The Dukes of War: Complete Collection Read online

  The Dukes of War

  Complete Collection

  Erica Ridley

  Contents

  Untitled

  The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation

  An Irresistible Temptation…

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower

  An Impossible Love…

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress

  An Irresistible Bargain…

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  The Major’s Faux Fiancee

  A Temporary Courtship…

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride

  An Unexpected Gift…

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway

  A Hidden Treasure…

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 24

  Epilogue

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  The Duke’s Accidental Wife

  An Irresistible Kiss…

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Epilogue

  Thank You For Reading

  Acknowledgments

  All I Want

  All I Want

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Lord of Chance

  Sneak Peek

  Thank You For Reading

  About the Author

  Love romance? Have a free book, on me!

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  The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation

  A Dukes of War romance

  An Irresistible Temptation…

  Certain individuals might consider Lady Amelia Pembroke a managing sort of female, but truly, most people would be lost without her help. Why, the latest on-dit is that rakish Viscount Sheffield is canceling the fête of the year because he hasn't time for silly soirees. He doesn't need time—he needs her!

  When a flash of lightning destroys the venue for his family’s annual Christmas ball, Lord Benedict Sheffield intends to enjoy a relaxing holiday for once. But after twelve days of beguiling Lady Amelia’s guerrilla tactics, he’s up to his cravat with tinsel...and tumbling head over heels in love.

  ISBN: 1939713269

  ISBN-13: 978-1939713261

  Copyright © 2014 Erica Ridley

  Photograph on cover © lanakhvorostova DepositPhotos

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

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.

  Four left for war...

  One stayed home.

  Chapter 1

  December 12, 1815

  London, England

  Lady Amelia Pembroke glanced up from the well-worn almanac in her lap as her brother, the Duke of Ravenwood, strode into the yellow parlor with a distracted frown.

  The yellow parlor, despite being part and parcel of the winter ducal mansion, was strictly Amelia’s domain. The bookcases were lined with rows of leather-bound journals containing page after page wr
itten in Amelia’s small, precise hand. The cherrywood table nearest the bay windows contained the day’s correspondence, stacked according to priority. The oversized basket beside her wingback chair brimmed with a week’s worth of periodicals, the ink worn gray from having been handled many times.

  Amelia marked her place with a crisp green ribbon and set the almanac aside. Her brother’s presence could only mean he needed her wisdom on some matter. There was nothing she cherished more than the opportunity to put her mind to practical use.

  Although she knew a kiss was not required of her—being an unproductive use of one’s time—she rose from her chair to buss her brother’s cheek. Ravenwood had always been a very solemn, duty-oriented young man, but both his smiles and his presence had been far scarcer these past few months, ever since his childhood friends finally came home from war.

  Some of them, that was. A black armband never failed to encircle Ravenwood’s upper left arm. She fought the urge to hug him close. Were it not for having already inherited a dukedom, he would undoubtedly have followed his friends off to war.

  Less certain was whether he would have made it home.

  She walked to the fire to mask her shiver.

  “Good morning, brother. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?” When he didn’t join her before the fire, she turned to face him. “Is anything amiss?”

  Ravenwood ran a hand through his wavy chestnut hair, upsetting the careful work of his valet.

  Or not. Given the popularity of the “frightened owl” hairstyle today, Amelia couldn’t fathom much effort being involved at all.

  He glanced at the clock upon the mantel. “I hate to bother you with last minute changes—”

  “Whatever the issue, have no fear. My plans are meticulous enough to withstand disruptions of any sort.”

  “Yes, well, even you could not have foreseen this disaster, and nothing will fix it. This afternoon’s luncheon—”

  Before he could complete this thought, a knock sounded upon the parlor door.

  With an apologetic smile, Amelia held up a brief finger to indicate the conversation would continue shortly. “One moment, I’ve been awaiting a messenger. Enter!”

  One of the lead footmen slipped into the room, his face concerned. “I was unable to fetch Miss Azzara, my lady.”

  She raised a brow. “She was not at home?”

  “Oh no, my lady. Were that the case, I would surely have awaited her return. I’m afraid Miss Azzara has contracted the mumps, and will not be able to perform today after all.”

  Ravenwood’s mouth parted in surprise. “Miss Azzara of Drury Lane? You’d mentioned we would provide musical entertainment as part of today’s luncheon, but I never dreamt you meant the second-most celebrated opera singer in all of London.”

  “A good thing, too, since it seems it shan’t happen.”

  “Let this be a lesson, Amelia. No plan is too meticulous for unforeseen circumstances to derail.”

  She inclined her head to her brother and turned to address the footman. “Thank you. That will be all.”

  He bowed. But before he could quit the parlor, a second footman arrived. This one, in grand contrast, was all smiles.

  “Package delivered, my lady. Butler put her in the rose parlor, with the pianoforte.”

  “Put...‘her’?” Ravenwood echoed faintly.

  “Miss Catalini,” the footman explained. “She’s to sing this afternoon. Her man is already practicing scales with her.”

  “Miss Angelica Catalini?” Ravenwood swung his head back toward Amelia. “The first-most celebrated opera singer in all of London?”

  “We promised musical entertainment,” she reminded him with a smile. She nodded to the footmen. “Thank you, gentlemen. You did well.”

  Ravenwood continued to stare at her. “You knew Miss Azzara would contract the mumps?”

  “Of course not. As I have tried to impress upon you, a smart woman plans for every exigency.”

  He gestured at the footmen’s retreating backs. “And if both songstresses should have arrived?”

  “Then they might have taken turns in sets, or performed a series of duets.” She steepled her fingers. “Now it will simply be an exclusive.”

  Distant carriage wheels crunched upon the frozen gravel of the ducal drive.

  Ravenwood turned to her in horror. “Early! I knew there was no time to change course, but cousin Blaylock can usually be counted upon to arrive a half hour late to any gathering. Under the circumstances, I would’ve supposed their pace to be even slower than usual, what with—”

  “Don’t make such a kick-up. ’Tis not our guests.”

  “But how can you—”

  Two downstairs maids appeared at the still-open doorway, one with wringing hands and the other shooting her quick, bolstering looks.

  “Peggy. Martha. Do come in.”

  Both maids rushed forward, nearly tripping over each other as they curtsied. The one with the ashen face spoke first.

  “I know it’s washing day, mum, and I’m much needed here, but my niece is dreadful sick—”

  “Dreadful sick,” put in the second maid. “Hottest fever you ever did see, and her a moppet of not more than two years.”

  “It’s not my day off until next week,” the first maid continued, “but Peggy’s is today, and she’s offered to switch with me—”

  “No problem at all, mum, not when I been there meself—got four cherubim of my own, y’know. All been sick at one time or another.”

  “If you’ll say it’s all right, that is.” Martha wrung her hands. “She’s just a baby, and as I can’t afford a doctor—Not because of you, mum! Your wages are fairer than anyone! It’s just that there’s only my mama in the house, and we had to patch up a few holes for the winter—”

  Ravenwood cut a wide-eyed glance at Amelia as if he’d never heard more convoluted storytelling in his life. And why would he? She imagined this was likely to be the first direct contact he’d had with the under-servants since...ever. The running of a household was a woman’s job, and the running of this particular household had been her exclusive domain since their mother died, when Amelia was fourteen. If it had run like clockwork all this time, it was due to nothing less than her meticulous planning.

  “Of course,” she said to the maids. “Peggy, you may report to the laundry. Martha, a hack has just arrived for you and is waiting outside. In it, you will find a medical doctor, as well as a small parcel of children’s books you might read to your invalid as she convalesces. Hurry now. Return only when the fever has broken, and not a moment sooner.”

  “Thank you! Thank you!” the maid gasped as she curtsied, then fairly flew down the hall.

  Ravenwood gaped at Amelia. “You cannot expect me to believe that you summoned a hack, a surgeon, and a parcel of books on the off chance that someone’s niece or nephew would take ill today.”

  “Don’t be absurd. I had the news half an hour ago, and would’ve sent Martha on her way forthwith had she not been racing through the manor in search of someone to switch laundry days with her. Unless you object to the expense?”

  That startled a laugh out of him. “Buy the girl a library of children’s books if that’s your wish. The only thing that surprises me is that those two maids were patently unsurprised that you were not only aware of the problem, but had already put steps in place toward its solution.”

  “Why should they be surprised? As mistress of this household, it is my responsibility to keep it running smoothly. They expect nothing less and, frankly, I’m hurt that you would suppose otherwise.”