ALYSSA ALEXANDER     ELIZABETH ESSEX     MADELINE MARTIN     GRACE BURROWES     GINA CONKLE     ELLA QUINN     MAY MCGOLDRICK     BRONWEN EVANS     JENNIFER ASHLEY     ANNA HARRINGTON     HEATHER SNOW     SABRINA YORK     EILEEN DREYER

DUKES BY THE DOZEN

Copyright © 2019 by Alyssa Alexander, Elizabeth Essex, Madeline Martin, Grace Burrowes, Gina Conkle, Ella Quinn, May McGoldrick, Bronwen Evans, Jennifer Ashley, Anna Harrington, Heather Snow, Sabrina York, Eileen Dreyer


DUKE IN WINTER

Copyright © 2019 by Alyssa Alexander


THE DIFFERENCE ONE DUKE MAKES

Copyright © 2019 by Elizabeth Essex


DISCOVERING THE DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Madeline Martin


THE DUKE AND THE APRIL FLOWERS

Copyright © 2019 by Grace Burrowes


LOVE LETTERS FROM A DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Gina Conkle


HER PERFECT DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Ella Quinn


HOW TO DITCH A DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by May McGoldrick


TO TEMPT A HIGHLAND DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Bronwen Evans


DUKE IN SEARCH OF A DUCHESS

Copyright © 2019 by Jennifer Ashley


DEAR DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Anna Harrington


MUST LOVE DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Heather Snow


THE MISTLETOE DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Sabrina York


DUELING WITH THE DUKE

Copyright © 2019 by Eileen Dreyer


Cover Design: VMC Art & Design

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including, but not limited to, xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.



CONTENTS



A Duke For All Seasons!

ALYSSA ALEXANDER

DUKE IN WINTER

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

About the Author

ELIZABETH ESSEX

THE DIFFERENCE ONE DUKE MAKES

Preface

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

About the Author

MADELINE MARTIN

DISCOVERING THE DUKE

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

From Madeline Martin

About the Author

GRACE BURROWES

THE DUKE AND THE APRIL FLOWERS

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

From Grace Burrowes

GINA CONKLE

LOVE LETTERS FROM A DUKE

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

About the Author

Also by Gina Conkle

ELLA QUINN

HER PERFECT DUKE

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Author Notes

MAY MCGOLDRICK

HOW TO DITCH A DUKE

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Author’s Note

BRONWEN EVANS

TO TEMPT A HIGHLAND DUKE

Preface

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Epilogue

About Bron

JENNIFER ASHLEY

DUKE IN SEARCH OF A DUCHESS

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

About the Author

ANNA HARRINGTON

DEAR DUKE

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Author’s Note

Letter to Readers

HEATHER SNOW

MUST LOVE DUKE

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

From Heather

About the Author

SABRINA YORK

THE MISTLETOE DUKE

Preface

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Epilogue

About the Author

Also by Sabrina York

EILEEN DREYER

DUELING WITH THE DUKE

Preface

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

About the Author

Also by Eileen Dreyer




A DUKE FOR ALL SEASONS!


What’s better than a dashing duke?

A dozen of them!

Or in this case, a baker’s dozen—thirteen of your favorite historical romance authors have come together to bring you more than a year’s worth of tantalizing, never-before-released novellas.

Enjoy them all at once, or savor them month by month, it’s all up to you…


DUKES BY THE DOZEN




DUKE IN WINTER



JANUARY


ALYSSA ALEXANDER






PREFACE


When the highwayman demanded he stand and deliver, he didn’t know she would steal his heart.




CHAPTER 1




January 1802

An English Country House


“BEATRICE,” came the inebriated drawl. “Don’t be a prude.”

“Of course not.” There was a great deal of difference between prude and debauched, and Bea was decidedly in the middle.

Despite not being a prude, Lady Beatrice Falk wrinkled her nose, shifting the spectacles perched there. The scent of liquor in the room was strong enough it seemed a snifter had been waved beneath her nose. Or someone had bathed in brandy.

“If you are not here to scold, then let me be.”

The empty decanter winked at Bea from the side table, just as her brother winked at her from his position on the chaise longue. He sprawled over the cushions, cravat loose, the buttons of his coat and waistcoat open. He raised his glass, gestured vaguely at the room in general. “It’s a lovely time here, Sister, even if you won’t partake.”

“Lovely,” she repeated, eyeing the tableau before her.

Dice rolled between the shadows and firelight, and in one corner cards shushed against each other. Low laughter and murmurs floated between curls of tobacco smoke, swirled around bare feminine shoulders and rouged cheeks.

Bea quickly counted heads. As she’d believed, three gentlemen were missing. Some of her quarry were drunk on the drawing room floor and were of no use that evening, but others would be making their way through frozen trees to their own country homes.

She’d best get moving.

Still, she was mistress of the house until her brother married, and with that came responsibilities. Someone had to attend to them.

“I’ve instructed the butler to ensure your remaining guests have beds this night. Stewart has spoken with the housekeeper, who will see to it.”

“Excellent.” Her brother half-stood, raising his glass in an enthusiastic salute. As he listed to one side, gold liquid sloshed over the rim, dripping down his already soiled evening glove. He frowned, studying the newest stain. “Damn.”

A triumphant burst of sound rose from one side of the room. Bea watched money change hands over dice—so much money, with no purpose but gambling and drink. And perhaps to keep the laughing women standing beside the players. A pretty lot of courtesans made garish by rouge and paint and revealing gowns.

“Well, now. I think this requires a proper celebration.” The winner staggered to his feet, puffing out his chest so the embroidery on his waistcoat rippled with the strain.

Sir Winthrop. A close friend of her brother’s, who had asked for her hand three times the year of her debut. When it was clear she would remain a spinster, he’d twice suggested they be lovers.

Unlike her brother, Bea chose her lovers with great care—and marriage was out of the question with the life she led.

With a leer at one of the girls that jiggled the whiskers on his jowls, Sir Winthrop pointed to his empty glass. “We could call for another bottle. Share it, you know.”

The girl giggled through painted red lips and opened her mouth to answer, but Sir Winthrop had turned away and raised the glass high.

“Here! Another bottle!” he called out, plainly searching for a footman—only his gaze landed on Bea. Expression turning sly, he stumbled toward her. “Oh, ho, my lady. Come to play?”

“I do not think so, Sir Winthrop.” Bea attempted to keep the revulsion from layering over her voice. “Thank you for your offer; however, I am retiring. Enjoy your evening.”

Closing the drawing room doors behind her, Bea strode across the entrance hall and abandoned the guests without a backward glance. They would still be there in the morning, in various stages of drunkenness and disarray.

The men who mattered were those who had left.

With one hand, Bea removed the spectacles she didn’t need. With the other, she began to loosen the old wig of long, curling brown hair. Being a spinster of undetermined years buried in the country, no one cared if she still wore unfashionable wigs.

But they suited her purpose.

HE’D MISJUDGED THE WEATHER.

Howling wind kicked up the snow already covering the ground, mixing it with heavy, falling flakes. Only thirty minutes before, when Wulf had requested his horse be brought around to the front of Falk Manor, the moon had still been visible between the moving clouds. Now, between the impending snowstorm and the lack of moonlight, Wulf would be fortunate to return home. Ever.

He should have requested a room at Falk Manor, stayed until morning.

Even as he thought it, Wulf grimaced. Old childhood friendships still demanded attention, even though the tradition of a yule log, punch, and country dances had given way to brandy and women once the old earl died.

Now it was dissolution of the most juvenile kind.

Still, the duty was done, and Wulfric Standover, Duke of Highrow, was far enough from the festivities that the disgust clinging to his skin was slipping away.

Hunching his shoulders against the bitter wind, Wulf guided his stallion onto the narrow track between the trees. With luck, he would be standing before his own fire before the storm worsened.

“Stand and deliver!” The shout was sharp beneath the swirling snow, echoing between the silent, naked trees.

Cursing, Wulf lifted his forearm to block the white flakes and studied the shadows dancing between the wind-tossed snow.