The Accidental DuchessFrom New York Times bestselling author Madeline Hunter comes this seductive tale of a headstrong young lady, a scandalous manuscript, and the iron-willed duke determined to save her from her ruin. For fans of Mary Balogh, Eloisa James, and Julia Quinn. When Lady Lydia Alfreton is blackmailed over the shocking contents of a manuscript she once wrote, she must go to the most desperate of measures to raise the money to buy back the ill-considered prose: agreeing to an old wager posed by the arrogant, dangerous Duke of Penthurst. At least Penthurst is a man she wouldn’t mind fleecing—and she’s confident she’ll win. Penthurst long ago concluded Lydia was a woman in search of ruinous adventure, but even he is surprised when she arrives at his house ready to bet her innocence against his ten thousand pounds—a wager he only proposed to warn her off gambling. When she loses to a simple draw of the cards, Lydia is shocked. Now, her problems are twofold: a blackmailer determined to see her pay and a duke determined to tame her rebellious ways. One misstep and Lydia could find herself ruined—or bound to the seductive man who would make her his duchess. |
Contents
Section 1 | 15 |
Section 2 | 31 |
Section 3 | 44 |
Section 4 | 55 |
Section 5 | 73 |
Section 6 | 88 |
Section 7 | 107 |
Section 8 | 119 |
Section 12 | 191 |
Section 13 | 218 |
Section 14 | 240 |
Section 15 | 262 |
Section 16 | 281 |
Section 17 | 308 |
Section 18 | 330 |
Section 19 | 342 |
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Common terms and phrases
Algernon Trilby Ambury Ambury's Amelia appeared arms asked auction Aunt Hortense believe better blackmailer bold girl brother Buxton cards caress Cassandra chair chamber close coach course Crownhill dark distracted door duchess duel Emma excitement expect eyes face Fairbourne Fairbourne's felt Forest of Bere frock coat gambling gaze girl Greenly Grosvenor Square Hampshire hand head hope horse Kendale kiss knew Lady Cassandra Lady Lydia Lakewood laughed learned least legs looked Lydia looked Madeline Hunter marriage marry meant mind morning moved never night Obediah once Perhaps pleasure Portsdown Hill pulled returned Rosalyn Royal Tunbridge Sarah scold Scotland servant shock shoulders sister smiled Southwaite spoke stood stopped sure Tarrington tell thing thought tion told tonight took Trilby's turned wager waited walked watched week woman women wondered worry