The Haunting of a Duke: The Dark Regency Series, #1

By Chasity Bowlin

A steamy Regency romance full of spicy thrills and spooky chills. Welcome to Briarwood Park, an English manor house filled with spirits, its halls stalked by a bloodthirsty madman, and a brooding duke accused of the most wicked crime of all... murdering his late wife. The Haunting of a Duke is perfect read for Halloween or any time of the year for those who like their romance served up slightly darker.

Communing with spirits has been both gift and curse to Emme Walters. Now it's made her a killer's target. Emme knows why the Dowager Duchess of Briarleigh invited her to a house party--to investigate whether the duke, Rhys Brammel, murdered his wife years ago. But Emme never imagined she would fall in love with the brooding duke.
Branded by society as a possible killer, Rhys is suspicious of Emme and her alleged "gift." Then a late night encounter creates awareness of her other, more attractive, aspects. When Emme's life is threatened, Rhys becomes her protector. Emme and Rhys find passion and peril as they join forces to solve the mysteries at Briarleigh. She made him believe in spirits, but can she make him believe in love?

The Haunting of a Duke is the first of six book in the Dark Regency Series. Each book in this series contains gothic elements, occult or paranormal references, and steamy, open door sex scenes.

Praise for the Haunting of a Duke:

"Omg! Could not wait to get back to reading this book every chance I could! Love the love story/fiery romance and mystery all in one! Can't wait to read the next 5 books in the Dark Regency series!"—Amazon Review

"This story was so good it really deserves more than 5 stars. I was hooked from page one, I love a good HR but this was so much more. Murder, mystery, ghostly goings on, not to mention the sizzling attraction between Emme and Rhys I could not put this story down." —Goodreads Review

"Stumbled across this book bought as a freebie some time ago and decided... What the heck, let's read this without researching recommendations.
BEST DECISION EVER!!! Totally enchanting. The mystery and ghost elements added intrigue without being too spooky for my Christian soul. Lol"—Goodreads Review

 

"From the first paragraph to the last I was entrenched with this story of love and hauntings."—Amazon Review

"A beautiful blend of historical romance with a dash of mysticism, this is not what I was expecting. From page one, we are thrown into a story that is immediately intriguing, spurring questions that demand answers."—Amazon Review

"What can I say but I really enjoyed THE HAUNTING OF A DUKE. If you like a dark, hot Regency romance with murder and mystery, a brooding, lovable Duke, ghosts (good and evil) and a sweet heroine this book is for you."—Amazon Review 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Chasity Bowlin
• Release date: Aug 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201125868

Book preview

The Haunting of a Duke

The Haunting of a Duke

Chasity Bowlin

Also by Chasity Bowlin

THE DARK REGENCY SERIES

The Haunting of a Duke

The Redemption of a Rogue

The Enticement of an Earl

A Love So Dark

A Passion So Strong

A Heart So Wicked

An Affair So Destined

STANDALONE

The Beast of Bath

Worth The Wait

THE DUNNE FAMILY SERIES

The Last Offer

The First Proposal

The Other Wife

The Late Husband

The Plain Bride (coming soon)

The Perfect Groom (coming soon)

THE LOST LORDS SERIES

The Lost Lord of Castle Black

The Vanishing of Lord Vale

The Missing Marquess of Althorn

The Resurrection of Lady

The Mystery of Miss Mason

The Awakening of Lord Ambrose

Hyacinth

A Midnight Clear

The Pirate’s Bluestocking (A Pirates of Britannia Crossover)

THE VICTORIAN GOTHIC COLLECTION

House of Shadows

Veil of Shadows

Passage of Shadows

THE HELLION CLUB SERIES

A Rogue to Remember

Barefoot in Hyde Park

What Happens In Piccadilly

Sleepless In Southampton

When An Earl Loves A Governess (coming soon)

The Duke’s Magnificent Obsession

The Governess Diaries

THE LYON’S DEN CONNECTED WORLD

Fall Of The Lyon

Tamed By The Lyon

THE WYLDE WALLFLOWERS

One Wylde Night

A Kiss Gone Wylde (coming soon)

Too Wylde To Tame (coming soon)

Wylde At Heart (coming soon)

COMING SOON

Upon A Midnight Dreary

UPON A MIDNIGHT DREARY

When doors creak and ghostly whispers can be heard throughout the halls, this stunning collection of haunted Historical Romance novellas is sure to leave you breathless with ethereal, romantic tales…

Upon a Midnight Dreary, a hauntingly romantic collection, is coming!

Many of your favorite Historical Romance authors have come together for a collection of never-before published stories inspired by true, legendary hauntings of the British Isles. These tales will give you a chill, a thrill, and have you reading them over and over.

From the moors of Devon to the ballrooms of Regency London, and far north into the Scottish Highlands, these stories will bring you wistful dreams of legendary and haunting romance. You’ve never before experienced a collection like this by some of the very best authors in Historical Romance.

Remember - it's never too early for ghosts, goblins, and haunting love!

AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER AT ALL MAJOR RETAILERS! THIS COLLECTION WILL BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 21st, 2021 AND YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS IT.

CLICK HERE TO PREORDER

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Read on for a description of the amazing stories you will find inside!

Into The Night by Chasity Bowlin

Miss Clara Pennington has elected to take control of her own life and her own fortune by doing something scandalous. Rather than allow her brother to place her as a companion to a miserly woman and keep her inheritance for himself, she places a personal ad to find a husband and a home of her own.

Mr. Simon Ravenau has returned from the war, scarred and alone. He needs a wife to help him set his estate to rights and turns to the personal ads to find one. But when he heads to the Ancient Ram Inn to meet his prospective bride as they have arranged, neither could have imagined what the night would have in store for them.

Trapped by a raging storm, forced to seek shelter together in a place filled with dark secrets and an even darker presence, he and Clara must depend on one another if they are to survive the night. Can their shared horror truly be the beginning of a perfect match… or is it a harbinger of all that’s yet to come?

The Stones of Ard Cairn by Hildie McQueen

1602, Outer Hebrides

The village of Ard Cairn is not the quite picturesque locale, Nevin Ross expects it to be. A stone circle just outside the village haunts the residents. When his nightmares come to life, Nevin battles for his life and that of the beautiful woman he instinctively knows is to be his life partner.

As keeper of the circle of stones, all Dallis Gallaher can aspire to in life is to keep the deadly evil captives within. When a man from her dreams appears, she is not prepared for the creatures in the stones to demand she lull him to his death.

Only love can help two people triumph over evil and death.

White Lady Lost by Maggi Andersen

Legend has it that Lady Margaret Pomeroy was entombed in the dungeons of Berry Pomeroy Castle by her jealous sister Eleanor who loved the same man. Visitors often see Margaret’s ghost wandering St. Margaret’s Tower.

When Harry Johnson visits his parents at Berry Pomeroy village for Christmas he encounters a lady in white in the park. She begs him to help her but when he suggests coming with him to his parent’s house she disappears. His parents have guests for Christmas dinner, a young lady, and her mother. Harry is immediately smitten with Cecily and their friendship becomes a quest to help the lady in white. It takes them into the dungeons of Berry Pomeroy castle where disaster strikes. Love can blossom in the strangest of places, but should you ever disturb the ghosts?

The Others of Ochil by Mary Lancaster

A determined earl, a penniless lady, and far too many ghosts…

Justina is a debutante’s poor relation, forbidden to disgrace the family by any insane talk of ghosts. When they are invited to Hillfoot Tower in Scotland, it seems her cousin Anne is destined to become a countess.

However, it is not Anne but Justina who has captured the Earl of Ochil’s interest. For he has a unique problem with the many ghosts who haunt his ancient castle. He needs Justina’s gifts – and, it seems, her heart.

Moonstone Landing by Meara Platt

Gorgeous sea captain, Brioc Arundel, died valiantly while trying to save schoolchildren off a sinking schooner when a sudden squall hit Moonstone Landing’s harbor. But he hasn’t moved on and now haunts his old home, Moonstone Cottage, a lovely manor house overlooking the sea.

When Lady Henleigh Killigrew purchases it for a song because no one else will go near the haunted place, sparks begin to fly. Brioc quickly realizes he does not wish to chase Lady Henleigh away. Quite the opposite, she stirs a longing in his heart. But why is she here? Unmarried, obviously young and beautiful, and on her own.

She will not tell him the reason, but as he begins to puzzle it out, he realizes it is because they were meant to find each other. Is it possible their love can transcend time? Be ready to laugh, sigh, and shed a sentimental tear as Brioc and Hen come to grips with a love that knows no bounds.

The Bridge To Love by Alexa Aston

Lady Iris Langley returns to her father’s country estate after a decade, encountering the ghost she befriended as a child. Iris learns the ghost is named Anne but can find no record of what happened to her.

When Iris and her betrothed, Crispin Bergville, Earl of Windthorst, discover initials inside a heart carved into the center of the bridge connecting their families’ estates, they believe it is the key to unlock Anne’s story. The pair vows to learn the truth and find a way to set Anne’s spirit free.

Percy’s Perdition by Aubrey Wynne

The past looks over your shoulder…

Ellie knows she will never convince her husband to listen to his conscience. Instead, she quietly works behind Percy’s back to repair the damage whenever possible. When their lives are tragically ended in a horrific carriage accident, Ellie finally has the opportunity to save her husband’s soul.

The Earl of Karmaughton cares about two things in life: power and his wife, Ellie. His investment decisions indirectly cause suffering to so many innocents. He’s not oblivious, but as Percy’s father always said, It’s business.

While Karma bides its time.

The callous nobleman soon learns that for every action there is a consequence. In order to avoid his punishment in Hell, he must spend his time in Purgatory, helping other souls repent or find their way to eternal damnation. With Ellie’s help, Karma’s Karnival becomes an eerie last stop for those who need to discover their humanity… or suffer in perpetuity.

The Ghost Bride by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

England 1867

A chance meeting on a train by travel writer Jemima Douglas and historian Dr. Monty Rhodes is more than fortuitous - it is fated.

Bound for the same small village in Devon, Jemima and Monty discover that an old church and an even more ancient castle are entwined in a mystery that spans centuries: whatever happened to Isabeau de Bois, the Tudor bride who disappeared on the eve of her wedding?

Villagers say the mysterious figure which appears in the castle and the village is the Ghost Bride who beseeches lovers to try to uncover her final resting place.

As Monty and Jemima are drawn deeper into the tale, hearts and lives are in danger.

Haunted Knight by Elizabeth Johns

There have always been ghosts at Greystone Priory, but now one particularly troublesome one is scaring people away from the estate. A great beast has been seen, and no one will come there to work.

Helen Evans had found the perfect place to hide until she reached her majority. After her mother’s suspicious death, she did not wish to be forced into an unsavory match. Everyone thereabouts knew the Priory was uninhabited—and haunted, so she and her dog availed herself of its shelter. Everything was going smoothly until the owner and her cousins arrive trying to ferret out the ghost.

Sir Martin Hardy is called home from London to see to the matter and finds a great deal more than he bargained for!

The Grey Lady Of The Manor by Elizabeth Keysian

Deep in the Essex countryside, the Grey Lady of Patience Bridge lures unwary travelers to their deaths. At nearby Temple Roding manor, superstitious maidservant Letty believes herself cursed, and is desperate for help. The irrepressible Perkin is secretly enlisted to quell her fears but he soon discovers that something unearthly is stalking Letty. Why has it picked on this innocent young beauty, and could the haunting be connected with the Grey Lady’s tragedy?

To free herself, Letty hazards everything in a daring gamble, and the smitten Perkin agrees to help. But if her plan fails, it won’t just be the dead who are determined to take their revenge on the pair, but the living as well. And the living can be far more dangerous.

A Governess of No Fear by Emily E K Murdoch

Miss Evangeline Jones never intended to be a governess, but it's difficult to say no to Miss Vivienne Clarke. That's how she ended up at Ettington Park.

There are two young boys to take care of, a rather handsome master she absolutely should not be thinking about...

...and a mysterious ghostly lady who simply won't leave her alone.

For a governess of no fear, it would be a relaxing Halloween...

Once Upon A Haunted Heart by Anna St. Claire

Edward Baxter inherits an earldom upon the death of a distant uncle and within a Season, becomes betrothed to Lady Violet Hanson in a celebrated match. Before they can marry, strange and vicious occurrences threaten their lives and the continuation of the Whitlock earldom.

Edward’s uncanny resemblance to his late cousin attracts not only the curiosity of the town, but the vengeance of a ghost. When Edward recognizes the attacks are connected to tragedies from his late cousin’s family, he goes to extreme lengths to unravel the mystery before the ghost kills his betrothed.

Will Edward discover the dangerous curse and placate the ghost in time to allow he and Violet a chance at love and happiness?

Haunted Hart by Emily Royal

Delilah McGregor seems to have it all—a loving husband, and two beautiful children. But she’s increasingly frustrated by the constraints of her role as a wife and mother. During a family vacation to the Medieval village of Falkland, Delilah finds herself subject to a malevolent force. A ghost, known as the White Lady, is rumored to haunt the village, waiting to be reunited with her long-lost lover to whom Delilah’s husband bears an uncanny resemblance, and events threaten to take a tragic turn…

The Lair of the Burrells by Lynne Connolly

Lady Cecilia Burrell doesn’t regret her marriage to Frank Burrell, a penniless soldier, but Frank has gained promotion in the field, and now, after Waterloo, he’s a Colonel in a prestigious regiment. But none of that matters after a storm on the Scottish coast. Frank is missing and Cecilia is given grudging hospitality by Frank’s grandfather and his sinister companion.

Cecilia refuses to give up on Frank, and she refuses to let the dank Scottish castle bring her down. She will prevail, even when the spirits of this place rise up to confront her. She will prevail and Frank will survive.

Guardian of Midnight Manor by Maeve Greyson

Nothing is more powerful than love…

Arthur Preston, the next Earl of Blackborn, has always known his grandfather was eccentric, but this latest revelation from the man who raised him borders on the insane. If not for the solicitor verifying the terms of his parents’ will, he’d think it another of dear old granddad’s pranks. Arthur must seek the help of the Guardian of Midnight Manor in finding a wife, or he will never come into the full of his inheritance. But there’s a slight problem. The Guardian of Midnight Manor is a ghostly dog rumored to haunt the burned-out remains of the original family seat that is now turned into a farmstead.

Jennet Ross, her decrepit grandfather, and meddling auntie are seeking a fresh start as tenant farmers in England. They lost their tenancy in Scotland, evicted by the rude landowner when Jennet spurned the man’s unwanted advances by breaking his nose with a spade. They’re thankful Lord Blackborn agreed to lease to them, even if the place is rumored to be haunted. Besides, the only dog Jennet has seen since they moved in is the sweet stray she feeds each day.

According to legend, the Guardian of Midnight Manor finds true love for the heirs of the Blackborn line. Arthur thinks it a myth. Granddad knows better. Never underestimate the power of love—even when it comes from beyond the grave.

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AND MANY, MANY MORE….

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CLICK HERE TO PREORDER

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Epilogue

Suggested Reading Order

UPON A MIDNIGHT DREARY

Also by Chasity Bowlin

One

Emme Walters emerged from the dark, damp dungeons of Briarwood Hall in a state of dishabille that would send her aunt into apoplexy if she saw it. Thankfully, it was well into the wee hours of the morning and most people at the small country gathering had found their own beds, or someone else’s, to occupy for the remainder of the night. Noting that the corridor appeared to be deserted, Emme sighed in relief. The dungeon undoubtedly contained endless horrors of mice and spiders, and she wanted desperately to be free of it. She shuddered a bit and gave the door a push. Having freed herself, albeit clumsily; she stepped further into the hall.

Unfortunately, the door was closing much more freely than it had opened, and in a panic, she grasped it to prevent it from banging shut, managing only to smash her fingers. She uttered a mild oath, though it was the strongest one she knew, and clasped her battered fingers to her chest. It would be an interesting addition to the cadre of other scrapes and bruises that she had accrued during the night. Her nocturnal wanderings usually resulted in at least a few injuries that her maid would have to work diligently to camouflage.There was a candle on the table, but the shadows provided some protection for her. Sleepwalking, or spells, or whatever one chose to call it, would be the ruin of her. She ducked into an alcove, molding herself to the wall, before peering out to be certain that no one was about. The corridor remained deserted and she uttered a quick prayer of thanks before making her way to the next shadowy recess. The last thing she needed was to be found in such a compromising position. It was all well and good for people to call her a medium or mystic, and to speculate about her and her strange ways, but to be caught outside of her room in such a state—wearing only her night rail, her hair disheveled and various scrapes and bruises covering her body—her reputation would soon be as tattered as her appearance

Shoving those thoughts forcefully from her mind, she stepped forward and her hip bumped the edge of a small table. It teetered ominously, but she managed to right it. The noise, to her ears at least, was deafening. When no one rushed forward to brand her a thief or a woman of loose morals, Emme continued towards the guest wing of the ducal estate, or rather in the direction she believed the wing to be. In truth, she had no idea where she was or how she’d come to be there. Briarwood Hall was massive, and though she’d only been there for a single day, she’d already been lost several times. Her aunt, the imperious and glacial Lady Isabella Harding, had already taken her to task for it.

With the thought of her aunt’s glaring disapproval in mind, she forced herself to move, to continue the trek back toward her room. Her bare feet were silent on the marble floors as she crept along the hallway. Her heart thundered in her chest and she trembled. The fear of being discovered was so intense, it left her weak. She tried to calm herself, to reassure herself, that most of the servants were abed, and the guests as well. There were a few stragglers still roaming the halls, and of course there were the romantic assignations that were the very reason for house parties. She was attuned to every noise, every creak as she made her way towards the stairs and she wished fervently that she knew the house better and knew where the servants’ stairs were located, as they would greatly decrease her chance of discovery.

Just as Emme neared the main staircase, as she could see the intricate carving of the banisters, a noise from behind her made her thundering heart skip. She froze mid stride and peered over her shoulder at the growing triangle of light emerging from the doorway of the billiard room. Tension coiled in her stomach, and her breath seized in her lungs. Someone was coming, and her wits fled her entirely.

From the shadowed recesses beneath the staircase, Lord Rhys Brammel watched the stealthy movements of the shadowy figure traversing the hall. At first glance, painted in the silvery light and long shadows of the darkened hall, she had appeared more phantom than flesh and blood. As she had moved closer, her identity as an exalted guest had been unmistakable. In truth, she was not his guest. She had been invited by his mother without his knowledge. It was not an unusual occurrence. His mother frequently invited inappropriate people to their home in her quest for truth, enlightenment and a direct line of communiqué to the spirit world. His aunt, Lady Eleanor Brammel, had attempted for years to dissuade his mother from such pursuits, but had met with little success. That was to be expected, of course. Lady Phyllis Brammel, in her own quiet way, was a force to be reckoned with.

He had ducked into the stairwell upon first observing the ‘apparition’. Was that part of her game, he wondered? Was she a thief and a liar, or simply returning from a midnight tryst? He didn’t have the answers, but he meant to find out. If Miss Walters was playing at being a ghost, or attempting to frighten other guests to raise her own social cache, he would send her packing, regardless of his mother’s protests. He knew from experience that it was impossible to dissuade his mother from anything once she’d set her mind to it. She had issued the invitations regardless of any protests, but if it came to it, he was the head of the household. It was at his discretion to rescind the invitation at any time and for any reason of his choosing. He would, of course, pay dearly for utilizing that authority, but that was neither here nor there.

Rhys watched her moving along the hall, wondering what could have prompted her to move about in such a state of undress. Given that her behavior earlier in the day had been so circumspect, he found it curious that she would so recklessly court the ruin of far more than her reputation. In truth, everything about her was rather curious. She was known to the ton as a psychic, yet disdained any discussion of ghosts. For that matter, she was reputed to be an innocent, and yet she was wandering the halls practically nude, displaying her figure to any passerby. As the only passerby, he really couldn’t complain overmuch, as he found himself enjoying the display quite thoroughly. Of course, he wasn’t the only man to have noted Miss Walters’ many charms. Nearly every man present had been intrigued by her, including the lecherous Lord Pommeroy.

Rhys’ rumination was cut short by a widening arc of light at the door to the billiard room. It froze Miss Walters’ in her tracks as well. Swiftly, he considered his options. Allowing her to be discovered and ruined would result in her being packed off to her family. It was an effective method of removing her as a complication in his own life, but hardly an honorable course of action. It seemed, he thought grimly, he was to play the knight in less than shining armor.

Acting decisively, he stepped forward, grasped her wrist and pulled her to him. He brought his other hand up to quickly cover her mouth as he pulled her into the deeper shadows beneath the stairs. He turned them so that her body was imprisoned between him and the wall, his body shielding her from view. His black evening clothes blended with the shadows, rendering them almost invisible.

When he whispered next to her ear, his voice was low and gruff, It’s a bit late for a stroll, Miss Walters.

He felt her shiver against him. Was it fear or something else equally primal? The delicate scent of her skin was heady. It was as soft and feminine as the lush curves of her body that pressed so intimately against him. His body’s libidinous response to her nearness was immediate. It had been far too long since he’d held a woman in the circle of his arms, and felt the yielding of softer flesh, the satin of pampered skin. It was torture, but he relished it.

In the hard circle of his arms, Emme managed to turn her head slightly, so that she could see over the curve of his arm. Raucous laughter boomed down the hall and the shadows of two gentlemen came into view, dark shapes distorted over the pale marble of the floor.

As they neared, Emme blushed at their ribald comments. She could feel her face heating as they discussed the attributes of one of the female guests. Her face flamed even hotter when she realized that she, or more particularly, her bosom, was the subject of their speculation.

Their coarse laughter and even coarser comments dissipated as they turned onto the staircase. Their voices faded to the merest whisper, but they were hardly the only danger she faced.

Emme shivered with something that was not entirely fear as her captor’s and possible savior’s whiskered chin rasped against the delicate shell of her ear and his breath fanned over the delicate skin of her neck. She struggled for a moment against his hold, but he shushed her, hissing sharply against her ear. Quickly, she catalogued her avenues of escape and came upon the disturbing realization that she had none. If she continued to struggle, the other gentlemen might overhear and return and she would be discovered. If she stayed where she was, and remained quiet, she might avoid discovery, but risked being compromised fully, rather than in name only.

She could hear her aunt’s snide voice drifting through her mind, "It is possible to have a good reputation in the absence of virtue, but virtue in the absence of a good reputation is worthless". Counting the number of times Lady Isabella had uttered that phrase was impossible. Detest her social climbing aunt, she might, but given her current predicament, she could not doubt the wisdom of her words. Against every instinct she possessed, Emme stilled against him, as it seemed to be the best option.

Rhys sensed the tension draining from her. He couldn’t imagine that it was anything other than the girl's will that prompted the reaction. Hoping that he was not overestimating her state of calm, he removed his hand and stepped back, allowing her to step away from him. Instantly, he felt the loss. He resisted the urge to reach for her and pull her back into his arms.

He doubted that the gesture would be well received. His belief was borne out when she wasted no time in quickly putting at least an arm’s length between them. When she turned to face him, the moonlight rendered her night rail all but transparent, revealing every sensuous curve. His breath caught and his desire, already piqued, spiked within him. It was only years of intense self discipline that allowed him to tamp down his response. With