Her Determined Duke: Clean Regency Romance Read online

  “Are you being a naughty boy?”

  A playful smile crossed the Duke’s lips. Marcus shook his head vigorously.

  “No, Papa. I was just interested to hear what was happening. I was sleuthing!”

  Hawthorne snorted and sneered.

  “Doesn’t the child understand that sleuthing is the same as spying?”

  Scarpdale looked at his brother and shook his head.

  “Leave him be. He’s just a babe. It’s good that he’s inquisitive. I’m more concerned that Henry thought it appropriate to inform on him.”

  Hawthorne rolled his eyes and motioned for his son to come to him. Henry skulked towards his father and looked at him sullenly. The tension in the room was growing, and Marcus wondered what would happen, when his father turned to Scarpdale and cleared his throat.

  “Ah… Scarpdale…”

  Marcus looked at his father’s face, as the man surveyed his closest friend, and wondered why his father seemed uncertain. Usually, his father was quite sure about everything – at least from Marcus’ perspective. Scarpdale looked at Weatherly, a benevolent smile playing across his face.

  “Yes, what is it, my friend?”

  “Ahem, well. You know that we have been friends for longer than I care to remember. You have been there for me through every large and small thing in my life. Our two families have lived through many good times together.”

  Scarpdale nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, of course. But you obviously want to say something more - go on man!”

  Weatherly lifted his champagne glass, eyed it for a moment, then raised it and met Scarpdale’s eyes.

  “With the birth of your beautiful child, and as our families are so closely joined, I believe that the next logical step, in order to secure the future of both estates, would be that my son and your daughter become betrothed to one another.”

  Marcus frowned at his father’s words – what did that mean?

  For a long minute, there was silence. Then a hoot from Scarpdale as he lifted his own glass.

  “What a magnificent idea Weatherly!”

  Weatherly grinned widely, set Marcus gently down on the floor, and went to clink his glass with Scarpdale’s.

  “To the joining of our two families. And may our legacy together prevail!”

  Sipping from the champagne, the two friends embraced one another and laughed in triumph, then the Duke of Scarpdale turned to where Marcus stood, and knelt down to ruffle his hair.

  “Do you hear that old boy? When you’re big enough, you’re going to marry my daughter!”

  Marcus frowned and looked up at his father, confused.

  “What daughter?”

  Weatherly smiled down at his son.

  “The baby upstairs.”

  Marcus’ eyes widened in shock.

  “But it’s a girl!”

  His protest was met with delight by both Scarpdale and Weatherly, who threw back their heads and laughed.

  Marcus didn’t think it was funny.

  He was supposed to marry a baby? A girl?

  And what did it mean to marry anyway?

  He huffed and crossed his arms, looking from his father to his father’s oldest friend.

  Then he looked at Henry and Hawthorne. They didn’t seem best pleased either – in fact the Marquess was scowling at the Duke of Scarpdale in a very fierce manner.

  Hmm, Marcus thought. He would have to find out what all of this meant. Marry. A girl? A baby? Whatever next?

  Adults were strange, sometimes, at least in his opinion.

  ***

  1808

  The small girl with the tangle of dark curls toddled across the floor of the parlour towards her father. He watched her approach, his heart aching. It was already clear that, when she grew up, she would be as beautiful as her mother. Sorrow tore through his heart – for her mother would never see her grow.

  Just that day, his beloved Charlotte had been laid to rest in the family crypt, stolen from him far too soon by the ravages of unexpected disease.

  He gathered the child into his lap, and she looked up at him, a tiny frown creasing her brow.

  “Mama…?”

  Tears filled his eyes.

  He kissed her gently on her furrowed brow.

  “Mama has gone to live with God, my Kate, and we will have to make do without her now. But Bessie will help, and I will care for you. I will make sure that you have every chance to be happy, I promise you.”

  I hope that you enjoyed this preview of ‘Her Absent Duke’

  Read the rest at

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0891RPWYL

  Books in the ‘

  A Duke’s Daughters – the Elbury Bouquet’ Series

  An Enchantress for an Earl (Violet) (coming soon)

  A Maiden for a Marquess (Iris) (coming soon)

  A Heart for an Heir (Thorne) (coming soon)

  Books in the His Majesty’s Hounds Series

  Claiming the Heart of a Duke

  Intriguing the Viscount

  Giving a Heart of Lace

  Being Lady Harriet’s Hero

  Enchanting the Duke

  Redeeming the Marquess

  Finding the Duke’s Heir

  Winning the Merchant Earl

  Healing Lord Barton

  Kissing the Duke of Hearts

  Loving the Bitter Baron

  Falling for the Earl

  Rescuing the Countess

  Betting on a Lady’s Heart

  Attracting the Spymaster

  Courting a Spinster for Christmas

  Restoring the Earl’s Honour

  From Soldier Spy to Lord (Books 1 to 3 as a set)

  To Love a Determined Lady (Books 4 to 6 as a set)

  Love Heals a Lord (Books 7 to 9 as a set)

  To Love a Dashing Lord (Books 10 to 13 as a set)

  Books in The Derbyshire Set

  The Earl’s Unexpected Bride

  The Captain’s Compromised Heiress

  The Viscount’s Unsuitable Affair

  The Count’s Impetuous Seduction

  The Rake’s Unlikely Redemption

  The Marquess’ Scandalous Mistress

  The Marchioness’ Second Chance

  A Viscount’s Reluctant Passion

  Lady Theodora’s Christmas Wish

  The Derbyshire Set Omnibus Edition Vol. 1 (the first three books all in one)

  The Derbyshire Set Omnibus Edition Vol. 2 (the second three books all in one)

  Regency Collections with Other Authors

  Books in the Regency Scandals Series

  Book 3 – Christmas with THAT Duke (Coming Soon)

  Books in the Nettlefold Chronicles

  Other Books from Arietta

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