Elixir of a Duchess' Passion

Elixir of a Duchess' Passion A REGENCY ROMANCE NOVEL MEGHAN SLOAN Copyright © 2023 by Meghan Sloan All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the publisher. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. Table of Contents Table of Contents Free Exclusive Gift Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Free Exclusive Gift Sign up for my mailing list to be notified of hot new releases and get my latest Full-Length Novel “The Scent of Every Sin” (available only to my subscribers) for FREE! Click the link or enter it into your browser https://dl.bookfunnel.com/64lyd083xo Elixir of a Duchess' Passion Introduction Duchess Melissa Belmont is an unconventional woman, shunned by the ton for her skills in medicine and herbs. Despite her beauty and power, she has been scorned by love after her late husband's betrayal. Yet, when the devilishly handsome Lord Elijah Spurnrose enters her life, her long-suppressed desires are suddenly ignited. Driven by her intense attraction to the enigmatic lord, Melissa embarks on a perilous journey to cure his incurable illness, risking everything she holds dear. Will her healing powers prove strong enough to bring him back from the brink of death? Viscount Elijah Spurnrose, the eldest son of the Earl of Durham has lived a life of reckless abandon, indulging in all the pleasures that society has to offer. Suffering from a supposedly deadly illness, he resigns himself to living out the rest of his roguish life on his own terms. However, when he is sent to the countryside he never imagined he would find the elixir of life and love in the face of the bewitching Melissa. As her touch reignites a flame within him that he thought had long been extinguished, he realises that his condition is counting down to the day when he will lose everything. Can he truly escape the clutches of mortality, though? In a world of rigid societal rules, where scandal and rumours can destroy reputations, Melissa and Elijah’s love affair is an act of defiance. As she risks everything to cure him, they both fight against the constraints of their status and the norms of high society. Yet, as their burning love deepens, so do the obstacles they face. Can their passion defy the prejudices that stand in their way? Will they be able to withstand the pressures of the ton, or will their love crumble under the weight of society’s expectations? Chapter 1 Lady Melissa Belmont, the Duchess of Twinton, sat happily in her drawing room as always, writing in her medical journal and enjoying the peace. The only thing disturbing her was the barking coming through the door opening onto the lawn where her springer spaniel frolicked and flitted about chasing the birds and bees and just about anything else he thought he could clamp his jaws around. And occasionally she looked up to watch him, smiling as if she were smiling at her child, content and happy in her isolation in the Oxfordshire countryside. Scribbling and drawing away in her journal, she barely heard the brass knocker as it rang throughout the large house. Distantly, she heard the butler’s feet on the hardwood floor as he went to answer the door. When he arrived with a knock on the drawing-room door, she knew that whoever had come to call was not simply a delivery boy or a messenger. Leaving her journal open on the desk to allow the ink to dry, she carefully placed a spare piece of paper over the top to hide it from whoever might have come to visit. “Yes, Winston? Who is it?” she asked with a smile. The old butler was somewhat of a second father to her, a butler to her father before her, and she always had a smile for him. “Lady Daisy Melbourne, the Countess of Fenchurch, My Lady,” Winston responded with a curt little bow, always adamant about calling her guests by their proper titles even when they were such close friends as Lady Daisy. “Oh! Well, then you must show her through, Winston,” Melissa insisted, rising to her feet and gesturing the butler out of the room with a wave of her hand. “Of course, My Lady.” With that, he was gone, returning only a moment later with Daisy following quickly behind him. She looked just as she always did, her brown hair neatly placed atop her head and her hazel eyes sparkling, petite, prim, and proper, with a friendly smile. “Good morning, Daisy. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Melissa asked, embracing her friend and kissing her on both cheeks. “Oh, can a lady not simply wish to visit a friend?” Daisy asked as they drew apart. “Of course,” Melissa responded, smirking back at her. “But we both know you never go anywhere without a motive.” Daisy feigned shock for a moment, pressing the tips of her fingers to her open mouth as though trying to hide it. Then, she started to giggle and rolled her eyes. “You are right.” “Then you must sit and tell me all about it,” Melissa insisted, gesturing her friend over to the nearest armchair before she took the one opposite. “Winston, please will you send Betty up with some tea?” “Of course, My Lady.” With that, they were left alone. And it caused Daisy to look quite relieved indeed. Whatever was