A Lady For A Duke Novels & Stories

“Yes, Your Grace.” The duke studied the woman. She looked straight back at him, her gray eyes wild and fiery. She was about five foot six, and very slim. ‘How can a woman this small injure one of my men?’ “I think you are outnumbered, my lady. Should you not give up already?” The duke unmounted his black horse and took a few steps closer to the woman. She stared at him for a moment, she could barely stand anymore. “I did not steal anything, my lord.” She lowered her sword.

She was glad the Duke was hers, and even though she doubted getting such unholy tales, she would still be entertained, wouldn't she? She would not be his mistress! The thought, like a fine slice of blade, flashed through her head. Of course she would not! Beth declared to herself. He was to wed Lady Cossington. She refused to be his conquest, and became a topic of ridicule among their peers. She would also not stand against the influential Lady Cossington. Beth decided to speak with him and tell him to cast his eyes elsewhere if he was seeking a mistress.

But it was the Duke’s gaze that burned the hottest against her skin. “You seem deep in thought, my dear Duchess,” a smooth, velvety voice interrupted. Victoria turned to find Lady Evelyn Ashford standing beside her, a vision of elegance and power. Dressed in midnight blue, the widow exuded an effortless confidence that set her apart from the others. “I was merely admiring the spectacle of the evening,” Victoria responded smoothly, offering a practiced smile. Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Ah, but aren’t we all mere players in this grand spectacle? Some of us lead… and some of us follow.”

The duke’s heart already hardened with the repeated petty scandals she got herself into, and with the additional convincing from his new wife. Just last month, she ditched the dance in the middle of the musical piece with the renowned gentleman Earl of Yorkshire just to catch a glimpse of the beautiful northern skies outside. Ridiculous excuse of all reason to spout, but with the lady’s infamous reputation, she sure managed to convinced the man. Then recently, the badmouthing scandal on the widow Countess Candace added more fuel to the fire. Duke Landon was nowhere near persuaded on Lady Francesca’s word. The rest of the population knew how prestigious tonight’s ball is, for it was to honor

Leaving the midwives and the lady in waiting to their miserable fate. ‘Help me,’ The duchess whispered in a raspy voice, ‘Please get it out of me.’ She sobbed weakly as her hands lay limp beside her. Her lady-in-waiting moved closer to her and bent forward to touch her belly. The spot where her hands rested lit up in a bright orange light, and the midwives shrank back in fear and shock. The servant stepped back and, in one command, ordered the midwives to cut through the duchess's abdomen.

"I am not apologizing for pouring the wine on your head. You deserved it for insulting me and the crown prince. I am the duke's daughter and the crown prince's fiancee. Insulting me is insulting my father and his highness." The lady bit her lower lip and ran away while crying. FLASHBACK END

Somehow, she realized that Lady Faye was nowhere in sight and that she was now alone with this unwelcoming guest. Panic came rushing inside her as the Duke drew nearer, but she tried to compose herself — tried as much as she possibly could. If she was able to manage a good fight with the King, how much more with this lowly trespasser? Holding her face up, she spoke, her callous voice enveloping the room, “You’re right certainly, Duke Conrad. Of course, I don’t know you and I don’t plan to. I am quite sure nothing benefits me from knowing you.”

Working for Lady Lucia was the distraction I needed. She was Duke Kestrel’s wife. She was a sweet and kind-hearted lady with a playful side that made me feel at ease when I was around her. Despite being born into nobility, she had a very relaxed attitude toward many things that a noblewoman would not have. I appreciated how she made me feel like I was more than just a servant maid working off a debt.

If being his heiress was the only way for her to pay back the duke, she would gladly accept the title. And since she made up her mind, her fondness of the old mansion had diminished. She wanted to stay in the duke's mansion and fight for the inheritance if that's what makes the Duke happy. In the first place, she was brought in that place by him to fight for the inheritance. But she wondered why the duke did not want Catarina to inherit the title. Although she was curious, she was sensible enough not to ask. It was the duke's secret. "You can't do this to me!" Lady Geneva yelled. "You will divorce me for that trash?" The Lady laughed. "What on earth are you thinking? She was the daughter of