The Duke's Secret (Preview)

By Abby Ayles

Mary Elridge is of age to marry, and yet her parents are cautious. Her mother, Lady Elridge, is more familiar with the social mores she grew up among as the daughter of a Baron. And her father, Sir Elridge, knows little to nothing about choosing a suitor for his daughter.

Mary believes her parents have struck gold when her first and only suitor, the mysterious Mr Haskett, arrives. He is handsome, witty, and charming. But Mary works out very early on that he cannot be who he claims to be. After discovering the secret of his true title and status, their blossoming love must face hurdle after hurdle. Between Lady Elridge's high aspirations for Mary, Sir Elridge's poor understanding of marriage, and Mr Haskett's insistence on keeping her in the dark, it seems as though this man, whom Mary is growing to love, may end up not as her husband, but as her first broken heart.

Can Mary give her heart to a suitor who keeps so many secrets from her? Can Mr Haskett trust Mary, and her parents, or do they know too much about him? Will their love succeed against the odds, or shall this courtship end in disaster?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Starfall Publications
• Release date: Jun 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393396994

Book preview

Introduction

Mary Elridge is of age to marry, and yet her parents are cautious. Her mother, Lady Elridge,

is more familiar with the social mores she grew up among as the daughter of a Baron. And her father, Sir Elridge, knows little to nothing about choosing a suitor for his daughter.

Mary believes her parents have struck gold when her first and only suitor, the mysterious Mr Haskett, arrives. He is handsome, witty, and charming. But Mary works out very early on that he cannot be who he claims to be. After discovering the secret of his true title and status, their blossoming love must face hurdle after hurdle. Between Lady Elridge's high aspirations for Mary, Sir Elridge's poor understanding of marriage, and Mr Haskett's insistence on keeping her in the dark, it seems as though this man, whom Mary is growing to love, may end up not as her husband, but as her first broken heart.

Can Mary give her heart to a suitor who keeps so many secrets from her? Can Mr Haskett trust Mary, and her parents, or do they know too much about him? Will their love succeed against the odds, or shall this courtship end in disaster?

Chapter 1

Looking out of her bedroom window across the garden, young Marianne Elridge felt at peace. Her life was one of ease and beauty, her heart was at rest, and

everything had purpose and meaning. As of yet.

Her father, Sir James Elridge of York, was away on important business. Her mother, Lady Diana Elridge, was downstairs entertaining some Barons and a Countess—these were people she knew from her days as a Baron's daughter herself.

Marianne was different from her mother. She preferred her shortened name, Mary, and she considered socialising a vexing inconvenience. Mary was hiding away upstairs, waiting for the evening to end so she could have her supper and maybe practise her piano forte in the assembly room.

She was at the cusp of womanhood, no longer young enough to be introduced as a child or excused for her faux pas. Mary  was a young woman finally of age to be a wife, yet not quite yet ready for marriage proposals—although her parents would argue this. She had yet to consider herself a respectable, serene young lady prepared for marriage. Since Mary was an only child,

her mother was wringing her wrists and pacing the floors quite regularly, fretting about how, when, and where to find the right suitor for her.

Mary denied