A mysterious Falconer. A ravishing green-eyed Lady. A castle under siege. A killer hiding among them. Traitors are revealed. Family loyalties are betrayed. Can hated enemies find common ground in each other's arms? The Lady and the Falconer is an exciting medieval romance filled with action, intrigue, suspense and a desire that defies every sinister obstacle put in its path.
A Knight of Honor
A Knight of Honor on Amazon
Winner of the Holt Medallion Award for Best Medieval Novel!
Taylor Sullivan is a raven-haired hellion fleeing the flames that destroyed her family. She arms herself with a quick sword and a sharp tongue, hiring herself out as a mercenary, willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Slane Donovan is a knight of honor, sworn to uphold his oath and his word. He seeks the woman who wears the Sullivan ring, determined to bring her back to Castle Donovan.
Midnight Shadow
Midnight Shadow on Amazon
When the unjust rules of a neighboring lord terrorize her friends, a Lady dons the mask and cloak of her childhood hero to right the wrongs and save them from oppression. Torn between the woman he longs to trust and the outlaw he has vowed to hang, a Lord vows to find the truth. Will a legendary hero find love in the arms of her enemy?
The Angel and the Prince
The Angel and the Prince on Amazon
Nominated for the Golden Heart Award
In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy -- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness.
Beloved in His Eyes
As captain of the guard, Gawyn serves his brother, Lord Damien, faithfully and loyally; there is nothing he would not do for him. Justina Auber must protect her younger brother from the assassin who murdered her father. Will Gawyn betray his brother to save the woman he is falling in love with? Book 3 in the Angel's Assassin series!
Beloved in His Eyes on Amazon
Champion of the Heart
Champion of the Heart is an exciting medieval romance filled with dark secrets and haunted castles, villainous betrayal and heartbreaking tragedy, honor and family loyalty—and a love that conquers all.
“Captivating from the very first page, readers will have a hard time putting CHAMPION OF THE HEART down. The characters emotional turmoil coupled with the sensuality and delightful cast of characters adds a special, unique depth… and elevated this to another level.”
- RT Book Reviews
Champion of the Heart on Amazon
Medieval Romance Novellas
A Knight's Protection
A Knight's Protection on Amazon
A healer and outcast, Lia discovers a dying Templar knight who entrusts her with an important treasure and elicits her promise to protect it. Kade de Claremont returns home upon news of his mother’s death only to find his father is searching for a mythical treasure. Lia and Kade must join together to keep the treasure from his father, but secrets and trust come between them to sabotage their growing attraction.
The Bravest of Them All
The Bravest of Them All on Amazon
All her life, Nessa has idolized her older sister, Melwyn, following in her footsteps, doing what she did. When Nessa falls in love with her sister’s betrothed, she is willing to sacrifice her own feelings to ensure Melwyn’s happiness. Luke of Brackley has vowed to protect the innocent, including his lord’s daughters. Betrothed to Melwyn, Luke always believed his future lay in her arms. When he discovers Nessa has been kidnapped by an enemy, he risks everything to save her. Will Nessa be able to keep her love for Luke a secret even as her heart breaks?
Mistletoe Magic
Mistletoe Magic on Amazon
A confident knight arrives home to find his childhood friend grown into much more than he remembered. The lady of the castle keeps a dangerous secret that threatens all she holds dear. Will Mistletoe Magic save them? Mistletoe Magic is a medieval romance novella.
Cherished Protector of Her Heart
Cherished Protector of Her Heart on Amazon
Aurora, the honored lady of Acquitaine prepares for her upcoming marriage. Damien, her betrothed, battles the unwanted visitors that have come for more than just celebration. Will his past catch up to him and ruin all he has fought so hard to protect? This novella features characters from Angel's Assassin! Part 2 of the Angel's Assassin Trilogy.
The Bride and the Brute
FREE - The Bride and the Brute Novella on Amazon
Jayce Cullen has been fighting her fear of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child, but nothing could have prepared her for the fury of her new husband. Feeling deceived and betrayed into a loveless marriage, Lord Reese Harrington wants nothing to do with his new wife. Trapped in a marriage with no escape, the beautiful young bride must battle the demons of her husband’s past and hope that she can weather the storm his brutish behavior unleashes. This medieval romance novella is available for FREE for a limited time!
Paranormal Romance
Immortal Death on Amazon
Jade Smith's supernaturally fast ability to heal has made her a freak. After years of fearful reactions from others, she stays hidden in the shadows of life. The one thing that keeps her sane is her writing--and her wonderful Demetrius, an imaginary character she created in her online stories. But when Demetrius suddenly appears in her apartment, her life changes forever.
Demetrius Mercer is a fighter vampire for the de Nouviant family who spends his days hunting a rival vampire family for killing his beloved Rosaline. When he learns Jade Smith knows his life story and is publishing it on the Internet for all to see, he must uncover who she is and how she knows so much about his past--before she exposes him and endangers his entire family.
Will Jade's abilities be enough to heal Demetrius's scarred soul, or will he spend eternity alone in anguish?
Urban Fantasy
Lost Souls: Resurrection - Episode 1 on Amazon
Christian Thompson is killed but refuses to pass into the afterlife because of his need to shelter his daughter from her cruel mother. He soon discovers there are others like him, other spirits trapped between the world of the living and the dead. He joins the Lost Souls in their struggle against a dark evil that threatens them all.
Lost Souls: Imperfection – Episode 2 on Amazon
Sam and her brother Ben, along with their new friend Christian, have just defied the leader of the Lost Souls. Outcast from their former group, the three of them battle the dark forces of the Changed on their own. With the help of their old friend, Eugene, they investigate the mysterious disappearance of one of their Lost Soul brethren. As the investigation deepens, they come to the chilling realization that their nemesis, Scala, has escaped his centuries-old prison with revenge on his twisted mind. A demonic possession leads to grave consequences and the Lost Souls must make a difficult choice between life and death for an innocent victim.
Lost Souls: Deception - Episode 3 on Amazon
Sam, Ben and Christian continue to battle the dark forces of the Changed, the inhuman monsters who feed on the energy of their Lost Soul brethren. After receiving surprising news about the whereabouts of Sam and Ben’s sister Cora, they arrive at a friend’s to investigate. As their search deepens, Ben becomes consumed with trying to save Cora, taking a very dangerous path that puts himself and everyone around him in jeopardy. Treachery and deception threaten their group as they discover nothing is as it seems…
Lost Souls: Altercation - Episode 4 on Amazon
Sam and Christian have mysteriously disappeared. An unlikely group of allies is formed as Damien, Ben and Eugene search for their missing friends. With the calming presence of Sam gone from his life, the urge to make the Jump into a human grows dangerously strong inside of Damien. To add to their anguish, a powerful new menace threatens destruction for both Souls and humans alike. Can they find Sam in time to stop Damien from making the Jump? Can they stop this new foe from gaining str
ength and building a deadly following? Read Lost Souls – Altercation to find out!
Lost Souls: Suspicion - Episode 5 on Amazon
As the Souls try to discover who their nemesis, Scala, has possessed, Sam fights inner doubts and demons. The Souls look to Sam to lead them, but can she find the courage to save her brother and her friends from their most challenging enemy or will her suspicions doom them all?
Get Lost Souls Episodes 1-4 in a convenient boxed set on Amazon!
Lost Souls Boxed Set on Amazon
For more information on any of these books or other novels by Laurel O'Donnell, please visit her website at www.laurel-odonnell.com, or follow her Amazon author page.
THE DUKE NEXT DOOR
MEARA PLATT
Copyright
The Duke Next Door Copyright © Meara Platt
All rights reserved.
Dedication
To Eddie, Jack, and Tony who are the dukes in our family
Chapter One
Cotswolds, England
June 1819
At eighteen years of age, Lady Mallory Goodell was finally old enough to kiss a duke, and she knew just which one to set her sights upon. After all, she’d planned this moment for four long years and was not about to be dissuaded by the fact that her neighbor Lucien, Duke of Hawthorn, had yet to notice her existence.
“Good morning, Hutchins,” she said, a little out of breath from walking through the woods that separated the Goodell manor house from Lucien’s much grander ducal estate. That Hawthorn Hall was in genteel disrepair did not detract from its magnificence. “I know it is rather early to receive visitors, but do you think His Grace would mind seeing me?”
She smiled at the kindly, gray-haired butler and squinted slightly as the glint of bright sunlight in the perfectly blue summer sky caught her eyes when she gazed up at him.
“I’m certain he would be delighted to grant you an audience, Lady Mallory.” He glanced at the envelope in her hand. “But he is at the mill this morning, attempting to repair the grinding wheel.”
Mallory pursed her lips and frowned. “Oh, dear. Has it broken again?”
Hutchins nodded. “Yes, unfortunately. Is that envelope for His Grace? I shall hand it to him as soon as he returns.”
Mallory did her best to hide her disappointment, but she could tell by Hutchins’ pitying expression that she’d failed. “Would you? Thank you. Please be sure that he opens it at once.” She took a deep breath. “It is an invitation to my birthday party. We’re to celebrate it on Saturday next. But I’ve turned eighteen today.”
Hutchins cracked a smile. “My, my. How the time flies. Why, I still remember the day you were born as though it were yesterday. Indeed, I shall never forget. It was the same day that His Grace - of course, he was young Lord Lucien back then - fell out of the giant oak tree and broke his arm.”
“And three ribs,” Mallory added, for she’d heard the story often enough. The near death of the exceedingly handsome ducal heir was a particularly favorite topic of the local gossips. Quite the scandalbroth at the time, for he’d fallen naked out of the tree, and there was much speculation about the how and why of it.
A woman was reputed to have been involved.
Two, in fact.
Both of questionable virtue, but that still didn’t explain what he was doing in the tree without his clothes on or what the women were doing up there with him in the same state of undress.
Mallory shook her head to clear the improper thoughts now swirling in her mind. “Well, I’ll be off now.”
“May I offer you refreshments before you take your leave, Lady Mallory? It is a warm day and you’ve had a long walk.”
“Oh, but there’s a lovely breeze. Thank you, Hutchins. Another time, perhaps. Good day.”
“Good day to you, Lady Mallory.” He held up the crisp, white envelope to quietly assure her that he would not forget her invitation.
Mallory had cut through the woods on her way to Hawthorn Hall. If she walked along the road - no matter that it added two miles to her journey home - she would pass by the mill. Wasn’t it the neighborly thing to do? She could find out the exact problem with the wheel and report it to her father.
He would not hesitate to offer assistance to a duke, especially this unmarried duke.
She began to have doubts about the wisdom of her plan when the gentle morning breeze died away suddenly and left only the hot sun beating down upon her head. The bonnet she’d worn to lend shade was now prickling her skin and making her itch, so she removed it. As she did so, a few of the hairpins holding her curls in place caught in the bonnet’s lace trim and fell out. The mass of hair piled precariously at the top of her head was now only held up by chance.
“Mallory? What brings you here?” Lucien asked, happening to stride out of the old, stone mill just as she arrived and catching her fussing with her wayward hair.
He looked perfect, of course. Not a strand out of place, even though he’d been laboring for hours and working up a manly sweat. He was dressed simply, in clothes that any farmer might wear. Coarse linen trousers and shirt, and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal his muscled forearms. His brown boots were worn and scuffed.
But his attire did nothing to diminish his magnificence.
She began to fidget with the ties of her bonnet, for describing him as magnificent did not begin to do him justice. “I heard your wheel is broken. Is there anything we can do to help?”
As he strode toward her, the sun formed a halo of light around his golden hair, and the little hairs on his forearms shone like gold dust. She supposed it was the effect of sunlight striking the sheen of sweat on his lightly bronzed skin that made him look like a proud medieval knight after a hard day’s battle.
Her fingers continued to fidget maniacally with her bonnet, but her eyes followed the glistening trail of water that slid down his neck to disappear into his broad chest. She raised her gaze to his face before he noticed that she had been looking elsewhere.
She loved his face. It was a glorious mix of elegant and masculine. She loved the way the ends of his damp hair curled perfectly against his neck. His shirt was damp as well and clung to the hard planes of his chest.
Mother in heaven.
Her gaze was drifting downward again and she could see every ripple and twist of his muscled torso as he casually approached her.
“Kind of you to offer,” he said, his voice deep and sounding a little strained, “but no need. We’ve just fixed it.”
“Oh.” She hurried to say something else, for he would certainly hear the rampant pounding of her heart if she fell silent. She made the mistake of meeting his gaze. Eyes of ocean blue stared back at her and crinkled at the corners when he smiled at her. “Um, excellent. Well, if it breaks again... of course, I certainly hope it won’t. But if it does, I’m certain Father will be glad to help out. I will, too.”
Lucien nodded, his gaze still disconcertingly fixed on her. Suddenly, his smile softened. “Happy birthday, Mallory.”
She gasped in delight and her eyes popped wide. “You remembered.”
He shook his head and gave a wincing laugh. “How could I not? No one within forty miles of Hawthorn Hall will ever let me forget that day.”
She joined him in merry laughter. “Not one of your finer moments. Perhaps you’ll tell me what really happened all those years ago, now that I am officially old enough to be told the sordid truth. Although the gossip must be far worse than the actual story.”
He winced again. “To be honest, what happened is far worse than the gossip. You have no idea how reckless and stupid boys of that age can be.”
“I don’t know, sounds like fun. I’ve never been reckless. Not ever. It must feel good to throw caution to the wind and experience one exciting moment in your life.” She shook her head and sighed. “I haven’t had a single one.”
The blue of his eyes seemed to roil and darken like the turbulent waves of an ocean current. “I should hope not. Be grateful tha
t you’ve made it through your girlhood without a scandal to your name. Men are forgiven their indiscretions, but no such mercy is ever shown to the innocent lamb who is led astray. No silly adventures for you, my girl.”
She pursed her lips in a moue of dismay, for he now sounded just like her father. “Even if I wished for them, there’s no one around here to lead me astray. I shall be quite the proper young lady when I make my debut.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Your debut? When will that be?”
“Oh, not until next year. My parents consider me too young and incompetent to have my Come-Out this Season, so I shall have to wait a little while longer to be put on display on the marriage mart. In the meanwhile, they’ve already informed me that we shall make several trips to London to visit the best shops, no expense spared to turn me into a Society jewel. I suppose that could be fun,” she said with little enthusiasm.
“Ah, poor Mallory.” Suddenly, he broke into another broad grin. “Well, I’ll be a pig-nut.”
Her pout dissolved into another laugh, for that was the silly expression his younger brother, Aidan, always used. She liked that Lucien was using it, for it meant the brothers were now on good terms and seeing each other regularly. “Your Grace, why are you grinning at me?”
“Because this is indeed a momentous day. You’ve made it through your girlhood.” He surprised her by taking her hands in his calloused grip. Her heart shot into her throat, but she quickly realized he wasn’t making advances. He was merely stopping her from cutting off the circulation in her fingers by twisting those bonnet ties so tightly around them. “You’re officially a young woman today. That is cause for celebration.”
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