The Determined Duke: The Duke of Desire, #2

By Jodie Sloan

Adriana Cunningham has been hiding a secret for years – one that's not even her own.  Her brother, George, Earl of Danvers is illiterate.  The letters become jumbled for him and because of this, she's had to step up and essential run their holdings from the shadows.  To the world, she has gained a reputation as beautiful, simpering Miss Cunningham – too snooty to accept any proposal offered to her, which has led the men of ton on a merry chase trying to be the one that she accepts.  But in the dark, she is Adriana, Mistress of the Danvers estate.  She knows she can't accept any proposals because to do so would take her away from her brother and his responsibilities.

Treyson, Duke of Lowe, is irritated with his brother, Henry, has made it his mission in life to get the beautiful Miss Cunningham to accept his proposal.  After hothouse flowers, a serenade, and many love letters, Henry has been rejected too many times to count.  And Trey can't have that – it's ruining his family's reputation.  So, he pays a visit to the illustrious, mysterious Miss Cunningham.  She's feisty, irritated, and he sees right through her masquerade of being a doe-eyed miss.  He's becomes determined to play her at her own game – seduce her and then refuse to commit, restoring their family's name.

But Adriana is so much smarter than he'd predicted.  They go round and round, exchanging glances, touches, and innuendos until one of them loses control and they fall under each other's spell.  But it's a night that can't be repeated…until it is.  But why won't Adriana return Trey's promise to do right by her?  What isn't she telling him?  And could Trey possibly have fallen for the one woman he's promised never to have real feelings towards?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yap Kee Chong
• Release date: Jul 28, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386366300

Book preview

THE DETERMINED DUKE

By

Jodie Sloan

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Chapter 1: The Frivolities of Many

Adriana laughed behind her fan.  Let her head dip, golden curls flashing in the light.  She did not venture to touch the Duke—not even reach her hand out playfully.  She preferred to let the man do the chasing.  After all, silks and linens could be quite heavy.  Adriana set about to blinking, knowing her green eyes were complimented well by the gems hanging from her ears—tasteful, yet sure.

I am sure it was an absolutely dreadful experience, Adriana assured the Duke.  One of the Dukes, that is.  There were many in attendance of the evening’s delights and of course, she had met nearly all of them.

It was only a matter of time before someone whisked her away to a private garden, where she would turn the poor man down.  This was only the natural course of events; the pièce de résistance—an expected end to the night from the infamous Miss Cunningham.  She will never accept, the ladies would say, and why would she?  Such a lovely creature, fair and green-eyed, with rosy cheeks and attention enough to spare for all the men of ton.

Pardon me, a voice issued from near her shoulder.  Adriana did not turn; she expected the man to present himself.  She knew his voice well.  Poor Henry, she thought, was going to greater lengths, now.

Oh.  What a pleasure. Adriana demurred, moving as if to leave and allow him privacy with the Duke.  Dear, silly Henry turned almost immediately pale.  Do excuse me.

Well—if I may intrude, Henry said quickly, one hand in the air.  A scandalous display of emotion.  I only desired a moment of your time, Miss Cunningham.

Adriana was amused.  She almost teased him for not being familiar; after all, he had sent enough tokens of love to her as to seem like an old friend.  A lover, even.  Adriana had felt it a pity to turn away the bouquet of hothouse flowers, but there had been no other choice.  She could not even accidentally fall into a proposal.  Not with her duties—or rather, her brother’s duties—on the line.

Well.  If you desire it, Adriana said, affecting as much delicate surprise as she could.  She allowed Henry to escort her to the balcony, hiding a tired expression behind her fan.

Henry did not wait long.  Once on the balcony, he turned on her with all the passion of someone half his age—and he was quite young, already.  Miss Cunningham.  I do apologize for my indiscretion.       Simply know that I am quite affected; I do apologize if my manner seems crude or in any way offensive.

Affected?  Poor soul, Adriana murmured, fluttering her fan.  It is not catching?

No—no, that is not the nature of it, Henry replied.  He seemed so flustered that Adriana almost gave up her act.  He was a sweet young man, after all.  Henry simply had terrible judgment when it came to women.  Women such as