Believe in Love: Scandal Meets Love, #5

By Amanda Mariel and Dawn Brower

Lady Brooke Linwood never could have guessed what would happen after she literally ran into the Duke of Grafton. Now the devilishly handsome duke won't leave her alone, and with each moment they spend together Brooke's determination to resist him slips a little more. Dare she believe in love, or is it only her body at stake?

Drake has loved Lady Brooke since he was a boy, and once promised to come for her when he was grown. Little did he know that his father would leave their estate and fin aces in ruin. Drake struggled to right his affairs, all the while dreaming of the day he could go to Brooke. Now, after ten long years, he is in a position to claim her. But will she have him?

Can a love formed in childhood then neglected for a decade be reignited?

*Believe in Love originally appeared in the blame it on the Night boxset. It has since been re-edited and expanded.*

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brook Ridge Press
• Release date: Jan 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393806011

Amanda Mariel

USA Today Bestselling, Amazon All Star author Amanda Mariel dreams of days gone by when life moved at a slower pace. She enjoys taking pen to paper and exploring historical time periods through her imagination and the written word. When she is not writing she can be found reading, crocheting, traveling, practicing her photography skills, or spending time with her family.

Book preview

Believe in Love

Believe in Love

Amanda Mariel

Contents

Also by Amanda Mariel

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Excerpt

Chapter 1

About the Author

Afterword

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Copyright © 2019 Amanda Mariel

All rights reserved.

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No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission of the publisher.

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Published by Brooke Ridge Press

For my daddy—you will always be in my heart and the first person I think of when horses or gambling are mentioned. You were a true gentleman gambler and the world’s best daddy!

Also by Amanda Mariel

Ladies and Scoundrels series

Scandalous Endeavors

Scandalous Intentions

Scandalous Redemption

Scandalous Wallflower

Scandalous Liaison

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Fabled Love Series

Enchanted by the Earl

Captivated by the Captain

Enticed by Lady Elianna

Delighted by the Duke

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Lady Archer’s Creed series

**Amanda Mariel writing with Christina McKnight**

Theodora

Georgina

Adeline

Josephine

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Scandal Meets Love series

Love Only Me

Find Me Love

If it’s Love

Odd’s of Love

Believe in Love

Chance of Love

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A Rogue’s Kiss Series

Her Perfect Rogue

Coming next to the A Rogue’s Kiss series

His Perfect Hellion

Her Perfect Scoundrel

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Standalone titles

One Moonlit Tryst

One Enchanting Kiss

Christmas in the Duke’s Embrace

One Wicked Christmas

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Mists of Babylon series

Love’s Legacy

One Wanton Wager

Forever in Your Arms

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Wicked Earls’ Club

**Titles by Amanda Mariel**

Earl of Grayson

Earl of Edgemore

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Fated for a Rogue

A Wallflower’s Folly

Coming next to the Fated for a Rogue series

One Fateful may Day

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Connected by a Kiss

**These are designed so they can standalone**

How to Kiss a Rogue (Amanda Mariel)

A Kiss at Christmastide (Christina McKnight)

A Wallflower’s Christmas Kiss (Dawn Brower)

Stealing a Rogue’s Kiss (Amanda Mariel)

A Gypsy’s Christmas kiss (Dawn Brower)

A Duke’s Christmas Kiss (Tammy Andresen)

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Box sets and anthologies

Visit www.amandamariel.com to see Amanda’s current offerings.

Prologue

Lady Brooke Linwood frolicked through a fragrant field of lavender; her skirts held high in her hands. The sun warmed her face while a soft summer breeze kept her from overheating.

She inhaled a deep breath of summer, then smiled at her grandparents neighbor, Drake Kingston, The Marquess of Grafton.

Don’t be shy, she called across the open space as she twirled. Come dance with me.

Drake grinned as he strolled toward her, his black hair bouncing in the breeze and green eyes sparkling. I’ve never been shy. He held his arms wide, inviting her to him.

Brooke laughed as she raced into his embrace. She tipped her head back as he twirled her about before bringing her back to him.

Things between them were always this way, fun and easy. Drake made her laugh every time they were together. He was her safe haven and provided her an escape from her loneliness.

How Brooke wished she could stay here forever.

Alas, she could not. Her Mother had abandoned her at her grandparent’s estate for the summer. Neither she nor Father could ever be bothered with Brooke. They were far too busy enjoying their separate lives to fret over the raising of their inconvenient daughter. 

Soon, Brooke would be sent away to finishing school at Mrs. Emmeline’s School of Education and Decorum for Ladies of Outstanding Quality in Canterbury. She wasn’t even returning home beforehand. 

It was one more way for her parents to ignore her and the knowledge stung.

Not that she cared overmuch about home, but Canterbury… It might as well be a world away from Cumbria. And more importantly, from Drake. 

Brooke leaned into him, her heart heavy with longing. She nuzzled against his shoulder. I wish I could stay here forever. I’m going to miss you. Miss this.

Really? Drake asked as he grinned down at her. Don’t you want to see what else is out there? Aren’t you at least a little excited about school? He arched a questioning brow. I’ll miss you, but I won’t forget you.

Brooke sighed, her heart pounding. We’re only fourteen and fifteen. You’ll forget about me long before we are grown, and I don’t care what’s out there. I’m happy here. She frowned.

I promise you will find happiness elsewhere. There will be lots of girls at school, and you will make more friends. Drake lifted her from her feet and twirled her in circles. He smiled as he spun her faster, her laughter bursting forth. That’s my girl. He smiled.

Brooke’s heart filled near to bursting. For the thousandth time this summer, she wondered if she might love him. It was an emotion she had no experience with, other than knowing what love wasn’t.

It certainly was not parents who did everything possible to avoid their daughter. Love was not loneliness and tears. And it couldn’t possibly be people who cared more for themselves than anyone else.

Love had to be something more, something like shared laughter, camaraderie, and warm smiles. Something like what she and Drake shared. 

Brooke tipped her