Good morning, friends of Fresh Fiction!
I’m excited to be here today and share an excerpt of the first book in my Say I Do series. YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE, is a marriage of convenience story between the Duke of Wyatthaven and Miss Fredericka Hale.
Wyatt is at the top of his game in fencing, cards, and social life and he has no interest in marriage. Fredericka is in need of a husband and fast. They both discover that there are times in life when unimaginable things start to happen.
Enjoy!
Amelia
Yours Truly, The Duke
Satisfied, Fredericka turned to the duke and smiled quite splendidly. “Now, I believe it’s time you told me why you’re here.”
He looked at her as if wondering why she asked him that question. “I’m here concerning the letter I had delivered to you.”
Letter?
Instantly thinking it might have something to do with her sister’s children, since he had just mentioned them, Fredericka visibly tensed. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. I don’t recall receiving correspondence from you.”
He lifted his brows in doubt. “My courier didn’t arrive with it earlier today?”
“Today?” She glanced at the clock on the secretary. In another couple of minutes Mr. Maywaring would be late. That worried her. Best she hurry the duke along. She didn’t need a discussion going on about the children when her potential suitor arrived. That would be disastrous no matter the duke’s reason for being at her home.
“Oh,” she said as politely as she could muster. “It’s quite possible it came while we were out for a walk. If so, it was placed on my desk. I don’t usually look through my mail until evenings after the children have gone to bed.”
The duke lifted his chin a notch without taking his gaze off hers and scoffed ruefully. She didn’t know what that sound was for, but he certainly wasn’t happy to hear her answer. That was all right with her. She wasn’t happy he was lingering. She had things to do and getting rid of him was at the top of her list.
He relaxed his arms and stepped closer to Fredericka as another breath of sound passed his lips. There was something unsettling about the intensity of his expression. It gave the feeling he was trying to know her thoughts, which made her more determined to stay in control of the situation.
“Why did you do that?” she asked, beginning to feel more unease at his seeming reluctance to leave.
“What?”
“You made a sound as if you were filled with disbelief.”
For a moment, his eyes seemed clouded with confusion as he continued to take in every detail of her face. “More on the order of frustration,” he said.
She was experiencing that as well.
“It had to do with the letter you haven’t opened. A lot of . . .” He paused briefly and then offered a smile so devilishly sweet she sensed a warm fluttering swirling in her lower stomach. “A lot of thought and time went into it. Now I find you haven’t even read it.”
Wanting to fortify her position and get on with this, she asked, “Should I go get it?”
A short, attractive laugh tumbled from his throat and caused a shiver of excitement to race up her spine.
“It’s not important now that I’m here.”
“Good,” she said, as if to let him know that settled the matter.
For all his bluster earlier, there was a rakish hint of mystery surrounding him that drew her and made her want to know more about him. But she was intelligent enough to know that wasn’t a good idea. She needed to spend her time, womanly interests, and charms on men who were matrimonial candidates like Mr. Maywaring.
The duke made no comment or movement to indicate he was about to leave. She looked at the clock again. Perhaps he was waiting on her to make the first move.
“Well, in that case, Your Grace, may I show you to the door?”
Fredericka moved to pass the duke, but with more speed than she would have thought possible he appeared in front of her, blocking the way. Her heart thumped with trepidation at his lightning-fast reaction, yet somehow she managed not to flinch. Her chest heaved, but not from fear. Taking care of the children had taught her not to give in to any type of panic. She must always be strong and courageous for them no matter what was happening.
The duke leaned in so close she felt as if his forehead was going to touch hers. She caught the enticing scents of fine woolen fabric, iron-pressed linen, and woodsy shaving soap. A shiver of anticipation peppered her skin.
Fredericka didn’t think she’d ever been so close to a man. Not even when dancing. His proximity to her wasn’t threatening in any way. It was quite stimulating. Impossible as that was to believe, for a moment or two she wanted to forget about the responsibility of the children, the pressure from Jane to give them up, Mr. Maywaring’s sniffing, and everything else that had occupied her mind for the past few days and just enjoy the sudden romantic feelings that cloaked her like a warm blanket in the bleakest of winter.
But those were foolish and fanciful notions she didn’t need to dwell on when such important matters were at stake. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. There was a serious set to his full lips and strong, square jaw. An intense gleam brightened his eyes.
“I’m not leaving, yet,” he said softly. Perhaps we should have a private conversation.”
His words did nothing to alleviate her worry, irritation, and impatience to have him gone, but they did bring her sanity crashing back. Whether or not he meant to intimidate her, he had.
But that only strengthened her resolve not to recoil or budge an inch from his powerful body.
She searched his tight brow, wanting only to be rid of this man who infuriated her but also reminded her of suppressed womanly desires. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll be happy to oblige so you can be on your way.”
His brows rose in anticipation briefly, but then he lowered his lids slightly over those expressive blueish-gray eyes as they suddenly filled with amusement. A trace of a grin curved the corners of his mouth. Without warning or reason as far as she could tell, he moved his face even closer to hers and placed his lips just above her ear.
In a husky and almost sensual voice, he said, “That’s good to hear, Miss Hale. I know you are looking for a husband, and I’m here to marry you.”
Excerpted from YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE by Amelia Grey published by St. Martin’s Paperbacks. Copyright © 2023 by Amelia Grey
YOURS TRULY, THE DUKE by Amelia Grey
Say I Do #1
Yours Truly, The Duke is the first novel in the historical romance Say I Do trilogy about dukes needing to wed to tap into their wealth by New York Times bestselling author Amelia Grey.
Fredericka Hale needs a husband, and fast. She’s been caring for her deceased sister’s three young children, and now a childless cousin has petitioned the court for custody. Fredericka is powerless to stop her, but having a husband might sway the ruling. The last thing Fredericka wants is a hurried-up marriage to a man she doesn’t know—much less love, but she’ll do it for the children. So when the handsome Duke of Wyatthaven shows up with a proposal, she accepts. He’ll help her, and in return, they’ll lead separate lives. But distance cannot keep them from their powerful attraction.
At the top of his game in London, the Duke of Wyatthaven has no interest in marriage. However, if Wyatt doesn’t marry by week’s end, he’ll lose a sizable inheritance from his grandmother. When Wyatt’s solicitor finds Miss Fredericka Hale, Wyatt considers this little hiccup solved. Miss Hale is lovely, and intelligent. Most importantly, she prefers country life to London, so he’s free to continue his life as usual. But when circumstances force Fredericka and the children to show up at the duke’s door, Wyatt can’t deny he’s always been under her spell. Will the duke give up his bachelor lifestyle and give into the fiery passion growing between them?
Romance Historical [St. Martin’s Paperbacks, On Sale: March 28, 2023, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781250850416 / ]
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About Amelia Grey
Amelia Grey (aka Gloria Dale Skinner) grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over twenty-five years. She has lived in Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire and now lives in Florida. Amelia has won the coveted Romantic Times award for Love and Laughter, the prestigious Maggie award for best historical and Affaire de Coeur’s best American historical award. She has been a finalist for the Golden Heart and the Holt Medallion awards which are given by Romance Writers of America and numerous other awards. Her books have been sold to many countries in Europe, Russia and China. Amelia likes flowers, candlelight, sweet smiles, gentle laughter and sunshine.
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