The Lady and Her Duke
Lord Ian Wallace, the 4th Duke of Blackhall, is a retired military officer. An accidental duke after the deaths of his father and brother, he retreats from society and the clawing mothers and debutantes who stalk him. He’s focused all his energy on his partnership with Sutton. He’s satisfied and needs nothing else.
An oath to marry, a family legend to preserve, an uprising of the factory workers, and Sutton’s murder, throw Katherine and Wallace together to find a blackmailer and murderer.
They also will find two things neither knew they were missing…each other and their happily ever after.
EXCERPT
The Frenchman, his back to Wallace, had Roddy pinned to the ground and his sword raised over his head.
This was not going to end well. Wallace searched the ground for something to use. A flash of teal peeked out from beneath a discarded shield. He threw the shield to the side and grabbed Roddy’s sword.
“À moi! Thornton à la rescousse!” Wallace shouted and thrust the sword high over his head.
To me! Thornton to the rescue! The Knights Templar battle cry echoed off the stone walls of the castle. The crowd stood and shouted it as loud as they could.
Everything stopped. The fighting. The noise. Everyone held their breath and waited.
Wallace stood in his shirt sleeves. His dark hair ruffled in the breeze. Every muscle taut and hard. He had enough of these troublemakers. They wanted to fight. Wallace had no intention of stopping them. He had every intention of finishing them.
The echo of the battle cry had barely faded when the man standing over Roddy turned and faced him. Ollie. Not one of the factory workers, but a man paid to agitate and disrupt. This was not part of the pageant. Someone intended it to be a brawl.
A single ray of sun fought its way through the clouds and caught the polished blade Wallace still held high. A flash of light from the blade lit the bailey. A hushed murmur spread from one person to the next, to the next, and to the next, and then silence.
Wallace lowered his arm. He didn’t give the man time to think or plan. There would be no mercy in his attack. Four more attackers broke through the crowd and came at him. But Wallace would have none of that. His sword moved from one stroke to the next. The warrior slashed on the down stroke and again on the backswing, sweeping his weapon to the side, repeating the deadly arc until he cleared his way to the man who stood over Roddy.
He focused on Ollie. From the looks of the man, he was used to people running from him, intimidated by his size and meanness. His tactic wouldn’t work here.
No sense watching the man’s sword. Ollie’s eyes would tell him what he needed to know, who he would attack. Wallace or Roddy. When he would strike. And how he would strike. It was all in his eyes.
The roar of the battle cry faded from the bailey, but still rang in Wallace’s head along with the image of Sutton’s face before he died.
Ollie scoured the crowd looking for support. He found none. Barrington’s men had removed the men who came with him. The man switched his focus to him and gave him his best intimidating stare.
Wallace planted his feet, straightened his spine, and came to his full height. He brought his shoulders back making himself bigger and wider. His body ached with built up energy.
Ollie took his foot off Roddy and helped him up.
Several Sutton men hurried into the courtyard and helped the foreman to safety.
Only a few short yards separated Wallace and Ollie.
Wallace knew what it was like before a battle. This was no different. He faced fear and danger with courage and a clear head.
Ollie started to breathe heavily, working himself up. He stepped toward Wallace, his eyes not on him but someone amid the crowd.
Wallace would not retreat. He remained resolute and waited for Ollie to decide the next move.
Ollie halted mid-stride, gave an almost unnoticeable nod to someone in the crowd, then tossed down his sword.
The bailey erupted as Ollie walked away.
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Author Info
RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now-writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.
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Read an Excerpt
“We thought we were close, no secrets between us. We understand you’re under a great deal of strain with your uncle’s death. But this?”
Katherine took a breath, then began to get angry. “I clearly have no idea what the three of you are talking about. I do not keep secrets from you, just as you do not keep them from me.”
Effie got to her feet so quickly Katherine stepped back. Her friend handed her the London Gazette, a circle drawn around an article.
She took the newspaper and read the noted item.
“The very eligible and handsome Lord Wallace, 4th Duke of Blackhall, is finally off the market. He’s made his vow. Does Lady Ivy-Rose T. even know she snagged the wealthiest and handsomest man in London? And does Lady RH realize she’s missed her opportunity? This should be something to watch unfold. All the best to the happy (?) couple. No matter who becomes the next Duchess of Blackhall.”
Katherine slowly sank down into the chair. Her friends looked at each other than at her.
“You’re the only Lady Ivy-Rose T. we know. And Lord Wallace is mentioned.”
“Hush,” Hattie snapped and elbowed Effie. “Eat a biscuit.”
Katherine re-read the article a second, then a third time. Who is Lady RH? Did someone else have his heart? Her breath came in spurts.
“Are you all right? You haven’t said a word.” Anna knelt next to her.
Katherine clenched her hands, her fingernails digging into her palms. She turned and stared at her close friend.
Anna studied Katherine’s face.
“You had no idea, did you?” Anna’s voice faded to a hushed silence. Her expression changed from hurt to horror.
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