Winning the Duke's Heart

By Rebecca Jones

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

Charming dukes with attitudes and kind hearts. Lovely ladies who want to find love. You'll find all of this and much more in this collection.

The collection includes:
1.The Duke I Love
Fleur Harrington cannot remember her past. Where she came from, where she was going and how she ended up rescued by the scandalous Robert Erskine, the Duke of Daventry.

With no prospects or family, the Duke is her only refuge and she becomes a maid in his house.

Can she do what no other woman has yet achieved – steal the Duke’s heart?

2.Captivating the Duke
Having just emerged from mourning following her father's death, Flora Harrington is exactly where she wishes to be: an unofficial companion to her aunt. Unfortunately, her ambitious uncle has other plans for her future. He lays down an ultimatum: either Flora marries the man of his choosing, or he'll force her sixteen-year-old sister to do so instead.

To save herself from an unwanted marriage, Flora ventures into Robert Sterling, the Duke of Pembroke’s bedroom – and into his power. Now her reputation hangs by a thread and only a hurried marriage can rescue her.

Is the Duke of Pembroke the heartless libertine the world believes? Or will Flora discover unexpected honor in a man notorious for his wild ways? Will their encounter spark a passion that lasts a lifetime?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rebecca Jones
• Release date: Nov 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005086596

Rebecca Jones

Rebecca Jones has a lifelong love of history, especially English and American. Her romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century. She writes entertaining books for her readers to enjoy.She loves walks in the countryside and having afternoon tea with family and friends.When not writing, you can find her trying to keep up with her husband and three kids and exploring the different parts of the world.

Book preview

WINNING THE

DUKE’S HEART

Copyright © 2020 Rebecca Jones All Rights Reserved

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

Table of Contents

THE DUKE I LOVE

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

CAPTIVATING THE DUKE

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Epilogue

THE DUKE

I LOVE

Chapter One

France, 1817

The last vestiges of the setting sun disappeared over the horizon, the copper hues giving way to a dusty purple scattered with the occasional glitter of a faraway star. The distant skyline stood silhouetted against a velvety sky, the golden dusk enveloped by the twilight sky.

The stone path was punctuated with weeds after every stone. The disheveled, un-manicured lawn was more moss than grass and was over shadowed by huge weeping willow flowing down onto the dank and squishy ground.

Clusters of defiant daffodils reared their golden heads amidst the gloom and there were smatters of fuchsia alongside the scarlet and saffron hued primroses.

The garden reminded Fleur of the Garden of Eden. How could it not? The Garden of Eden was after all, the perfect prison. It had been designed by God to fulfil Adam and Eve’s every desire. He’d given them the illusion of freewill, whilst all the while keeping walls around them.

Fleur walked up the impressive stone steps that led to the house. The house itself was a red brick wonder that looked ready to stand any test that time might throw at it. Deep green ivy had started to grow up its walls. It too seemed sure that it would be a safe place to spend the rest of eternity.

Whatever are you talking about, Papa? Fleur Harrington asked, crossly.

Her father, Lord Harrington scowled. You are to be wed, Fleur. It is all arranged.

Fleur stared at her father, wondering what on earth had possessed him to arrange such a thing without so much as consulting her. She frowned in consternation.

Dearest Papa, I have no wish to marry.

And yet you will, Lord Harrington replied, cheerfully. After all, you cannot simply stay here!

Why not? Fleur asked, as horror slowly began to fill her chest. I like it here, with you.

The lie fell smoothly from her lips, but her father was not easily fooled. After all, he was the one to whom she had spent years complaining over how little there was to do where they lived. She had told him on more than one occasion that she was quite bored, and now, it seemed, those words were coming back to haunt her.

Her father guffawed, letting her know at once that he didn’t believe her.

It’s true! she exclaimed, in a desperate attempt to convince him of his error. Furthermore, I cannot bear to be parted from you, Papa.

Lord Harrington’s face softened then, and he gestured her to a chair. Sit down, my dear, and let me explain exactly what is happening.

Fleur did as he asked, as a sense of foreboding enveloped her. It did not look as though she were about to escape whatever it was her father had planned. Her father was using the tone of voice he only reserved for the utmost serious conversations.

A very dear friend of mine has a nephew who is in need of a wife, her father explained, sitting down opposite her. I owe this gentleman a great debt of honour. My very life actually.

Your life? Fleur repeated, her eyes widening.

Indeed, her father replied. When I first came to France, he travelled on the same ship as me. The sea was rough, and, without warning, a wave crashed onto the boat and dragged me over the side. Lord Edmund Langley was the one who dived in to save me, risking his own life. It is a debt I have never been able to repay. Until now."

Looking up at her, he quirked an eyebrow. Of course, giving my daughter’s hand in marriage to a Duke isn’t much of a repayment, given how much you’ll be receiving in return, but when I was asked, I simply could not refuse.

Do you mean to tell me that you have promised my hand in marriage to an Englishman I have never even met? Fleur asked.

Precisely! Lord Harrington grinned, as though she should be more than delighted. The Duke of Daventry, no less!

The Duke of Daventry! Fleur screeched. Papa, you cannot be serious!

Even here, the Duke’s reputation was well known. Rumors and whispers about his various dalliances, as well as his penchant for gambling, had made their way from England. She could not believe that her father would give her hand to such a self-indulgent man!

Her father waved away her concerns. That reputation you speak of is simply false. People expect a Duke to behave in a certain way when he is yet unmarried, and that is simply all there is to it. It is rumour, and nothing more. You must not believe a word of it, Fleur. Lord Langley would not have asked for your hand unless he were quite sure of his nephew’s good reputation.

Fleur began to feel nauseous. Has it occurred to you Papa, that he might wish for me to marry the Duke precisely so that his reputation is restored? Or so they might have access to my inheritance?

Of course that is not the case! her father exclaimed. He is a Duke! Even if he were a rogue, the ton would not care, given his title. There would be no reason to attempt to restore his reputation through marriage. You are quite wrong in this regard, Fleur. And when it comes to wealth, the Duke is wealthy enough, without your inheritance.

Tears clung to her lashes as Fleur began to realise that her father was quite serious. There would be no escape from this. Then I am to leave for England? she stammered in a choked voice.

First thing tomorrow, Lord Harrington replied.

What?

Yes. I expect you will need to go and pack. The Duke will be expecting you! All the arrangements have been made. You will be quite safe, I promise.

Bursting into sobs, Fleur buried her face in her hands as her entire body shook. The shock of what her father had decreed threw her into turmoil, as she rebelled against the unfairness of it all.

She wished she had the freedom to do as she pleased, to marry whom she pleased, but it was not to be. Her father had decided for her, and she was not able to refuse.

The thought of having to board ship and to leave the place she called home was terrifying. Anxiety washed over her. She didn’t want to leave.

Fleur ached for her mother, who, had she still been living, would no doubt have told her father exactly what a ridiculous arrangement this was. She would have stood by Fleur’s side and refused to allow her to leave. She would have saved Fleur from this dreadful unknown fate.

There, there, her father murmured, getting up to pat her shoulder awkwardly. I know it is quite difficult to imagine, Fleur, but you will be more than happy with the Duke. Yes, you might require some time to adjust, but life with him will be vastly more exciting than anything you could have here!

I don’t want to marry a stranger, Papa, Fleur begged through her sobs. "Please, won’t you change your