The Dark Duke Page 23
Paris Mulholland commented that marriage seemed to be catching these days and he hoped Hester Pimblett wouldn’t regret the infection. “As you know, my darling, love has felled stronger constitutions than hers,” he declared with a charming wink.
Clara retorted that Hester Pimblett would never marry foolishly. The scandalous tales told about the Duke of Barroughby must be false, if Hester thought Adrian Fitzwalter worthy of her hand.
And all their friends agreed.
* * * * *
Author Note
Poor Elliot! So bitter, so angry, so misunderstood.
Actually, in the first version of The Dark Duke, Elliot died. You see, he was a completely irredeemable cad.
To be absolutely honest, he was also a completely one-dimensional character.
Since I don’t enjoy writing about one-dimensional characters, even when they’re villains, I began to find ways to make Elliot more complicated.
Then, when I gave him a reason for doing the things he did, he began to change. Soon I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied until he got a second chance.
What happens to Elliot after he storms out of Barroughby Hall? Does he ever see his family again? Does he find love? What kind of woman could care for a man like him?
Or does he try to keep his sordid past a secret…
Look for The Rogue’s Return in the summer of 1997.
eISBN 978-14592-6800-5
THE DARK DUKE
Copyright © 1997 by Margaret Wilkins
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, Including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, Is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
All characters In this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any Individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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Table of Contents
Cover Page
Excerpt
Dear Reader
Title Page
Books by Margaret Moore
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Author Note
Copyright