THE MATCH OF THE CENTURY
Marrying the Duke #1
Cathy Maxwell
Releasing Nov 24th, 2015
Avon Books
In New York
Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell’s glittering new series, wedding
bells are ringing… until the return of a rake throws a bride’s plans— and
heart—into a tailspin.
Every
debutante aspires to snag a duke. Elin Morris just happens to have had one
reserved since birth. But postponements of her marriage to London’s most
powerful peer give Elin time to wonder how she will marry Gavin Baynton when
she cannot forget his brother, Benedict.
Already
exasperated at being yanked from the military to meet “family obligations,” now
Ben must suffer watching his arrogant sibling squire the only woman he has ever
loved. Joining the army saved Ben from sinking into bitterness, but seeing Elin
again takes him back to the day they surrendered to their intoxicating desire.
As the
wedding draws near, Elin tries to push Ben far from her thoughts. When danger
brings them together, there is no denying their feelings. But can Elin choose
love over duty…?
Her mother led Elin to
her dressing table. She gently pushed Elin to sit on the bench and then knelt
on the carpet in front of her, taking her hands and holding them.
“My daughter, we have
discussed this. I thought you’d forgiven yourself. It was not a good incident
in your life but nothing terrible came of it.”
“I have forgiven myself.”
Elin’s voice sounded false to her own ears. “I just believe Baynton should
know.”
“That his brother took
advantage of his betrothed? Is that what you want to tell him?”
“I wouldn’t say who.”
Especially since Baynton and his brothers had a turbulent history.
There had been three
Whitridge sons residing at Baynton, until Gavin’s younger, Jack, had
disappeared one night from Eton. Some claimed he’d had run off. Others believed
foul play. No matter what, he was never seen or heard from again.
The disappearance had
meant that the old duke had not wanted to let his last and youngest son meet
the same end. Or have the same opportunity to escape. The old duke had been an
exacting taskmaster. He had high expectations for his heir. Ben often felt he
was an after thought. “A spare,” Ben had always claimed, oftentimes bitterly.
“Always kept at bay.”
Because of Jack’s
disappearance, his father had kept him at Trenton, the family estate, and had
him educated by a succession of tutors with only Elin as a companion.
As an only child of
parent who were often absent from the country, Elin had valued Ben’s company.
She’d trusted him and to this day, could not believe he had taken her innocence
to strike out at his oldest brother, as her mother had claimed. Everyone knew
the brothers were highly competitive. The old duke liked them that way.
However, to Elin, the
loss of her purity was a small thing in the face of the betrayal of a trusted
friend. She’d known he’d longed for independence. He’d yearned to buy his
commission and set off into the world.
What she hadn’t
anticipated was that he would use her in such a deliberate way. That had seemed
out of character. Her mother had assured her it was very much the nature of men
and one of the reasons that from now on, her parents would protect her more
closely.
And so they had.
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New York Times Bestselling Author, Cathy Maxwell spends hours in
front of her computer pondering the question, “Why do people fall in love?” It
remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness. She
lives in beautiful Virginia with children, horses, dogs, and cats.
Don't Miss the Marrying the Duke Novella
A LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE
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Thank you for hosting!
Crystal, Tasty Book Tours
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