No Dukes Allowed

by Grace Burrowes

  That was an understatement. He was certain all the men present would be floored by the decision Palmerston had sent posthaste from the War Office, one Max had brought back himself, returning just in time for the meeting. So recently, in fact, that he still wore his dusty riding breeches and redingote, and his hair was mussed from the wind. Stopping only to change out horses, he’d made the trip in a handful of hours.

  “What’s going on, Thorpe?” Colonel Woodhouse called out, ignoring the duchess. He was the first to sink into his chair in front of Belinda, not bothering to hide his disdain for her.

  Max bit back his anger at the man’s disrespect. No matter. By tomorrow, the colonel would be on his way out of Brighton and out of their lives… to a new post in Africa. As General Mortimer’s aide-de-camp.

  He glanced at Belinda, who fought back a happy beaming. Cleaning up after the fire and assessing the damage had kept her busy for the past sennight while he’d been away in London, submitting a new proposal regarding the academy. One that had her gliding through the world as if on air.

  “Plans for the academy have changed,” he announced.

  “I’ll say they have,” Pomperly interjected. Around the long table, the men shook their heads at the damage the fire had done. “The place is burned to the ground.”

  “Not burned to the ground, Your Grace,” Belinda corrected. “Just one building, one that the War Office has given us permission to rebuild as a new dormitory for the cadets.”

  “You’ve had a change of heart, I see.” Pomperly’s gaze slid knowingly to Max. As if he could see through his jacket to his breast pocket and the special marriage license resting where the letter had once been. “Whatever has changed your mind about the academy?”

  “The fire,” she answered. Joy lightened her voice. “More exactly, seeing how the pensioners and the cadets worked together to fight it. I realized that is what everyone needs—to be together.”

  Warmth grew inside Max’s chest at the private meaning behind her words, even as confused frowns greeted her from around the table.

  “During the fire, the soldiers were taking orders from the pensioners,” she continued, trying to explain the same rationale that he’d explained to the War Office, “and the pensioners were sharing their knowledge and experience with the soldiers. Both sides were calling upon their strengths to work together to effectively fight the fire. Because of them, only one building was damaged, and the main hospital was saved. If they can do that to fight a fire, then surely they can work together to train better soldiers.”

  The board members exchanged uncertain glances, then looked at Max for further explanation.

  “Therefore, instead of closing the hospital and relocating the pensioners,” he announced, “the buildings will be shared. The pensioners and cadets will live together, so that the cadets can learn from the wealth of experience held by the pensioners, and the pensioners—”

  “Will feel needed,” Belinda interjected, “and know that they haven’t been forgotten by His Majesty’s army.”

  Whispers went up from around the table as the men leaned together to share their thoughts.

  “There will be separate training and sleeping areas, of course,” Max clarified, “but they’ll share the same common areas and take all their meals together.”

  “Not in separate facilities for enlisted men and officers either,” Belinda added. That had been one of her stipulations for the War Office. “But all together, in one dining hall.”

  At that breach of tradition, the whispers turned into low grumblings.

  “The officers will have enough time in encampments and forts to live separately from their men,” Max put in. “When they’re in training, they should learn everything they can about the men they’ll be commanding, right down to how they think. What better way to do that than sharing meals and time together between duty shifts?”

  That put an end to the grumblings. The men hesitated to express their thoughts about the changes, each waiting for another to speak first.

  “It’s for the best, for both the cadets and the pensioners,” Belinda asserted. “Be assured that I would not support it if it wasn’t.”

  The men nodded at that, knowing her reputation as a stalwart patroness of the hospital. Their resistance was softening.

  “You should also know,” Max announced, “that I’ve volunteered to remain here in Brighton to lead the establishment of this new joint facility.” He didn’t dare look at Belinda as he shared the news that he hadn’t had time to tell her. “And to lead it into the future in my new post as its governor.”

  He heard her catch her breath. Her surprise crackled through the air between them like electricity.

  “And I’ll be serving as the liaison between the board and the governor,” she added, her voice trembling from the news that he was staying right here in Brighton. With her. “To ensure that the pensioners will be treated as the heroes they are.”

  Max nodded. “Shall we put the new proposition to a vote, then? All those in favor of supporting a joint venture with the academy as part of the existing hospital say aye.”

  A round of agreement went up from the men, including Pomperly, who grudgingly voted in favor of the proposition. Then the duke stood, sketched a small bow to Belinda, and retreated from the room. Beaten.

  The others stayed only long enough to congratulate Max on his new position and to wish Belinda good luck on hers.

  “Governor?” Belinda repeated when they were finally alone.

  “There wasn’t time to tell you before the meeting. It came after I proposed our compromise to the secretary. I had nothing to do with it.” He took her hand and raised it to his lips, placing an apologetic kiss to her fingertips. He wanted no misunderstanding between them about this. “Are you upset?”

  “I’m thrilled for you.” With love shining in her eyes, she laced her fingers through his. “We did it. We found a way to save both the academy and the hospital. It’s over now.”

  “Not over.” Max slipped his arms around her waist and drew her against him. “There’s another compromise we need to make.”

  She stiffened warily. “Which is?”

  “Since we’ll both be working closely together to run this joint venture, I suggest another joint venture. Marriage.” He caressed his thumb over her bottom lip when she stared at him, wide-eyed and openmouthed. “Seems to me the perfect way to make our jobs easier.”

  Her eyes sparkled as she returned his teasing. “Undoubtedly. It would save a lot of time waiting around for paperwork and messages if we could just pass them back and forth to each other across the breakfast table.”

  “Or just deliver them in person.” He nuzzled his mouth against her ear. “In bed.”

  She laughed and hugged him tightly.

  “Marry me, Belinda,” he murmured, all teasing now gone. “Just as soon as we can.”

  “Yes.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Oh yes!”

  He grabbed her and twirled her in a circle, and she laughed with happiness. When he lowered her to the ground, he followed after with a kiss, one into which he tried to pour his heart and soul, all his love for her… all their hope for their new future.

  “You should know, however,” he warned when he finally shifted away, “that there is one thing about which I will never compromise.”

  When she imperiously arched a brow in quick challenge, he thrilled to think how wonderful his life was going to be with this fiery woman. “Oh?”

  “How much I love you.”

  Then he lowered his head and kissed her again.

  Author’s Note:

  * * *

  Although the Royal Hospital Brighton and its conversion into an academy is a fictionalized event for this novel—and so is the fire that ultimately joins its two missions—it is based on real places and events.

  The hospital itself is modeled on the Royal Hospital Greenwich, which served as a home for pensioners, beginning in 1692—taking its name from the origina
l sense of hospital as a place for helping those in need, although it did have an infirmary on its grounds that helped the wounded and ill. Located in buildings designed by Christopher Wren, the hospital received oversight from a board of governors until 1873, when it changed from being a pensioners’ home to the Royal Naval College. It trained men and women until it closed in 1998.

  The fire is also based on real events at another royal hospital. On New Year’s Day, 1872, the Royal Sussex County Hospital caught fire. It was saved when volunteer firemen and a detachment of the 19th Hussars worked together to save the building. The hospital has been expanded and renovated many times over the years, taking it from a 19 th century hospital to a modern facility with cutting-edge technology and services. Its mission continues today.

  Greetings! I hoped you enjoyed spending time with Belinda and Max. There’s just something wonderful about a man who’s dedicated to both his country and to his true love, isn’t there? In my next novel, HOW THE EARL ENTICES, the hero Ross Carlisle (yes, one of those Carlisles!) isn’t in uniform, but he’s just as dedicated to serving England and just as blindsided by love. Find out what happens when treason, secret identities, and romance mix! Coming this September.

  If you want more dashing heroes and strong women, then you should check out AS THE DEVIL DARES, which released in March. Robert Carlisle has met his match in the woman called the Hellion. When he’s given a partnership in her father’s company—if he can find her husband by season’s end—it proves to be the biggest challenge of his life…because Mariah Winslow has ideas of her own about who should get the partnership. (Enjoy the special preview below!)

  Haven’t met the Carlisles yet? Then are you in for a treat! The three overly protective brothers from HOW I MARRIED A MARQUESS (a RITA Award finalist!) have gone from being the scourge of Mayfair to the heroes of the ton. When they meet three very special women, they’ve met their matches—in more ways than one. (A sneak glimpse into Book 1 in the series, IF THE DUKE DEMANDS, follows below).

  If you want to stay in touch and keep up with my latest releases, best contests, exclusive content, and more (including all those pictures of the roses from my garden—I cannot help myself!), be sure to sign up for my newsletter. You can also follow me on Bookbub where you’ll receive news of all my releases and on my social media sites.

  ♥ Happy reading!

  Anna

  * * *

  Enjoy this special except of

  AS THE DEVIL DARES

  by Anna Harrington, Book #3 in the Capturing the Carlisles series:

  Lord Robert Carlisle never backs down from a dare. But finding a husband for scandalous Mariah Winslow is one challenge he instantly regrets accepting. Robert will have to use every trick in the book to marry off the woman known as the Hellion, no matter how stunningly beautiful she is. Mariah Winslow has no intention of being a pawn in Lord Robert’s game. She knows he only agreed to play matchmaker to secure a partnership in her father’s shipping company, a partnership that’s rightfully hers. Battle lines are drawn, and she won’t surrender—no matter how tempting and irresistible she finds him.

  “Mariah.” Robert smiled against her cheek, and a stab of defeat pierced her. So Carlisle thought he’d won, did he?

  Well, she’d prove to him that it would take more than a kiss to convince her to surrender.

  When he stepped back, Mariah advanced.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and delved her fingertips through the golden curls at his nape, then pressed her body so tightly against his front that his heart slammed furiously against her chest. When she brushed her hips against his, a low groan tore from the back of his throat.

  Emboldened, she brazenly kissed him, and when he hesitated, stunned, she slipped her tongue between his lips the way he’d done to her.

  That was enough to snap him out of his reverie.

  He grabbed her shoulders and demanded in a raspy voice, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Despite the racing of her heart, she forced a shrug of her shoulders. As if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “Kissing you.”

  Then she pressed against him again, her lips making fleeting contact with his before he set her away. An angry scowl hardened his face.

  “Don’t you want me to?” she prompted as innocently as possible.

  Something dark and heated flickered in his eyes, and she thrilled at gaining the upper hand. Hiding her own quaking she leaned toward him as far as his restraining hands would allow.

  She purred huskily, “Surely the notorious Robert Carlisle knows what to do with a woman who wants to kiss him.”

  Despite gritting his teeth, his gaze fell longingly to her mouth, and for a moment, she thought he might just kiss her senseless again. And if he did, she wasn’t certain that she could withstand it this time without falling completely apart in his arms.

  “Don’t tease me, Mariah,” he warned in a murmur. “You’re playing with fire.”

  “Am I?” Pretending that he hadn’t affected her, even as that tingling heat still throbbed achingly, she sadly shook her head. “Well, I certainly hope the other gentlemen I’ll meet this season are better at this than you.”

  She slipped away before he could reach for her again. Or she for him. “Or I’ll be too bored to consider marrying any of them.”

  He stared at her coolly as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You will be married by season’s end, I promise you.”

  He took her arm and pulled her toward the door. He flung it open and led her into the hall so quickly that she struggled to keep up with his determined strides. Anger radiated from him as he led her out to the carriage waiting in the street.

  He placed her inside the carriage. But when she yanked her arm away, it wasn’t relief she felt but an inexplicable sense of loss. For one maddening moment, she wanted to blurt out an apology, to beg him to crawl inside the compartment with her and keep kissing her just as he’d done before, all the way home to her doorstep.

  But the devil inside her couldn’t help one last parting jab, and she sniffed with mock disappointment, “If I’m going to be forced to give my first waltz to such a boorish man, I certainly hope you’re far better at dancing.”

  He rose up onto the step and leaned inside, bringing himself close. “Don’t you worry, minx,” he assured her in a husky voice that twined down her spine. “When it comes to having a woman in my arms, I do everything well.”

  Her breath strangled in her throat. Leaving her to gape at him in stunned mortification at her own heated reaction to the beastliness in him, he closed the door, then ordered the coachman to drive off.

  The carriage rolled forward, and she slumped against the squabs. A curse left her lips at him, followed immediately by several more at herself.

  They’d fought their second battle, yet for the life of her she couldn’t have said which of them had emerged the victor.

  * * *

  A special glimpse of

  IF THE DUKE DEMANDS

  by Anna Harrington, Book #1 in the Capturing the Carlisles series:

  Miranda Hodgkins has only ever wanted one thing: to marry Robert Carlisle. And she simply can’t wait a moment longer. During a masquerade ball, Miranda boldly sneaks into his bedchamber with seduction on her mind. But when the masks come off, she’s horrified to find herself face-to-face with Sebastian, Duke of Trent—Robert’s formidable older brother. Sebastian offers her a deal to avoid scandal: he’ll help her win his brother’s heart if she’ll find him the perfect wife. But their simple negotiation spirals out of control. For the longer Sebastian tries to make a match for Miranda, the more he wants to keep her all to himself.

  Sebastian nuzzled his mouth against her ear.

  Miranda gasped. That, oh, that was clearly not an accidental brush of whispering lips! He’d meant to caress her, and the warm longing it sent spiraling through her nearly undid her. Drawing a deep breath as she threw all caution and sense to the wind, she tilt
ed her head to give him access to her neck, unable to deny the temptation of having his mouth on her.

  With a pleased smile against her ear, he murmured, “What is it about my brother that draws you so?”

  The tip of his tongue traced the outer curl of her ear. She shuddered at the delicious sensation, and his hand pressed tighter against her belly to keep her still in his arms.

  The confusion inside her gave way to a tingling warmth that ached low in her belly. With one little lick, Sebastian had set her blood humming, making her body shiver and her thighs clench the way he had that night in his bedroom when she thought he was Robert. She knew who was kissing her this time, yet knowing he was the wrong Carlisle brother made no difference to the heat rising through her traitorous body. She should step away—this was Sebastian, for heaven’s sake, and the most wrong man in the world for her, save for the king himself—but she simply couldn’t make herself leave the circle of his strong arms.

  “Robert is masculine,” she breathed, her words barely audible above the aria swirling around them.

  “Most men are,” he answered, dancing kisses down the side of her neck.

  When he placed his mouth against that patch of bare skin where her neck curved into her shoulder, a hot throbbing sprang up between her thighs. She bit her lip to keep back a soft whimper.

  “He’s handsome,” she forced out, hoping he couldn’t hear the nervous trembling that crept into her voice.