by Wendy Vella
“It was a promise made at her birth, a promise you must now honor.”
And with those fateful words, the duke had finally succumbed to an inflammation of the chest. There was no wife to mourn him or daughters to weep and rather than the relief Daniel had believed he would feel, he had instead been filled with burning rage. Even in death, it seemed, the old bastard would play a hand in his life.
“I shall be but a moment, your Grace.”
Realizing the carriage had stopped, Daniel opened the door and stepped down. He then turned to hold one hand out toward his duchess.
“Hurry!” he snapped when she did not move quickly enough. Grabbing her waist, he lifted her down. “I have no wish for my day to deteriorate any further. Run!” he added loudly as the heavens opened in earnest, although after what they had endured already today, a few seconds in the rain could do them little harm.
The proprietor met them at the door and ushered them inside.
“Tis my belief it’s setting in,” he said, to which Daniel grunted something in reply. After handing his wife over to a woman who came to assist her, he followed the proprietor to a small parlor where he slumped into a chair before the fire.
“Tis mulled to my own special recipe, my lord.”
Daniel nodded to the man as he took the proffered mug. Pushing his nose into the vessel, he inhaled the spicy scent. Taking a large mouthful, he held it briefly in his mouth, enjoying the taste of cloves and cinnamon before he swallowed and the warmth slowly filled his body.
Dear God, I’m married. His mind kept repeating the words over and over again.
Want to read the rest? Duchess By Chance is available now.
•Here’s a small unedited excerpt from my current work in progress. Book 2 in The Langley Sisters Series – Lady In Demand:
“Oh do be careful, Lord Levermarch, those crab patties are a trifle rich, especially if one tends towards ill-humour.”
Finneous Barrick, Marques of Levermarch paused with the aforementioned crab patty inches from his lips. Lowering it to the table he turned to face the hellcat who stood at his back.
“Miss Langley,” Finn drawled running his eyes over her perfect features and equally perfect breasts. “Such concern for my well being, it warms my heart to know that you care,”
“I care for the well-being of any person who is advancing in years, my lord,” she looked up at him beneath long lashes. Her expression appeared concerned yet there was a wicked sparkle in the depths of her brown eyes.
He smiled, although Finn was fairly sure it was more a bearing of teeth. Miss Phoebe Langley could provoke him like no other; only with her did he feel the leash he kept firmly on his temper slip its moorings.
“My aged heart is quite touched at your show of concern, Miss Langley, and may I add that the sugar coated almond biscuits would suit your untutored palette, they do not have much substance…he let that word hang in the air for several seconds before adding, “and are easily digested.”
That shut her up the little witch, Finn thought as her perfectly straight white teeth snapped together.
“Substance is a word that has many meanings, Lord Levermarch, don’t you think?”
Luscious was the only word he had ever been able to find to describe the woman before him. She was taller than most and her hair was a warm golden brown, thick and full, usually by the end of the evening at least one lock always came loose to draw his eye. Her skin was smooth and creamy and beneath her feathered eyebrows her eyes were large and the color of cognac. Framed with ridiculously long curling lashes the woman drew men like bees to a honey pot. Dresses did not sit on Phoebe Langley they draped, hugged and caressed the bountiful curves beneath. For a debutante she showed far too much of her chest, Finn thought wanting to loosen his necktie as his eyes passed over the swells of her creamy breasts again. The woman was a walking temptation; however he would never be tempted, he’d sooner be boiled in oil.
Regency Rakes
Duchess By Chance
Rescued By A Viscount
The Langley Sisters Series
Lady In Disguise
The Reluctant Countess
Christmas Wishes