The Decadent Duke

Table of Contents

 

 

“Rife with political intrigue, this medieval historical romance never lacks for suspense. . . . This dynamic, heavily embellished history lesson manages to do what few can—illuminate and entertain.''

—
Publishers Weekly

"Few writers incorporate such rich historical detail into their romances as Henley, and Wolf and Brianna's story will appeal to fans of the sensual romances of Bertrice Small and Susan Johnson.''—
Booklist

"Henley's at the top of her form, balancing history and passion to perfection. . . . This is what historical romance is all about: getting your romance in perfect harmony with history.''—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars)

 
Infamous

"Few authors combine historical personages and events with a passionate love story as brilliant as Henley.''

—
Romantic Times
(4½ stars, top pick)

 
Unmasked

"Once again Henley has brought history to life—and another couple to true love.''—
Booklist

"A merry chase ... historical romance layered with a healthy dose of intrigue makes for a book that will keep readers unable to stop turning the pages.''

—The Romance Readers Connection

"Unmasked
treats the events of history in a way that keeps the reader wrapped up in the story.''

—Roundtable Reviews

"Henley's gift for bringing remarkable women to life in colorful, turbulent times is what turns her romances into keepers. Henley heats up the pages with her love scenes, and her skill at portraying actual historical personages with humanity while maintaining historical accuracy wins our minds. Henley knows what historical romance is all about and always gives the readers what they want.''—
Romantic Times

 
Insatiable

"Dangerous games, Machiavellian manipulations, and political maneuverings.... Lusty and lavish.''

"As twists of fate contrive to keep the two apart—intrigue, backstabbing, the bubonic plague—readers will hanker for them to live happily ever after.''

"If you like history-rich characters that come to life in your own imagination . . . then Ms. Henley is one author you cannot dismiss!''
—
Romance Designs

 
Undone

"Heartstopping excitement, breathless tension, and tender romance.''—
Rendezvous

"All the sensuality and glitter of a more traditional romance, but enriched by the plot's complexity and the heroine's genuine growth.''—
Publishers Weekly

"A gently suspenseful tale ... filled with satisfying historical detail and actual characters from this intriguing period.''—
Booklist

"Extraordinary characters, rich historical details, and a romance . . . [set] the pages on fire.''

—
Romantic Times
(top pick)

SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2,
Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,
Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi - 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632,
New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,
Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

First published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, November 2008

Copyright © Virginia Henley, 2008

All rights reserved

REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

 

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

eISBN : 978-0-451-22542-9

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

 
"I
hate
that you are being married today!'' Lady Georgina Gordon blinked back tears and threw her arms around her sister.

Lady Louisa looked stricken. "Don't be sad, Georgy. I know you'll miss me, but we shall visit each other often.'' The bride's other three sisters quickly pulled Georgina away and readjusted Louisa's bridal veil.

Georgina could have bitten off her tongue. The last thing she wanted was for her closest sister to feel guilty about getting married. "Don't be daft! Of course I won't miss you.''

Lady Louisa exchanged a glance with her other sisters, Charlotte, Madelina, and Susan. "Then why are you sad?''

"I'm not sad.'' She dashed away her tears with determined fingers. "I'm blazing mad that your wedding day has arrived!''

The lovely, Titian-haired bride looked uncertain. "Georgina, this is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.''

"Pay her no mind, Louisa. You know she's as contrary as a cockroach.'' Charlotte rolled her eyes. "It's bad form to shed tears of jealousy on your sister's wedding day.''

Georgina's jaw dropped. "Jealousy? Allow me to inform you that these are tears of pure self-pity. Now that the rabid Duchess of Gordon has bludgeoned poor Charles Cornwallis into making Louisa Lady Brome, I will become the solitary focus of her motherly attention. She will relentlessly pursue every marquis and duke between the ages of nine and ninety until she bags me a bloody husband.''

"Charles is marrying me because he loves me,'' Louisa declared.

Georgina's tears turned to whoops of laughter. "Love has absolutely nothing to do with it. You are a Gordon and rank is the only thing that counts. You cannot deny that Mother set her sights on the Duke of Manchester for Susan and the heir to the Duke of Richmond for Charlotte, and hunted them until she ran them to ground.''

"Georgina is queer in the head,'' Charlotte said dismissively. "It comes from being the runt of the litter.''

"If I'm the runt, you are the oldest bitch,'' Georgina teased.

"Countess
bitch, if you don't mind.''

"Yes, countess; it all started with you. When you bagged Colonel Charles Lennox, Earl of March and heir to the Dukedom of Richmond, Mother's ambition for the rest of us suddenly knew no bounds. Her thirst for titles became insatiable.''

"We cannot deny it,'' Charlotte finally admitted. "Mother's instincts are more mercenary than maternal. We were all brought up with one aim in life, to marry with the maximum status. And I freely admit that if I were not the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gordon, the Earl of March would never have proposed.''

"Not marriage, at any rate,'' Georgina said lightly.

The sisters all laughed at her witticism. She was the adored baby of the family, and the precocious little beauty had been much indulged and pampered by her siblings. The entire brood had had a most unconventional upbringing. Their time was divided between fairy-tale Castle Gordon in the Scottish Highlands, an elegant townhome in Edinburgh, a large unpretentious farmhouse at Kinrara beside the wild River Spey, and the spacious mansion in Pall Mall, where they were all presently gathered for the summer wedding.

 
Jane Gordon swept into the bedchamber and let out a deep sigh of relief. "Prime Minister Pitt and dearest Henry Dundas have just arrived. I also spied the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York making their way through the gardens from Carlton House.''

Their arrival wasn't the cause of her overwhelming relief. It was the young groom and his father that she hadn't been completely sure of. The Marquis Cornwallis, a top general in the king's army and member of the Privy Council, had objected to the engagement, fearing the infamous taint of Gordon madness, until the duchess had privately assured him, in the strictest of confidence, that there was not a drop of Gordon blood in Louisa's veins.