Carole Mortimer - Griffin Stone - Duke of Decadence

Rakes about town

Carole Mortimer introduces London’s most delectable dukes in her latest Mills & Boon ®Historical mini-series. But don’t be fooled by their charm, because beneath their lazy smiles they’re deliciously sexy—and highly dangerous!

Read about all the daring exploits of these dangerous dukes in:

Marcus Wilding: Duke of Pleasure Available as a Mills & Boon ®Historical Undone! eBook

Zachary Black: Duke of Debauchery

Darian Hunter: Duke of Desire

Rufus Drake: Duke of Wickedness Available as a Mills & Boon ®Historical Undone! eBook

Griffin Stone: Duke of Decadence

And don’t miss

Christian Seaton: Duke of Danger

Coming September 2015!

His response to that trust was a totally inappropriate stirring of desire.

Was that so surprising, when she was such a beautiful and appealing young woman? Her eyes that dark and entrancing blue, her lips full and enticing—

What was he thinking?

He had just promised his protection to the woman he had named Bella, only to realise now that he, and the unexpected stirring of his long-denied physical desires, might have become her more immediate danger.

Griffin Stone:

Duke of

Decadence

Carole Mortimer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CAROLE MORTIMERwas born and lives in the UK. She is married to Peter and they have six sons. She has been writing for Mills & Boon since 1978, and is the author of almost 200 books. She writes for both the Mills & Boon ®Historical and Modern™ lines. Carole is a USA TODAY bestselling author, and in 2012 was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for her ‘outstanding contribution to literature’.

Visit Carole at carolemortimer.co.ukor on Facebook.

Before you start reading, why not sign up?

Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!

SIGN ME UP!

Or simply visit

signup.millsandboon.co.uk

Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.

To all of you, for loving the Dangerous Dukes as much as I do!

Contents

Cover

Dangerous Dukes DANGEROUS DUKES Rakes about town Carole Mortimer introduces London’s most delectable dukes in her latest Mills & Boon ® Historical mini-series. But don’t be fooled by their charm, because beneath their lazy smiles they’re deliciously sexy—and highly dangerous! Read about all the daring exploits of these dangerous dukes in: Marcus Wilding: Duke of Pleasure Available as a Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBook Zachary Black: Duke of Debauchery Darian Hunter: Duke of Desire Rufus Drake: Duke of Wickedness Available as a Mills & Boon ® Historical Undone! eBook Griffin Stone: Duke of Decadence And don’t miss Christian Seaton: Duke of Danger Coming September 2015!

Introduction Griffin stared down at Bea uncertainly. Either she was the best actress he had ever seen, and she was now attempting to hoodwink him with innocence, or she truly did believe his assurances that he would see she came to no harm while under his protection. His response to that trust was a totally inappropriate stirring of desire. Was that so surprising, when she was such a beautiful and appealing young woman? Her eyes that dark and entrancing blue, her lips full and enticing— What was he thinking? He had just promised his protection to the woman he had named Bella, only to realise now that he, and the unexpected stirring of his long-denied physical desires, might have become her more immediate danger.

Title Page Griffin Stone: Duke of Decadence Carole Mortimer www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author CAROLE MORTIMER was born and lives in the UK. She is married to Peter and they have six sons. She has been writing for Mills & Boon since 1978, and is the author of almost 200 books. She writes for both the Mills & Boon ® Historical and Modern™ lines. Carole is a USA TODAY bestselling author, and in 2012 was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for her ‘outstanding contribution to literature’. Visit Carole at carolemortimer.co.uk or on Facebook.

Dedication To all of you, for loving the Dangerous Dukes as much as I do!

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

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

July 1815, Lancashire, England.

‘What the—?’ Griffin Stone, the tenth Duke of Rotherham, pulled sharply on the reins of his perfectly matched greys as a ghostly white figure ran out of the darkness directly in front of his swiftly travelling phaeton.

Despite his concerted efforts to avoid a collision, the ethereal figure barely missed being stomped on by the high-stepping and deadly hooves, but was not so fortunate when it came to the back offside wheel of the carriage.

Griffin winced as he heard rather than saw that collision, all of his attention centred on bringing the greys to a stop before he was able to jump down from the carriage and run quickly round to the back of the vehicle.

There was only the almost full moon overhead for illumination, but nevertheless Griffin was able to locate where the white figure lay a short distance away.

An unmoving and ghostly shape was lying face down in the dirt.

Two strides of his long legs brought him to the utterly still figure, where he crouched down on his haunches. Griffin could see that the person was female; long dark hair fell across her face and cascaded loosely down the length of her spine, and she was wearing what, to him, looked suspiciously like a voluminous white nightgown, her feet bare.

He glanced about them in confusion; this private way through Shrawley Woods was barely more than a rutted track, and as far as he was aware there were no houses in the immediate vicinity. In fact, Griffin was very aware as the surrounding woods and the land for several miles about them formed part of his principal ducal estate.

It made no sense that this woman was roaming about his woods wearing only her nightgown.

He placed his fingers about her wrist, with the intention of checking for a pulse, only to jerk back as she unexpectedly gave a pained groan the moment his fingers touched her bared flesh. It let him know she was at least still alive, even if the sticky substance he could feel on his fingertips showed she had sustained an injury of some kind.

Griffin took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his hand before reaching out to gently stroke the long dark hair from over her face, revealing it as a deathly pale oval in the moonlight.

‘Can you hear me?’ His voice was gruff, no doubt from the scare he had received when she’d run out in front of his carriage.