Governess for the Charming Duke

By Roxie Brandon

Amazing value Regency two-story collection. Jam-packed with romance, love, and adventure.

Two governesses find love in unexpected ways. These tales are perfect to read over a cup of coffee, on the train, or even before bed. Charming dukes with attitudes and kind hearts. Lovely ladies who want to find love.

You’ll fall head over heels for these stories of strong women who step beyond the limits of class and society to find the men of their dreams.

This Regency romance collection is a sweet read with a guaranteed happily ever after.

The collection includes:
1.THE DUKE’S MARGARET
Anthony Randall, the Duke of Daventry, is in desperate need of a governess for his orphaned niece. The Duke’s niece, the spoiled, seven-year-old Isabella has been through three governesses. The Duke is highly doubtful the young, inexperienced Miss Margaret Hopkins could possibly manage his irascible niece but since he is desperate, he agrees to give her a chance.

Much to the astonishment of the entire household Margaret succeeds beautifully, bringing the little lady under control and brightening the lives of everyone she comes in contact with, including the Duke.

Unfortunately, the Duke has a reputation as a faithless rake and a heartbreaker. No woman of good character is willing to live under the same roof as him. Apart from the beautiful Margaret Hopkins.
2.THE DUKE’S ROSE
The lovely Miss Hale is the governess to Eliza and Edmund, the children of the Duke of Cromwell. She is ready to love them as her own, but her biggest challenge will be their father. Since his wife died, he wants nothing to do with his children.

Lady Isabella Ingram wants the Duke for selfish reasons and will do everything to manipulate him. Will the innocent Miss Hale win the Duke's heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxie Brandon
• Release date: Apr 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463282564

Roxie Brandon

Roxie Brandon is an author of historical and contemporary romance, beauty and fashion books.Her romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century.She loves walks in the countryside and having afternoon tea with family and friends.

Book preview

Governess for the

Charming Duke

Copyright © 2019 Roxie Brandon All Rights Reserved

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Duke’s Margaret

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

The Duke’s Rose

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Epilogue

The Duke’s Margaret

CHAPTER ONE

Countryside bathed in brilliant summer sunlight. Margaret Hopkins smelled the fresh air around her. The flowers were radiant and beautiful swaying with the wind. The wind, that nice breeze against her face with the wonderful perfume of roses met her nose. She heard the faint sound of chirping above and saw birds soar across the sky. The warm gentle sun shone on her, filling her body with warmth.

The lake mirrored the sky above. Margaret closed her eyes. The breeze that ran unchecked over the rippled surface blew her long bangs from her eyes and brought colour to her usually pale cheeks.

Without the distraction of the view she could detect the scent. The moist air was fragranced with the pine trees that circled the lake, growing so close that some had toppled in and others dangles cobra-thick roots into the water.

The sunset threatening to dip behind the horizon, firstly cascading a prim bombardment of colours that were flung over the sky with terrible alacrity. The receding blue and oranges battled the blackness pushing it away with arms.

It shone on the lake below shining its deep depths. The radiant glow scintillated and beamed. A deep sense of serenity overcame her as she stared in rapture at the expanse of blue that lay before her.

I still wish we didn’t have to send her away, Charles.

Margaret heard her mother’s worry clearly in her words. Her parents were discussing her upcoming departure for the county seat of the Duke of Daventry to be governess to his orphaned niece.

My love, her father said, I would do anything to make it not be so, as you well know, but we have little choice, but to send Margaret, she is the eldest. Our parish living grows smaller, the parishioners are of meagre means. We must keep body and soul together.

Margaret’s heart was torn. She was now getting ready to take herself off for an employment in a stranger’s house. With her in someone else’s home, being housed and fed, her family would be able to maintain an easier living.

Her parents rued the day that things had come to such a pass, but Margaret was excited by all the possibilities inherent in such a situation as hers. At the very least, she would avoid a too-early marriage to someone she did not care for as a means of securing her future against poverty.

Instead, she would be able to see something of the world beyond the walls of her home, to meet interesting people, to breathe the air of her betters and learn from them how to advance herself.

She walked past her parents’ bedchamber and slipped into the drawing room, searching until she found the book she had been reading before dinner. Tomorrow would be her last day among the family and friends she had known since her youth. The next day, a carriage was being sent to take her to Brighton House, the Duke’s country home.

She sighed as she put the book under the pillow and pulled up the thin coverlet. She prayed that all would be well, both for her beloved family and for herself.

Her younger sister, Rose, entered the room.

I hope that you will write to me often, Margaret, Rose said. I shall look to hear how you have settled in, and how they treat you.

I promise to send word as soon as I can, Margaret replied.

What do you suppose he’s like, the Duke? Rose asked.

I would imagine he is some older gentleman forced to raise his niece, and what bachelor knows anything about raising children? Margaret stated calmly.

What makes you so certain he is unmarried? Rose asked.

I don’t know, Margaret admitted. I just assume he must be.

Certainly, you will know for sure on the morrow, Rose concluded. You will describe it all to me, won’t you?

Oh, I shall, Margaret promised. In the meantime, you must promise me not to pine for me. We shall always be the best of friends, no matter where we are.

Margaret didn’t know when she would see her home again, and though she was excited at the chance to go away, she knew she would miss her family and friends, and the village where she had lived almost her whole life.

Next morning, after a fitful rest, Margaret dressed carefully and took her valise down to the front hall to await the carriage that would take her to her new home.

There was little conversation at breakfast, and Margaret decided that perhaps this once she would not try to force a cheerfulness that was clearly missing. Instead, she ate her thick porridge and sipped her tea, and then sat in the drawing room waiting for her ride to come.

The sound of horses’ hooves approaching made Margaret tense involuntarily, and her father opened the door. Her little family all stepped out, her valise in her father’s hand, and watched as the carriage came to a stop before the gate.

The vicar handed the valise to the coachman and watched as Margaret hugged her mother and sister. He took her into his arms, and said, "Go with God, my child. Write to us so that