Kathryn Caskie - How To Seduce A Duke

“I thought that book was about how to seduce a duke.”

“Mmm, you remembered that, did you?” Mary grinned back at him. “Well, I studied that particular chapter. Have it memorized, in fact.”

“Have you, now?” One corner of Rogan’s mouth slipped upward, and he flashed that rakish smile of his. “And what does that chapter suggest?”

“Oh, it’s quite simple, really.” Mary reached up, drew the shade down over the window, and turned her most seductive smile upon him. “Just find a carriage.”

A footman, liveried in deepest blue satin, stood just outside the circular glow of the candle upon the writing desk.

He was nearly invisible to Lady Jersey as she dipped her pen into a crystal pot of ink and moved it across the page, but she knew he was there. He was waiting to deliver the all-important missive she was hurriedly writing.

She sprinkled sand on the words, then tapped the page on the desk before folding and sealing it with a dollop of red wax. She pressed her ring into the drying wafer, then turned and handed the missive to the footman.

“Take it to her. Hurry. She must know.”

He bowed and disappeared beyond the reach of light.

Lady Jersey leaned her elbows on the desk. The granules of sand bit into her thin skin as she rested her head in her trembling hands and closed her eyes.

God help me.

The babies lived.

They lived.

There are several people to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude for helping me bring this story to life:

My wonderful editor at Avon Books, Lucia Macro, who probably has no idea how her hilarious daily e-mails spurred me on when the finish line seemed miles away.

Jenny Bent, my incredible agent, who went above and beyond the call of duty to help me deliver this book on time.

My amazing research assistant, Franzeca Drouin, who was always one step ahead of me.

Regency expert, Nancy Mayer, and also the learned ladies of the Beau Monde, especially authors Diane Perkins, Dee Hendrickson, Gaelen Foley and Tonda Fuller, who were always willing and able to answer any and all last-minute questions I had about complex period details.

My friend and fellow author, Sophia Nash, who encouraged me throughout the course of writing this book-including making arrangements for a very important revitalizing day at a spa as my deadline loomed.

My sisters, Lisa Sellers and Jenny Byers, and also my own two princesses (when they are old enough to read my books!), who might see glimpses of themselves between these pages.

And to my husband, for proving to me that everyday heroes really do exist.

Thank you all.

KATHRYN CASKIE has long been a devotee of history and things of old, so it came as no surprise to her family when she took a career detour off the online superhighway and began writing historical romances full time.

With a background in marketing, advertising, and journalism, she has written professionally for television, radio, the internet, magazines, and newspapers in and around metropolitan Washington, DC.

How to Seduce a Duke is her fifth novel.

Kathryn lives in a 200-year-old Quaker home nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains with her greatest sources of inspiration, her husband and two young daughters.

Readers may contact Kathryn through her website at www.kathryncaskie.com.