The Duke Who Knew Too Much (39 page)

“My dearest love,” he breathed, “what the devil are you doing
spying
in a garden when you’re increasing—with my heir, no less?”

“We don’t know that it’s going to be a boy; it could very well be a girl. And any daughter of ours wouldn’t mind a little adventure … Alaric,” she said breathlessly, “what are you doing?”

“I’m getting you out of here.”

“I noticed. But I can walk.”

“Not as fast as I can.” He strode through the hedges with his duchess in his arms. “You shouldn’t be out in the night air. You should be resting, eating, whatever it is ladies in your condition do—”

“You’re not going to be like this the entire seven months, are you?”

He shot her a look.

She sighed. “I’m a Kent, darling. We’re robust, remember?”

“As to that, there’s to be no more sleuthing until our son is born.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Can’t I?”

Instead of arguing, she smiled. “You
are
happy about this, aren’t you?”

“Darling, I’m overjoyed.” Halting, he gazed into her eyes and saw his future so clearly and beautifully reflected. “Everything I’ve ever wanted, you’ve given me. And now we’re going to have a bairn as well.”

“I love you so much,” she said.

Words he’d never tire of hearing or saying. Because she’d taught him they were true.

“I love you, Emma.” He kissed her with all that was in his heart.

When he raised his head, she whispered, “Let’s go home.”

“I am home. With you, my love,” he said tenderly, “I finally am.”

The End

Dear Reader,

Thank you for joining me in the world of
Heart of Enquiry
! I hope you enjoyed your visit and ask that you consider leaving a review. For indie authors, nothing is more valuable than reader word of mouth, so my gratitude in advance :)

I wanted to extend special thanks to all of you who’ve let me know me how much you enjoyed the Kents (first introduced as Ambrose Kent’s family in
Her Protector’s Pleasure
, Book 3 of Mayhem in Mayfair). The loveable and unconventional Kent siblings captured my attention as well, and I look forward to sharing their adventures in the
Heart of Enquiry
series. Up next will be Thea’s story--which I plan to release in Summer 2015. Stay tuned!

I love to hear from my readers, so feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. For updates on my books, prizes, and giveaways (including gift card raffles), please click on the link below to sign up for my newsletter.

Cheers and happy reading!

XOXO Grace

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http://www.gracecallaway.com

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Heart of Enquiry Series

Catch Will and Annabel’s story in the prequel novella,
The Widow Vanishes:

A Lady in Peril

A disastrous marriage leaves Annabel Foster buried in her dead husband's debt and at the mercy of a menacing cutthroat. Faced with death or selling her body, she makes an unthinkable choice …

A Scotsman with a Past

Haunted by his past, Scottish soldier William McLeod seeks forgetfulness in the arms of a tempting wench. What begins as a night of lust, however, transforms into desire beyond his wildest fantasies …

One Night of Passion

Insatiable hunger flares between the pair even as an evil enemy seeks to destroy them both. Can one night of passion lead to their salvation and love forevermore?

Novella Length: approximately 36,000 words

Other Books by Grace

The
Mayhem in Mayfair
series

Book 1:
Her
H
usband’s Harlot

How far will a wallflower go to win her husband's love? When her disguise as a courtesan backfires, Lady Helena finds herself entangled in a game of deception and desire with her husband Nicholas, the Marquess of Harteford ... and discovers that he has dark secrets of his own.

Book 2:
Her W
a
nton Wager

To what lengths will a feisty miss go to save her family from ruin? Miss Persephone Fines takes on a wager of seduction with notorious gaming hell owner Gavin Hunt and discovers that love is the most dangerous risk of all.

Book 3:
Her P
r
otector’s Pleasure

Wealthy widow Lady Marianne Draven will stop at nothing to find her kidnapped daughter. Having suffered betrayal in the past, she trusts no man—and especially not Thames River Policeman Ambrose Kent, who has a few secrets of his own. Yet fiery passion ignites between the unlikely pair as they battle a shadowy foe. Can they work together to save Marianne's daughter? And will nights of pleasure turn into a love for all time?

Book 4:
Her Pro
d
igal Passion

Sensible Miss Charity Sparkler has been in love with Paul Fines, her best friend’s brother, for years. When he accidentally compromises her, they find themselves wed in haste. Can an ugly duckling recognize her own beauty and a reformed rake his own value? As secrets of the past lead to present dangers, will this marriage of convenience transform into one of love?

The
Chronicles of Abigail Jones
series

Abig
a
il Jones

When destiny brings shy Victorian maid Abigail Jones into the home of the brooding and enigmatic Earl of Huxton, she discovers forbidden passion … and a dangerous world of supernatural forces.

About the Author

Grace Callaway's debut novel,
Her Husband's Harlot
, was a Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Finalist and went on to become a National #1 Bestselling Regency Romance. Since then, the books in her Mayhem in Mayfair series have hit multiple national and international bestselling lists. She's received top-starred reviews from
Love Romance Passion
,
Bitten by Paranormal Romance
, and
Nightowl Reviews
, amongst others.

Grace grew up on the Canadian prairies battling mosquitoes and freezing temperatures. She made her way south to earn a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. She thought writing a dissertation was difficult until she started writing a book; she thought writing a book was challenging until she became a mother. Currently, she and her family live in California, where their adventures include caretaking an ancestral Buddhist temple, exploring the great outdoors, and sampling local artisanal goodies.

Grace loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at
[email protected]
.

Other ways to connect:

Website:
www.gracecallaway.com

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/GraceCallawayBooks

Twitter: @Grace_Callaway

Acknowledgements

The creation of every book needs a village, and this one was no exception. I am so blessed to have the best peeps in the world supporting my endeavors. Tina, thank you for our Fridays and for being the best critique partner and friend—and for supplying a much needed plot element (you know which one!). Diane and Candace, your editorial feedback was invaluable as always. Thank you for understanding and supporting the worlds that I strive to create.

Carrie, you bring my vision of my characters to life with your beautiful art—thank you! Lindsey, hugs for your assistance and making my life easier. To the bloggers and reviewers who have helped get the word out about my books, my heartfelt appreciation. Brian, my books (and life) are better because of you. Kisses!

To my family, who has supported my dreams, especially during this transitional year. Your love sustains me. And for Brendan, my little warrior, who inspires me every day.

Lastly, to my readers ... because none of this would be possible without you! I’m so grateful that you’ve joined me on this adventure. Here’s to our continued travels together.

Copyright

© 2015 Grace Callaway. All rights reserved. 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 the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

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Cover Design: © Seductive Musings Design

Image: © Period Images

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License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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