At her father's deathbed confession that the Duke of
Billingham was responsible for her mother's suicide,
Lillian swears to exact retribution for her mother's rape
and eventual death. Lillian manipulates an invitation to
the Bellingham's house party where she can obtain evidence
to expose the late duke's true nature. Society reveres the
previous duke as a saint for his sponsorship of reform laws
and his high moral standards. Lillian plans to prove he was
a hypocritical and amoral man. However, Lillian doesn't
expect to discover the current duke is the exact opposite
of his father. He is an honorable and decent man who wildly
attracts her.
Simon, the Duke of Billingham, bows to his mother's wishes
and hosts a house party to choose a bride. He pushes his
mourning for his beloved father aside and prepares to
entertain the debutantes. A totally inappropriate young
woman catches his attention. She is the daughter of a
younger son whose family is touched by scandal. Simon sees
desire in her eyes battling with her obvious dislike in
him. As Lillian attempts to fade into the shadows, Simon
pursues her regardless of his mother's horror at her
inappropriateness.
Lillian and Simon's attraction grows. Lillian panics as she
battles with her conscious and questions how a man's family
could not be aware of his true nature. If Lillian confesses
her purpose what will she ultimately gain? Will justice be
served if she destroys Simon's life and hers?
Ms. Petersen has Lillian on a quest for justice and when it
becomes obtainable, the questions arises; does the
collateral damage to the innocent justify the belated
justice for her mother and can she live with the
destruction the truth will cause? Grab your tissues as
Lillian struggles for resolution to her thorny problem. Ms.
Petersen then shocks readers with a surprise no one saw
coming!
Simon Crathorne has never felt quite “right” in his own
life. Even with his friends, he never fit. But now his
father is dead and he has inherited the Dukedom, and all
the responsibility that goes with it. And since his father
was always known as a highly moral, upstanding man, Simon
has big shoes to fill. Lillian Mayhew doesn’t buy the late
Duke’s exalted reputation one bit. A lifetime of hearing
her father talk about the man’s sins and seeing the torment
her family endured at his hands has made her bitter and a
final secret she discovered as her father lay dying has
turned her bitterness to a drive to destroy the good name
of the man she feels wronged her. No matter the price.
But when Simon and Lillian meet, sparks fly and passion
erupts, leaving Lillian with an ugly choice. Can she
abandon her quest for revenge, just as she is on the cusp
of fulfilling her duty? Or will she betray a man whose past
turns out to be a murky sea of lies and betrayals neither
one could have ever anticipated? A man whose kiss could
change her life forever.
Excerpt
“There are at least a dozen beautiful women here, Simon.”
She flushed as she realized her slip. It seemed her private
use of his given name had instilled bad habits in
her. “Your Grace.”
But a light of triumph had already brightened his eyes. Her
use of his name was only encouragement to him.
She hastened to add something else, to counteract her
inappropriate statement with a fact that would crush his
interest.
“Those other women are far more appropriate than I am, as
well,” she finally whispered. “If you are on this path to
court me, I would bring nothing to you, Your Grace. No
money, no alliance with a powerful family, in fact my
connections would bring you down in the estimation of some.
I did not come here to pursue that kind of connection to
you, I have no illusions that I shall marry, perhaps at
all.”
He smiled again, but this time there was a gentleness to
it. “All that you say may be true. However I find that I
don’t really care that much. I do find you interesting,
Lillian, whether you like it or not, whether you expected
it or not. And since I have the power and the access and
the time, I intend to pursue my interest.”
Lillian’s lips parted as he moved even closer. She felt his
body heat now, suffusing her fine linen gown, warming her
beneath in a way that suggested naked skin and writhing
bodies. With a start, she turned away, but he caught her
wrist and held her steady.
“You are a riddle I intend to solve,” he whispered, his
gaze holding hers.
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