The Duke's Men [1] What the Duke Desires

“ANYONE WHO LOVES ROMANCE MUST READ SABRINA JEFFRIES!”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Lisa Kleypas

“JEFFRIES’S ADDICTIVE SERIES SATISFIES.”

—
Library Journal

HELLIONS OF HALSTEAD HALL

“Another sparkling series” (
Library Journal
) from
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author

SABRINA JEFFRIES

Praise for

A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS

“Jeffries pulls out all the stops. . . . With depth of character, emotional intensity,
and the resolution to the ongoing mystery rolled into a steamy love story, this one
is not to be missed.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4
¹
/
₂
stars, Top Pick)

“Wonderfully refreshing. . . . A sizzling, emotionally satisfying romance. . . . Another
must-read from one of the genre’s best.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“Brimming with superbly shaded characters, an abundance of simmering sensuality, and
a splendidly wicked wit,
A Lady Never Surrenders
wraps up the series nothing short of brilliantly.”

—
Booklist

More praise for the novels in Sabrina Jeffries’s
New York Times
bestselling Hellions of Halstead Hall series

TO WED A WILD LORD

“Wonderfully witty, deliciously seductive, graced with humor and charm.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“Another beguiling blend of captivating characters, clever plotting, and sizzling
sensuality in the exceptionally entertaining Hellions of Halstead Hall series.”

—
Booklist

HOW TO WOO A RELUCTANT LADY

“A delightful addition. . . . Charmingly original.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“Richly imbued with steamy passion, deftly spiced with dangerous intrigue, and neatly
tempered with just the right amount of tart wit.”

—
Booklist

A HELLION IN HER BED

“A lively plot blending equal measures of steamy passion and sharp wit.”

—
Booklist
(starred review)

“Jeffries’s sense of humor and delightfully delicious sensuality spice things up!”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4
¹
/
₂
stars)

THE TRUTH ABOUT LORD STONEVILLE

“Jeffries combines her hallmark humor, poignancy, and sensuality to perfection.”

—
RT Book Reviews
(4
¹
/
₂
stars, Top Pick)

“Lively repartee, fast action, luscious sensuality, and an abundance of humor.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“Delectably witty dialogue . . . and scorching sexual chemistry.”

—
Booklist

Savor frost-tipped wonders and passionate secrets all the year through, with this
critically acclaimed holiday treasure from Sabrina Jeffries

’TWAS THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS

Named One of the Best Romances of 2012 by
Library Journal
!

“A moving Regency with heart, soul, and holiday spirit. . . . The compelling, fast-paced,
and lively tale wraps up with several surprising, tear-jerking twists.”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“Sharply witty, deliciously sexy, and infinitely endearing, this holiday gem strikes
an emotional chord that will resonate long after the book has been closed.”

—
Library Journal
(starred review)

“An enchanting holiday charmer with a complex and captivating plot; characters that
interact with emotional authenticity; and a rich set of conflicted, heart-tugging
obstacles—all of which combine to provide a satisfying happily-ever-after set against
a fun holiday backdrop. . . . A lovely, spirited Christmas winner.”

—
Kirkus Reviews

To all the wonderful people who adopted me in my college years since I couldn’t go
home to visit my parents in Thailand—Aunt Shirley and Uncle Harvey Peshoff, Aunt Judy
and my late uncle Jimmy Martin, my late aunt Gloria, and the entire Owens family:
John, Donna (now deceased), Diane, Joyce, Johnny, and Pam. You’ll never know what
your love and care meant to me.

T
HE
M
ANTON AND
B
ONNAUD
F
AMILY
T
REE

“
S
ACRE BLEU
,
GIRL,
stop that pacing and come eat breakfast before you make me dizzy.”

Fourteen-year-old Lisette Bonnaud halted, only to stare out the front window of the
cottage. “But Maman, how can you not be worried about Tristan? He’s never gone all
night! What if something happened to him while he and Papa were hunting yesterday?”

Claudine Bonnaud waved her hand with the sort of elegant flourish that had made her
a celebrated actress on the Continent before Papa had brought her back from one of
his travels and ensconced her in this cottage. “Then we would have heard of it by
now. Your papa would have sent a servant to fetch us, at the very least. More likely
Ambrose took Tristan drinking after the hunt, and they ended up staying until dawn
at the Green Inn.”

Maman was probably right. It figured that Papa would take her brother somewhere interesting.
Tristan always got to do
everything
. She never did. And Tristan
wasn’t even that much older than her—just three years. It wasn’t fair.

“Perhaps I should walk to Ashcroft to make sure that they’re there.” She cast a wistful
glance out at the green woolly hills of the Yorkshire wolds that stretched for miles
and miles.

Maman lifted one perfectly plucked blond eyebrow. “You cannot go off to town alone,
ma fille
. It’s not seemly.”

Blowing out a frustrated breath, Lisette returned to pacing. “As if anyone cares about
propriety for a bastard.”

“Lisette Bonnaud!” Maman said sharply. “Do not use that awful word to describe yourself!
You’re the daughter of the Viscount Rathmoor. Never forget it.”

“The
illegitimate
daughter of the Viscount Rathmoor,” she grumbled. “What happened to all of Papa’s
promises to marry you?”

Maman’s lips tightened into a line. “It’s . . . a complicated matter. He had to wait
for the war with France to end. Marrying a Frenchwoman will create a very great scandal
for your papa as it is. And for his legitimate sons.”

Lisette eyed her mother askance. “The war ended a year ago, Maman. And the only one
who cares about scandal is George. Waiting won’t change that.”

Twenty-six-year-old George Manton was Papa’s
legitimate
son and heir, half brother to her and Tristan. He’d hated them ever since Papa made
Maman his mistress. Even after George’s mother had died years ago,
he’d still loathed the woman whom his father continued to dote on. And the children
born of his father—
their
father.

“George will come around,” Maman said dismissively, obviously uncomfortable with this
line of conversation. “He will have no choice once your papa marries me.” She began
to spread jam on a piece of toast with delicate strokes of the knife.

Everything Maman did was delicate. Meanwhile, Lisette didn’t have a delicate bone
in her body. She was unnaturally tall for a girl her age, with bony hips and large
breasts that made her look off-balance. And her hair wasn’t Maman’s buttery blond,
which gentlemen always seemed to admire. It was Papa’s ink black.

She did try to make it attractive with the ribbons Papa brought her from his travels,
but it was so wild and curly that such an endeavor was fruitless. Most of the time
she ended up using the ribbons to embroider her gowns instead.

“Maman, am I pretty?”

Her mother blinked. “Of course you’re pretty,
ma chérie
. You’re my daughter, aren’t you? Don’t fret, one day men will vie for your attention.”

She wasn’t sure she wanted that. Maman’s looks had only gained
her
a lifetime of waiting around for the man she loved to marry her. As a little girl,
Lisette had believed in Papa’s promises to make them a real family one day. But lately
she’d begun to lose faith in him.

A heavy knock came at the entrance door. “I’ll answer it,”
Lisette called out as she dashed into the hall to open it. She smiled when she saw
her other half brother, nineteen-year-old Dominick Manton, standing on the doorstep.