A Marriage for the Marquess

 

Published January 25, 2025

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In a world of secrets, love, and ticking clocks, their alliance of convenience may just become a marriage of the heart.

Ewan, the Marquess of Glenraven, finds himself returning to his home in Belgrave Square, summoned back to London by his former commanding officer, Lord Barrington. Ewan’s been entrusted with the task of unraveling a deceitful gambling scheme and uncovering the truth behind the mysterious deaths tied to it. He is also faced with a pressing personal ultimatum: either secure his trust by marrying by his 30th birthday, five weeks hence, or risk losing it all.

In Cavendish Square, a mile north of Belgravia, Lady Juliet Hayward carries the heavy burden of her late brother, Bradley’s gambling debts. Her own future teeters on the brink of destitution. Determined to confront the man who has her brother’s vowels and control of her survival, she’s determined to find him and negotiate a solution.

As Ewan and Juliet are drawn together, they conceal their true intentions, not knowing they both seek the one person who holds the cards. However, time is not on their side. In a bold move, they confess to each other and devise a plan—a marriage of convenience, a calculated business arrangement—to simultaneously fulfill Ewan’s inheritance requirement, settle Juliet’s brother’s debts, and expose the scheming ringleader As they dig deeper, they uncover a far-reaching conspiracy, orchestrated by a clandestine organization manipulating events from behind the scenes. Yet, a single kiss on their wedding day unleashes a deluge of conflicting emotions within each of them, shattering their carefully constructed façade.

This is a breathtaking Regency tale of love, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit.

 

Ewan arrives in London, reflecting on the strange coin sent by Lord Barrington and the sense of urgency surrounding his return. The pacing is introspective, with just a touch of mystery and emotional depth.

The Coin and the Calling

The muffled clop of horse hooves echoing through the cobblestone streets merged with the sounds of bustling London and the ever-present fog as Ewan, Marquess Glenraven, stepped

from the post-coach at The Golden Cross Inn. He stood by the coach, a layer of dust from Dover Road clinging to his coat.

Tall and broad-shouldered, he carried himself with a military bearing and long titled heritage. An errant breeze tousled dark hair that framed his strong, chiseled face, but it was his piercing gray eyes that caught his attention. They hinted at a depth of emotion hidden beneath a façade of composure and to those that knew him, promised a loyalty and trust like none other.

He took a deep breath. At last, he was almost home.

The bells of St. Paul Cathedral echoed through the narrow alleys. Glenraven glanced at his pocket watch. 12:30 pm. Satisfied he would be on time for his meeting, he tucked the time piece away as the midday sun broke through the fog and cast a warm glow on the inn.

“I’ll organize our belongings and secure a carriage.” Duncan MacAlister, Glenraven’s longtime friend and batman, throughout the turmoil in Paris following the war, didn’t wait for a reply. Duncan knew him well.

Their journey began a week ago when Glenraven received a letter from his father’s solicitor, Mr. Hughes. The message directed Glenraven to make every effort to attend a meeting at Lord Barrington’s London home at 2:00 p.m. on the 27th of March.

He and Duncan began their trek with a five-day ride from Paris to Calais, followed by a two-and-a-half-hour sail on the paddle steamer Rob Roy to Dover. The final leg of their journey was a grueling nine-hour post-coach ride to London. The entire week, Glenraven could not rid himself of the persistent whispers that his return to London was more dangerous than the government affairs he left behind in Paris.

With only ninety minutes to spare before he was to present himself at Barrington Hall there wasn’t any time for him to make himself more presentable and still make it back to the meeting in time. Debating whether to go home and be late or arrive early at Barrington’s, he reached into his pocket and took out a gold coin. Skillfully flicking it into the air, the coin spun and captured the light before it fell back into his palm.

“My lord?” Glenraven looked up to see Duncan call to him from a carriage.

“You go on. I’ll head to Barrington’s.” Duncan nodded his agreement and gave the driver instructions.

Not wanting to arrive at Barrington’s too early, he went to Covent Garden. He made his way through the busy crowd, following the savory aroma like a field dog tracking a scent trail. He purchased a pasty and searched for a quiet area where he could enjoy his treat before starting out for Grosvenor Square.

Although the area was crowded, he found the last available seat on a bench not far from a puppet stage. As he enjoyed the warm meat-filled pastry, his mind drifted to Hughes. What serious issue could there be that called him back so urgently? Another bite of the pastry brought a sense of certainty that whatever Hughes found could be solved. Besides, it was good to be back in London.

Finishing the pasty, he took out the gold coin. The coin arrived with Hughes’ message without any explanation, its presence serving as a silent call to action from his former commander.

 

RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now-writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

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Book 2 A Dilemma for the Duke will release Saturday April 19, 2025 and is available for pre-order for just 99 cents. Release day price will be $3.99