Ravaging the Duke
Mayfair Series Book 2
by J R Salisbury
Genre: 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.
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 believe love 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.
Introduced 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?
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“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?"
Amazon bestselling author J R Salisbury divides her time between the U.S. 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.
J R writes Victorian era and Scottish historical romance with perfectly imperfect heroes and strong, sassy heroines.
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