DUKE OF SIN by Elizabeth Hoyt (May 31, 2016; Grand Central Publishing Mass Market; The Maiden Lane Series #10)Β
A MAN OF SIN
Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.Β
A WOMAN OF HONOR
Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery’s household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.
A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH
Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can’t resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .
Excerpt
βI was told you had need of me, Your Grace,β she reminded him, folding her hands at her waist to hide the trembling that had begun again. Sheβd been in demand before this position. Duchesses and lionesses of society had wanted her.
βSo practical,β he mused, tilting his golden head back to gaze, presumably, at the gaudy sky-blue velvet canopy of his bed. Sheβd always thought it rather vulgar, actually. βI suppose that would be considered a good thing in a housekeeper.β
βItβs generally considered so, Your Grace.β
βAnd yet, I find it somewhatβ¦ββhe raised his naked arm straight up above his head and twirled his hand as he thoughtββirksome.β
βI am sorry, Your Grace,β Bridget said as pleasantly as she could, which, sadly, was not very.
βOh, donβt be,β the duke murmured silkily. βOne canβt help oneβs nature, no matter how irritating it is to others.β
His azure eyes suddenly dropped to pin her, hard and merciless, and she lost her breath as she fell into his predatorβs stare. It was like looking into the eyes of something inhuman, almost otherworldly. Her chest ached as she stared at him, the air still locked within her, but at the same time the place between her legs ached as well.
Then she inhaled, filling her lungs with sweet air, as he watched her still, his eyes half-lidded, and she felt an odd exhilaration, as if a gauntlet had been thrown down. As if they were adversaries, equal on the field.
Which was completely ridiculous.
Possibly she shouldnβt have indulged in that third cup of tea this morning.
βI wonder whom you work for, Mrs. Crumb?β he whispered.
βWhy, for you, Your Grace,β she replied, holding his gaze.
He snorted.
She felt a bead of perspiration trail down her spine.
He strode, nude, to his desk, and, bending over it, afforded her a quite scandalous view of his muscular bottom. He seemed to have a dark mark of some kind on the left cheek. Good God, it looked like a tattoo. Whatβ? βWhy, Mrs. Crumb,β he drawled, and she snapped her gaze belatedly up to find that heβd turned back to herβdamn it! βWere you ogling my arse?β
She opened her mouth and then wasnβt sure, exactly, what to say. Was he about to dismiss her or not? βIβ¦Iββ
βYe-es?β He took one long stride toward her.
She was suddenly, overwhelmingly aware of what sheβd until now successfully ignored: He. Was. Nude.
His shoulders were wide, his chest highlighted by pale-pink nipples drawn tight, with but a few curling golden hairs between. His torso narrowed in a perfect V to a slim waist and a shallow belly button. A thin line of slightly darker hair led to his genitals.
During his supposed absence Bridget had had plenty of time to study the life-size nude portrait of the duke hanging next to his bed. Sheβd long thought the dimensions of his manhood exaggerated.
They were not.
She hastily glanced up to find him standing far too close to her, a wicked smile playing about his mouth.
βOh, Mrs. Crumb, such a look,β he murmured, his voice a deep purr, his bare chest brushing against her snowy white apron. βWhy, I donβt know whether to guard my bollocksβ¦ββhis gaze dropped to her mouthββor to kiss you.β
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About the Author:
Elizabeth Hoyt is the New York Times bestselling author of over seventeen lush historical romances including the Maiden Lane series. Publishers Weekly has called her writing “mesmerizing.” She also pens deliciously fun contemporary romances under the name Julia Harper. Elizabeth lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with three untrained dogs, a garden in constant need of weeding, and the long-suffering Mr. Hoyt.
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