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Forgotten & Remembered: The Duke's Late Wife (Love's Second Chance Book 1)

Page 31

by Bree Wolf


  Frederick Lancaster, brother to the Marquess of Elmridge, returns home from war. A hero in the eyes of others, he is haunted by nightmares. Unable to make his peace with the past, Frederick retreats into the dark until his brother dies and he not only inherits his title, but with it the obligation to produce an heir.

  When two damaged souls find themselves tied to one another, will they pull each other under? Or will they help each other rise again from the ashes of their shattered lives?

  #4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife

  He forced her hand. Now, she will deny him her heart.

  After what her father did to her mother, Henrietta’s worst fears are to be realised when her uncle decides to marry her off to a Scot. Gentleman or not, Henrietta knows that at his core he is still a barbarian. What will she suffer at the hands of this savage?

  Connor Brunwood, Marquis of Rodridge, can’t believe he fell head over heels in love with this thin, pale twig of a girl. However, the moment he saw her, he knew he had to make her his wife. If only she didn’t hate the very sight of him!

  However, when his life is suddenly in danger, an assassin lying in wait, everything they thought they knew is put to the test.

  Will Henrietta betray her husband or stand by his side? Will she take the opportunity to rid herself of him forever? Or will she risk everything to save his life…as well as her heart?

  #5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife (coming summer 2017)

  She was the victim of a heinous crime. Then, she sought revenge.

  He seeks to punish his father and finds more than he bargained for.

  Once Lady Charlotte Frampton had been a young debutante, hoping to find a husband who would win her heart. Then, one night shattered everything and turned her life into a nightmare and herself into a monster.

  Determined to leave her past behind, she buries Lady Charlotte and becomes Lotte, the temporary companion to a Viscount’s younger sister.

  Everything seems to take a turn for the better until the Viscount’s best friend visits and makes her an offer.

  Sebastian Campbell, Earl of Weston, will never forgive himself. During his grand tour on the continent, his father, driven by the desire to increase the family’s standing in society, forced Sebastian’s younger sister, Victoria, into a miserable marriage that threatens not only her happiness but her life as well.

  Haunted by guilt, Sebastian seeks to punish his father wherever possible. So when he meets ‘Lotte’, she seems the answer to his prayers. Marriage to an unsuitable woman would just put his father where he belonged: in an early grave.

  While Charlotte finds that her past is not as dead as she’d hoped, Sebastian realises that protecting his sister might be more important than punishing his father. Does love have any chance at all to blossom under these circumstances? Or is it the worst times in our lives that bring out the best in us?

  #6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (coming fall 2017)

  His days are numbered. Her curiosity is piqued.

  Only together can they protect themselves from the lies of their past.

  Tristan Turner, Viscount Elton, is haunted by a night he cannot remember.

  After his parents’ untimely demise, he has done his utmost to live up to his family’s…or rather his uncle’s…expectations. However, despite his best intentions, his reputation is far from respectable. More than once he thought his life forfeit: for a reason he cannot fathom, he seems to be a preferred target for every highwayman in London. Aside from being robbed on a monthly basis, Tristan stumbles from one bar brawl into another, has a knife drawn on him repeatedly and is called out more often than he can count. If it weren’t for his best friend, he’d already be in the grave a dozen times over.

  Wary of the life he cannot escape, Tristan wishes for nothing more but a family of his own with a wife who knows the best and the worst of him and loves him nonetheless. However, so far he hasn’t had any luck finding the woman of his dreams among the ladies of the ton.

  Until one night when he comes upon a young maid in the Earl of Radcliff’s household.

  Elizabeth “Beth” Walker is faced with a terrible truth.

  Brought up in less than favourable circumstances, Beth has often watched the ladies of the ton with envious eyes only to find out upon her mother’s death that she ought to have been brought up among them. All her life, she believed her father to have been a simple man who had died before his time. However, according to her mother’s letters, her father is none other but the Earl of Radcliff. Although stunned beyond imagining, Beth is determined to discover the truth of her mother’s past as well as her own.

  Accustomed to hard work, she finds a position in the earl’s household only to discover that life holds surprises where she would least expect them. Before long, Beth’s priorities shift as the future suddenly holds more sway over her than the past ever could and her heart leads her down a different path.

  Will Beth uncover the reason for her mother’s silence? Will Tristan live long enough to find the woman of his dreams? In a world where a privileged upbringing is not always what it seems and simple joys can outweigh high social standing, two people must face their past and determine who they are on their own apart from the lies their parents forced on them.

  Read a sneak-peek of

  Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife

  Prologue

  1805 England (or a variation thereof)

  As the late afternoon sun poured in through the tall windows, bringing a warm glow to the dark wood of his study, Edmond Dunsworth, Duke of Cromwell, sank into the leathered armchair behind his desk. Unburdened with letters of business or ledgers of any kind, its smooth surface held enough room for him to prop up his feet in leisure. If only the decanter weren’t so far away, he would never rise from this chair!

  Resting his head against the smooth leather, he closed his eyes, enjoying the peace and quiet of his family’s estate. Fleeing London after a few particularly wild weeks, Edmond felt the welcoming warmth of Brookestone engulf him like a blanket on a winter’s day. Early spring was upon them, bringing with it the awakening sounds of the woods and meadows. As he sat with his eyes closed, the noise of London slowly faded away, and the throbbing of his overstimulated mind began to subside. A slow smile curled up the corners of his mouth as the warmth of the afternoon sun touched his cheeks.

  A rap on the door shattered his small oasis, dragging him back to the here and now.

  Moaning, he opened his eyes, “Come in.”

  “I beg your pardon, your grace,” Mr. Lloyd apologised as he strode into the room. His auburn hair meticulously combed back, he bore an expression of complete awareness as though nothing in the world could ever surprise him. His quick eyes took in Edmond’s unkempt hair as well as dishevelled clothes, his dirty boots spreading the accumulated dust of his travels across his late father’s old mahogany desk as well as the missing glass that usually filled his hand. While Edmond could detect neither judgement nor disappointment on his steward’s face, he still felt uncomfortable under the older man’s gaze. Sitting up, he ran his fingers through his hair. “Yes, what is it?”

  “I do apologise for the intrusion, your grace,” Mr. Lloyd stated in a clear, unimpressed voice, “but this matter bears no postponement.” He glanced down at the ledger in his hands, and Edmond could feel the capillaries in his skull tighten.

  Clearing his throat, he waved away his steward’s doomsday mentality. “Whatever it is, Mr. Lloyd, I am sure you can handle it.” He rose from his chair, hoping to sneak past his overly enthusiastic steward. “I have the utmost confidence in your abilities.”

  However, before he could escape the room, Mr. Lloyd placed himself in front of the door, shaking his head imperceptibly. “Not this time, your grace. This needs your attention.”

  Slumping his shoulders as though a heavy weight had settled on them, Edmond exhaled, regretting his early return with every fibre of his body. Oh, if he
had only stayed in London!

  He sank into his chair once again. “Then make it quick, Old Man. I am in no mood for numbers, especially today.”

  “As you wish.” With a nod of his head, his steward approached the desk, the ledger still unopened in his hands. Edmond fervently hoped that it would remain so. “The final numbers of your late father’s overseas investments have come in, and as I had feared, they are crippling. There is no other word for them.”

  Edmond shook his head. “Aren’t you being just a touch dramatic, Old Man? How bad can it be?”

  A slight snort escaped Mr. Lloyd’s lips, that sent a shiver down Edmond’s back, and for the first time he worried about the outcome of this conversation. “Your grace, I am afraid to tell you, should you not acquire significant funding within the next few months, Brookestone will be forfeit.”

  As the words sank into his mind, Edmond found himself staring at the man, whose trusted hands had always ensured that his family’s estate would live on. Never in his wildest dreams had he seen things come to such an end. And an end it was! Where was he to procure funds? If his steward did not know of a way to save Brookestone, how was he? Just the thought of numbers made him dizzy. More often than not, he had been absent when his childhood tutors had tried to explain to him the wonders of mathematics. To this day, he had no idea how he had managed his way through Eton, year after year.

  Blinking, he rubbed his hands over his face, trying to focus. As his eyes settled on the man patiently waiting on the other side of his desk−a desk he had never used for more than writing a personal letter−Edmond shook his head. “Is it truly this bad? How is this possible?”

  Mr. Lloyd took a deep breath, then brought the ledger in his hand forward. “It has been a long time coming, your grace.” The ledger fell open in his hands. “If you would look at the numbers, I could explain−”

  “No,” Edmond objected, shaking his head. “There is no need. You know how useless I am when it comes to these things. That’s what I have you for.” Pressing his lips together, he drew a deep breath through his nose. “What I want to hear right now is how I can fix this? Surely you have some idea,” he said, hoping beyond hope.

  Closing the ledger, Mr. Lloyd shrugged. “At this point, I do not have much of an idea. I am sorry, your grace.”

  Edmond frowned. “Not much of an idea? Then you do have one?”

  “I do not dare suggest it.” Mr. Lloyd huffed, all of a sudden unable to meet his gaze. “It is not for me to speak of such matters.”

  Shooting to his feet, Edmond banged his fists on the table. “Speak, Old Man!” he snapped. Seeing his steward’s shocked face, he took a deep breath, pulling himself together. “I apologise, but now is not the time for decency. Brookestone is at risk, and I’ll be damned if I let it slip from my grasp because the idea that might save it appears to you as too improper to mention. Now speak!”

  “As you wish,” his steward acquiesced. “The only option I can think of is a most, most advantageous marriage.” His eyebrows rose into looming arches as his penetrating eyes looked into Edmond’s. “And fast.”

  Captivated, Edmond nodded. “Marriage?” he mumbled. “I did not see myself tying the knot quite so soon, but, yes, I do need to think of an heir.” He swallowed. “An heir not only to my title but also to Brookestone.” He nodded as the idea slowly took root. “Marriage, yes.”

  “The lady will need to have a sufficient dowry,” Mr. Lloyd cautioned. “Other attributes are to be neglected.”

  Edmond cringed. He knew his steward was right, but could he marry a woman without feeling the least bit of attraction for her? Marry? Yes. Father an heir? Maybe not. Nonetheless, he swallowed his pride and asked, “Do you have a young lady in mind?”

  Chapter One − A Substantial Dowry

  “Judith, my dear, you glow!” their mother beamed, patting her daughter’s hand. “Has he declared his intentions yet?”

  Sitting on the settee in their drawing room, Judith shook her head, sending her blond curls into a soft sway as though they were dancing on her delicate shoulders. As Anna watched, a rosy blush gave colour to Judith’s cheeks, and her sister's hands twisted the handkerchief they held. “He speaks of me as the sun to his world,” she whispered, and her blush deepened. “He is always attentive, seeks my opinion and when he smiles at me…,” her voice trailed off as her eyes gazed into the distance mesmerised by the memory they relived. Anna couldn’t help but wonder what they saw.

  “It’s like you’re the only one in the world that matters?” their mother asked, a rueful smile curling up the corners of her lips. When her eldest daughter nodded, her hand reached out once more, squeezing her daughter’s affectionately. “And have you let on that a proposal would be well-received?”

  Avoiding her eyes, Judith’s own face lit up in a smile. “As much as I dared.”

  Anna laughed. “Knowing you, my dear sister, I suspect Mr. Miller is as clueless as he was at the beginning of your acquaintance.”

  “Hush, Anna,” her mother chided. “Do not upset her!”

  Eyes wide, Judith stammered, “What makes you say that? Do you consider me devoid of affection?”

  Anna shook her head, draping her own scarlet curls over her left shoulder. Taking her sister’s other hand into hers, she stated, “Not at all. But you must admit that you are all kindness and proper manners no matter whom you speak to. How is he to know that your feelings for him run deeper than for…say the butcher’s son?”

  As Judith’s eyes widened even more, their mother gave Anna a soft slap on the knee. “Now, don’t be absurd! The man may be in love, but he is not blind.”

  “As far as I am told one does not differ greatly from the other,” Anna countered, winking at her sister as she spoke. “If one is in love, one might as well be blind. Isn’t that true, Dear Sister?”

  “Then you consider me blind?” Judith asked, the shock slowly dissipating from her face at Anna’s playful tone.

  Anna’s smile widened. “Since the day you two first laid eyes on each other.” She gave her sister’s hand a gentle squeeze. “But mother is right; do not worry yourself. Even if the man is blind, there are other senses that will tell him of your affection.”

  “Anna!” Judith exclaimed, a deep red colouring her cheeks. “Of what do you speak?”

  Laughing until her sides ached, Anna found herself the unwelcome focus of two sets of eyes; one widened in shock, and the other narrowed in disapproval. “Nothing improper, I assure you,” she wheezed, drying the corners of her eyes with Judith’s handkerchief. “I merely meant to say that even if his eyes are blind to the devotion that shines in yours whenever they behold him, his ears will still tell him of the love that rings in every word leaving your lips. He will still feel the slight tremble in your hand when he assists you into the carriage and smell the faint scent of jasmines that you only wear for him.”

  While Judith’s blush deepened even more, their mother leaned back a little as though to observe her youngest daughter more closely. “Your eyes are as sharp as your wit, Anna. But do heed my words, no man under this sun will ever cherish them as long as they are not coupled with respect and proper conduct. Should you choose to continue on this line of utter honesty as you call it, My Dear, I fear that spinsterhood lies in wake for you.”

  A soft shrug lifted Anna’s shoulders. “I do hear your words, Mother, as I have heard them before many times. But I cannot say that they hold sufficient warning. The picture you paint appears quite enchanting to my eyes. Freedom of speech as much as of conduct is what I seek. And I have long since been aware that a married woman will always have to answer to her husband. I, on the other hand, answer to no one.”

  “What about Father?” Judith said.

  “He has indulged me thus far; I do believe I am safe from too severe repercussions.”

  Their mother smiled, shaking her head. “My dear Anna, I hope with all my heart that you will find what you seek. However, I cannot help but find that you are still
young, too young to understand the ways of the world. As strong as you are, never be too sure of your own power,” she leaned forward, her eyes looking into Anna’s as unguarded as she had ever seen them, “or you will fall.”

  Not sure how to understand her mother’s warning, Anna looked at her sister. Judith too had noticed the ring of truth in their mother’s voice, a ring born out of personal experience. Anna couldn’t help but wonder what her mother’s past held. Had she ever been too sure of her own power and fallen?

  “Mother, I−”

  The door flew open and in walked her father, a big grin lifting the corners of his mouth. “Ah, there you are! Perfect! I have great news!”

  “What is it, Father?” Judith asked, offering him a cup of tea. “Is there news of your ship?”

  Plumping down into the armchair opposite them, their father gulped down his tea, wincing slightly as the hot liquid burned his tongue. “It did. Yes. However, that is of minor consequence today.”

  “Minor consequence?” their mother asked. “What could have happened that would shine brighter than years of hard work finally paying off? Pray tell us!”

  As her father’s eyes travelled from his wife to his daughters, his grin grew even bigger, turning his face into a grotesque mask. Almost bald, his oval-shaped head often resembled an egg, Anna thought, wondering if anyone else had noticed.

  “Tomorrow, we will receive a very special visitor,” he began his tale, and his ears turned pink with barely contained eagerness. “I have not mentioned the possibility of this before because I did not wish to alarm you.” Anna saw Judith draw in a deep breath and her mother’s hand tighten around her teacup. “But if everything goes according to plan, one of you,” he glanced from Judith to Anna, “will be a duchess before the year is out!”

 

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