by Darcy Burke
“I will stay with either Edith’s or Ophelia’s family. Do not fret,” she said flatly.
“And what of your things?”
“They are just that, things.” She turned a lopsided smile up to him, her cheek never leaving his chest. “But the one thing I will never have to deal with is Abercorn. He would never take a ruined woman to wife. No matter how large her dowry.”
The woman, his woman, was a smart one.
Roderick had dwelled on all Lucianna was losing…and not on what she’d gain from a tarnished reputation.
“But how will he know of your ruination?” he asked.
“You do not know my father very well, do you?” Her brow rose. “He does not take kindly to parting with his money. If he shuns me publicly, he will remain in possession of my dowry.”
“And not have to put up with your hellion ways.”
“Correct, Your Grace.” She pulled away from him and placed a kiss on his cheek. “You are certainly catching on.”
“Yes, it is a positive thing that I am no dullard…and I happen to adore your hellion ways.”
“Do you?” she asked with a deep, throaty laugh.
“Oh, yes.” He pulled her against his chest. “I do believe your misfortune is to be my grand blessing.”
“Did he call her a blessing?” A hiss sounded behind him.
“No, I think he called her depressing,” Lord Torrington’s unmistakable tone could be heard from the open veranda door.
“Why would he call her depressing?” Lady Edith chimed in. “I do believe he is instructing her in her undressing.”
A round of female giggles echoed as the group all but fell into Lucianna’s chambers.
“Tell us, Montrose,” Torrington called, pulling Edith to his side. “Is Lady Lucianna a blessing, depressing, or in need of undressing?”
“You all have magnificent timing.” Roderick leaned down and placed a kiss to Lucianna’s forehead, which gained a sigh from Lady Prudence and Lady Chastity, while Lady Ophelia looked ready to faint on the spot. “I was actually professing my adoration and love for Lady Lucianna and hoping our night would end with her acquiescing and accepting my marriage proposal.”
“Marriage?” Lucianna squeaked. “But we just thwarted my father’s plans to hand me over to Abercorn…there is no need for you to continue your charade and our sham of a betrothal. I will not be responsible for you taking on a dismal future and a bride you never wanted.”
“That is wonderful news; however, I have never been one for charades, nor one for ‘taking on a dismal future and a bride.’ I’ve longed to have you since that early morning at Bentley’s. That did not change after our meeting in the gardens at Lady Edith’s betrothal ball.”
The women sighed again, but Lucianna flinched back with a frown.
“Lady Lucianna, I love you. I am in love with you.” Roderick released her and brought his hands to cradle her face. “I do not care if you come to me with little more than your nightshift. I will live every day showering you with all the possessions your heart desires.”
Her bottom lip trembled, and Roderick’s breath hitched, thinking she’d turn away from him. He was no more than a poverty-stricken duke, while she’d been raised by one of the wealthiest men in all of England.
“My heart desires only you, Roderick.”
He pulled her close, fearing she’d never be near enough to satisfy him, and doubting he’d ever be able to let her out of his sight.
“Say you will marry me, Lucianna,” he pleaded. He needed to hear her say it in front of all these witnesses. It would make everything real.
“Roderick, seventh Duke of Montrose, I, Lady Lucianna Constantine, love you,” she declared loudly. “I will wed you and be a fierce duchess, the likes of which London has never seen before.”
A cheer went up behind him as he crushed Lucianna to him, no longer caring who witnessed their display of affection for one another.
All of London best prepare; the Duke and Duchess of Montrose were sure to leave a trail of fainting matrons and fawning men in their wakes.
Epilogue
Lucianna walked arm in arm with Ophelia from the bedchambers they’d shared since the marquis had cast her from her home. Never in her life had she felt the depth of contentment she did since being thrown out of her family home without a shilling to her name and agreeing to wed Roderick.
The Duke and Duchess of Atholl, Ophelia’s parents, had gladly taken Luci in and given her a place to stay until she and Roderick were properly wed, affording the couple a much-needed air of propriety.
The girls took the stairs two at a time, each holding tightly to the railing.
Roderick should arrive at any moment to collect them for their late-morning shopping excursion to Bond Street. It had been over a fortnight, and Luci had grown tired of letting the hems out on Ophelia’s gowns—and having to see her friend’s scathing looks each time she noticed another of her gowns gone.
When an envelope arrived for her the night before, Luci had worried her father was demanding she return home and insisting she fulfill his wishes to wed Abercorn; however, the paper held her mother’s elegant script, and inside, was a note for one thousand pounds. Not nearly enough to secure a favorable future for her and Roderick, but a more than adequate amount to afford her a shopping trip and to pay a Bow Street runner to track down Lady Cavendish and the men who’d stolen from Roderick’s father.
That was, if Roderick allowed her to spend her funds helping him.
There was also Abercorn to think of. Would it be possible to hire the same runner to keep watch on the duke? They’d all determined it was not wise—or safe—to spy on the man themselves any longer. However, Luci had come close to being wed to the man. Another woman would fall into his trap sooner rather than later…and they had a duty to prevent that from occurring.
Luci’s mother’s letter went on to express her well wishes for the betrothed couple and contained a promise to see Luci’s father released her remaining dowry upon her wedding day. Luci had little hope that the marquis would ever acquiesce where money was concerned. She only dreaded her father taking his anger out on her mother and siblings.
A loud knock sounded at the door as Ophelia and Luci took their overcoats from the footman.
“Lord Montrose is certainly a punctual gent,” Ophelia mumbled, glancing at the tall clock in the hall.
Ten-thirty sharp.
Not a moment early, and not a second late.
The butler scurried from his pantry to greet their guest, but when he opened the door, it was not Roderick’s dark-haired form waiting on the stoop, but a man with hair of pure spun gold.
“Who is that?” Luci leaned in and whispered to Ophelia. “If I were not deeply smitten with Roderick, I think I would find this man very handsome.”
Ophelia put her finger to her lips to shush her friend and stepped back into the stairwell and out of sight. Lucianna followed Ophelia’s lead as the butler ushered the man toward Ophelia’s father’s study.
“I haven’t the vaguest idea who he is.” Ophelia leaned forward, catching a glimpse of the man’s back as he entered the study. The door closed behind him, just as another knock sounded at the door.
“That must be Roderick.” She leapt from the stairwell and hurried into the foyer as the butler returned to answer the door, but when she glanced over her shoulder, Ophelia hadn’t followed.
She stood still, staring at her father’s study.
“Good morn, ladies.” Roderick stepped over the threshold. “You both look fine today. Are we ready for an exhaustive day of shopping?”
“Hello, Your Grace,” Luci called, stepping into her betrothed’s open arms. “I can say I have thought of nothing else since my mother’s note arrived.”
He placed a quick peck on her cheek. “And I am certain Lady Ophelia has grown tired of you ruining her gowns.”
Lucianna laughed, turning to Ophelia, but she’d moved in the direction of her father’s study.
“Are you coming?” Luci called to her friend’s retreating back.
Ophelia waved over her shoulder. “I think I will remain home,” she said over her shoulder. “Edith and Lord Torrington will be meeting you, correct?”
“Yes, but—“
“No one likes a fifth wheel, as they say.”
Roderick shrugged, and Luci turned back to see her friend press her ear to her father’s door.
“Shall we be off?” Roderick took Luci’s gloved hand and set it on his arm. “I believe she is duly occupied, and we have a bridal trousseau to gather before we depart for Scotland.”
Luci nodded, her mind already swirling around the notion of her and Roderick being properly wed and free to live as husband and wife. They’d leave for Gretna Green in two days’ time, with Edith and Lord Torrington, as well as Lady Prudence and Lady Chastity, coming as their witnesses.
Ophelia would stay behind, being an unmarried maiden; her mother forbidding her travel to Scotland.
“Are you having second thoughts?” Roderick whispered, his mouth a scant hair’s breadth from her ear. “Because, if you are, I can always cancel—“
Luci swatted at him as they started out the door. “Of course, I am not having any second thoughts. However, I was thinking a great deal of you laid across my bed, your shirt undone, and me atop you.”
“You minx,” he said with a chuckle. “Though I would be less than honest if I didn’t admit I have thought of the same thing nonstop for the last fortnight. Do you think after we are wed your father will allow us entry to your old bedchambers?”
Lucianna winked as he handed her into his coach. “No need to ask permission. I learned long ago that the lock on the veranda door is rather easy to dislodge.”
“Heaven help us if our children are blessed with your cunning and smarts.” He entered the coach after her, and Luci used that moment to spring onto his lap, straddling his legs with her thighs on each side.
She gave him her most practiced coquettish smile and batted her eyelashes for good measure. “Bond Street is at least a ten-minute drive with morning traffic.”
“You hellion, we will be lucky to make it to Scotland!” Roderick said with a chuckle before leaning forward to capture her lips.
“And I’m sure that won’t be a hardship, Your Grace,” she said with a wink as she pulled back.
“I love you, Luci. It may have taken my misfortune to bring us together, but having you in my life makes me the richest man alive.”
Don’t miss out on Lady Edith and Lady Ophelia’s stories!
Three innocent debutantes must work to solve the mysterious death of their childhood friend. With undaunted determination they pledge to not only expose the man responsible for their friend’s tragic death on her wedding night, but to also uncover other unscrupulous men of the ton who would jeopardize the future of other young women.
The Disappearance of Lady Edith (Book One)
One tragic night changed sensible, proper Lady Edith Pelton’s life: when her best friend fell to her death, pushed down a flight of stairs by a nefarious lord. Now, Edith dedicates her time watching the man she thinks is responsible, while gathering other information to expose other scoundrels posing as gentlemen of honor about London. But when her spying is noticed by a perfect stranger, Edith finds herself with two mysteries—what happened to her friend, and how to win the heart of a brilliantly handsome lord.
The Misadventures of Lady Ophelia (Book Three)
If only Lady Ophelia Fletcher—quiet, reserved, with her nose always stuck in a book—had witnessed the death of her friend that fateful night. Now she writes a column, Mayfair Confidential, that she uses to expose men with unsavory pasts to make amends for holding her tongue the night her dear friend was murdered. She is more than willing to never call attention to herself. But when a handsome stranger arrives to meet with her father, Ophelia can’t help but do a little investigating for her own benefit. At last, Ophelia has stumbled upon an adventure of her own—but does she possess the skills necessary to solve the mystery without the assistance of her friends?
Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna
(The Undaunted Debutantes, Book Two).
If you enjoyed The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna,
be sure to write a brief review at any retailer.
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You can contact me at:
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There are several people I’d like to thank for staying with me through the hectic journey of writing this book.
To Marc, my amazing boyfriend—thank you for always being you!
To Lauren Stewart, my critique partner and best friend, you pushed me to explore new avenues of thought that I never dreamed possible. If we were in a true relationship, it would be one based on co-dependency, but in a good way. My writing would not be what it is without your comments, criticism, suggestions, and guidance.
I’d also like to thank the wonderful women who’ve supported me in both my writing career and life, including (but not limited to): Erica Monroe, Amanda Mariel, Debbie Haston, Angie Stanton, Theresa Baer, Ava Stone, Roxanne Stellmacher, Laura Cummings, Dawn Borbon, Suzi Parker, Jennifer Vella, Brandi Johnson, and Latisha Kahn. I know I’m forgetting people…You have all been very patient and wonderfully supportive of my eccentric ways.
A very special thank you to my editor, Chelle Olson with Literally Addicted to Detail, your skill and professionalism surpass all that I expected. Chelle Olson can be contracted by email at [email protected].
Also, a special thank you to historical and developmental editor, Scott Moreland.
And to my proofreader, Anja, thank you for embarking on yet another journey with me.
Cover design by The Midnight Muse.
Wraparound cover design credit to Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs.
Also by Christina McKnight
Craven House Series
The Thief Steals Her Earl
The Mistress Enchants Her Marquis
The Madame Catches Her Duke
The Gambler Wagers Her Baron
The Undaunted Debutantes Series
The Disappearance of Lady Edith
The Misfortune of Lady Lucianna
The Misadventures of Lady Ophelia
Don’t miss the USA TODAY Bestselling Series
A Lady Forsaken Series
Shunned No More, Book One
Forgotten No More, Book Two
Scorned Ever More, Book Three
Christmas Ever More, Book Four
Hidden No More, Book Five
A Lady Forsaken Box Set (Books 1-5)
Standalone Novella
The Siege of Lady Aloria, a de Wolfe Pack Novella
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About the Author
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Christina McKnight writes emotional and intricate Regency Romance with strong women and maverick heroes.
Her books combine romance and mystery, exploring themes of redemption and forgiveness. When not writing she enjoys trying new coffeehouses, visiting wine bars, traveling the world, and watching television.
www.christinamcknight.com
[email protected]
The Duke’s Accidental Wife
Erica Ridley
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 Erica Ridley
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1939713439
ISBN-13: 978-1939713438
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cover design © Erica Ridley
Photograph on cover © kirill_grekov, DepositPhotos
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
Chapter 1