himself out of his chair, Braiden crossed the room and glared out the window at his land. All his life, he wanted the responsibility of the dukedom. He’d even gone as far as memorizing every word his father had uttered. But now, the very thought of all the soul-crushing obligations brought an acrid taste to his mouth.
He no longer wanted to be a duke. Couldn’t his cousin see that? Or how much he envied Thomas and others like him? They could live their own lives how they saw fit. Society’s structures didn’t crush them. Braiden longed to be able to taste just one drop of freedom. For once not be looked upon to do his duty.
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, realizing how selfish he’d become. How could he force his cousin to take on the life that he, himself, abhorred so much? Resigned to his miserable fate, he didn’t turn to look at Thomas.
“All right. You win. Send our acceptance.”
“You won’t regret it. We will—”
“Just go. I have some matters to attend to, especially if we will be out for two months.”
Once Thomas left, Braiden grabbed his greatcoat and stepped out into the brisk winter air. He used to love the cold season. The idea of relaxing by the fire with a warm wife had once held a certain appeal to him. Tabitha, however, had different plans.
Thinking of his late wife always sent a stab of pain through his chest. It wasn’t due to fond feelings or missing her, since his love for her had died long before she had. No, his sick feeling was guilt. Guilt for living while she did not. Guilt for not mourning her properly. But mostly guilt for the relief of not having to endure the torture of having his spirit slowly siphoned from him by his wife.
He took a deep breath of the chilly air and allowed it to permeate his body and soul. This needed to stop. If he could forgive himself, perhaps he could find some semblance of contentment with his life.
“Your Grace,” his solicitor greeted once Braiden walked in. “I had not anticipated your visit today.”
Braiden nodded then sat in the chair Mr. Spinner indicated with a wave of his hand. “I have come to inquire whether you have obtained more information regarding Lady Donetic’s death.”
Mr. Spinner took his glasses off, then wiped at them with a cloth. “I have hired excellent investigators to look into the matter.”
“If they are so highly recommended, why have they found nothing?”
“Since we waged our search after you were declared innocent, the information is more difficult to discover. However, in time, I will obtain the answers you seek.”
“As soon as you have something to report, notify me. I will be at Stonemede through the holidays.”
With his greatcoat settled around his shoulders, Braiden set back out into the unforgiving cold. The Watch had cleared him of any involvement with Tabitha’s death, but until he had complete knowledge of the order of events, he would not be able to stand the accusation in Lady Lorrian’s eyes. His wife brought him misery in her life, and now her family brought the same after her death.
He’d promised answers, and he would not rest until he had them.
“My dearest Brianna, we have missed you a great deal these past months,” Lady Ransley gushed as she clasped her daughter tightly to her.
Grace pressed her lips together as her sister’s jaw tightened while accepting their mother’s praise. Following them into the drawing room, Grace didn’t say a word. After having endured hearing of her sister’s praises the entire trip to the country, Grace wasn’t sure she could handle them again. Had their mother forgotten how Brianna had been so difficult during her Season?
Telling herself she didn’t care, Grace dutifully exchanged pleasantries while trying to hide her true feelings. However, if her sister’s concerned glances were any indication, she’d failed miserably.
“Good afternoon, ladies,” Brianna’s husband, Richard, greeted.
“My lord,” her mother began, “what a joy to see you.”
Grace’s stomach turned at hearing the adoration in her mother’s voice. The response to his presence made her wonder if her mother harbored secret feelings for him. However, she immediately rejected the thought. Her mother and father were sickeningly happy with one another.
“Grace, you will be pleased to know our guest list has increased from previous years,” Richard said, seemingly oblivious to the effect he had on his mother-in-law.
Looking around at the expectant faces, Grace remained silent. Why should she care about the people they invited to their party?
Her father’s arrival in the room, as well as his comforting smile, was welcome. “How does your guest list affect my dear Grace? Do you know something we do not?”
Brianna offered their father a fond smile. “We hope that a house party, being more intimate than the Season, will aid Grace in choosing a husband.”
Grace gasped as her hand flew to her chest. Clearly everyone held concern over her decision. Well, everyone except her mother. Gulping, she tried to alleviate the tightening in her chest.
Her father simply
laughed. “She doesn’t need any help, nor does she need to rush.”
“Of course not,” Brianna assured. “We only wanted to give her some options.”
Although Grace wanted to be irritated, she couldn’t fault her sister for doing what she believed was needed. Grace only lamented the loss of her calm, relaxing holiday where she wouldn’t suffer from the pressure to marry.
“I don’t recall you needing many options.” Her father watched Brianna closely.
“True.” Brianna shot a glance at their mother before clearing her throat. “For now, why don’t you all follow Mrs. Evans to your rooms? I’m sure you are exhausted from the journey.” At Brianna’s words, the housekeeper appeared.
With a roll of her eyes, Grace considered leaving before her family to make her own way upstairs. After all, the ceremony of being led to their rooms was designed specifically for their mother. Not only did she enjoy the strictures and rules, but her pride in Brianna almost made the room stifling. Grace’s attention turned to Richard. Had her sister not married a marquis, would their mother feel differently? Would Grace matter more to her?
Before Grace left the room, she noticed Ashley and Brianna speaking. As if aware of her preoccupation, both women’s glances turned toward her. Grace’s stomach rolled. What were they discussing? Putting it from her mind, she continued to her assigned bedchamber.
Once inside, Grace shut the door and then threw herself down on the bed. For once, she wished she hadn’t attended this yearly gathering. The knock at the door only exacerbated her feelings.
Without waiting for a reply, Brianna poked her head in. “May I intrude?”
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