What’s better than a dashing duke? A dozen of them! In this case, a baker’s dozen—thirteen of your favorite historical romance authors have come together to bring you more than a dozen tantalizing novellas, with one per month, for a year’s worth of never-before-released romances.
To Tempt a Highland Duke
By Bronwen Evans
August
Giveaway: I’m giving away a copy of Drawn To The Marquess, book #2 in my Imperfect Lords series. Simply leave a comment telling me which part of Scotland you’d love to visit and why? Open Internationally.
Excerpt:
Dougray Firth, Viscount Crew, enjoyed the quiet of the late hour, or early morning, whichever way you chose to look at it. He took another swig from the near empty bottle of whisky in his hand and looked up at the night sky.
Fate was a bastard. He’d known that for years, but tonight it stabbed him hard.
On this warm summer night he sat on the terrace of Fenworth House, the Earl of Fenworth’s countryseat, cursing his father the Duke of Monreith. His best friend’s little sister, Flora, the woman he thought he would marry, was to be wed in the morning but not to him.
And whose fault was that?
Dougray’s closed his eyes and sighed, letting the whisky he drank wash away the terrible memories of six years ago. He’d been eighteen and his father’s meddling had destroyed his world.
He wanted the whisky to give him courage. To give him the courage to give his father exactly what he wanted—Dougray’s agreement to wed Flora instead. Doing so the day of her wedding would be a scandal, but they would live that down.
He also knew Flora would eagerly forego Lord Grafton if he asked her to marry him instead.
But he couldn’t marry her.
He loved her. She was his best friend. The only woman who’d got him through Connie’s death and the one person who had not let him give up on his search for his son, the son the Duke had taken from him.
Because Dougray loved her he would let her go.
For to marry her could sign her death warrant.
He took another long slug from the bottle still in his hand. The fiery liquid burned his throat; that is what brought tears to his eyes.
He wiped his face with the sleeve of his linen shirt.
He sat consumed by misery, when out of the corner of his eye he saw a ghostly figure slip through the front entrance and walk into the rose garden that led down to the small pond at the front of the estate.
He knew who it was and where she was going.
Dougray knew this house better than his own. He’d spent more time here than at his father country estate. Angus Mackenzie, the Earl of Fenworth’s son was his best friend and Flora’s older brother.
He told himself not to follow, but his feet did not want to listen. The almost empty bottle fell to the terrace as he set off in pursuit.
He didn’t catch up to her until she had reached the summerhouse. This is where they’d come to be alone. To share their hopes, fears, and dreams. It was where six months ago he had stolen his first kiss from her.
She was sitting on the bench in her nightgown, her knees drawn up to her chest with her head resting on them. He heard a sniff and realized she was crying. The sound made him almost double over with pain.
“Don’t cry, sweeting.”
Flora jumped at the sound of his voice. She had not heard him enter, so lost in her own misery.
“Go away, Dougray. I want to be alone.”
He reached her side but could not bear to touch her. “Iain is a nice man. Will becoming his wife be so terrible?”
She looked up, her eyes awash with pain. “He’s not you.”
He crouched down in front of her. “I cannot marry you. I just can’t.”
She studied his face and he did not hide the tear that slipped from his eye.
“This past year I really thought you had finally gotten over Connie’s death. I thought you’d opened your heart to me. We shared our hopes for the future. You let me fall in love with Connor as if he were my own wee boy. Just tell me why?”
He had no words. Instead he leaned forward and pressed a soft, chaste kiss to her lips.
“Do you hate your father so much that you’d use me as a pawn to hurt him. Is it because he is desirous of our match that you purposely opposed it?” Her sorrow was now replaced with anger. “I hate you Dougray Firth. I hate you for making me fall in love with you. For giving me a dream and then taking it away. Just go away before you break my heart completely.” Her head lowered to her knees and she began sobbing.
He couldn’t stand it. He reached down and scooped her into his arms and took her place on the bench, placing her in his lap. She did not stop crying. She merely buried her face against his chest and sobbed.
He sat there gently rocking her and wished things could be different. He wished he didn’t love her so much. But it was because he loved her he would let her go. Seeing her married to another would be his living hell, but at least she would be alive and he would be able to see her occasionally.
He didn’t know how long they sat there. Eventually her sobbing stopped and she fell asleep in his arms.
He pressed a kiss to her head and imprinted the feel of her into his memory and heart.
Don’t forget to leave a comment to be in the draw….
USA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dogs Brandy and Duke.
As always, Read, Feel, Fall In Love!
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I haven’t been to Scotland at all, so any and all of it is on my list! Thanks for the excerpt–so fun to take a peek!
Edinburgh is one of my all time favorite cities. My grandmother came to NZ at the age of 6 from Hamilton just outside Glasgow. I traveled there and it was exactly how she described it.
That is so cool! To have that family connection too, to know that your grandmother walked some of those same places, Bronwen!
Break my heart – a wonderful excerpt!
Thank you!
I love this excerpt! I canna choose one place over another in Scotland… my dream is to visit the WHOLE country! The Beautiful scenery, lush countryside, historic castles, friendly people- och, the HISTORY of Scotland! Thank you for this opportunity.
Latha math dhut,
Kelly B
I just love Scotland! It it wasn’t so far from NZ I’d visit all the time.
I dream of going to Scotland. Want to see it all. Just plop me down and give me a guide!
A handsome Scottish Lord perhaps as a guide?
The highlands but also down to low lands to research family
I haven’t been to Scotland. I’d love to visit and see all the castles and beautiful scenery.
I would like to see Gretna Green for the history
Anywhere in Scotland would be awesome!!
I would love to visit Isle of Skye it is my dream to visit there someday!!
I would love to visit Glasgow. I have family there and the always send me gorgeous pictures of the beautiful land. I would love to see it in person.
Loved the excerpt. Have put the set on my TBB list.
Sounds exciting, on my TBB list.
I would like to visit the castles! And see it all! I haven’t been but my sister-in-law and I plan to visit.
Forget Scottland right now… my hearts breaking for these two. I want no i need to know MORE. What happens? Oh I hope I can win! My book money is spent this month… And i need to read this story.
Ok back to Scotland. Anywhere would be beautiful. Being disabled (aka now poor.) From multiple sclerosis. I try not to dream to big. It only leads to disappointment. So I go where ever I can and am delighted with that!