A Duke Walked into a House Party

A duet of previously published Regency novellas… 


May I Have This Duke (from Dancing in the Duke’s Arms)

Gerard Hammersley, Duke of Hardcastle, is dragooned by his old friend, Elias, Duke of Sedgemere, into attending a house party, though Hardcastle refuses to fall prey to the matchmakers who relish such gatherings. He recruits his nephew’s prim, prickly governess, Miss Ellen MacHugh, to preserve him from being compromised by the determined debutantes, and offers in exchange to deflect the drunken viscounts who plague Ellen. Ellen agrees to Hardcastle’s scheme for two reasons. First, she’s been attracted to His Grace since the day she laid eyes on him, and knows that behind Hardcastle’s lack of charm lies a ferociously loyal and faithful heart. Second, she’s departing from Hardcastle’s household at the conclusion of the house party, and two weeks safeguarding His Grace’s bachelorhood is as much pleasure—and as much torment—as she can endure before she leaves him. 


Duke of My Dreams (from Once Upon a Dream) 

Banker's daughter Anne Faraday is cast into the company of Elias, Duke of Sedgemere, at a house party in the Lakes. Anne warms to the lonely man and conscientious father behind the title, and Elias becomes enthralled with the brilliant, burdened woman beneath Anne's genteel facade. Liking turns to love under the Cumbrian summer moon, but family obligations, secrets, and a prodigal duck conspire to thwart the course of true love.