by Darcy Burke
As the guests came in, Eddleston announced their arrival. As if Simon and Diana didn’t know perfectly well who they were. “The Duke and Duchess of Kilve.”
Simon’s gaze connected with Nick’s, and they exchanged slight nods. Their wives, however, eyed each other warily for a moment. It was Violet, Nick’s new duchess, who spoke first.
“I’m so sorry, Diana.” She winced. Her hazel gaze was apologetic. “You must hate us.”
“Why would I do that? If not for you, I’d be married to him,” Diana said with a tinge of derision as she waved a hand at Nick, “instead of him.” That word carried a warmth of love and desire. She curled her hand around Simon’s arm and gave him a squeeze.
There was a long beat of silence followed by Simon letting out a howl of laughter. Nick immediately joined in, and soon after, Violet did as well. Diana merely smiled, her expression one of a cat who’d just caught every mouse in the barn and had no intention of sharing.
“Come in,” Simon beckoned as he led them to the drawing room.
Violet left her husband and went to Diana. “You’re truly not angry?”
“Not anymore. It all seemed meant to be.” Diana took her hand from Simon and clasped Violet’s hand. They’d become friends at the house party, and Simon was glad to see they apparently would still be. “Are you happy?”
“Never more.” Violet looked to Nick, and the love between them was palpably strong. She returned her gaze to Diana. “Are you?”
“For the first time.” She slid a glance at Simon, and her lips curved up. “Forever.”
Heat spread through Simon. Impossibly, his love for her grew day by day.
“What a sickening lot,” Nick said.
“We deserve it, don’t you think?” Simon asked wryly. He and Nick had known each other since Oxford, and between them had spent more time battling sadness and despair than anyone ought.
“Of course you do,” Violet said. “We all do.”
Nick came forward and stood in front of Diana. “I owe you a sincere apology. I never meant to cause you distress—or scandal. I’m afraid I was an enormous ass.”
“I made him stand in the snow for days before I would forgive him,” Violet said. “I only relented because I feared he would freeze to death.”
Diana put her hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle.
“Would’ve served him right,” Simon muttered with a smile.
“Indeed, it would have,” Nick agreed. “But fortune took pity on me, apparently.”
“No, I took pity on you, and don’t ever forget it.” Violet narrowed her eyes at him playfully.
“Anyway, I’m the one that ended up causing a scandal,” Simon said, putting his arm around Diana and drawing her close. “In trying to rescue the fair damsel, I delivered her right into the heart of disaster when we were recognized on the road to Gretna.” Simon had explained all their travails when he’d written to Nick.
“I received a letter from Hannah,” Violet said, glancing toward Simon and Diana. “Mrs. Linford—she hosted the house party where you met.”
Simon briefly recollected that house party and the first time he’d kissed Diana. He’d gone in the hope of emerging from his grief, never imagining that it would so utterly change his life for the better. He itched to kiss her right now.
Violet continued, “Hannah asked if you two were going to duel. Since Simon stole Diana from Nick.”
“What a brilliant idea,” Simon said. “We’ll organize it for the start of the Season and stage it in Hyde Park.”
Diana’s and Violet’s eyes rounded. “You can’t mean that,” Diana said.
“I most certainly do. We wouldn’t actually duel, of course. But what a laugh it would be at everyone’s expense.”
Nick joined Simon in laughter. “I like this idea. We’ll need to explore its merit.” Since they’d be staying for a week, they had plenty of time to do so.
“Excellent.” Simon reached over and clasped his friend’s hand. “It’s good to have you here.”
“It’s good to be here, and thank you for cleaning up my mess.”
“Your mess ended up being my miracle.” Unable to hold himself back any longer, Simon kissed Diana briefly, his lips grazing hers. “And I shall thank you for all eternity.”
* * *
The end
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Don’t miss the next exciting and romantic book in The Untouchables series, The Duke of Lies, coming May 2018! Preorder your copy now!
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Want to join me and other fans of The Untouchables to discuss The Duke of Ruin? Hop on over to Darcy’s Duchesses!
Thank You!
Thank you so much for reading The Duke of Ruin. I hope you enjoyed it!
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The Duke of Ruin is the eighth book in The Untouchables series. Catch up with my other historical series: Secrets and Scandals and Legendary Rogues. If you like contemporary romance, I hope you’ll check out my Ribbon Ridge series available from Avon Impulse, and the continuation of Ribbon Ridge in So Hot.
I appreciate my readers so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Books by Darcy Burke
Historical Romance
The Untouchables
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The Forbidden Duke
The Duke of Daring
The Duke of Deception
The Duke of Desire
The Duke of Defiance
The Duke of Danger
The Duke of Ice
The Duke of Ruin
The Duke of Lies
The Duke of Seduction
The Duke of Wishes
The Duke of Mischief
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Secrets and Scandals
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Her Wicked Ways
His Wicked Heart
To Seduce a Scoundrel
To Love a Thief (a novella)
Never Love a Scoundrel
Scoundrel Ever After
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Legendary Rogues
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Lady of Desire
Romancing the Earl
Lord of Fortune
Captivating the Scoundrel
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Contemporary Romance
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Ribbon Ridge
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Where the Heart Is (a prequel novella)
Only in My Dreams
Yours to Hold
When Love Happens
The Idea of You
When We Kiss
You’re Still the One
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Ribbon Ridge: So Hot
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So Good
So Right
So Wrong
About the Author
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub.
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A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. Her happy place
s are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge. Visit Darcy online at http://www.darcyburke.com and follow her social media: Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/darcyburkefans, Twitter @darcyburke at http://www.twitter.com/darcyburke, Instagram at http://www.instagram/darcyburkeauthor, and Pinterest at http://www.pinterest.com/darcyburkewrite.