by Lenora Bell
“And from what I hear, your college could use a new roof,” Nick continued. “Must be very damp here during the monsoon season.”
“Indeed,” said Mr. Vidyasagar.
“Let’s leave it at that, shall we?” said Nick.
A look passed between the three men, leaving Alice bemused.
The matter had just been decided, in the wordless way that gentlemen decided things. Her translation would be accepted. Her heart lifted.
“It was a pleasure and an honor to meet you, Lady Hatherly,” said Mr. Carey. “We are so very pleased to accept your gift of your grandfather’s manuscripts.”
“They belong in your library, for others to study,” she said. “They belong in India.”
Mr. Vidyasagar nodded emphatically. “And we will be pleased to take your translation into consideration when we begin the process of seeking to publish portions of the Kama Sutra for a small, select audience.”
“Thank you.”
“Shall we be going, my love?” Nick said.
Alice rather thought they should. The two scholars still appeared shocked and dazed by the news that a woman had written about such enthusiastic subjects.
As they left, Nick reached behind her and squeezed her bum.
“Nick! We’re in a public building. There are learned professors about.”
“I forgot.” He leaned down. “I’m so completely and utterly in love with you, Dimples, that sometimes I forget I can’t make love to you whenever and wherever I please, and spectators be damned.”
They emerged from the cool, stone building into the humid heat. “I think we’ve shocked everyone enough for one day,” Alice said.
Nick threaded his fingers through hers as they walked along the banks of the River Hooghly.
“Why did you do it, Nick? It wasn’t what we agreed upon.”
“Because someone needs to know that the most brilliant linguist in the world decided to marry the likes of me.”
Later, lying in bed, with Nick’s arms twined around her, Alice dissolved into giggles.
“What are you laughing about, Dimples?”
“I was remembering the look on Mr. Carey’s face when I began reading from the Kama Sutra.”
“You were magnificent.”
She kissed his cheek. “So were you.”
“Does that mean I’m forgiven?”
“I didn’t say that.”
His mouth claimed hers with an urgency that took her breath away.
“How about now, Dimples?” he asked, several minutes later.
“Not yet.”
Several hours later they lay exhausted, slick with sweat and breathing heavily, limbs tangled together in the center of the bed.
“Now?” Nick asked.
“I’m not sure . . .”
Nick groaned. “You’re insatiable, Dimples.”
Alice’s heart sang with happiness as she drifted to sleep in Nick’s arms.
They were in love.
They had a whole wide world to explore. And Alice was ready for their next grand adventure.
Acknowledgments
“Begin at the beginning,” says the King in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, “and go on till you come to the end: then stop.”
Thanks to my parents for reading out loud to me as a child. Thanks to my dear family and my wonderful friends for all the support and encouragement during the rough patches. Big hugs to my husband, who always knows just what to say—it’s my turn to clean the cat boxes, sweetie.
To my editors, Carrie Feron and Amanda Bergeron, I’m so very fortunate to be able to learn from you and grow as a writer with your guidance. My everlasting gratitude to the entire fantastic, dedicated, and passionate team at Avon Books.
Huge thanks to my dream agent, Alexandra Machinist, and to all the friends who read early versions and didn’t laugh too hard, especially Charis, Rachel, Lisa, and Neile.
Finally, to the Facebook commenter who wrote, “Please tell me Book Three is about Miss Alice Tombs . . .” Hope you enjoy!
About the Author
LENORA BELL is a third-generation Alaskan, and her hometown still has no traffic lights or fast food, but the public library is going strong. An English teacher with an MFA in Creative Writing, Lenora has traveled the globe using music to bring smiles to classrooms. She currently lives in Switzerland with her carpenter husband and two naughty tiger-striped kitties.
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By Lenora Bell
Blame It on the Duke
If I Only Had a Duke
How the Duke Was Won
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
blame it on the duke. Copyright © 2017 by Lenora Bell. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
Digital Edition MAY 2017 ISBN: 9780062397775
Print Edition ISBN: 9780062397768
Avon, Avon & logo, and Avon Books & logo are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
HarperCollins is a registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers in the United States of America and other countries.
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