Forbidden in February: A Year Without a Duke, #2

By Suzanna Medeiros

A Year Without a Duke 

The duke has died. Long live the duke! The only problem is no one knows who the new Duke of Beckworth is. All of England wonders, but no one more so than the people who depend upon Beckworth for their livelihood. In 1816, a year so cold that the word "summer" is a cruel joke, that livelihood is even more uncertain. However, they are all about to find out, with the duke away, there is nothing more warming than scandal and love...

Forbidden in February, book 2

Robert Milton's future as the valet to the Duke of Beckworth is uncertain. His employer has died, leaving no heir in sight. When Robert's mother also dies, he discovers that her companion has taken over her household.

Isabel Durham's dream of gaining her independence is almost a reality, but her cousin is determined to see her married to a wealthy but much-older man. Robert's arrival in London is the answer to her prayers. Neither can deny the very real attraction sizzling between them and if he ruins her, she'll be free of the unwanted marriage.

But Robert's very existence has proven to him that romantic entanglements are to be avoided at all costs. His desire for Isabel could cost him the one thing he's vowed never to lose--his heart.

Other books in the series: 

A YEAR WITHOUT A DUKE... 

Book 1: JILTED IN JANUARY by Kate Pearce;
Book 2: FORBIDDEN IN FEBRUARY by Suzanna Medeiros; 
Book 3: SEDUCED IN SEPTEMBER by Genevieve Turner; 
Book 4: AN AFFAIR IN AUTUMN by Jennifer Haymore; 
Book 5: A DUKE BY DECEMBER by Sabrina Darby

• Language: English
• Publisher: Suzanna Medeiros
• Release date: Jan 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781988223001

Suzanna Medeiros

Suzanna Medeiros was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Her love for the written word led her to pursue a degree in English Literature from the University of Toronto. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Education degree, but graduated at a time when no teaching jobs were available. After working at a number of interesting places, including a federal inquiry, a youth probation office, and the Office of the Fire Marshal of Ontario, she decided to pursue her first love - writing. Suzanna is married to her own hero and is the proud mother of twin daughters. She is an avowed romantic who enjoys spending her days writing love stories. She would like to thank her parents for showing her that "love at first" sight and "happily ever after" really do exist. To learn more about Suzanna's new releases you can sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/nmliD .

Book preview

Forbidden in February

A Year Without a Duke, Book 2

Suzanna Medeiros

A Year Without a Duke

The duke has died. Long live the duke! The only problem is no one knows who the new Duke of Beckworth is. All of England wonders, but no one more so than the people who depend upon Beckworth for their livelihood. In 1816, a year so cold that the word summer is a cruel joke, that livelihood is even more uncertain. However, they are all about to find out, with the duke away, there is nothing more warming than scandal and love…

Jilted in January by Kate Pearce

Forbidden in February by Suzanna Medeiros

Seduced in September by Genevieve Turner

An Affair in Autumn by Jennifer Haymore

A Duke by December by Sabrina Darby

First Digital Edition, January 2016

Copyright © 2015 Saozinha Medeiros

Cover design © Kim Killion

Edited by Victory Editing

ISBN: 9781988223001

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Forbidden in February

Suzanna Medeiros

Robert Milton’s future as the valet to the Duke of Beckworth is uncertain. His employer has died, leaving no heir in sight. When Robert’s mother also dies, he discovers that her companion has taken over her household.

Isabel Durham’s dream of gaining her independence is almost a reality, but her cousin is determined to see her married to a wealthy but much-older man. Robert’s arrival in London is the answer to her prayers. Neither can deny the very real attraction sizzling between them and if he ruins her, she’ll be free of the unwanted marriage.

But Robert’s very existence has proven to him that romantic entanglements are to be avoided at all costs. His desire for Isabel could cost him the one thing he’s vowed never to lose—his heart.

Mr. Reginald Tompkins,

Richards, Thistlewaite and Tompkins Solicitors

Temple, London

My dear Mr. Tompkins,

Thank you so much for your kind consideration in keeping us informed as to the search for the new Duke of Beckworth. As you might imagine, there are several members of the ducal staff whose jobs are now in jeopardy until the new duke is found.

You have probably heard from Mr. Colin Ford, the assistant land agent, as to the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Morehouse and all the funds. I am certain that a man of your good sense and character will attach no blame to Mr. Ford who has proved to be an excellent manager of the estate so far. But, if you do decide to visit Beckworth Park, please be assured that you will receive the warmest of welcomes from all the staff that remain.

The duchess has written to suggest that any of the deceased duke’s servants who wish to seek employment elsewhere are free to do so. She asks that they present themselves to your office for a reference and the payment of any monies owing to them for their year of service. I believe she has already spoken about this matter to you and received your full support.

Please do not hesitate to write with any further instructions, sir. I remain, as always at your disposal.

Yours,

Henrietta Pemberley

Housekeeper, Beckworth Park

Chapter One

February 1816

London

Robert Milton tried but failed to shake off the apprehension that settled over him as he stood by his mother’s grave. They said bad news always came in threes. First his employer, the Duke of Beckworth, had died eight months before without having secured an heir, a fact that left Robert’s own future in question since they still hadn’t found his successor. And then he’d received a letter from his mother’s solicitor informing him that his mother had also passed away. Who would be next?

It had shocked him to learn his mother hadn’t been lying to him in her last letters. He’d refused to believe her claims that she was ill and that her doctor hadn’t given her long to live. Had even part of him suspected she was telling the truth, nothing would have stopped him from returning to London—heaven knew there was very little for him to do at Beckworth Park. But his mother had often lied to him, hoping to get him to return and fulfill her one greatest wish, something he just couldn’t do, and he’d dismissed those letters as merely her latest attempts.

When he hadn’t heard from her again in the space of a month, he’d begun to dread the worst. Even when she threatened never to speak to him again—one of her favorite weapons in the arsenal she employed to try to bend him to her will—she’d never gone more than a fortnight without writing to him. The solicitor’s letter had arrived just when he’d resigned himself to the fact that he would have to return to London to check on her health.

He was indeed in London now, but instead of yet another argument about why he wouldn’t visit his father, he found himself standing by his mother’s graveside, guilt riding him hard. If he hadn’t ignored her letters, hadn’t taken the shaky handwriting covering her last correspondence as further proof that his mother would stop at nothing to force a reconciliation between him and his father, his presence would, at the very least, have given her some comfort in her final hours. Instead, she’d died alone.

He stood there as though on a precipice, his future before him like a great chasm. His only real family was gone, and it was likely he would no longer be employed when the new Duke of Beckworth was found. Most gentlemen, after all, employed their own valet, and he