"Curtsy Lower," the Duchess Ordered — The Duke Pulled the Girl to Her Feet and Silenced the Room
It is the first cold week of autumn at Wycombe House, and Clara Hartley — the country vicar's daughter who arrived this afternoon with one small trunk and a borrowed pair of evening gloves — has just walked into a drawing-room full of women who were not, on the whole, glad to see her. The Duchess of Wycombe has already decided how this introduction is going to go. Her son, the Duke, has just walked in from the stable yard with quite a different idea. What he does not know, as he lifts Clara to her feet in front of every guest in the room, is that the girl he has just defended has come to this house carrying more than one quiet purpose.
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They Called Her the Devil's Daughter — the Duke Heard Her Laugh Once and Asked for Her Hand
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THE DUKE DANCED WITH NO ONE FOR 3 SEASONS—THEN SHE STEPPED ON HIS FOOT BY ACCIDENT
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Her Father Made Her Serve at the Duke's Table Like a Housemaid — The Duke Recognized Her Immediately
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SHE NEEDED A HUSBAND FOR CHRISTMAS—THE DUKE NEEDED A DISTRACTION—BUT 1 OF THEM WAS HIDING SOMETHING
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THE DUKE DESPISED HIS ARRANGED BRIDE FOR A YEAR — UNTIL HE OVERHEARD HER PRAYING FOR HIM
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“Give Me an Heir and Disappear,” the Duke Said—But She Made Him Regret Everything
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Don't Speak to Him Directly, She Was Warned — She Asked Him One Question and He Couldn't Walk Away
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The Duke Interviewed 30 Women… The 31st Told Him the Truth
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The Duke Wanted A Perfect Duchess… But Married The Wrong Woman
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They Called Her Useless At Every Supper — Then The Wealthiest Landowner Handed Her His Ledgers
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She Was Trembling in the Rain — the Duke Gave Her His Coat, Unaware She Was His Secret Patron
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Her Stepmother Sent Her to the Duke’s Ball With Ruined Hair — She Walked In and the Whispers Began
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He Thought She Was the Chaperone — She Was the One He'd Been Searching For
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He Gave Her An Empty Castle And Walked Away — She Made It Warm Enough To Break Him
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THE DUKE FORCED THE MAID ONTO HIS WILDEST STALLION TO HUMBLE HER... ONLY TO BE HUMBLED HIMSELF
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❄️ SHE FELL THROUGH THE ICE—THE DUKE BROKE IT WITH HIS BARE HANDS TO PULL HER OUT
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"She Isn't Worth Fighting For" the Duke Said — He Was at Her Door by Morning
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The Runaway Heiress Hid in His Carriage — Unaware He Was the Duke Her Father Had Chosen
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Everyone Mocked Their Age Gap Marriage — But the Duke Had Protected Her Since Childhood
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