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Ravaging
the Duke
the Duke
Mayfair
Series Book 2
Series Book 2
by
J R Salisbury
J R Salisbury
Genre:
Historical Romance
Historical Romance
Inheriting
the title from his murdered father, Alec finds just how dire things
really are. His father’s gambling obsession left the family with
nothing but the entailed properties. The ton views him as a disgraced
duke.
the title from his murdered father, Alec finds just how dire things
really are. His father’s gambling obsession left the family with
nothing but the entailed properties. The ton views him as a disgraced
duke.
Alec,
now The Duke of Wexwood finds himself in need of a bride. One with a
substantial dowry. It needn’t be a love match as Alec doesn’t believelove exists except in rare cases. He needs a woman who can help him
rebuild the dukedom.
now The Duke of Wexwood finds himself in need of a bride. One with a
substantial dowry. It needn’t be a love match as Alec doesn’t believelove exists except in rare cases. He needs a woman who can help him
rebuild the dukedom.
Margaret
Douglas is an American recently arrived back in England. She has
fulfilled her late father’s wishes by returning with her mother. Now
she needs to find a husband. One who won’t squander her dowry,
someone who’ll see her as an equal.
Douglas is an American recently arrived back in England. She has
fulfilled her late father’s wishes by returning with her mother. Now
she needs to find a husband. One who won’t squander her dowry,
someone who’ll see her as an equal.
Introduced
by her cousin, the Earl of Norwood, Margaret and Alec come to an
agreement which quickly turns into a passionate romance.
by her cousin, the Earl of Norwood, Margaret and Alec come to an
agreement which quickly turns into a passionate romance.
Lurking
in the background are secrets—ones Margaret can’t hide from the
duke. Secrets she brought from America. What will happen when Alec
finds out what she’s hiding?
in the background are secrets—ones Margaret can’t hide from the
duke. Secrets she brought from America. What will happen when Alec
finds out what she’s hiding?
Amazonbestselling author J R Salisbury divides her time between the U.S.
and U.K. with her aging Yorkie, Rocco.
and U.K. with her aging Yorkie, Rocco.
When
in the U.K. she finds herself shrouded in history, making an author’s
imagination come alive.
in the U.K. she finds herself shrouded in history, making an author’s
imagination come alive.
J
R writes Victorian era and Scottish historical romance with perfectly
imperfect heroes and strong, sassy heroines.
R writes Victorian era and Scottish historical romance with perfectly
imperfect heroes and strong, sassy heroines.
“What you need, Wexwood, is a wife. One with a decent enough dowry,” the Earl of
Norwood said, stretching his long, muscular legs out in front of his chair as he lit a cheroot.
Alec ran his hand through his thick black hair, unfolded his lanky frame from behind the
large mahogany desk, and wandered over to the table placed against the wall nearest the desk. He
picked up a decanter of whiskey in one hand and two glasses in the other. Though it was late
afternoon, now was as good a time as any to get foxed. It wasn’t as though he could show his
face in White’s.
“That would certainly solve a great deal, but I don’t see a line of young women queuing up
to marry a disgraced duke.”
He poured Norwood a glass full of whiskey and handed it to him. Pouring one for himself,
he drank it down in one swallow before throwing the glass, slamming the crystal against the
hearth. The sound of the remaining liquid hissed in retaliation.
“That’s not going to solve anything,” Norwood said, sipping his whiskey.
“No, but it certainly felt good.”
“Back to your troubles. Pity Rebecca didn’t work out.”
Rebecca, the one woman he thought loved him and whom he would marry, had left him.
Departed for Italy to join her mother and aunt. The two months she was to be gone had now
turned into six. Her last letter, dated over two months prior, indicated she had no idea when she’d
return. It seemed her mother and aunt had convinced her that marriage to a duke with such a
sullied reputation was not in her best interest.
“Yes, it would have solved many problems.”
“I may be able to help.”
“Help, how?” Alec asked, pouring himself a fresh glass of whiskey. This time, he sipped the
amber liquid before setting the glass on his desk.
“I think I know the perfect woman.”
“I thought you might know of some young woman somewhere. France, perhaps?”
“Nothing that exotic. I do know such a lady, though she’s not French.”
“Do tell.”
“Her name is Margaret Douglas. Though her father moved the family to America some
years ago, Miss Douglas recently arrived in London with her widowed mother. It seems her
father had a horrific accident.”
“All that’s sad, I’m sure, but how would she be able to help me?”
“Her dowry is probably the fattest in all of Great Britain. On top of that, the young woman
refuses to marry anyone chosen for her. She trusts few.”
“How am I to get past her fear?”
“Miss Douglas is my cousin.”
“Your cousin?” Alec said in disbelief.
“Yes, on my mother’s side. From the few times I’ve been able to talk with Margaret alone,
she very much wants to marry, but on her terms.”
“I don’t understand. Does she want a marriage of convenience? Is that what you’re saying?”
“She wants someone who will take the time to get to know her, manage her money well, and
give her a couple of children. Love isn’t necessary.”Alec stared at his friend in disbelief. “When do I meet your esteemed American cousin?”
Norwood said, stretching his long, muscular legs out in front of his chair as he lit a cheroot.
Alec ran his hand through his thick black hair, unfolded his lanky frame from behind the
large mahogany desk, and wandered over to the table placed against the wall nearest the desk. He
picked up a decanter of whiskey in one hand and two glasses in the other. Though it was late
afternoon, now was as good a time as any to get foxed. It wasn’t as though he could show his
face in White’s.
“That would certainly solve a great deal, but I don’t see a line of young women queuing up
to marry a disgraced duke.”
He poured Norwood a glass full of whiskey and handed it to him. Pouring one for himself,
he drank it down in one swallow before throwing the glass, slamming the crystal against the
hearth. The sound of the remaining liquid hissed in retaliation.
“That’s not going to solve anything,” Norwood said, sipping his whiskey.
“No, but it certainly felt good.”
“Back to your troubles. Pity Rebecca didn’t work out.”
Rebecca, the one woman he thought loved him and whom he would marry, had left him.
Departed for Italy to join her mother and aunt. The two months she was to be gone had now
turned into six. Her last letter, dated over two months prior, indicated she had no idea when she’d
return. It seemed her mother and aunt had convinced her that marriage to a duke with such a
sullied reputation was not in her best interest.
“Yes, it would have solved many problems.”
“I may be able to help.”
“Help, how?” Alec asked, pouring himself a fresh glass of whiskey. This time, he sipped the
amber liquid before setting the glass on his desk.
“I think I know the perfect woman.”
“I thought you might know of some young woman somewhere. France, perhaps?”
“Nothing that exotic. I do know such a lady, though she’s not French.”
“Do tell.”
“Her name is Margaret Douglas. Though her father moved the family to America some
years ago, Miss Douglas recently arrived in London with her widowed mother. It seems her
father had a horrific accident.”
“All that’s sad, I’m sure, but how would she be able to help me?”
“Her dowry is probably the fattest in all of Great Britain. On top of that, the young woman
refuses to marry anyone chosen for her. She trusts few.”
“How am I to get past her fear?”
“Miss Douglas is my cousin.”
“Your cousin?” Alec said in disbelief.
“Yes, on my mother’s side. From the few times I’ve been able to talk with Margaret alone,
she very much wants to marry, but on her terms.”
“I don’t understand. Does she want a marriage of convenience? Is that what you’re saying?”
“She wants someone who will take the time to get to know her, manage her money well, and
give her a couple of children. Love isn’t necessary.”Alec stared at his friend in disbelief. “When do I meet your esteemed American cousin?”
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I always love the dresses on the covers, and this pink dress is beautiful.
I love the cover, she looks so prim and proper.
I think the cover is classy
Thanks for the chance