Duke's Splendid Encounter

By Amelia Talbot

Can a half-truth lead to romance?

 

Miss Clementine Dante does not understand the concept of prioritizing duties over marrying for love. She is considered naive by her older sisters, who place a high value on finding a suitable match, preferably with a Duke. When Clementine meets the man of her dreams, her entire world crumbles and she flees to live with her aunt. She had no idea that the handsome man she had met before would reappear in her life at her workplace. Has fate provided her with another chance encounter with the handsome man from the market?

 

Alexander, the acting Duke of Denver, aspires to be the best leader he can be in his new role. He had no idea that his plan to blend in with commoners in order to learn more about their lives would lead him to meet a lovely lady who haunts his dreams. A chance meeting at a ball brings them back together, but he does not reveal his true identity to her. Will he be able to win her heart, or will duty separate them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amelia Talbot
• Release date: Jan 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215572399

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Copyright

Copyright © by Amelia Talbot

All rights reserved.

No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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Who is Amelia Talbot?

Amelia was born in the northern city of Manchester, England, but her family moved to the United States when she was 3 years old! She decided to move to Detroit, Michigan, for her studies at the University of Michigan as a student in English Language and Literature.

Now she lives in Michigan having her degree and doing what she loves most... Writing Novels!

Her love lies in the era of Regency and her passion is to share her knowledge of this period with many readers in her newsletter.

When she wants to relax... a good novel is always a great friend but a walk in the park is good for clearing up your mind!

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Table of Contents

Copyright

Get in touch with me

Who is Amelia Talbot?

Duke's Splendid Encounter

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Don’t forget...

Keep reading... [Preview] The Duke’s Theatrical Role

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

I’ll be here for You!

Find Out More

Duke's Splendid Encounter

Chapter 1

No, it won’t do, Genevieve said as Clementine yanked on her corset laces.

Clementine stood back and blew the hair from her face. She’d been tying laces for her stepsister all morning, and not one gown met Genevieve’s exacting standards.

I think that color rather suits you, Eloise said.

No! Genevieve shrugged it from her shoulders. It’s vital I’m the best dressed at this ball if I hope to win the duke.

Clementine stopped herself from rolling her eyes. Marrying a nobleman—a duke, no less—was Genevieve’s only goal in life. For Clementine, it mattered not. She would be content with a man who cared for her. A man like her father, perhaps, Mr. Jonathan Dante, the merchant who had turned his ailing family business into a thriving one.

Eloise smoothed the silk of her fine scarlet red gown. This one’s perfect for me.

"Yes, but what am I going to wear?" Genevieve cried. She stepped out of the discarded gown and went to the rack.

This one, Genevieve said.

With a sigh, Clementine helped Genevieve into it, hoping this would be the last. She was the youngest at just nineteen and, being the only daughter of Mr. Dante’s second wife, she was often treated more as a maid than a sister. She pushed her bare toes into the thick shag of the carpet and began to lace.

Take that off now, Eloise, Genevieve demanded. You don’t want it soiled before the ball.

But I feel so beautiful, Eloise said, unable to tear her eyes from her reflection.

Indeed. Madame Dubois does make the very best creations. She examined herself in the looking glass. I rather like this one.

Thank goodness. Clementine didn’t have the energy to lace another. She herself would wear something simple, perhaps in blue, her favorite color. She wasn’t anywhere near as fussy as her sisters.

You should, Eloise said, after what it cost. Poor Father almost had an apoplexy.

It’s worth it, if I catch the new duke’s interest.

Clementine Dante was very different than her sisters. She was a sweet thing, filled with everything romantic. She was sensitive, too, taking her sisters’ harsh words to heart. She saw only good in the world, and she had a dynamic personality. She was, in short, significantly more interesting than the contrary Genevieve and the sheepish Eloise put together.

She was even complimented that she was the most beautiful of the three. Slim in figure and with porcelain skin, her delicate look was described as that of a doll, but she knew she was anything but fragile. Golden curls fell prettily around her face, and her baby blue eyes spoke of mystery and knowing.

Do you think he will dance with you? Eloise asked.

Why wouldn’t he? But if he doesn’t, I shall approach him.

Is that not a little forward, Genevieve? Eloise asked on a gasp.

One must work for what one wants. And I want a duke on my arm.

Any duke? Clementine asked, or this one in particular?

Genevieve glared at her. This one, she said but then quickly added, for starters. Should I fail with the Duke of Denver, there are others.

But surely it is the man you should fall in love with, not his title, Clementine said.

Genevieve snorted. A title is a perfectly good reason to select a husband, I dare say. A duke is wealthy enough to care for me and my children, and he will have been raised polite, correct, and honorable. All good traits in a husband.

But what of love?

Eloise giggled. Love is an imagined thing, Clemmie. You don’t understand because you’re still so young. You need to secure a good match that benefits you both financially and in status.

Clementine glared at her. Eloise and Genevieve were one-and-twenty and two-and-twenty respectively—hardly old maids.

Father loved my mother, she said.

Genevieve snorted again, a crueler sort this time. "Father became infatuated with a servant after our mother died, she said. And then that servant dared to think she could become our stepmother!"

Clementine wished she had never mentioned her mother. She missed her desperately. Where she there, Genevieve and Eloise would never be as cruel. But alas, she had died four years earlier in a terrible carriage accident. Clementine shook the thoughts away.

What do you think will happen at the ball? Clementine asked.

They had attended dances before and even some lesser balls. But this would be their first foray into society proper, their first ball somewhere as high in status as Denver Hall.

I’ve read about it, Genevieve said. She skipped across the room and picked up a book. Her finger traced the yellowing page. It says here that we shall be greeted by the master of ceremonies and given a dance card.

What a clever way of keeping everything organized, Eloise said.

And of ensuring no couple spends too long together, Genevieve said.

Two, isn’t it? Eloise said. Dances, I mean, before you must separate?

Genevieve nodded. Clementine stopped listening. She knew enough of the etiquette required. Their father had paid for them to have lessons, after all. Besides, she had already decided she would remain on the sidelines.

She had no desire to go hunting for a husband unless one happened her way. And she certainly had no desire to be part of the nobility.

Knock knock, came a man’s voice as the door handle twisted. It opened a little and their father’s glistening eyes peered through. I thought—

His words were cut off by Eloise’s squeal. She darted across the room and slammed the door in his face.

You can’t come in, Father!

But I only wanted—

No! It’s not right.

Mr. Dante chuckled. Very well. I’ll see you downstairs shortly.

Chapter 2

Alexander Hamilton, acting Duke of Denver, stared at his reflection. He was, he knew, a handsome man, and he wore the finest clothes. Yet, something was missing.

Am I dukely, Collins? he asked his best friend who lounged across the bed. Alexander turned, considering himself from different angles.

Collins snorted. Is dukely even a word?

No, Alexander said, sighing. But you know what I mean.

You look dukely enough. Is everything all right?

Fine, Alexander replied, though he didn’t feel fine. He felt overwhelmed and uncertain.

Collins lolled back and groaned. I’m bored, he said. I didn’t realize being friends with a duke would be quite so uninteresting.

Thanks! Alexander said in mock outrage. He threw a cushion at his friend, making Collins laugh. Collins sat up and watched as Alexander ran his hand over the flat of his stomach, his fingers catching on the buttons of his waistcoat.

You know, you’re the only duke I’ve met who still has a living father.

Alexander rolled his eyes and took a seat. "Most dukes at least have the decency to die before passing the buck. Not my father. He always insists on doing things differently."

Collins frowned. You don’t want your father to die though, do you?

No! Of course not. But I must admit, I feel the weight of my new duties, now that my father has abdicated far earlier than any of us were expecting. He’s lazy.

He’s not lazy, Collins said. "He’s old and tired. Even you must admit the job is better suited to a younger man. You’ve the energy and motivation to make Denver