Revealing the Duke's Secret

By Roxie Brandon

Daphne is betrothed to Duke Roger Blackwood at the request of her parents to save their land. The Duke is a loner who distrusts women but agrees to the marriage.
Daphne has loved the Duke since she was fifteen but is not prepared for his coldness and arrogance. She knows his deadly secret, one that would destroy him if it was let out.
Her marriage is a loveless arrangement, and she leaves soon after in the middle of the night, convinced the Duke will never love her back. But when the Duke sees she has gone, anger turns to worry and he heads to her family's estate to bring her back home. But when he arrives, tragedy occurs and he believes he's lost her forever.

Enjoy this clean and wholesome Regency romance with a sweet happily ever after!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxie Brandon
• Release date: Feb 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005300630

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

REVEALING THE

DUKE’S SECRET

Copyright © 2021 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

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Epilogue

CHAPTER 1

The sun peeked in through the window inside the Carrington house. It was a pleasant spring morning and Catherine and Charles Carrington were gathered around the breakfast table to indulge in the first meal of the morning.

Where are Daphne and David? Very unlike them to be late for breakfast, remarked Charles as he sipped his tea whilst his wife buttered another bun for him.

David went out early today, the woman named Catherine remarked, but I trust Daphne should be joining us at any moment.

A moment passed in silence and the woman spoke up again, You know, Elizabeth and Frank came by yesterday and brought along with them the invitation to their daughter’s wedding, Catherine said, I congratulated them of course, but I could not help thinking how hasty they were being. The girl is only eighteen!

That’s fair enough, Charles replied, though I cannot help but imagine how one day we’re going to be the ones with the envelope in our hands, knocking on doors to invite people to our own daughter’s wedding, Charles’s tone had taken an edge of wistfulness and his natural parental instincts had begun to seep through his words.

Catherine dismissed him with a hasty wave of the hand, Do not be so sentimental, Charles. There is still much time left till we see the day.

But is there really? I do not want to lie but lately my mind has been thinking about the subject, Charles told her, after all, our daughter is of age and I remember you telling me how she brought up the topic of marriage with you quite eagerly.

Catherine lifted up her eyebrows and shot her husband a look of disapproval, She’s only twenty and nearly not wise enough to handle marriage thus far, she said curtly, so dispel this ludicrous notion at once as I’m sure we must have other important things to converse about.

A sigh escaped Charles’s lips - he knew better than to strike up an argument with Catherine and thus he resolved to silence on the subject. Just then, the door of the dining room opened and Daphne Carrington walked in with her usual cloud of bright cheerfulness that was enough to lighten up any dull surroundings.

She greeted her parents and took her place on the table, Might I say, I’m incredibly ravenous today. The food smells delicious, she remarked as she helped herself to a serving of eggs.

I am glad, my dear, Catherine smiled warmly towards the direction of her offspring.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door – a deliberate and continuous series of loud raps of the knuckle on the front of the wooden exterior.

Who could it be? Catherine wondered in puzzlement, It is only half past eight in the morning and we aren’t expecting any visitors.

You ladies continue with your meal and I will go find out who it is, Charles said, hastily wiping the corner of his mouth with the cotton napkin and standing up from his place at the table.

He crossed over to the next room and the continuous knocking had begun yet again. Charles was beginning to grow a little perturbed with the frequency of the knocks and the impatience of the person who was making them but as soon as he opened the door to reveal their identity, all his questions were answered.

George Jones stood before him in all his usual stride with his shoulders hunched and a half consumed cigar in one hand. George was their local magistrate and handled matters of the law in their small community. However, it was no coincidence that he showed up today at the Carrington residence.

George! Might I say it quite the surprise seeing you here this early – you have joined us at the right time though. Please, come inside and join us for some breakfast perhaps? I insist, Charles greeted him warmly though in the depth of his heart, he knew exactly why the magistrate had made this unlikely appearance.

The magistrate made no effort to return Charles’s warmth and instead seemed to shuffle uncomfortably, "No, Charles. I