Strike While the Duke is Hot

Strike While the Duke is Hot Dukes in DangerBook 2 Emily E K Murdoch © Copyright 2023 by Emily E K Murdoch Text by Emily E K Murdoch Cover by Dar Albert Dragonblade Publishing, Inc. is an imprint of Kathryn Le Veque Novels, Inc. P.O. Box 23 Moreno Valley, CA 92556 [email protected] Produced in the United States of America First Edition March 2023 Kindle Edition Reproduction of any kind except where it pertains to short quotes in relation to advertising or promotion is strictly prohibited. All Rights Reserved. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author. License Notes: This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook, once purchased, may not be re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. 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CEO, Dragonblade Publishing Additional Dragonblade books by Author Emily E K Murdoch Dukes in Danger Series Don’t Judge a Duke by His Cover (Book 1) Strike While the Duke is Hot (Book 2) Twelve Days of Christmas Twelve Drummers Drumming Eleven Pipers Piping Ten Lords a Leaping Nine Ladies Dancing Eight Maids a Milking Seven Swans a Swimming Six Geese a Laying Five Gold Rings Four Calling Birds Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves A Partridge in a Pear Tree The De Petras Saga The Misplaced Husband (Book 1) The Impoverished Dowry (Book 2) The Contrary Debutante (Book 3) The Determined Mistress (Book 4) The Convenient Engagement (Book 5) The Governess Bureau Series A Governess of Great Talents (Book 1) A Governess of Discretion (Book 2) A Governess of Many Languages (Book 3) A Governess of Prodigious Skill (Book 4) A Governess of Unusual Experience (Book 5) A Governess of Wise Years (Book 6) A Governess of No Fear (Novella) Never The Bride Series Always the Bridesmaid (Book 1) Always the Chaperone (Book 2) Always the Courtesan (Book 3) Always the Best Friend (Book 4) Always the Wallflower (Book 5) Always the Bluestocking (Book 6) Always the Rival (Book 7) Always the Matchmaker (Book 8) Always the Widow (Book 9) Always the Rebel (Book 10) Always the Mistress (Book 11) Always the Second Choice (Book 12) Always the Mistletoe (Novella) Always the Reverend (Novella) The Lyon’s Den Series Always the Lyon Tamer Pirates of Britannia Series Always the High Seas De Wolfe Pack: The Series Whirlwind with a Wolfe Table of Contents Title Page Copyright Page Publisher’s Note Additional Dragonblade books by Author Emily E K Murdoch 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 Epilogue About Emily E K Murdoch Chapter One March 31, 1810 Henry Everleigh, Duke of Dulverton, almost slipped in something he sincerely hoped was mud. “Damn and—” “Bless you, Your Grace,” said his manservant severely. In the early morning light, Henry looked up with a glare. Why did Jenks say such a ridiculous… His thought faded as his gaze shifted from his servant, a little bedraggled after the hours spent in his carriage, to the gaggle of small children who had gathered in the village square where they had alighted. Their faces were curious, their expressions innocent. Far too innocent to hear the curse word he had been about to utter into the bright spring morning. “Ah,” Henry said. “Yes. Good morning.” The children scattered. Evidently strangers were unusual in Pathstow. “It’ll come right off, Your Grace, I am sure,” said Jenks briskly, glancing at the muck streaked up his master’s boot. Henry sighed and tried to find a patch of grass on the village green to wipe his boot. Stamping away from his servant gave him a moment to collect his thoughts. Something he had not done much of in the last four and twenty hours…perhaps to his peril. The dark sky was streaked with gold as mist steamed off the fields around the small village. A rooster crowed somewhere in the pokey gardens of the houses smaller than his entrance hallway at Dulverton Manor. There was the overwhelming sense that a person, once born in Pathstow, likely never left. Henry scraped his boot mercilessly against the grass and was gratified to see the muck removed. Well, at least that was one thing that had gone his way today… His dark eyes scanned the square where his driver had stopped. Dear God, to think this place was a hundred miles from his home. From all the comforts a duke could expect. From the respect, nay, almost worship his tenants gave him. The suspicious look a farmer gave him as he rode past on a carthorse was