Olivia and the Masked Duke
Page 32
For My Queen,
Who last night sat so prettily upon my throne,
I have written this my first, and likely last, poem.
Come find me where our love first took root…
It’s cold out so wear your boots.
“That riddle is too easy,” she murmured.
Then, smiling from ear to ear, she tossed aside the covers and rang for her maid.
Soon she was dashing through the snow toward the pond. The sun was bright, casting diamonds across the fluffy white landscape. She knew she was on the right track when she spotted Ben’s large footprints. She followed his trail to a Scots pine by the side of the pond.
Looking up, she saw something dangling from the lowest branch.
Mistletoe. Tied safely away from the water.
A smile curved her lips as strong arms circled her waist.
“I have you just where I want you, Your Grace,” Ben murmured in her ear.
She turned around in his arms, gazing happily up at her handsome duke. Since their marriage, contentment had erased the weary lines from his face. He looked younger; free of shadows, his eyes were the sultry blue of a summer night.
“There is no other place I want to be,” she said simply. “Happy Hogmanay, Ben.”
Love and desire smoldered in his gaze. He claimed her lips in a kiss that curled her toes in her boots. When they parted, she was gasping, her breath crystalline puffs in the air.
“We should go back inside and celebrate properly,” he said.
She gave him a demure look. “By properly, I take it you mean in an improper fashion?”
“Insatiable minx.” His slow smile quickened her pulse. “When have I ever failed to debauch you thoroughly?”
The answer to that was never. Just last night, he’d made her ride his cock and spend so many times that she’d collapsed atop his hard chest, boneless with bliss. He’d finished his own ride by ramming into her from beneath, his hands squeezing her bottom, his hoarse words of devotion warming her inside and out.
She was living her dreams. And there were still more to come.
“Before we go inside,” she said, “I wanted to give you your new year’s present.”
He traced her mouth with a gloved finger, his eyes heavy-lidded. “I believe you did that last night, love.”
“I do that all the time—”
“Praise God.”
“But this is something I’ve never done before.” Feeling unaccountably nervous, she said in a rush, “I am increasing.”
He stared at her. “You…we are having a babe?”
“Late next summer. Are you pleased?” she blurted.
“Christ, Livy.” He cradled her face in his palms. He was shaking, and the sheen in his eyes brought joyful heat to her own. “You’ve given me everything I’ve ever wanted and still you find a way to give me more.”
Her smile was a bit watery. “I believe in keeping my promises. And I made one to you here years ago, remember?”
“You pledged me your allegiance.” His eyes filled with wonder. “I didn’t realize that you would give me your love as well.”
“You may have noticed that I am not one for half-measures.”
He laughed, and she did too when he picked her up and whirled her in an exuberant circle.
Setting her gently on her feet, he said fervently, “Don’t ever stop being you, Livy. My little queen, who rules me heart, body, and soul.”
They kissed, celebrating the resilient bond of their past, the enduring love of their present, and the shining promise of all the days ahead.
Dear Reader,
From the moment Ben entered the picture as Beatrice’s troubled brother in THE DUKE REDEMPTION, I knew it would take a strong woman to show him the path to love…and who better for the job than Livy? And who better to appreciate my determined miss than a man like Ben? From friends to lovers to soulmates, these two captured my heart, and I hope you enjoyed their passionate romance as well! As always, I appreciate your reviews, and thank you for joining me on this journey.
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Speaking of soulmates, don’t miss the next exciting installment in the series! PIPPA AND THE PRINCE OF SECRETS is the story of Pippa (Gavin and Percy’s daughter from HER WANTON WAGER) and Timothy Cullen (first introduced in NEVER SAY NEVER TO AN EARL). Pippa is a widow recovering from a broken heart, and Cullen is the man who has loved her for years…
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A Widow Gone Wild
After the tragic ending to her marriage, Pippa, the widowed Countess of Longmere, vows never to fall in love again. The former paragon decides to live life by her own rules, finding new purpose as an agent with Lady Charlotte Fayne’s investigative society. As Pippa embarks on a dangerous mission, she encounters a man from her past who reawakens her youthful dreams and ignites her deepest desires…
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A Brute with a Noble Heart
After surviving brutal beginnings, Timothy Cullen has become the powerful leader of the mudlarks, a gang of scavengers dealing in goods and information. Known as the Prince of Larks, Cull is a feared and mythical figure in the London underworld, and he lives in the shadows, using his mystique to protect those under his care. Yet beneath his scarred façade beats a secret longing: to be seen by the woman he has loved from afar since he was a lad…
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A Love that Defies Destiny
Brought together by a deadly mystery, Pippa and Cull discover fiery passion and all-consuming love. Yet their enemies, past and present, are closing in. In order to survive, they must surrender their secrets and trust in love…before time runs out.
Preorder PIPPA AND THE PRINCE OF SECRETS today!
VIP Newsletter Bonus
I love to keep in touch with my readers! As a special thank you for subscribing to my newsletter, I want to send you a bonus chapter for Olivia and the Masked Duke. Think of it as a fun extra visit with Livy and Ben ;-)
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To have the bonus chapter delivered to your reading device, sign up for my VIP newsletter here: https://gracecallaway.com/oliviabonus and follow the steps.
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Also, it’s ok if you’re already a subscriber; you can add your email again, and you won’t receive duplicate copies of my newsletter (which only goes out when I have something cool to share).
Hope you enjoy! Hugs and happy reading,
Grace
Author’s Note
There’s an adage about writing what you know. The seeds of this story were planted by two loves of my childhood: an American TV show featuring female investigators and a Hong Kong Cantonese martial arts epic. Both showcased clever, badass women who could fight, solve mysteries, and battle injustice. Add in my love of historical romance, and my series concept was born.
In Olivia and the Masked Duke, I used the word “Orientalism” to refer to a ballroom decorated in a style felt to be representative of the nations and peoples of “the Orient,” including Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. The use of “Orientalism” in that sense has been around since 17691. There is also a more modern meaning to the word, popularized by Edward Saïd’s seminal book, Orientalism (1978)2.
Saïd’s conceptualization of “Orientalism” as a Western (European) social construct that systematically perpetuates stereotypes and myths about the East as “the Other” for multiple reasons—including cultural, financial, and political gain—was a theme that felt timely to explore. Of note, Olivia and the Masked Duke takes place between the two Opium Wars3. The first war started when China attempted to ban Britain from illegally importing opium into China in exchange for coveted Chinese goods, a practice that resulted in widespread social and economic harm for the Chinese. The second war resulted from Britain and France’s imperialistic agendas to gain more economical, territorial, and legal control in the East.
During the Victorian era, Orientalist tropes and ideas were pervasive in literature and the arts4. Examples can be found in the works of many popular write
rs of the era, including Charles Dickens, Wilkie Collins, and the Brontë sisters. In doing background research for my hero, I read Thomas De Quincey’s Confessions of an English Opium-Eater (1821), an autobiographical account of the author’s addiction to laudanum. De Quincey’s portrayal of the East as dangerous and threatening to the Western way of life is especially notable in his characterization of the “ferocious looking” Malay. In part, De Quincey’s fear and fascination with his feverish imagining of “the Other” inspired my idea for the villain of this story.
Notes
Author’s Note
1 Etymology Online.
2 Saïd, E., 1978. Orientalism. 1st ed. New York City: Pantheon Books.
3 Pletcher, Kenneth. “Opium Wars.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. February 05, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Opium-Wars
4 Kennedy, Valerie. "Orientalism in the Victorian Era." Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature. August 22, 2017. Oxford University Press.
Praise for Olivia and the Masked Duke
“An exciting rollercoaster of a love story! This book delivers on a variety of levels. A slow burn, friends to lovers story. The plot is intricate, intimate, and all consuming. The couple’s passion burns through the pages.” -Jenna’s Historical Romance Blog
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“This book has pretty much reduced me to describing it in one-word sentences. RAWR. YUM. YES!! SWEET. MORE... Livy and Ben together were ***swoon***. I really couldn’t get enough of them. The writing, as always with Grace Callaway, was beautiful, heartfelt, and full of emotion. Every time I read something she writes, I can feel it completely. The storyline was fantastic, and I was captivated from beginning to end.” -Candace, BookBub
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“Olivia and Ben are so wonderful together. It is rare to find a match where the H & h share such a deep bond…. This book has it all—lead characters you truly love, fabulous side characters, murder, mystery, action, and a generous helping of steam and romance!” -Nazmin, Goodreads
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“Ben and Olivia’s friendship is detailed through the years, and you can’t help falling in love with them and rooting for a happy ending. There’s a mystery that finally helps bring Ben and Olivia together (I don’t want give out any spoilers). There are some hot scenes between the two and lots of ups and downs in their relationship. If you love great character development, mystery, and a hot love story then this book is for you.”-Rhonda, Goodreads
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“This book was sexy, heartfelt, and exciting. Ben, the Duke of Hadleigh, may be Callaway's darkest hero yet… Livy has loved him since he saved her life when she was twelve years old. She's the one person who sees him as completely good and lovable. Grace did a great job of redeeming Ben. This book has Grace's signature sexiness and suspense that she's so great at writing.” -Nancy, Goodreads
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“This was another engaging and action-packed read that delivered likeable and interesting characters, mystery and intrigue, and steamy goodness galore!”-MG, Goodreads
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“The platonic friendship between the two main characters was haunting and beautiful at the same time. The friendship defined both their lives. Watching the platonic love blossom into romantic love was breathtaking. Both characters had such an emotional journey.” -Jenna, Goodreads
ADDITIONAL PRAISE FOR GRACE’S BOOKS
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“Readers looking for a good historical mystery/romance or a historical with a little more kink will enjoy The Duke Who Knew Too Much.” -Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
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“Grace Callaway writes the way Loretta Chase would if she got kind of dark and VERY naughty.” -Nicole, Goodreads
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“Fairy tale meets Eliza Doolittle. Grace Callaway saves the best Duke book for the end of the series. It was hot, steamy, and warm-hearted.” -Stacy, Goodreads
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“Can a fairytale be sweet, funny, touching, action packed and super hot all at the same time? Yes. This series ender is all that and more. This book is like the fireworks display to end a spectacular series.” -Joanne, Goodreads
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“I have read hundreds and hundreds of different authors over the past five years but actually only have a handful of all time favorites. I have to say Grace Callaway is by far one of those favorites…. Her characters have so much depth and you just feel like you are a part of their story…You can never go wrong by picking up any of her books but be prepared…you will love them so much you will buy every book she has.” -Pam, Goodreads
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“I’ve now read each of Grace Callaway’s books and loved them—which is exceptional. Gabriel and Thea from this book were two of the best characters I read this year. Both had their difficulties and it was charming to see how they overcame them together, even though it wasn’t always easy for them. [M is for Marquess] is my favorite book of 2015.” -Romantic Historical Reviews
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“Has everything that makes a tale excellent; a headstrong lovely heroine, a damaged too serious hero, a rowdy bunch of loving family members that are living and close and then the amazing adventure to peel back like an onion to find the many layers of the plot. This writer to me is in the leagues of Johanna Lindsey, Lisa Kleypas, Julia Quinn and Amanda Quick.” -Kathie, Amazon
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“Callaway is a talented writer and as skilled at creating a vivid sense of the Regency period as she is at writing some of the best, most sensual love scenes I’ve read in a long while.” -Night Owl Reviews
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“Grace Callaway is becoming one of my all-time favorite authors. The Kents remind me so much of the Mallory-Anderson saga from Johanna Lindsay or the Spy series from Julie Garwood. I’ve read those books so many times and now I find myself rereading Grace's books.” -Vivian, Amazon
Also by Grace Callaway
LADY CHARLOTTE’S SOCIETY OF ANGELS
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Pippa and the Prince of Secrets (Book 2)
After the tragic ending of her marriage, Lady Pippa Longmere (nee Hunt) is determined to forge her own destiny as a member of Lady Charlotte’s investigative society. A deadly case brings her into the path of Timothy Cullen, a lad from her past who has grown up to become the powerful and mysterious leader of the mudlarks. Cull’s protective nature and secret devotion threaten her investigation…and the walls she has built around her heart. Preorder for Sept 2021.
GAME OF DUKES
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The Duke Identity (Book 1)
Shattered by betrayal, ex-scholar Harry Kent finds new purpose as a policeman. Sent to infiltrate a family in London's criminal underworld, he lands a job guarding the family’s clever and wicked daughter, Tessa Todd. Neither is prepared for their passionate attraction—or the rising peril that threatens their lives. Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award and Finalist for the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Enter the Duke (Book 2)
A hunt for a legendary treasure reunites the Duke of Ranelagh and Somerville with Maggie Foley, a former barmaid and his ex-lover. Her shocking secret triggers a journey of redemption for the devil-may-care rake. Together they must fight for their future and that of their daughter…all while defending themselves against a dangerous foe. Finalist for the NECRWA Readers’ Choice Award, the Maggie Award for Excellence, and the Golden Quill.
Regarding the Duke (Book 3)
Shy, sweet wallflower Gabriella Garrity has everything she's ever wanted: a husband she loves, beautiful children, and a home of her own. Then she discovers the secret that shatters all her illusions. Ruthless moneylender Adam Garrity has a life-long goal: revenge on the man who nearly destroyed him. He has his enemy within his grasp...until amnesia makes him see his life—and his wife—with new eyes. A hot and heart-melting journey to happily-ever-after!
The Duke Redemption (Book
4)
A gentleman in search of redemption finds a lady looking for a sin. Can one night of passion change their destinies forevermore? A steamy twist on Beauty and the Beast starring charming rogue Wickham Murray and the clever and spirited Lady Beatrice. Winner of the Maggie Award and the Golden Leaf.
The Return of the Duke (Book 5)
Tinker’s daughter Fancy Sheridan longs for a passionate fairy tale romance. Newly minted duke Severin Knight needs a cool-headed duchess. When Knight accidentally compromises Fancy, their marriage of convenience is anything but convenient. Will they find their happily ever after?
HEART OF ENQUIRY (THE KENTS)